Deal of the century

shilmover

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Not directly Video game related, but Video Pinball related.

As some of you might know, I am building a hyperpin.

I just had to share this… Its long, but worth the read…

One of the last things I need for the hyperpin, is a 42" LCD. Which is by far the most expensive component on the pin. While I could get 1080i LCDs for around $400, I really wanted 1080p and had figured I would need to spend the $600-700. L

In building the multivector, I have had to make multiple visits to PC Recycle places. One of the places takes TVs too but normally, the screens are cracked. After doing some research I found out that the replacement screen costs considerable more than the entire TV new, so that was not an option. L

I was at a PC Recycle yesterday to get a $2 serial cable, when I noticed that they had cleared out some of the junked old computers normally cluttering the floor (the truck was being loaded as I was there). I saw a small room with a bunch of flat screens leaning against a wall so I asked if any had good screens and was told that sometimes the screens are good, but they have power issues… Looking through the TVs, I found 3 42" with badly cracked screens. There was a 45" LCD there that came up with a white screen, but no cracks, so I asked them how much they wanted for it and was told $60. I offered $30 and he accepted. Loaded it in my car and went back to the office (this was over lunch) to do some research.

Its this TV:
http://hometheatermag.com/flat-panels/605sharp/

At this point, I realized that you needed a special external box to connect all the inputs to as the inputs are not on the TV. I checked and verified that the TV only had 4 connections on it (Power, a PS/2-type connection, DVI, and a high density custom connector). At this point I was pissed as I just bought a $30 picture frame that displays white in brilliant 45" 1080i! L As I had nothing to lose, I went back to the pc recycle place to see if they had the external box. Not only did they have it, they also had the cables, the stand, and the remote. J

Got it hope and the external box would click once, but not start up. I opened it up, reseated all the connectors, connected it to the TV and it fired right up! Hooked it up to my laptop and it would only display 1080i (1280x1024). Not bad! Moved it into the garage and on top of the pinball cab last night and it looked great (although too big for the cab I have now). At this point, I figured I had 4 options:
1. Sell the TV and buy one that fits
2. Put the TV in the media room (its better than what's in there now) and buy a new one that fits
3. Make this one fit (widen the cabinet)
4. Get a widebody cabinet

This morning, I went to the garage to take some pictures, and the monitor was coming up white again with the external box not powering up. L Obviously, there is a deeper problem. Some more research and I figured out that its probably the DC/DC board, which costs $150 to replace. At this point I did not want to spend any more money on it with the hopes that it will fix it. After more research, I learned that you can connect the TV directly to the computer, bypassing the external box all together (as long as you don't want TV, which is fine for me). I did that and the LCD came up in beautiful 1080p!! 1920x1024 resolution!

So now I have the TV for the pinball. It was supposed to be the most expensive part of the project, but has become one of the cheapest! Heck, I paid more for the light up buttons!

I am picking up a widebody cabinet which should hold this almost perfectly…

Some pictures attached

Pictures are (Hi resolution here: http://cid-bba5427c148a431e.skydrive.live.com/browse.aspx/Visual Pinball):
- The external box (front/back)

DSCN0989.jpg


DSCN0990.jpg


- 3 different pins:

DSCN0992.jpg


DSCN0993.jpg


DSCN0994.jpg


Best deal I've ever gotten. All for $32.85 (including tax). Nice thing about it too, is if I want to use it as a TV, it will cost me $150 more. J
 
I still think the $5 Mega Millions ticket that paid off $266 mill was the deal of the century ;)
 
That is a sweet find... Good deal.

If you really want to use it as a TV though, just pick up a HD tuner for your PC...

That's a really cool project too, being more in to the video game, rather than pins, I've honestly not heard of anything like it. It's like a mame pin machine... very cool
 
That is a sweet find... Good deal.

If you really want to use it as a TV though, just pick up a HD tuner for your PC...

That's a really cool project too, being more in to the video game, rather than pins, I've honestly not heard of anything like it. It's like a mame pin machine... very cool

True, or I can just fix the external box (there is one on ebay for $100 right now).

I like pins, but dont own any (or have the room for more than 1 or 2). This is a good solution...

I will post updates to the pin section as things progress.
 
Keep us up to date. I have been looking at building one since I saw the woodrail reproduction version about 6 months ago. I just have too many other projects and too little time (when have you ever heard that before). But I do like the current state of the art with this software. It has come a long way in the last year.

ken
 
Keep us up to date. I have been looking at building one since I saw the woodrail reproduction version about 6 months ago. I just have too many other projects and too little time (when have you ever heard that before). But I do like the current state of the art with this software. It has come a long way in the last year.

ken

Will do...
 
Cool story - thanks for the name (hyperpin) - someone posted a while back a picture of their arcade and I kept meaning to PM them and say "um, what is *that*".

So now I have yet-another-project that I'll never get around to building :)
I've added Hyperspin website to the bookmarks of those such projects.
 
I used to own one of the sharp aquos you got. Mine started the "click" thing and eventually would no longer start up. They replaced a few boards in it, then the warranty company just sent me a check. They are great tv's and for $30 even if it only lasts for a month, still a sweet deal!
 
I used to own one of the sharp aquos you got. Mine started the "click" thing and eventually would no longer start up. They replaced a few boards in it, then the warranty company just sent me a check. They are great tv's and for $30 even if it only lasts for a month, still a sweet deal!

Yeah. It appears that the external box has major issues with power, sound, etc. TV seems to work okay...
 
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