Hi all,

I'm partaking in my first full-blown MAME project. I've ordered a bunch of computer parts from newegg.com and will build my own computer (I'm an extreme novice at this, so it'll be interesting in itself!), picked up a small, gutted nintendo cabinet from this guy on rec.games.video.arcade.marketplace, and found a Hot Rod SE for sale at www.arcadecontrols.com. I really wanted to build my own controls, but the keyboard encoder cost almost as much as the used hot rod. For the display I've decided to go with an S-Video out and TV.

I'll update with pics when I have the time.

what size monitor are you using?

I'd guess 25"-27"

It's actually an old, small nintendo cabinet so the allowable width was 22.5 inches. Actually I'm building this in a small apartment so I couldn't use anything bigger. I had to scour the net for a 20" TV that not only had S-Video, but was not wider than 22 inches. Turns out one model met these requirements:

http://www.etronics.com/product.asp?...de=panct20sx11
I'm also going to hook up cable and a DVD to it.

Right now I'm stuck. I got my computer parts yesterday and after mounting the motherboard and installing the CPU, CPU fan, graphics card and hard drive I'm getting no VGA signal whatsoever and all I get is a repeated beeping from the speaker. I swapped my graphics card from my current computer and it still didn't do anything. I've tested each one of the front panel cables and they all work fine (Power LED, HDD LED, Power Switch, Reset, Speaker) Any suggestions?

Edited to add: I'm using an ABIT KG7 with a socket A type mother board.

The manual that came with the motherboard should help you decipher the POST beep code. Have you tried reseating the processor and RAM? Are you certain the RAM you have is compatible with the motherboard? Try swapping the hard drive and cables as well, I have had bad drives and shorted cables bring down a board many times.

That's a good tip, I'll try reseating the RAM and processor. The mobo and RAM are both DDR, so that shouldn't be a problem. Also, the manual has an overly concise troubleshooting guide.

What I'm really thinking is that I got a bad board. I made the mistake of buying it refurbished. I didn't learn about newegg's refurbished policies until reading today at anandtech's forums that what they do is simply re-sell these parts that people return to them without even testing them.

It's going back to them today.

If your video card isn't seated properly it will beep on startup too... and that would explain the no signal...

A new version of MAME came out this past weekend that supports Police Trainer. *drool*

I'd love to build a cabinet. Maybe someday.

guynamedmike,

as soon as I got home the first thing I tried was reseating the memory. Turns out even though the clips locked in, the chip didn't make a solid connection. That was the problem. A million thanks.

I'm typing on my new computer now! Next up, pics.

My Mame Cabinet

I'm on hold right now. I have to get some of the computer components, but I had a slew of bills all at once and it cleaned out my "MAME" fund

I am going to do a little moddin' to my computer case, and I have to cut the door in the side of the cabinet and build the control panel.

I took Goblincat's suggestion, and I'm going to build my own control panel with my own button layout.

Good luck, and post pics as soon as you can!

How did it turn out?

Six years?

Well 6 years should have been long enough to get some of the parts and build his MAME fund back up.

I wonder what would happen if I created a thread in the main DVD Forum that said "Hey, I'm building a home theater to play all the movies I've downloaded!"

Oh good lord - that thing was built, used and torn apart since I didn't have room in my new house. It was fun though!

There was another thread for it but the picks are long gone

I was going to set something simple up in my basement, maybe a 21" 4x3 LCD monitor (I'm think the Samsung 214T although I'd like something larger, but I'm not sure how common 4x3 LCD screens are anymore) mounted on the wall that can swivel between vertical and horizontal, a heavy homemade stand to hold the Xarcade dual stick on top and the computer behind it, maybe big enough for 4 sticks.

It still gets regular play during my poker nights. And by play I mean they play Gridlee, Robby Roto and Teeter Torture.

I'll put up some pics - guess I never posted them as I promised.

The Hot Rod SE was a scam - this guy I tried buying from took the money and ran. Joe Tarlecky. Grrrrr. So I ended up buying an X-Arcade control.

What the hell is MAME?

Wikipedia is your friend.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MAME

Downloaded?? How about "Hey, I'm building an HTPC to put all the DVD's I have purchased on a hard drive for instant access."

I'd love to do that with my kids movies but have no idea where to start and I know asking here is a no no. I'm sure I would get a response like the one Pixy gave.

You would.. That's why I put that because I got a post of mine deleted w/ no warning for mentioning that in tech talk.

PM me and I'll help you out.

What are you going to help with? POST REPORTED!!!!!

Stealing movies of course!