Computer parts in Mame Cabinet (Midway Cab)

Jubbs

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I bought a Midway Cab (used to be MK2) and I am going to use it for a MAME machine. My question is whether I should throw a computer together into a case. and then put in the cabinet, or if I should just screw the mobo and all the parts into the cabinet like the old school way.
 
Definitely better to screw things down on the inside and lose the case, however, if you aren't going to be moving the cab, you can get away with just throwing a cased computer in there.
 
This is actually something I'm good at. I have a midway cab converted to a MAME myself. I built a compy in a micro-atx and put it inside the lower coin door. The problem with doing an open mount on the mobo is that computer cases are built not just to stick crap into, but to funnel air through them just right. Not saying it's a sure thing, but you could theoretically overheat a compy easier by not having it in a case. You could fix this problem by putting some case fans in the cab itself. But, it also makes it a pain to have it locked to the cab when you need to update/maintain the compy. I find it very easy to just pull my compy out, do the work on it, and slide it back in. See the pics below for placement. I did, however, have to cut out the back of the coin vault box to fit the computer in there, but it's very tight.

On a downside note, a couple years ago I moved the arcade, forgetting the PC was not secured in and I ended up breaking the PS/2 port off of the motherboard. But now I just use a USB keyboard anyway.

These pics were also the first iteration of this cab. It has since been filled and resurfaced.

Computer2.jpg

Computer.jpg

Front2.jpg
 
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I can't take a person seriously that calls a comp a "compy".

I was further disturbed when I scrolled down and saw your landing pad control panel. And your landing gear. And to further insult the whole operation with a Golden Tee 2k marquee.

I will however commend your lower coin door mounting idea. You could theoretically mount in there and be a bastard and cut a hole in the door for a large exhaust fan. There's a few different cooling solutions that can be applied.

At the end of the day though, fuck MAMEing a video game cabinet. Just play it on your comp. All problems solved.
 
Leave the computer in the case. I have done a lot of mame builds and never had a problem with one I left in the case, however one of the two decased ones I did overheated.
 
When attempting to answer as quickly as possibly, truncating computer to compy works well, especially when you bill at $225/hr and try and read KLOV at the office. Additionally, it's funny if you watch Homestar Runner/Strongbad emails.

The four player CP is because we needed a good way to blow off steam in law school, and there simply wasn't enough machine to go around. Additionally, some of my favorite games are TMNT and Sunset Riders, etc. Those games are played best in 4 player. At the time, and for the money, the Mameroom.com kit was the best solution.

The landing gear is actually a furniture dolly leaning up against the machine. The picture was taken before I put permanent casters on the bottom, so, the best way to move it was to just tilt it on the the furniture dolly.

As for the marquee, it's a NBA JAM cabinet that someone converted to a Golden Tee 2K. I picked it up off someone in Austin for $150, which for the cab and monitor, was a good deal. Just never changed out the marquee.
 
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When attempting to answer as quickly as possibly, truncating computer to compy works well, especially when you bill at $225/hr. Additionally, it's funny if you watch Homestar Runner/Strongbad emails.

The four player CP is because we needed a good way to blow off steam in law school, and there wasn't enough machine to go around. Additionally, some of my favorite games are TMNT and Sunset Riders, etc. Those games are played best in 4 player. At the time, and for the money, the Mameroom.com kit was the best solution.

The landing gear is actually a furniture dolly leaning up against the machine. The picture was taken before I put permanent casters on the bottom, so, the beltway to move it was to just tilt it on the the furniture dolly.

As for the marquee, it's a NBA JAM cabinet that someone converted to a Golden Tee 2K. I picked it up of someone in Austin for $150, which for the cab and monitor, was a good deal. Just never changed out the marquee.

Thanks for those clarifications. Still, you should expect to get roasted here at the arcade-museum forums for most things MAME related. Better to have started your thread over at the BYOAC forums.

FWIW, I have decased one PC, and left another in a case. Both are running just fine.
 
Thanks for those clarifications. Still, you should expect to get roasted here at the arcade-museum forums for most things MAME related. Better to have started your thread over at the BYOAC forums.

FWIW, I have decased one PC, and left another in a case. Both are running just fine.

I fully expect a good roasting. But, simply, you've got to start somewhere. The level of poor I was in law school still makes me shudder to this day. And it taught me a lot about monitors and JAMMA harnesses, since it's built on a Jpac.

I've done three JAMMA rebuilds since and am hoping to learn about MCR if I can find a good deal on a Tron.
 
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