My Home Server - update #8
MCE December 10th, 2007For those who came in late, here is the story so far: I have built a Microsoft Home Server, in an arcade machine.
Since second-hand arcade machines are both rare and reasonably expensive in Australia, I have built this arcade machine completely from “the ground up“. Just for kicks, I did it with a self imposed budget of $500 AUD just like this:
- Google the different types of cabinet and find dimensions
- Sketch the outline onto timber, and armed with only my trusty jigsaw cut out the panels
- Install a reinforced timber shelf to hold the 21″ monitor
- Fix the side panels together
- Attach the first lot of panels and then the last lot of panels
- Put in the false floor, power board
- Paint it, and plug in all the cables
- stick on all the decals, perspex monitor cover
- Mount the hardware (essentially just left over drives and a spare motherboard I had lying around)
- …and install Home Server
The whole project took a couple of weekends, cost just under the $500, and as you can see came up nicely. …and plays old arcade games too! See Virtualization has a use in the home as well :)
Tomorrow, I will post the breakdown of all the costs, tools, and equipment that I used. And next week, I’ll post the complete picture gallery and commentary.
All previous updates#: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, photos.
December 12th, 2007 at 1:14 am
Looks great! So I see two boxes - is one the home server and the other the arcade machine? If yes - how do you switch between them? Also - what are you using for the arcade emulation?
Cheers,
Ben
December 12th, 2007 at 3:35 am
*grins* Hey Ben,
Yup, one is the home server and the other is the arcade machine. I’m using MAME32 and copy of GameEx as the GUI front end.
The old 21″ monitor has dual inputs. If you look closely there is a pinhole drilled into the front of the bezel beside the 20c sticker. it’s just big enough to fit a paperlip through and select monitor inputs. I keep the paper clip on a hook inside the top bezel near the speakers.
I tried using my Home Server to run MAME as well, but just couldn’t both to play nicely, even with some clever thread throttling. Mainly cause the hardware I used for the home server is pretty old and crappy. I should buy better hardware, but I wont just yet.
So until then, I’ll keep a second dedicated box for the arcade machine. It’s nice to tinker with. Over Christmas I’ll get it to boot Vista from a USB key.
For no real reason, just because I can, and it’s a bit cool.
December 12th, 2007 at 11:45 pm
Dugie, fantastic work, you’ve completely inspired me. I’ve just broken the news to the gf that she is about to have an arcade machine in the house. I spent most of my day at work yesterday looking at designs and stuff after having found your page. This site ( http://wiki.arcadecontrols.com/wiki/ ) has a stack of cool submissions! How did you reinforce the shelf for the monitor? I’m thinking of using an old 58cm tv I have with a video card that supports Tv Out. Probably about the same weight as the 21 monitor…
Anyway, again,,, thanks for the inspiration. I’ve always wanted to build something ;)
December 17th, 2007 at 12:07 am
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