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Using a LCD Monitor for a DIY Arcade Machine

Convenience, Cost and Capability Make LCD Monitors the Top Dog.

Ok, so I have finally decided on what I will be using for the DIY Arcade machine. I have choosen to go with a 17” LCD monitor for the project. This is different than what I was originally planning so I wanted to outline my considerations so people know why I decided to go with this choice. This is also to help people with ideas and suggestions if they are planning out their own DIY Arcade Machine based on these articles.

Originally I had been saying I wanted to go with a small LCD so I could build a mini arcade system. This will still be a goal of mine for a future DIY arcade machine but for the first one it doesn’t seem reasonable, with the main factor being cost.

Mini LCDs tend to be about 3 times more expensive than a standard LCD monitor. I am not sure exactly why this is, but I imagine it has something to do with factors like demand, specialty use, and touch screen functions.

I looked into mini CRT displays too which also tend to be used for specialized applications. A lot of these displays are built to industrial or military standards which I would assume increases their cost quiet a bit. The sources I found for these types of monitors did not list prices so as the old saying goes “If you have to ask… you can't afford it!”.

Being the persistent person I am, I tried asking and contacted one company via voicemail. I mentioned I was interested in purchasing one unit and would not be buying in bulk. Needless to say, I never received a call back. So going back to LCDs…

Most Miniature LCDs are design to be used for specific computer applications like POS (Point of Sale) machines, vehicle computers and displays, and systems that require touch screen functionality. Because of these factors some of least expensive mini LCDs are around $300 for a 7” inch display, with better models costing upwards of $500-800 dollars.

In contrast, you can purchase a 17” LCD Monitor for about $100 to $150 dollars. Because of pricing issues and the budget I have to work with for the first DIY arcade machine I finally decided a mini LCD was out of the question (for now).

The next factor in purchasing a standard sized LCD was availability and convenience. A lot of the sources I saw for mini LCDs monitors were Chinese companies or vendors that I have never heard of.

I work in the computer industry for a living so I am pretty familiar with most reputable vendors. (Even smaller ones) I checked with our distributors for these same displays and they were unable to source them. What it came down to was taking a risk purchasing from an unknown company because of poor availability on a product.

Because I am structuring this project as a guide people can refer to for ideas on building their own DIY Arcade machine, I wanted to make sure the parts I used had standard availability incase other people where purchasing those same items for their arcade machine.

Some of the final considerations cam down to weight, size, capability, and ease of use. As I mentioned in my previous article:

The Right Display for a DIY Arcade Machine?

In this article I outlined some of the advantages of LCD monitors over other types of displays. If you are interested in those details checkout the article link above. The main benifits being monitor connections, resolutions, refresh rates, etc.

In addition to those things an LCD monitor is light weight so it will not add much weight to my arcade system. LCD Monitors also have mounting holes in the back of the display since people commonly mount them on the wall. This will make it easy to mount into my arcade cabinet.

Conclusions

In the end, after doing a lot research and shopping around a standard LCD monitor seemed to be the best choice for a project that is concerned with both functionality and budget. While this type of display will keep me from creating a true “miniature” arcade machine, it will meet my current budget for my first arcade machine. (Which is the biggest ruling factor at the moment.)

Because of the affordable price on standard “15-19 LCD monitors it makes LCDs some of the most convenient, and cost effective solutions for this type of project. They also support most current video standards and utilize a refresh rate which is ideal for most console systems that are available as emulators.