Cabinets and HTPC Setups Running GameEx

[Draco1962]

You guys all do a great job with the finishing!!! I decided to go with a more basic army green, big box for my WOPR... (War Games themed)... Finally decided to post a picture.

That is EFFEN sweet, ehuonder! Great job on the theme as well from what I can see of it!

[Adultery]

The cpanel is a serious beast! Haha! That is really cool for sure! It'd be extra cool if you spray painted over some leaves on it.

[NizZ8]

You guys all do a great job with the finishing!!! I decided to go with a more basic army green, big box for my WOPR... (War Games themed)... Finally decided to post a picture.

Wow. that's a SICK Cab!!! Congrats!

[Adultery]

I did some work on my project:

The new marquee in place, I finally spray painted the "mailbox" on the side with some Matte finish and Matte clear coat (thanks for the tip Drac!), and she's looking sharp with a new sheet of polycarbonate that my local glass company cut for me.

I also replaced the crappy PSU I had in it with a much nicer Antec 650W one. It used to be that after I powered down the cab, I would have to wait an hour to boot it again for some reason. It would act like it was going to turn on, but alas, no POST, no BIOS screen, etc. Turns out it was a POS power supply. Who knew?

Here's a closer shot of the second monitor. I miscut the poster I was using for a graphic, so this weekend I'll be off to Spencer's for another one. Besides the minor flaw, I think it looks pretty great (that's of course due to Tempest's Marquee Magician app). It's pretty awesome to have the controls come up right on the cpanel. If I get really ambitious someday, maybe I'll lay one out for every game on the cabinet... Or maybe not. Haha!

[Draco1962]

Being a military brat, I am glad to see you got your Port and Starboard fan lights in the correct placement!

Looking good!

[Adultery]

Thanks man! Couldn't have done it without ya!

[Hunk_4TH]

That's such a badass looking cabinet Adultery! Those are Logitech speakers right? I have the same speaker setup on my desktop!

[Draco1962]

What size monitors are you running for the main and the deck?

[Adultery]

The main monitor is 20.1", and the deck one is 15.5 I think? And yes, those are indeed Logitech speakers. They do a good job, and they fit in with the design.

[Hunk_4TH]

Ah cool thought so. Upon further inspection it seems your speakers may be a different model but still cool nonetheless. Btw you just use controllers on your cab and not an actual control panel? That's pretty cool! I need to get some pics of my cab up soon once I do more work to it. It's an old Speed Buggy (buggy boy) cab.

[Adultery]

XBOX 360 wireless controllers actually. They work awesome.

[GeorgeT]

is that a touchpad in your control panel Adultery? nice build! I have a few things to finish on my cab but I really need to post pix.

[Adultery]

Nah it's the other monitor. I use this for the keyboard/mouse since I don't need it that often. If I got more hardcore stuff to do I have a Logitech wireless kbd and a USB port on the front of the cab.

Looking forward to the pix GeorgeT! Seeing other people's work makes me think I'm not so crazy!

Ahh but what can I say really. It was a childhood dream of mine to own one, but could never have imagined one that does all the cool stuff a GameEx cab does!

[GeorgeT]

no doubt Adultery, from the day I first learned of emulators (before MAME even) I dreamed of having a cab, now that it's 99% complete...I enjoy it everytime I turn it on.

[Hunk_4TH]

Finally got around to taking a few pics of my cab. It's still a wip though. Still need to position/mount the TV better suggestions are welcome Also I'm not using an X-arcade it's actually just the shell with an I-Pac. Yes I know I should build my own CP. I may in the future. But for now this will do

Also I apologize for the crappy quality. I used my camera on my phone.

[Adultery]

Looks really cool man! As for the monitor, I just cut a board to fit the space and got some simple L-brackets and black foam sheets to do the finishing work. I also used a $20 HDTV wall mount kit so I could adjust it so the top of the monitor sits closer to the glass then the bottom (so the kids can see it even though they're shorties). You will want to move the board back some too, because it's kind of a pain to get the angle just right. Once you do though, it's really easy to replace the monitor if you choose to or if your current one dies on ya.

PS: You will never finish it as long as there's cool stuff you can do, trust me! *LOL*

[Hunk_4TH]

Looks really cool man! As for the monitor, I just cut a board to fit the space and got some simple L-brackets and black foam sheets to do the finishing work. I also used a $20 HDTV wall mount kit so I could adjust it so the top of the monitor sits closer to the glass then the bottom (so the kids can see it even though they're shorties). You will want to move the board back some too, because it's kind of a pain to get the angle just right. Once you do though, it's really easy to replace the monitor if you choose to or if your current one dies on ya.

PS: You will never finish it as long as there's cool stuff you can do, trust me! *LOL*

Ah thanks for the suggestion man! Sounds great. Though unfortunately I'm using a 20 inch CRT TV so I'm not sure if that will work I have the original monitor brackets somewhere but I'm trying to avoid decasing the TV. I visit Arcadecontrols forum almost couple of hours getting ideas and what not. Very almost projects over there!

Oh I'm aware of that lol.

*Edit* btw sometimes I just want to use an LCD monitor instead because it seems like it'd be much easier to deal with. But hell I don't know what I want to do LOL

[Adultery]

Well if you wanted my advice, it is easier, and it creates more room inside the cab for other cool stuff (2nd Power Supply anyone?)

[Hunk_4TH]

Well if you wanted my advice, it is easier, and it creates more room inside the cab for other cool stuff (2nd Power Supply anyone?)

Ha ha well I'm definitely going to keep that in mind. I figure if using an LCD I could also finally put the back on my cab. Some of those old CRTs like the one I'm using have a big ass back to em even this little 20 inch. and it sticks out in the back. Luckly this cab had a fan hole cut out at the top I have 120mm fan mounted there. So if I do decide to use an LCD it should stay cool

Second power supply for?

[Adultery]

Well, my 2nd PSU powers the marquee, coin door lights, cold cathode blacklighting, led lighting under the CP, 2 led fans in the speaker grates, and 5 other fans (3 80MM in the rear top and 2 120 MM for intake by the board) used to keep my box cool. Oh and the 2 new light bars I ordered to surround my 2nd monitor.

I still have more hookup space should I decide to add anything else fancy, but I'm running out of things to add in (plus if I keep going it may get a bit *busy* with everything going on).

[Hunk_4TH]

Well, my 2nd PSU powers the marquee, coin door lights, cold cathode blacklighting, led lighting under the CP, 2 led fans in the speaker grates, and 5 other fans (3 80MM in the rear top and 2 120 MM for intake by the board) used to keep my box cool. Oh and the 2 new light bars I ordered to surround my 2nd monitor.

I still have more hookup space should I decide to add anything else fancy, but I'm running out of things to add in (plus if I keep going it may get a bit *busy* with everything going on).

Oh wow sounds interesting! Do you plan on taking more pics? I'd love to see the inside of your cab.

[Draco1962]

@Hunk_4th - Looks great! x2 on the LCD. A 20-22" should be fine for most things and will not add appreciably to any heat issues, unlike the CRT.

@Adultery - I am seriously considering the Xtension Arcade as it has received some good reviews and seems to be the right price point (cheap) in addition to providing some flexibility. May also look at a multi SATA HDD block for multiple drives. May have to hold onto my old PC speaker set and PSU.

[Hunk_4TH]

@Hunk_4th - Looks great! x2 on the LCD. A 20-22" should be fine for most things and will not add appreciably to any heat issues, unlike the CRT.

@Adultery - I am seriously considering the Xtension Arcade as it has received some good reviews and seems to be the right price point (cheap) in addition to providing some flexibility. May also look at a multi SATA HDD block for multiple drives. May have to hold onto my old PC speaker set and PSU.

Thanks Draco! Yeah I'm keeping the LCD in mind definitely. May end up getting a new LCD for my Desktop and use my old LCD for my cab it's 22"

[Adultery]

@Drac:

You thinking of the pedistal or the upright? I thought they both looked pretty boss, and you'll finally be able to easily add in that tankstick!

[Draco1962]

Both actually. The kit can be assembled to use either just the pedestal or bolt on the top for the marquee and bezel for the full effect.The pedestal piece is very similar to a design I came up with a few years ago surprisingly.