Deal Heads up on cheap Desktops for MAME boxes:

[Kajoq]

Just spotted this on deals.woot.com
Pretty beefy machines for the cost.  Even the one that is $150 will do everything you need for MAME.

http://www.ikordesign.com/woot/htmlexport/gx520spread2.htm

3.0ghz dual core, 40gb drive, 1gb RAM, WinXp Pro -  $150
3.4ghz dual core, 160gb drive, 2gb RAM, WinXp Pro - $260

Few choices in between.

[Drakin]

Yea..very good prices...just so ya know the 3.0ghz is a HT P4

[testicle187]

When you click the link from the deals.woot page the prices are actually cheaper.  All the computers but the last one are small form factor though.  So if you plan on adding a video card, you are probably out of luck completely.  Even if they do have AGP or PCIx slots you would need a low profile card and that might not fit. 

[JRoz]

Hey, i'm not up to speed on specs..but will these run newer games like virtual tennis 2009 and SF4 on the PC (in addition to MAME)?

[testicle187]

Hey, i'm not up to speed on specs..but will these run newer games like virtual tennis 2009 and SF4 on the PC (in addition to MAME)?

No.  They might have the processing power (doubt that even though), but they definitely don't have the graphics processor to support that.  You would need a new video card, and these may not even have the proper slots to add one.

[gryhnd]

When you click the link from the deals.woot page the prices are actually cheaper.  All the computers but the last one are small form factor though.  So if you plan on adding a video card, you are probably out of luck completely.  Even if they do have AGP or PCIx slots you would need a low profile card and that might not fit. 

You can get an nVidia 6200 AGP L.P. for under $40, but that said,  if you decase the PC you may be able to use full size cards. Dell are quite modular and decase beautifully.