So I'm interested in building myself an arcade machine to play retro games, but I don't want to spend a fortune. Where is a good place to start for building an arcade machine like this for cheap?

Junkyard

You mean for empty arcade cabinets?

I could probably hook up a monitor, Raspberry Pi, and USB joystick, and then put that all in a junkyard cabinet. Of course, I would likely have to clean it off first (and maybe repaint as well).

there you go you didn't need our help at all

Glad I could help

there you go you didn't need our help at all

Well, I needed JAVIKS' advice, and he gave it to me. Thanks, JAVIKS!

I also wanted to hear different ideas, in case I might prefer to go a different route with this instead.

hi forget the rpi forget the cabinet that's gay just /r/buildapc combine this cpu http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116923 with a cheap mobo and other parts dn't wrry about a graphics card dnt buy wndozes just install arch linux and you'll be playing mrtal kmbt all day

ha ha ha

Damn Steev being helpful!

Yeah an rpi is definitely not what you want, just make a small PC to do it. You can get a really small form factor if you want to do put it in something

personally i do think the rpi is rather underpowered

can it run CPS2/Neo-Geo games smoothy? (honest question)

Neo-Geo yes

CPS2 I *THINK*

Problem is you're forced to use poo pooty outdated emulators most of the time to get acceptable performance.

Make sure you get 'Killer Instinct' on it, that game is BOSS

http://www.xgaming.com/store/category/arcade-parts-and-accessories/

there's lots of sites that sell buttons and stuff, I love going through them even though I have no interest in arcade gaming

i dream of building a cabinet myself from scratch but i don't have the money for it and i can't help but think it'd be something i'd play with for a week tops and then forget about