Convert Your Gaming PC Into an Arcade Machine

By Jade Branion - 2024-05-06

There’s no denying that arcade machines were the epicenter of gaming in the 1980s and 90s, offering an unparalleled gaming experience to an entire generation. From the captivating flashing lights and sounds to adrenaline-pumping challenges, arcade machines hold a unique charm that still resonates to this day. The global market is estimated to reach 20 billion USD by 2025.

Thanks to technological advancements, you can recapture the magic of the arcade era without leaving your home. Discover the various steps to convert your gaming PC into a fully functional arcade machine. So, fire up your nostalgia and unleash your inner champion once again!

Screenshot URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFIZRTrloOo

Pick a Cabinet

The first step is to find an empty cabinet for your project. Fortunately, there are several options to consider:

Screenshot URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFIZRTrloOo

Work Your Cabinet

If you’re building your cabinet from scratch, choose a design and utilize YouTube videos and tutorials. With the pre-fab option, the task will be pretty simple: follow the manufacturer’s instructions until you build a full-scale cabinet that matches the specifications. 

If you purchased a used arcade machine, the work is almost cut out for you. You’ll only need to dismantle the entire machine to the bare bones and restore it to its nearly original appearance. Once you’re done rebuilding the cabinet, sand everything down and apply the paint of your choice.

Find a Gaming PC

Image by Tai Bui via Unsplash

Once the cabinet is ready, find a gaming PC compatible with the games you intend to play on it. Fortunately, the system requirements for running most 80s and 90s consoles are low. For example, all Commodore 64 games and PS2 DVDs can efficiently run on a Pentium 2 system, so any old gaming PC from the last ten years is up to the task.

If you opt for an old arcade machine and the monitor is in working condition, the wiring won’t likely be compatible with any modern gaming PC. In that case, replace the monitor and control board with new ones; try selling the old ones on eBay to recoup a couple hundred dollars.

Install the Gaming PC

We recommend getting a graphics input that can accept the plug from your monitor. It may also prove useful if your gaming PC is Wi-Fi enabled. Once all this is set up, the next step is to install the old gaming PC or laptop inside the cabinet.

While you may be tempted to slap everything inside the cabinet and be done with it, that may not be such a great idea. Ensure it fits well.

With the arcade cabinet being such an enclosed environment, your gaming PC may occasionally overheat. Therefore, it may be better to remove all the components of your gaming PC and glue them on the side of your arcade cabinet to provide breathing space and ensure it doesn’t overheat. After installing the PC, plug your USB trackball into the gaming PC to act like a mouse.

Build a Control Deck

Screenshot URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFIZRTrloOo

For an authentic experience, ditch the keyboard and mouse for a custom control deck using readily available online kits or pre-built options with joysticks, buttons, and connections for your gaming PC.

After building your control deck, proceed to lay out your buttons. This step is simple: drop the buttons into the holes on the deck and hand-screw the plastics in place from the bottom. For most gamers, the popular layout usually has two joysticks and eight buttons. 

Once the control deck and buttons are in place, wire everything. Fortunately, every button only requires two wires that run to the Printed Circuit Board (PCB), and you can easily wire everything up using one or two ground circuits.

Get an Emulator

An emulator is software that allows you to run games designed for other platforms on your PC. Some of the best emulators you should consider for your arcade machine include:

Furthermore, we recommend installing a front-end system to manage your games and emulators; LaunchBox is ideal. To install LaunchBox, go to their website > click on the download button and input your email > go to your email inbox and click open the download link > wait for the download process to complete > click it to start the installation.

Get the Marquee, Lighting, and Sound

After setting up your arcade machine, the next step is to focus on the marquee, lighting, and sound. When it comes to the marquee, you want to pick bright and eye-catching colors to make the entire machine more visually appealing.

You have two options for the lighting. If your arcade cabinet comes with a ballast, you can rewire it using an AC adapter; otherwise, buy a fluorescent lighting fixture at the nearest store and bolt it to your machine.

Regarding sound, some gamers may opt to stick with their computer speakers, while others get subwoofers for better sound quality.

Enjoy Your Gaming Experience

With your arcade machine and controls set up, it's time to unleash your inner arcade champion! Fire up your favorite classics and invite friends and family for games such as:

Sky Hero Adventure

Are you ready to embark on a thrilling aerial journey as a fearless hero who must navigate perilous levels and collect power-ups? Sky Hero Adventure will take you to the sky, where you'll dodge enemy fire and face wily monsters in an action-packed, Pac-Man-like arcade game.

Some of the game's features include:

Color Cubes

Do you love the classic Tetris game and solving puzzles? Relax your mind with Color Cubes, where you can solve puzzles in different ways using a limitless number of moves. Try as few moves as possible to complete the puzzles for a stimulating game.

Some of the game's features include:

Aztec Bricks

Prepare to time travel into the ancient world of Aztecs and Mayas in this Arkanoid/breakout-style game. You'll get your fill of exciting, dangerous adventures that will have you dodging flying skulls and red-hot stones. And there's a big boss at every level who you must avoid to continue playing and finish the level. Choose your weapon: rockets, cannons, bombs, or guns.

 Here are some key features of the game:

Smiles: Fortune Hunters

Similar to the 1981 version of Donkey Kong, this platform game provides brain-teasers and action to uncover buried treasure. You'll help the protagonist collect treasures while evading bad guys in different settings, including Egypt's pyramids, Arctic glaciers, and outer space.

Prepare to climb ladders, shuffle across ropes, dig through rocks and walls, traverse dangerous mazes, and ignite bombs to avoid monsters.

Some of the game's features are:

Donkey Kong

A Nintendo brainchild, Donkey Kong is an arcade game with a simple yet well-developed storyline. Prepare to face the beastly gorilla that has taken Pauline, the main character's girl, in his clutches. You'll maneuver different platforms while dodging obstacles, like barrels that Donkey Kong rolls towards you, balancing on elevators to avoid falling off, and unbolting girders to make Donkey Kong tumble.

Some of the game features include:

Game On!

Now that you have converted your gaming PC into an arcade machine and have some of the best games to get you started, game on!