My understanding for bartop pinball

[arakissun]

From a deal for two 19" Wide LCD monitors one left for free.I have wood panels,plexiglass,buttons,PC that just sits on the shelf so I decide to make a bartop pinball that will use Pinball Arcade machines.I like this emulator.The graphic is nice and it's not so heavy for PC resources.A quad AMD,2 or 4GB DDR2,VGA at least with 512MB(mine is 8600GT).DX9 version plays very nice.
My understanding for bartop is to sit on stool and to play.Like Arcade bartop cabinet.But from what I look at the web many or almost all of the bartop pinballs are not exactly bartop because they are made with cabinet like real machine put on the table.But you must play it stand up.
The first thing that I tested was the software of the emulator if it play nice on vertical position.And it's good,so left to build the cabinet.
It will have door at the back on which will be place the PC's motherboar and HDD.
On the bottom will be PSU.
On the roof will have two 120mm fans which will keep inside not to be hot.
Already made the control panel.The good part is that you don't need to use mouse to go trough the menu of the emulator.You can use keyboard.
I just used a joystick with USB that will remap it's buttons to keyboard keys.For that I use JoyToKey.Very nice program.Use it very often.
Of course the buttons that are on the panel will be different at the final product,only the middle big circle one will be left.It will be for ENTER key and Ball Launch.
Around this button will be place directions buttons-left,right,up,down.It will have one button for ESC one for BACK.And two for spare I will decide what to do with them.
It will have on both sides buttons for the flippers and by one addition for nudge left and right.
And also will made left and right directions buttons on the control panel to be flippers too.So you can play it from front or from the sides
Already made and the cabinet sketchup.

 

[arakissun]

Meanwhile until I finish it just decide to use some wood from Surf 'n Safari cabinet to make a table.
Used and the original T-molding from the head too.

 

[Pick Holder]

Visual pinball 9 works way better in my opinion. I do not know one person in the VP community that rates Pinball Arcade stuff. It is a bit like telling your mates down the pub you still have and listen to your old Gary Glitter albums.

Its a good little idea to be honest !

 

[arakissun]

Played it on VP9 before years.Didn't impressed from the graphic.I personally like more TPA.
And also I think if I want to make it look with at least front end like Hyperpin will want more PC power.
Tried VP9 for full screen before and with even quad pc and GTX video had a lot of lag.
It was tested on 40" full HD TV.

 

[Pick Holder]

Its worth throwing in extra RAM as its cheap enough. PinballX would be an easier launcher to modify, but as you correctly said it takes resources.

If you have a PCI graphics slot I have a Radeon HD6770 Sapphire video card (1gb DDR5) you are welcome to if you want to pay for postage.

 

[arakissun]

Really appreciate the offer for HD6770,thank you.
And I am tempted.But at this situation will keep the original idea of the project.I want to see how it will be realize.
Also I must buy and new PSU because this graphic is serious power consumer.
The idea is to try to make it as cheaper as it possible and to use what I have in stock,because the idea was spontaneously and never before think to do something like this.

 

[Pick Holder]

Yes - youll need a bigger psu.
No problem either way - its on a shelf waiting for someone who needs one who doesnt run win10 !

 

[arakissun]

Only left to put side dacals and it's 100% ready.
For the glass used cut pinball backglass trim.It fit perfect.
Regular stereo speakers.
Two 120mm fan that will be replace with Arctic 12 for more quite work and better performance.
Inside the box is very well ventilated.
Connect together LCD power cable and PC PSU power cable to use one power cable.
Also and put a On/Off switch.
Monitor is more left because one side is wider and the LCD must be in the center.May be 2-3mm difference but not problem.
For holding the glass at upside get the idea from the arcade cabinets with this metal part.
After everything both hinges that must hold the controll panel have become redundant.
Play perfect.Even you can see some frame rate slowdown but this is from the video captures.

Video:

 

[J.C.Rox]

I think that looks bloody brilliant mate! Must be great to sit there and play on something you've built from scratch, well done, wish I had the time and know how to build that!

 

[arakissun]

Thank you.I'm really happy that everything became as I wanted.

 

[arakissun]

Thank you,man.

My next idea is to try to use VPX or VP9 because the opportunity to use full screen table.
I know that TPA have it too when play DX 11 version and Free camera mod,but don't like how they look,especially the lights.I prefer DX9 how look.
I hoped for Free camera mod for DX9 but no luck.

So because I didn't touch VP from 8 version until now will need some help:
-I will use only my 19" display.Will want to be on full screen table but with DMD on it.I I can remember I could move DMD around the table and to make it smaller or bigger,right?
-I think my configuration must be enough for one monitor,because I can see from the web many people use form i5 to i7 machine but for 3 displays setup.

Quad AMD
2GB but have more 2GB DDR2 if need to put
GT630 with 1GB RAM

-Any step by step instructions from the web or I must dig for this to find the right installation and run the tables?
-Is there ready pack with good looking and working tables for VP9 or VPX or can you recommend something?

You know the appetite game with the eating.I was thinking that TPA will be enough but now wants more.
The main problem is if the PC will be enough powerfull because I like the cabinet dimensions and must be everything in there.
If I need more powerfull VGA my project will stop with TPA.

 

[arakissun]

Sorted out everything.
In cabinet like this the best and safe configuration is:

Windows XP 32bit
Visual Pinball 9
C2Quad
2GB or 3GB but I think 2GB is fine.
80GB SATA HDD
VGA at this point tested with 8600GT but will try with HD4650.But I think CPU is more in need
Pinball X frontend
MAX graphic settings


For Visual Pinball X will need more resources-powerful VGA and CPU this mean more space for air which I don't have in the cabinet.