Need Some Advice On Building a Mini Cabinet

[JohnnyBlaze]

I want to build a mini arcade cabinet(a table top one), as I don't have the room for a full size cabinet and our basement is a cellar and not finished.

 

Here's a little info on what I'm looking for:

 

-This is what I'm looking into as far as a PC is concerned: Inspiron Zino HD 410

 

The specs:

 

Genuine Windows® 7 Home Premium, 64Bit, English

AMD Athlon™ II X2 P360, 2.3GHz, Dual Core 1MB

4GB Dual Channel DDR3 SDRAM at 1333MHz- 2 DIMMs

Tray load CD/DVD burner (DVD+/-RW) w/double layer write capability

1TB SATA Hard Drive (7200RPM)

ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5450 MXM Discrete Graphics Card

Dell 1501 802.11 n wireless card

 

-I have a 19" widescreen flat screen PC monitor to use for the display

-I need the cabinet to fit the PC and display and fit on top of a dryer(the only example I can come up with as far as the area I need)

-It needs to be lightweight so I can move it

-It needs to have at MINIMUM six buttons for arcade fighters.

-The max I want to play on here is Super Street Fighter IV Arcade Edition.

-Two player is nice, but not really needed as I'll mostly be using this by myself

-It's being used for MAME and Daphne

 

So, can anyone give me advice. I know NOTHING about this, so ANY advice will do!

Edited September 4, 2011 by JohnnyBlaze

[nathanallan]

Neat project! For lightness I would go with mostly metal cabinet, plywood gets really heavy really quick. Wooden frame is okay, still gets heavy.

 

Mount the mainboard yourself, a PC case would be counterproductive. Rear mount with ports on the side so you still have access. Any drives can be mounted vertically, too.

 

I am guessing your monitor is a flat LCD?

 

Have the control panel in front the same dimensions (length and width) as a standard keyboard. Why reinvent the wheel?

 

Use good buttons, do NOT cheap out on them, you will hate it if you do. Same with a joystick.

 

When you mount the monitor, make sure you can strap or bolt it to the actual cabinet, gravity is NOT your friend when you go to move it (I tried, almost busted my 17" monitor).

 

Have neat carry handles on the sides, and plenty of venting and fans.

 

Hope this helps! My arcade (homebrewed from 19" rack mount) ended up getting taken back apart when I did NOT follow my own rules.

 

Good luck!

[JohnnyBlaze]

Neat project! For lightness I would go with mostly metal cabinet, plywood gets really heavy really quick. Wooden frame is okay, still gets heavy.

 

Mount the mainboard yourself, a PC case would be counterproductive. Rear mount with ports on the side so you still have access. Any drives can be mounted vertically, too.

 

I am guessing your monitor is a flat LCD?

 

Have the control panel in front the same dimensions (length and width) as a standard keyboard. Why reinvent the wheel?

 

Use good buttons, do NOT cheap out on them, you will hate it if you do. Same with a joystick.

 

When you mount the monitor, make sure you can strap or bolt it to the actual cabinet, gravity is NOT your friend when you go to move it (I tried, almost busted my 17" monitor).

 

Have neat carry handles on the sides, and plenty of venting and fans.

 

Hope this helps! My arcade (homebrewed from 19" rack mount) ended up getting taken back apart when I did NOT follow my own rules.

 

Good luck!

 

My monitor is a flat LCD, yes. I do plan on bolting down anything that can move(pc, monitor, speakers, etc). I found a couple of YouTube videos that show what I'm looking for:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdKBK9hU5ms

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-rHrbzUJjA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bj4lFX2O-TA

 

More toward the last one, though.

 

I don't want to solder as I know NOTHING about it and last time I tried(it was to install a modchip), I busted my Saturn. So, if I could avoid soldering, it would be a plus.

Edited September 4, 2011 by JohnnyBlaze

[VectorGamer]

 

Mount the mainboard yourself, a PC case would be counterproductive.

 

 

Are there any temperature considerations when removing a mobo from the case? I thought the case was designed for proper air flow and cooling?

 

 

The three mini cabinets in the post above:

Marcade = terrible. There's not even a bezel covering the IBM monitor

 

Joshua's Arcade = cool front end but you gotta sit on the floor to play the damn games

 

The Mini Arcade = the best of the three with lame graphics all over the cabinet

 

 

Leave the counter-top for the MegaTouches.

Edited September 4, 2011 by rmaerz

[JohnnyBlaze]

 

Mount the mainboard yourself, a PC case would be counterproductive.

 

 

Are there any temperature considerations when removing a mobo from the case? I thought the case was designed for proper air flow and cooling?

 

 

The three mini cabinets in the post above:

Marcade = terrible. There's not even a bezel covering the IBM monitor

 

Joshua's Arcade = cool front end but you gotta sit on the floor to play the damn games

 

The Mini Arcade = the best of the three with lame graphics all over the cabinet

 

 

Leave the counter-top for the MegaTouches.

 

I plan on leaving the computer as is in the unit, it's compact enough as is. The Mini Arcade was my favorite out of the bunch. I plan on playing this on a table, btw. I think that video was only to show off the cabinet for an eBay auction.

[VectorGamer]

 

I plan on leaving the computer as is in the unit, it's compact enough as is.

 

I took a look at the link in your OP and those units are pretty cool. All you need to do is use angle brackets to hold it in place.

 

I have a few compact Dell's in my full size cabinets and I like them.

 

I wanted to use one of those Dell's in my mini Star Castle cabinet but it had something wrong going on with the keyboard. So, I had to install a desktop in there and now it gets too hot which is why I asked about the temperature issue.

 

I threw one of those fans into the expansion slots of the computer to help cool it but I'm thinking I have to install some fans in the back door of the cabinet to push some ambient room temperature in.

[JohnnyBlaze]

 

I plan on leaving the computer as is in the unit, it's compact enough as is.

 

I took a look at the link in your OP and those units are pretty cool. All you need to do is use angle brackets to hold it in place.

 

I have a few compact Dell's in my full size cabinets and I like them.

 

I wanted to use one of those Dell's in my mini Star Castle cabinet but it had something wrong going on with the keyboard. So, I had to install a desktop in there and now it gets too hot which is why I asked about the temperature issue.

 

I threw one of those fans into the expansion slots of the computer to help cool it but I'm thinking I have to install some fans in the back door of the cabinet to push some ambient room temperature in.

 

What tools would I need for the wood and where can I find tools?

[nathanallan]

As for cooling inside a PC case, the ducting is there because it's in a case. The green plastic of the Dells is to make sure that there is a channel in an otherwise either too large area case(ambient/exhaust heat builds up in the enclosed area) or too small a case (provides a channel where there is none). When you have a heatsink in open air with fan on top, that is optimum, as the heat doesn't get trapped anywhere, and fresh air is plentiful. Same thing for a video card/chipset heatsink.

 

As I understood the question, this was to be a compact machine to fit on top of a washer, the example given.

 

Woodworking tools are easy, Harbor Freight is where I go, either online or a store (online is much easier as the stores are few and far between). They sell cheap tools that will break after a short time but if you aren't a dedicated woodworker, no need to make a huge investment. If they work long enough to get the job done then great.

 

Tools needed, hammer, nails, reversible electric (preferably cordless) drill, screwdriver bits, skil-type power saw, sandpaper, elbow grease and firm determination.

Edited September 4, 2011 by nathanallan

[Cynicaster]

 

Tools needed, hammer, nails, reversible electric (preferably cordless) drill, screwdriver bits, skil-type power saw, sandpaper, elbow grease and firm determination.

 

I'd add a few to this list: router, flush trim bit, slot cutting bit (if you plan to use T-molding to trim out the edges, which is highly recommended), 1 1/8" hole saw (for cutting holes for buttons), clamps, and a counter-syncing drill bit. A jigsaw might be needed, depending on what your design looks like and the cuts you need to make.

 

If your "main" saw is just going to be a hand-held circular saw, then you're going to want to either buy or build a guide so you can quickly and easily cut straight lines.

 

Re: soldering. You won't have to do any, just buy crimp connectors.

 

I just built a cabinet in the spring. I couldn't even guess the number of hours I spent on it, but it was a lot.

[nathanallan]

Great looking cabinet, Cynicaster!

[JohnnyBlaze]

Thanks for all the advice so far, even though I'm still giving myself some more time to do some research. I'm trying to shoot starting in mid-October.

 

BTW, my cousin was doing some digging around for me and she found this. This is the closest pic of I'm shooting for I've seen yet. Kind of a bartop meets store display:

 

 

 

Also, does anyone here have any experience in re-building a Mad Catz 360 FightStick? Or should I say "fuck it" and go for an X-Arcade or something better. I know nothing about wiring, so I need a prebuilt joystick.

Edited September 6, 2011 by JohnnyBlaze