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Yo' Boyo! Help please!!!!!
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 Yo' Boyo! Help please!!!!! - Page 1 of 2 Jump:
Jan 27, 2012 23:02:48  #1
Posts: 14
Joined: May 2011
astaroth
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astaroth
Yo' Boyo! Help please!!!!!
Yo' boyo,

I'm very interested in knocking up a bar top MAME machine. Now the building of it is not a problem for me. However, the whole MAME PC gubbins is.

I've researched a bit and i reckon getting an old PC for free is no problem (99% sure i have one waiting for me in fact) so that's cool. But, what i need to know to begin with is:

1. Can you get the PC to boot straight to MAME?
2. Can you safely shut down the PC after use? I'm assuming an on/off switch is no good for a PC?
3. Recommended HDD size? I reckon a small 'un is more than sufficient if it's just running MAME.
c. How do you power the PC/Screen/amps etc? I'm assuming an extension lead within the machine isn't the right way to go? LoLz.......

That's for starters. I've seen this I-PAC too. I'm guessing you wire the buttons on the controller panel to the relevant points on the I-PAC, then the I-PAC plugs into the PC's keyboard port? Or is there a cheaper or better way of wiring the sticks/buttons?

Thanks in advance my welsh friend!
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Jan 28, 2012 05:47:28  #2
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Joined: May 2011
astaroth
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astaroth
Re: Yo' Boyo! Help please!!!!!
Ok, update.

Got a PC. It's an AMD MMX 300Mhz with 256MB RAM. The HDD is a 4GB 5.25" type but that will be thrown. Is this any good? Looking to run XP on it. Good idea?

Just downloaded the latest MAME and Track n Field and played it on my workhorse machine (about 8 years old!) and it ran ok.
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Jan 28, 2012 08:18:39  #3
Posts: 124
Joined: May 2010
Country: England
koopa42
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koopa42
Re: Yo' Boyo! Help please!!!!!
You have AIDS but good luck with the build ;-)
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Jan 28, 2012 22:35:32  #4
Posts: 602
Joined: July 2007
Country: Wales
boyo
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boyo
Re: Yo' Boyo! Help please!!!!!
That PC should be fine for pretty much all the games up to the early nineties I reckon.

Just stick the MAME executable into the Start Up directory to boot straight into MAME. Yes you can safetly shut down using the on/off button. I tend to put a strip inside the cabinet - only one lead should come out of it.

Check the iCade - £40 in PC world - making a cab using one of these and just bought this on E-bay . This is an aleternative to the iPac and cheaper. Will let you know how I get on with it. The iPac is the best though - I am trying to do this iCade cab on the cheap.

Cheers.




 
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Jan 28, 2012 22:35:49  #5
Posts: 602
Joined: July 2007
Country: Wales
boyo
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boyo
Re: Yo' Boyo! Help please!!!!!
 By the way, post some pics as you develop it m8.

Used these guys a lot - check them out.

 

Last edited by boyo on 2012-01-28 22:37:25.
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Jan 29, 2012 09:21:13  #6
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astaroth
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astaroth
Re: Yo' Boyo! Help please!!!!!
 Cheers boyo. That link looks pretty sh!t hot!

Any guides around regarding putting mame exe in start up? Any guides regarding a front end for it? So it is ok just to switch the power off rather than shutting windows down? 

Would you recommend a 2 player 6 button machine as a first go? Would like to play street fighter on it.

Sorry for all the questions but there will be more! Lol!

Oh and I'll deffo post pics!
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Jan 29, 2012 12:01:38  #7
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astaroth
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astaroth
Re: Yo' Boyo! Help please!!!!!
LOL! Just realised ultracabs are based in Ilford, which is 5 minutes from me!
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Jan 29, 2012 17:17:00  #8
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astaroth
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astaroth
Re: Yo' Boyo! Help please!!!!!
Microswitches: Do they come with the buttons from ultracabs? If not, where do i get those from?

Also, teh rumz i'm getting don't work. They say there is a rum or chd file missing or summat? Track and Field works fine though?

Last edited by astaroth on 2012-01-29 17:18:49.
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Jan 31, 2012 21:38:55  #9
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astaroth
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astaroth
Re: Yo' Boyo! Help please!!!!!
First prototype stage complete!



PC running MaLa and MAME from boot. Need to make the transition smoother mind. Also it's a real pain finding working games. MAME is more complicated than i thought!

All bits made up so far are only at "test" stage as i reckon i'll need a bigger monitor with thinner edges and i may need to adjust the position of the sticks/buttons for comfort reasons.

So, on to stage 2...................
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Feb 1, 2012 12:11:57  #10
Posts: 124
Joined: May 2010
Country: England
koopa42
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koopa42
Re: Yo' Boyo! Help please!!!!!
smart
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