MAME PC opinions

[discgolfer72]

from microcenter you can get this cpu bundled with a mobo for the price of the cpu
http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0347369
i use this cpu on my home gaming computer and tied with dual evga gts460's + evga 8800gt for dedicated psyx i can run any pc game full blast

the only time anyone needs the peformance diffrence intel gives you over amd is if you are doing heavy mathematical calculations (aka folding) or wehen using cpu heavy apps like cgi rendering or graffix design

for every day computer use and gaming spending the extra 100$ for the little extra cache speed is just not worth it

 

[Frax]

[*]You can get 64bit drivers for your devices (video card, chipset, audio, etc)

Is this really even an issue anymore? For anyone with a computer that has parts built within the last 4 years, this should be a total non-issue. If anything, finding drivers for *VISTA* was an issue. Finding drivers for 64-bit these days is pathetically easy, IMO. :|

 

[Paul Olson]

Is this really even an issue anymore? For anyone with a computer that has parts built within the last 4 years, this should be a total non-issue. If anything, finding drivers for *VISTA* was an issue. Finding drivers for 64-bit these days is pathetically easy, IMO. :|

That was specifically for people trying to use XP 64.

 

[JODY]

Windows 7 is the first version of Windows where the 64 bit version is more common than the 32 bit version. Drivers are not an issue.

 

[smalltownguy2]

Let me clarify the 64-bit versus 32-bit discussion here:

I'm running with the following assumptions:

1. This is a dedicated MAME cabinet PC. (no other use except emulation)
2. OP wants to run Hyperspin FE (or another graphics intensive FE).
3. OP wants a 'seamless' boot up, with no trace of windows noticeable.
4. OP wants to be able to run the newest ROMS that MAME will play at 100% framerate with no skipping due to the CPU bogging down.

Given these assumptions, I advised he use a 32bit version of XP. Windows7 cannot be used b/c of point #3.

Given that Win7 is out of the discussion, then the only way I would advise a 64-bit install of XP (paired with a 64-bit compile of MAME) for performance boost would be if he's already tried a 32-bit install and is 85-90% there with games that are at the top end of his resources AND he's able to locate 64-bit XP drivers for things he needs to have drivers for, like sound.

One other consideration: I have not yet verified that the preferred (read: 'cab friendly') emulators for consoles are all running happily with 64-bit XP. So there's more to think about here.

Now, if the OP is willing to sacrifice on a few assumptions, then by all means, enjoy the benefits of running MAME on a Win7 64-bit OS. But the only setup that I have found to satisfy ALL of my 'cab friendly' needs has been a custom compiled version of 32-bit XP Pro, running on a mobo that allows a custom BIOS splash screen. It's the only way I was able to achieve an experience that came close to booting a 'real' arcade cabinet.

 

[Deadpool66]

Do you plan on running any windows games like HOD3 or Street Fighter IV?

 

[Broodwich]

I'm amazed at how mame needs at least a 2ghz processor or higher to run, most games IMO should run fine on a 1ghz or slower pc. WTF do you need all the extra power for? the menu screen???

I'm ofcourse basing this off older games and not newer games like ddr/initial D/ anything past 1998.

A P1 could run most emulators.

 

[FrizzleFried]

I'm amazed at how mame needs at least a 2ghz processor or higher to run, most games IMO should run fine on a 1ghz or slower pc. WTF do you need all the extra power for? the menu screen???

I'm ofcourse basing this off older games and not newer games like ddr/initial D/ anything past 1998.

A P1 could run most emulators.

MAME does not SIMULATE the games it plays. MAME EMULATES the HARDWARE that the ROMS run on. It takes MUCH MUCH MUCH more processor cycles to emulate what HARDWARE does than to simulate what SOFTWARE does. Case in point: Donkey Kong. The older versions of MAME ran Donkey Kong great... but the sound wasn't right... it was using SAMPLES (cheating/simulation). The newer versions of MAME actually properly emulate the sound circuit of the game requiring more CPU power which is why it takes a beefier PC to run Donkey Kong on MAME now vs the old versions.

MAME is not chalk-full of PORTS of arcade games... MAME runs the actual arcade ROMS... by EMULATING the hardware that those roms run on.

 

[Broodwich]

MAME does not SIMULATE the games it plays. MAME EMULATES the HARDWARE that the ROMS run on. It takes MUCH MUCH MUCH more processor cycles to emulate what HARDWARE does than to simulate what SOFTWARE does. Case in point: Donkey Kong. The older versions of MAME ran Donkey Kong great... but the sound wasn't right... it was using SAMPLES (cheating/simulation). The newer versions of MAME actually properly emulate the sound circuit of the game requiring more CPU power which is why it takes a beefier PC to run Donkey Kong on MAME now vs the old versions.

MAME is not chalk-full of PORTS of arcade games... MAME runs the actual arcade ROMS... by EMULATING the hardware that those roms run on.

didn't know that, i have little to no interest in mame. thanks for the info tho.

 

[PrepP]

Do you plan on running any windows games like HOD3 or Street Fighter IV?

It's a possibility I may in the future, but that wasn't in my original planning.

Just a quick update for anyone that cares, I picked up a 24" lcd off CL to use as my monitor.I had originally planned to use a CRT but got this at a good price and I like that it will be lighter and much easier to mount. Still searching for a budget computer that meets my needs.

 

[FrizzleFried]

Sorry... but MAME using an LCD looks nothing like an actual old-school arcade machine. If you want to do MAME properly, you need to interface it with a standard res CRT (or at the very least a Tri-Res arcade monitor).

Is that LCD a wide screen LCD? If so... that's even worse.

LCD = one standard PROPER resolution. All non-native resolutions look like ass.

MAME = DOZENS of different resolutions to properly display each game.

Bottom line... do not use an LCD for your MAME cabinet if you want the games to look like they did BITD. If you don't care... why bother with a cab... just run MAME on your PC with a control panel or something.

 

[bradd]

i used an old TV in mine and it looks alot better (authentic) than the standard computer monitor i was using before

 

[Thomas]

My hyperspin 1 set up without the movies is at 966 gigs. I have less than 50 gigs to go before it is complete. I can't wait to get all the high quality movies so I can finally get it set up.

I see a lot of specs flying around in this thread but what I didn't see is hard drive speed / cache.

I bought a SATA, 64MB Cache, WD 2.0TB, WD2001FASS 7,200RPM Black Hard Drive because I thought It would help things in the long run.

I also have a SATA 10,000RPM WD Raptor for the boot drive. It's only 73gigs.

I am thinking wrong or could a faster hard drive help out a little?