Using a laptop in a MAME build..anyone do this ?

[mike boss]

Anyone ever use a laptop in a MAME build before ?
I'm having some issues with one of my existing MAME set ups.
I've tried to resolve the issue, but no dice.
Rather than format and do a clean install on that PC, I was looking to put a different (older/used) PC in the cabinet.
As opposed to spending the few bucks I remember my aunt gave me an old laptop I'd never use.
Spec wise the laptop has more power than the existing PC I'm using in the cabinet.
And I think all in all the laptop would be sufficient memory wise, etc for what I need.
Typically I've always used a desktop PC for these type set ups, but trying to be cheap honestly I thought about using the laptop.
It isn't a cab that gets tons of play

The laptop is a Compaq Presario F500 and I want to use it for my vertical MAME cabinet. So essentially games you'd find on a 60-in-1 board.
Found a few specs online :

Specs

Model: F560US (GF593UA)
CPU: 25W AMD Sempron 3500+ 1.8GHz 1600MHz FSB 512K L2 Cache.
Chipset: Nvidia.
Memory: 512MB DDR2 P5300 2 Slots, 1 Open 2GB Max.
Hard Drive: 80GB 5400RPM Fujitsu (MHV2100BH) SATA.
Screen: 15.4" WXGA 1280 x 800 Glossy.
Optical Drive: LiteOn DS8A1P DVD+/-RW/-RAM.

[RayB]

If it supports an external monitor and the required resolutions, then why not?

Just be mindful of proper cooling since it would be in a confined space during extended play.

[mike boss]

Appreciate it Ray B.
The laptop does support the external monitor.
However it only has USB ports, and the keyboard encoder I'm using is for the old school keyboard connection (PS2).
I have the PS2 to USB adapter, hopefully that will do the trick.
I also have a few USB fans that I can connect to the laptop, they run very quiet.
For what it is worth the backdoor is not on the cabinet, but I can also toss in an extra desk fan that I have kicking around. Just to ensure the unit is cooled enough.
Yesterday I did the factory restore on the PC, and I'll begin to add MAME, MALA, and everything else required shortly.

[ericball]

I wouldn't worry too much about heat unless your laptop or power brick run very hot. The monitor will probably kick out more heat than the laptop.

A few years back I used an old laptop as a TiVo server, so it was on 7/24. No problems, in fact the battery meant it wasn't affected by those power glitches which are just long enough to reset the clock on the microwave. I also put in a CF card as a kind of ghetto SSD when the hard disk went bad.

And that's one problem with the laptop - I'd expect it to die faster than a normal PC. Whether it's the hard drive, the batteries, the charging circuit, the power brick, or the screen - there's lots of stuff which can fail.

[mike boss]

Thank you for the info ericball.
I think for now I'm going with this laptop as I'll be able to pull out the PC and toss this in.
Then I can get around to trying to fix my Mala focus issue on the PC.
I'm also trying to do this install of programs, ROMS, arcade applications a lot cleaner than I have in the past.
The idea being I can just copy all this stuff over and use it on any other PC in the future.
I wiped out the PC back to stock settings the other night and I've started to get my MAME videos & snaps.
I've got most of my ROM tools ready to go (Fuzzy rename/ROM Lister) and hoping to get this laptop installed over the weekend.

[mike boss]

I wanted to pose a question the PC guys here.
I'm still working on getting this laptop up and running with MAME & MaLa.
Now (of course) the existing PC I have in the DK JR is running well. I'm not
getting MaLa loss of focus issue. I'm wondering if this loss of focus has something
to do with the PC not being on for extended periods of time ? Or the battery on the
motherboard possibly dying ? Either way I'll wrap up this laptop project and toss it in.
I was actually thinking to try installing a KVM switch...then keeping the existing PC +
adding the laptop. I think a KVM switch would work with a laptop. I've never tried.
Would a KVM switch work with a laptop ?

[Jump]

Battery on the motherboard is just for like CMOS, it keeps BIOS time, boot passwords, etc. It's shouldn't effect any actual stuff inside the operating system. Can't speak to your other questions.

[trueno92]

Did itx done it, irs hard to turn on the laptop if the laptop is inside the cabinet.

A desktop u can wire the button to inside the coin door, or I even wired mine to the coin reject button.