9 replies to this topic

[Drybonz]

Building a cab, where I live, just isn't practical for me right now, so I am limited to a desktop setup... but I wanted the best pinball experience I could get, so I created the desk-cab... lol

 

It's a 24" monitor suspended over a 27" monitor... both 144hz for smooth play.  The bottom monitor can easily rotate back and forth between landscape and portrait, so it still serves perfectly as a normal landscape desktop, gaming, watching movies, etc... The top monitor is angled down so it is comfortable to glance up at the backglass any time.

 

I wanted to show this as a suggestion to anyone who has similar space issues or any other problem that might make a full cab impossible for them.  This can be done on a much smaller budget than a cabinet.

 

This would never replace the experience of having a full cabinet, but it is a good alternative if you can't have a cabinet.

 

Here is my arcade/pinball controller that I use with this setup.  This has flipper buttons on the side and a pinscape inside for nudging... as well as being a great MAME controller with Ultrastik mappable joysticks, trackball and TurboTwist 2 spinner.

 

 

*edit*  I forgot to add, I use the Display Fusion software to manage my dual monitors... makes if very easy to change configurations... you can set up profiles and assign them to hotkey combos to switch things around.

Edited by Drybonz, 29 June 2016 - 08:43 PM.

[Drybonz]

Got a request for more pics...

 

 

 

I can just reach out and rotate the monitor back to a landscape desktop any time, if I feel like I need to pursue some more productive ventures.

 

Edited by Drybonz, 30 June 2016 - 12:20 AM.

[gtxjoe]

Sweet. What type of monitor mount are those?

[Drybonz]

The one for the bottom screen is a 3m, but I may replace it because I want one with better tension in the rotation joint.  The top one is a Vivo... you can get it here:

 

https://www.amazon.c...vivo extra tall

 

The extra tall stand was important to allow the bottom monitor room to rotate.

Edited by Drybonz, 30 June 2016 - 01:40 AM.

[jbg4208]

I'm in the same boat as you. Here is my setup. It is on my desk. Was just running two monitors then I added the back box and 3rd monitor recently. Love the 3rd screen. it a 800x600 10" lcd display. Works great for the dmd. And like yours I can lean and rotate the PF monitor for normal use if needed. Next thing I want to have is force feedback. But cant find a cheap way to do that right now. This works for now until I get the clearance to build a full size cab, but that is years away. 

 

 

 

 

EDIT: not sure why the thumbnails are rotated..

Edited by jbg4208, 30 June 2016 - 03:09 AM.

[hauntfreaks]

this was my first test rig when i was building my cab....

 

[kruge99]

Nice!!  I had a similar setup using a vertical monitor setup.

[Brer Frog]

Drybonz & jbg4208 - Thanks for posting the photos.

I’m mainly playing in DT mode but have tried FS with 2 monitors & using the keyboard. It works but is a bit cumbersome carefully propping the playfield monitor against the wall.

Jbg4208 - what prevents your playfield monitor from sliding down? Is the weight of the base unit with the buttons heavy enough to prevent that?

[Nemo]

@ Jbg4208  That's one sweet setup you've got going there, thanks for sharing.

[jbg4208]

Drybonz & jbg4208 - Thanks for posting the photos.

Jbg4208 - what prevents your playfield monitor from sliding down? Is the weight of the base unit with the buttons heavy enough to prevent that?

 

In the pictures the monitor is on a stand that lets it rotate and lean way back. Now I have it completely removed from the monitor stand to give it more layback and it is secured by two small nails in front of the base unit. Here in a few weeks I'm building another minicab out of all these components. It will free up a lot more space in this room For the new baby. Also can still use the backglass monitor to run other games and standard computer stuff.