XHashmeerX
New member
Hey all,
Been looking to build a MAME machine for a while, today i picked up an NBA Jam cab, complete minus the PCB. 4 player (3 buttons each + 4 start buttons) JAMMA harnessed (for the two players, monitor, and audio), the other two are through it's own molex connectors.
I plan on adding a total of 6 buttons to the system. (an additional 3 to player one and two for fighting games and such) I'm trying to figure out if i should rewire my control panel to an IPAC4, or get a JPAC and an IPAC2 to support the additional 2 joysticks.
The second method is a little more expensive, but is it easier/better quality? It doesn't seem like to strip out the current JAMMA harness and rewire it all would be a big deal being that i can screw it into the IPAC and get the crip connectors for the microswitches.
Also, does anyone have experience with the ArcadeVGA? My arcade monitor does not have a VGA 15 pin port like some of these newer ones. So it looks like I'll need this card if i go with the IPAC4 and then get the VGA adapter to the arcade monitor. The monitor now has a R, G, B, and a Sync wires, which I'm sure most do, so it'll connect.
Otherwise, i get the JPAC, and just use that to connect to my PC monitor output. However I think I red that if you dont have a PCB board the power load isn't right and the monitor won't work correctly or something. It just doesnt seem like the monitor could possibly draw enough power through the keyboard/usb ports or anything to power it. I'd imagine i'd have to separate the power sources and keep the monitor on it's own line? ( i guess thats where the issue is with an uneven load or something?
I'm just looking for some general tips/advice on this topic. Any thoughts are greatly appreciated from anyone who's done this before, as this is my first time doing this and I am super excited.
In the meantime while I figure out what parts I need to buy, I'll be sanding and painting and working on some cosmetic things!
Been looking to build a MAME machine for a while, today i picked up an NBA Jam cab, complete minus the PCB. 4 player (3 buttons each + 4 start buttons) JAMMA harnessed (for the two players, monitor, and audio), the other two are through it's own molex connectors.
I plan on adding a total of 6 buttons to the system. (an additional 3 to player one and two for fighting games and such) I'm trying to figure out if i should rewire my control panel to an IPAC4, or get a JPAC and an IPAC2 to support the additional 2 joysticks.
The second method is a little more expensive, but is it easier/better quality? It doesn't seem like to strip out the current JAMMA harness and rewire it all would be a big deal being that i can screw it into the IPAC and get the crip connectors for the microswitches.
Also, does anyone have experience with the ArcadeVGA? My arcade monitor does not have a VGA 15 pin port like some of these newer ones. So it looks like I'll need this card if i go with the IPAC4 and then get the VGA adapter to the arcade monitor. The monitor now has a R, G, B, and a Sync wires, which I'm sure most do, so it'll connect.
Otherwise, i get the JPAC, and just use that to connect to my PC monitor output. However I think I red that if you dont have a PCB board the power load isn't right and the monitor won't work correctly or something. It just doesnt seem like the monitor could possibly draw enough power through the keyboard/usb ports or anything to power it. I'd imagine i'd have to separate the power sources and keep the monitor on it's own line? ( i guess thats where the issue is with an uneven load or something?
I'm just looking for some general tips/advice on this topic. Any thoughts are greatly appreciated from anyone who's done this before, as this is my first time doing this and I am super excited.
In the meantime while I figure out what parts I need to buy, I'll be sanding and painting and working on some cosmetic things!