Anyone have a Raspberry Pi powered cabinet/bartop ?

[GeorgeGlass]

If you get it to work as a pcb replacement in a can I would love to know how. I've been trying many different configs. Best thing I came up with so far is raspian image running mane4all-pi and a 'no delay' USB to controls board. So far the joystick response sucks. Going to try wiring a joystick directly to the Gpio next.


Sent from my brain using a carrier pigeon.

[CanadianRyGuy]

If you get it to work as a pcb replacement in a can I would love to know how.

I get the feeling it's only a matter of time before this happens. The Pi's are going to continuously improve in performance and the amount of games you'll be able to play with them will make it all the more attractive to use instead of a PC running MAME. Would be nice to see a version of GroovyMAME running on the PI so all games simply run in their native resolutions right out of the gate.

[mike boss]

All the homework I've done on the Pi so far has left me feeling
really positive about my choice to use it in the bartop.
To be honest, I think it would be a "go to" on all projects to come.
I plan on creating an image of my SD card when it is all done and set up.
And like noted above the Pi's will just get better and better.

I was lucky to have most everything I need to complete the project,
and the stuff I didn't have I ordered on Ebay/Ali Express on the cheap.
I know I'll wait, but with two little kiddies arcade is minimal anyway.

Really who can argue with the cost ? It blows me away.
A majority of the YouTube videos I watched before taking on this project
all say great things about the Pi. Most say for the price it is the way
to go.

[mike boss]

Just wondering what would be the best way to move my ROM files to the actual SD card itself ?
I saw some videos using USB thumb drives, but my SD card is 32GB, so the space is available
for the ROM files.

[Wailin]

You browse to it over your network. One of your Windows machines should be able to see it once you have it connected to your home network. All the folders (roms, bios, etc) are available.

[mike boss]

Thanks for the help again all.
I was a little confused by some of the info I had seen online.
I was unsure if when the SD cart is properly formatted, and the image installed,
would the correct ROM folders be on the SD cart ?

I did not want to use a USB thumb drive, I want the ROMS on the SD cart itself.
(then I will be creating a back up image of the SD card)

I had seen some info where the ROMS were really unorganized, and Sega games would show
up under NES, etc.

Obviously I'd like a clean organized system.

I was thinking of getting some of the US only ROM sets I've found.
Most of which I have saved somewhere in the house on an external HDD.
I'm unsure if a particular set of ROM files are required. I Know I've seen
that with MAME, not so much other consoles (to my knowledge).

Hope that makes sense.

[scoltx]

Thanks for the help again all.
I was a little confused by some of the info I had seen online.
I was unsure if when the SD cart is properly formatted, and the image installed,
would the correct ROM folders be on the SD cart ?

I did not want to use a USB thumb drive, I want the ROMS on the SD cart itself.
(then I will be creating a back up image of the SD card)

I had seen some info where the ROMS were really unorganized, and Sega games would show
up under NES, etc.

Obviously I'd like a clean organized system.

I was thinking of getting some of the US only ROM sets I've found.
Most of which I have saved somewhere in the house on an external HDD.
I'm unsure if a particular set of ROM files are required. I Know I've seen
that with MAME, not so much other consoles (to my knowledge).

Hope that makes sense.

If you got a wifi dongle for Pi2 or a Pi 3 with integrated wifi or plug either into ethernet, you can UNC path into the SAMBA shares that RetroPie sets up. On your windows computer click start -> run and in the run box type in \\192.168.x.x\ and hit enter, the 192.168.x.x needs to be replaced with the ip configured on your pi. You can find it in the Emulation Station "Retropie Options" menu under SHOW IP ADDRESS

If you pi is on the network you should see shares for "bios", "configs", "roms" and "splashscreens" when you click into the "roms" share you will see folders for all the emulators. drop your roms in the folder for the emulator you have roms for.

To me this is the easiest way, but if you plug in a USB drive RetroPie will format it for you and setup some folders, after a minute or so for a new usb drive, bring the drive over to you compute and copy the files onto the thumbdrive. When you insert the drive back into the retropie it will copy all the files to the correct place on the SD card. You won't be able to read the SD on a Windows pc as it will be formatted and partitioned for Linux, likely ext2 or ext3, haven't checked.

More info on the Retropie wiki
https://github.com/retropie/retropie-se ... rring-Roms

[mike boss]

I never thought to look for a WIKI page, thank you very much.
I hope to make some major progress on the project during the long weekend.

Thanks again

[scoltx]

I never thought to look for a WIKI page, thank you very much.
I hope to make some major progress on the project during the long weekend.

Thanks again

Here's a rom's list for the pi with recommended best emulators. I can't vouch for it as it's not mine, I've had good luck with sticking NEOGEO roms in the FBA folder and MAME4ALL for a bunch of others most worked.

[mike boss]

I'm waiting on a few parts to come in so I can make a nice push and hopefully (finally) wrap up this project.
I wanted to test some parts the other day and pulled out a power supply I had kicking around.
When I tested the 12v it was outputting like 14v, I went to adjust it (while plugged in) and it started to tick.
I don't want to fry anything so I figure I'll just get another one.

With the long weekend here today I'm going to prep the SD card. I'm moving the Pi image to my other PC as I type this.

If the kids co-operate and I get some extra time I'll need to comb thru some old external HDD's looking for my ROM sets.

I was telling my buddy about the Pi and how I think it's perhaps one of the coolest little gadgets out there.
He has a cocktail project that has been in the works FOREVER....... does the Pi have an option to run on a vertical monitor ?
Perhaps he could do a custom ROM set for MAME and try Retro Pi ?

[scoltx]

Here's a BYOAC thread for a reproduction Galaga cab running a Pi. He's running an Attract Mode image, which is a front end that can be setup look like HyperSpin, but he's got it set to boot to the last game played. I believe he's got a link to the pi image in one of his youtube vids. Worth having a look at for ideas.

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.p ... 591.0.html

[mike boss]

I have a question about powering this project.
And thought I would post it here and get some opinions.

When all is said and done this project is going to have two PC 120mm LED fans, the run off 12V.
Possibly two (for sure one) cold cathode tube that also runs off 12V.
And lastly 8 LED arcade buttons that run off 12V.

I was leaning towards an arcade power supply as I could power the pi, LCD monitor and various 12V components.
But now I was thinking about the possibility of going with a smart strip (powerbar) , I ordered a 5V 2A power supply for the Pi.
I was debating picking up a 12V power supply used to power LED light strips from Ali Express.
Honestly I was looking to do so strictly based off of cost.
Good idea, bad idea ?
I'm unsure how I would calculate the required power for the power supply tho.

Any info, advice, thoughts, etc all welcome.

Thank you all

EDIT : @ scoltx , thanks for posting the Galaga link. I'm taking a look at the thread now.

[mike boss]

I've got the RetroPi image and put it onto the SD card.
I still need to find the time to go thru my external HDD's
and get all my ROM files ready.

A bunch of the extra parts I needed are starting to come in
from Ali Express & Ebay (2A power supply, HDMI to VGA, etc).

I've got the bartop cabinet painted and ready to go. The
Punch-Out art has been sitting here forever now! LOL
I picked up a new joystick and an extra daisy chain for wiring
the 12V buttons. I just need to pick up my new power supply.

I'm excited to get this sucker done!

[trueno92]

Really excited to see this happen.

Take pics or try to remember to take pics of the process!!

Im guessing a pi + something to make it output cga is more expensive than a pandoras box 3/4, right?

[mike boss]

Funny you mention the Pandora's Box.
I picked up 2 of the PBOX3 for a great price on Ali Express.
Even with the crappy dollor I feel they were a great value.
I actually plan on tossing it into my Popeye machine, I think
it would make a great fit in the Man-Cave. I'm taking the rest
of my boards, including a 130(or so)-in-1 and tossing them into
my Final Fight with a Jamma switcher.

I've read some back and forth over on BYOAC taking about the
cost involved with a Pi set up. Some people say getting an old PC
from a thirt shop is the better, cheaper way to go. Some people say
multi-board, some the Pi.


Personally I was sold of the Pi when I saw Retro-Pi, the fact that all
I need to do is drop in the ROM files was HUGE to me. In the past PC
set up has been one of the most taxing things I've dealt with when
working on a project. To be fair, it could be in part because I wanted
all the emulators and all the ROMS. None the less it was a sh*t ton of work!
I can remember working on my "all gun games" cabinet.....too much time was spent
and I walked away. Anyway....................

Regardless if you go Pi, Multiboard, or PC (MAME) the arcade parts would cost you
the same (joysticks, buttons, etc). The Pi itself is cheaper than a multiboard,
and from what I've seen cheaper than a used PC. All be it I'm told the PC's
(dual core/quad core) can be found dirt cheap.

I plan on taking photos and doing a project thread for this build, so I'll post the
info as it is done. I can tell you I picked up 2 x Raspberry Pi3 with case and SD card
for $80 USED on Kijiji (Oshawa). I'm probably another $10 or so into the Pi for the power
supply and HDMI to VGA. I'll be picking up an arcade power supply so I can power the 12V LED
fans, cold cathode tubes, and LED arcade buttons. All the other parts I needed (including the Bartop itself) were purchased from Rick @ Gameroom Designs. AWESOME GUY!