Mame Cabinet in the works, need a few tips

[XHashmeerX]

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!

[Ryanfaescotland]

Hey mate welcome to the forum and best of luck with your project.

I'm afraid this isn't going to be a useful post for you since I have no idea about how those things work but be sure to keep us updated with pics and commentry it sounds really interesting.

[XHashmeerX]

Thanks anyway! And I will be posting up some pictures to document this along.

[TchuBacha]

This wiki might help you...

The BYOAC Wiki

[XHashmeerX]

Haha, been there many times before I even bought the cabinet to get a feel for these projects. Thanks though

I'm just presented with an interesting setup that is JAMMA (which is a 2 player support) with an additional 2 joysticks+buttons. I haven't read about anyone handling this particular situation so I was looking to get some advice on the issue and how to handle it.

I'll have some pictures with some commentary up tonight I promise!

*EDIT* Okay! No pics or commentary tongiht...I lied. I just got tickets for the Transformers movie opening tonight. Pics will have to wait another day.

PS: Anyone have suggestions regarding my control panel dilema?

[XHashmeerX]

danomitek.wordpress.com

Have some pictures up and stuff, check it out!

[Zach]

Cool pics

[willyham]

im just in the stages of planning my cab project and im soo excited ...it seems like awsome fun and the final product is just awsome...im basing mine on mk2 cabinet

[ulaoulao]

Lots of people dong this around here, did you see genomes


http://forums.emulator-zone.com/show...5707#post85707

[willyham]

also good job finding a NBA jam one...i loved that game...u gonna re-do original nba jam artwork?