4 replies to this topic

[Diaval]

Hello All!

 

I had recently acquired an Atgames Micro Virtual Pinball Machine.  It is a mini version of their larger virtual pinball machine, but it comes with many on board tables.   In addition to that, the machine supports BYOG (Bring Your Own Game), in which it allows another computer to be hooked up to it and one can make use of the buttons and the displays to control an outboard computer that could have FX3 or Visual Pinball installed on it.   It has something called a VIBS board that allows the video displays to be switched between the internal games and ones on an external computer.

 

Now, I had already determined that I want to go for broke and go the harder, but more rewarding route of going with Visual Pinball X.   Now, the question comes about as to what type of computer to use.

 

My criteria is a micro form computer ONLY.   The reason why is that I have the pinball machine set up on a stand and there is a shelf on the stand, but it only has about 8 inch clearance or so.   So no desktop computers, no towers.  ONLY small form factor computers.   I been thinking along the lines of a Lenovo ThinkCentre computer.   There is one that I am looking at second hand and these are the specs:

 

Intel core i7, 6700t, 3.6ghz processor

32gig ram

1TB harddrive

4k 3 monitor support display port  (sorry, I don't have exact specs here)

HDMI

WIFI

Bluetooth

Windows 10 installed.

 

On the Atgames Micro Pinball the screens are small.

 

The main screen is a 15.6" 1080i monitor

The backglass monitor is about 9" and I believe it is also 1080i

 

There is no DMD screen

 

The specs on this computer actually exceed my desktop computer, however, I don't have the full specs on the video system.   My desktop uses an Nvidia 1080ti and I have FX3 on that system.

 

In terms of games, I mostly am after playing games from the 90's on back.  I MIGHT play a modern table or two, but it will not be often.

 

So I am just asking if this computer would be good enough to run Visual Pinball X on the Atgames Micro Pinball table.

 

Thank you,

Diaval

[Tesla]

Hard to say, but remember that even something like a gaming-laptop still needs a nice video-card.

 

Your other computer with the Nvidia GTX-1080-Ti works because that is (old but still) nice video-card.

 

Think of it as a funny-looking All-In-One. Computer part is separate so there is really no reason to make it super-small.

I would use an ATX Tower (or Mini-Tower) and turn it on it's side if you have to.

Ideally, you want something with a dedicated (full-height and normal-length) video-card, and a decent standard ATX-Power Supply to run it all.

 

Intel i7 - 6700T

 

https://www.intel.co...ifications.html

 

The cpu (or processor-cores) part is fine for your use. 4 real-cores (Hyper-Threaded to 8 cores)

 

Intel HD Graphics 530

 

HOWEVER, it's a little-baby Integrated on-board video-device (from 8-years ago). It might run some simple games at adequate FPS.

 

And if it won't run Fortnite properly, I doubt VPX will run very well (even at 1080p).

 

https://www.pcgamebe...-i7-6700-review

Edited by Tesla, 20 January 2024 - 08:13 PM.

[wiesshund]

What model thinkcenter?

 

Some have a PCIE slot, that you could possibly get a PCIE ribbon cable, and attach a GPU externally.
Mind you, you need an external ATX power supply to power the GPU.

 

The onboard iGPU is probably only really suitable for VP9 overall.

HD 530 graphics is not exactly a strong point.

You would need to open the case anyways, as you most likely would need better CPU cooling.

 

You can build a micro ATX PC, and don't put it in a case.
A GPU is not 8 inches tall, nor is an ATX PSU

Mount some motherboard standoffs to the shelf, mount motherboard to shelf directly.
Use an M2 SSD, then the only thing not attached to the motherboard is the PSU.

[Diaval]

Hello All,

 

First off, I want to apologize for leaving everyone hanging that had responded and I want to thank you for your responses.   The thing is that this has been a project that has been going on and off for a while.  I been playing with the AtGames Micro Pinball for a while now as I had purchased it for my family for Christmas of 2023.   Up to now, I am really the only one that uses it and even though it came with 50 games, the games are of the Zaccaria pack and, sadly, many are derivatives of one game.  So one table actually has 3 or four different versions.  So that kind of knocks the number of games down quite a bit.  Especially since the "EM versions" of the games are nearly unplayable.  (Ball drains fast).   At any rate, I went through the tables fast and now, there are only about 5 or 6 I play regularly.   I have been longing to put the games on it that I have played in my past, such as Creature from the Black Lagoon, Diner, Pinbot, etc.   Games from the late 80's through the mid 90's.   So now I want to put Visual Pinball on the the system.

 

I do have the VIBS board for the Micro Pinball and that allows the connection of an external computer to the pinball machine with back box capabilities.

 

As I have indicated above, I wanted to use a ThinkCentre compact system from Lenovo, but as Tesla pointed out above,  what of a decent video card?  Ooops!  I figured a newer all in one computer like that should have decent video capability, especially with an i7 processor, but given that it was more of a business machine, the video capabilities fell short, and that was where I kind of left it.

 

My goal is to run Visusal Pinball only, maybe FX3, but nothing else.

 

So it does look like I have to put some kind of system together and I want to do it for less than $500.

 

Now, the pinball machine is on it's own stand that I had bought and the stand has shelves, so I can put an external computer on the shelves.   Standing (or sitting) at the pinball machine, these are the dimensions I am working with:

 

9" wide.  The computer in it's box cannot exceed this dimension.

8" high.  As above, this is the tallest I can go.

19"  deep.  This dimension I have the most flexibility with.

 

It is a given that I am probably going to put together something that is based around an ITX board.   Since I have seen successful systems being put together with an i5 processor, I figure I will go that route, unless I can do it within my price range with an i7.

 

How much ram should I have?  I am assuming that, I am looking at the realm of 8gig to 16gig.

 

I would assume that a 256gig to 500gig solid state hard drive would be fine.

 

I intend to run Windows 7. (I don't have anything newer at the current moment).

 

Now, what would be a decent video card.   I am thinking a GTX 970?  Back when I was starting this project, it seemed the GTX 1050ti was the starting point.   But I believe the 970 is a bit more powerful?

 

Finally, I am going to need a power supply and case to put it all in.

 

Naturally, if I am barking up the wrong tree here and I am off with some of my picks, I am certainly open to suggestions, just remember, I don't want to spend more than $500 for the whole system.  So I don't need anything fancy as all this computer will do is sit under my AtGames Micro Pinball machine and run Visual Pinball.

 

Thank you,

Diaval

[chonk0master]

I have two 3070 rigs I've used to test the cabinet I'm building. One is a 12th gen i7 and the other is an i9. One was a DT the other a laptop. I demoted the laptop due to some limitations (can't connect my own power button and had too many hdmi dongles due to lack of ports).

 

What i can tell you is the new VPW Jurassic Park taxes this machine. I run at 4k 120hz and both machines struggle to hit that with JP, VPW fishtales and a few others.

 

My point to you and others in this predicament is that you really need to treat virtual pin the same as you would baulders gate 3 or the latest CoD or whatever. If you would buy the cheapest rig to play BG3 but with all the graphical settings cranked down and be happy, then go for it. If not then I recommend at least a 3060 and i7 or better equiv. Its the only way you're going to get the frames on the newer tables, and there are a lot of them now.

 

The other thing that can help is resolution, but again the lower the resolution the less detail you have. On small monitors like you're talking you probably won't be running at 2k/4k.

 

The latest Vpinmame adds PWM lighting and the next gen engine being developed in unity, the requirements are only going to go up. I'm not trying to discourage anyone, just make sure you set your expectations correctly.