Question 1

What parts do I need to build a Raspberry Pi arcade cabinet?

Accepted Answer

You need a Raspberry Pi 4B or 5, RPi UPSPack Standard V3P, LiPo battery, MicroSD card, USB-C power cable, arcade buttons, joystick, speakers, amplifier, and wiring supplies. The total cost is approximately $170–$305 excluding the cabinet and monitor.

Question 2

How much does it cost to build a DIY arcade cabinet?

Accepted Answer

The electronic components cost between $170 and $305 depending on quality and quantity. This excludes the cabinet/enclosure and monitor. LED buttons, addressable LED strips, and a 3.5" IPS display are optional upgrades.

Question 3

What type of arcade buttons work with Raspberry Pi GPIO?

Accepted Answer

30mm Sanwa-style arcade buttons with microswitches work perfectly. They have 0.187" quick-connect tabs for spade connectors, making wiring easy. Wire the NO (Normally Open) terminal to a GPIO pin and COM (Common) to ground.

Question 4

Do I need a USB encoder for arcade buttons on Raspberry Pi?

Accepted Answer

No. You can wire arcade buttons directly to the Raspberry Pi's GPIO pins without a USB encoder. Each button connects to a unique GPIO pin using active-low logic with internal pull-up resistors. This is simpler, cheaper, and has lower latency.

Question 5

What tools do I need for arcade cabinet wiring?

Accepted Answer

Essential tools include wire strippers, a crimping tool (for spade connectors), a multimeter for testing continuity and voltage, a small Phillips screwdriver, electrical tape or heat shrink, and labels or colored tape for wire identification.

ARCADE CABINET PARTS LIST