What's Inside an Arcade Machine? Here is the Truth
Getting a good understanding of the hardware of an arcade machine is essential if you want to repair or maintain it. This article will look at the PCB and monitor shields. It will also touch on some of the components of the CRT filter.
Monitor shields
Depending on what type of game you play, you may have one or more monitor shields. The screen can be up to 35 inches in diameter. It can be made of a number of materials, including glass, plastic, and cardboard. Its functions include shielding the joystick and displaying visual characters. The screen can be illuminated by fluorescent bulbs or LED lights.
You might be wondering what the monitor shields inside an arcade machine are made of. You can find them in front-loading cabinets and top-loading cabinets. They are often made of plastic and glass, and are attached to the main body of the cabinet. The monitor may be powered by a jack or a plug.
CRT filter
Using a CRT filter in an arcade machine is a nice way to add an 80s look and feel to your games. There are several options to choose from that will help you recreate the original pixel art look of televisions from the 80s and early 90s.
The CRT vector display shader is one of the most popular. It's designed to replicate the glow and phosphor trails of a real CRT. It also features a scale algorithm to give you various looks.
Another CRT Shader has a few different modes, including a curvature option, a masks function, and a scanlines feature. It's a solid choice, especially if you have a modest graphics card.
Video Credit: What's Inside?
PCB
Printed circuit boards (PCBs) are used to house components in an arcade machine. These components include integrated circuits and hardware acceleration circuitry.
These circuits help to speed up the play of the game. The circuitry is usually built around CPUs and discrete logic gate chips. They are designed to function with specific algorithms and are optimized for specific games.
The PCB is connected to the cabinet through a harness. The harness contains wires for joystick signals, voltages and controls. It can be difficult to swap the arcade PCB in a cabinet because of the wiring.
The JAMMA connector plugs into the arcade PCB to provide power and video output. Some arcade machines also have an external sound board or control interfaces.
Countertop cabinet
Typically, countertop cabinets are made from wood or metal and have a monitor inside the cabinet. They are ideal for places with limited floor space, such as a bar or pub. They are often used for games that are in the gambling or trivia genres.
The most common countertop arcade machine is the upright cabinet. These machines are about six feet tall and stand on a wooden or metal base.
The majority of upright arcade games in North America are popular games such as Pac-Man, Donkey Kong, and Street Fighter. Some upright cabinets also include light guns and a steering wheel. Some also have a mirror that is mounted at 45 degrees above the screen. These cabinets are usually decorated with artwork advertising the game.
RepliCade unit
Unlike traditional arcade cabinets, RepliCade units are built to last for hours, and can be left plugged in all day. Designed with old-school fans in mind, these miniature cabs have authentic features, including a non-slip bottom, multi-speaker audio, and coin-return buttons.
RepliCade's first mini-cabinet is a quarter-scale reproduction of Pac-Man. It uses wood and plastic to create a miniature replica of the original arcade cabinet. While the graphics are not as precise as the full-size cab, most people won't notice the fuzzy anti-aliased edges.
New Wave Toys also produces a full-size replica of the Tempest arcade game, which uses a vector monitor and a spinner. This game is one of the first vertical scrolling shooters, and it introduces powerful boss enemies.
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