General Computer Help Please

[Jasonmm]

Hi

I need help with what kind of computer to build. I don’t see a computer help sections, so I posted my question here.

My question is … How do any of these items affect my MAME machine?

Where do I spend my money?

CPU?  Will the 4 and 6 core CPU’s be a waste? Don’t I really want the fastest single core CPU I can find?

RAM? How does extra ram come into play?

$400 video card or use the Ultimarc Arcade VGA 3000 PEI card?

Windows 7 okay? What OS? I can’t even spell Linux, let alone install it.

Where do I get the most bang for my buck?

I want something new , from NewEgg orZipZoom , I dont want to buy anything off Craigs List either.

Thanks Jason

[mwong168]

I don't think you will need a 4-6 core CPU as I am lead to believe MAME only uses one core.  For the most part you don't need a very strong computer depending which games you want to play.  I know games like that have CHD files like Gauntlet Legends or NFL Blitz require ridiculous specs that would even satisfy Crysis and still not play 100%.  If you are just playing good old 80's classics or 90's fighting games like Street Fighter or Mortal Kombat you could get away with a very basic computer you would use for work or mild computer gaming.  For reference I was running an older AMD Athlon XP2200+ (~1.8Ghz) with 2GB ram and could play about 97% of my games flawlessly.  I just upgraded the computer for $25 to a P4 3.0Ghz w/HT and ASUS P4S800 motherboard which now runs everything great.  RAM I would say 1-2gb is more then enough and anything above 3gb you have to be running a 64bit operating system.

In regards to the video card there is no need to put a 260GTX or even a 4 series card as it will be pure overkill and wasted money.  ArcadeVGA only applies if you are going to be using an original arcade monitor, JPAC in a JAMMA based arcade cabinet.  Keep in mind the older ArcadeVGA won't handle SFIV if you planned on having it on your cabinet and the ArcadeVGA3000 will just get by.

Windows 7 is fine but since you will only be using this for MAME I would suggest going to with the most recent TinyXP build.  It is basically Windows XP stripped from all the M$ bloatware and non essential services disabled such as printer spooling so that system resources aren't tied up for nothing.  This is what I am running on my MAME and Pinball cabinet without a hitch.

[HaRuMaN]

I would recommend XP as well. 

A rock solid dual core machine with 2 gigs of ram can be built for not a lot of money

[kronic24601]

As mwong168 mentioned this is highly depended on what you are using the machine for. I started out with a Pentium 4, simple machine that I got for free. It was around 2GHz CPU and 1 GB ram ... running windows XP (32) and using a pretty basic video card ($30 or so). Performance on pretty much all classic games was just fine, however obviously any game using a CHD or even most newer games for PC (Street Fight 4) didn't run that well ... also the Hyperspin Fronted was a little laggy.

I started reading and found out that you can compile mame to utilize some amount of a dual core CPU, also MAME runs alot better with a 64bit version. After experimenting with Windows XP 64 (which isn't a true 64bit platform) I realized that Windows 7 was really the only way to go if you are really trying to get performance out of those CHD games. So I upgraded everything, and spent a pretty penny ... See my footer for current specs. I fortunately got the CPU and Motherboard for free (gift cards that were going to waste) so it wasn't so bad, but i think it would be better to do something in between spend less and forget about the CHD games (even with a 4.5GHz they still don't all run 100%).

the Arcade VGA 3000 works great if you have an arcade monitor, nice easy solution. I have tested the Arcade VGA on Dirt2, Streetfighter 4, and a few other modern games and it handles them all fine.

As a side note, there are two current problems I have found so far with using windows 7 vs XP ... 1) You cannot 100% strip the loading and customize it for mame. 2) I haven't found a way to increase the mouse polling rate (for spinner games/360 wheel games).

Other than that, everything is moving toward the newer platform, and things won't stay on XP forever. (2cents).

I'd stay away from the newer i5/i7 and just stick with the Core 2 Duo's (which are found pretyt cheap these days ... and just get 2GBs ram). Platform up to you but 64 version run games a little better. (Side note, there is no driver for XP64 using the ArcadeVGA 3000).

[Alpha17X]

To make it 'simple'  you need to find out the system requirements for the .. fanciest game you'll be playing, be it running on MAME, or a PC game. and base your plans around that.

For example the prettiest game on my cabinet is Street Fighter IV, so my system is built to meet the requirements to run it on maximum detail.

I believe mame uses the CPU primarily.

Do you have an idea of which games you'll be running on it?

[DashRendar]

Also you need to look at what you want to run for emulators.

MAME emulates video through the CPU, not video card.  But as was mentioned, PC games like Street Fighter IV and some console emulators will use the video card.

IMO, the CPU is where you want to spend your money.  And 64-bit runs high end games better than 32-bit.

[Jasonmm]

Wow , Thanks for the quick replies ...

Here is my game plan.

I do have a wells gardner arcade monitor ... that I would like to try and use ...

So how about this ...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.429004

with a VGA3000 pci from ultimarc

with

4gb ram

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231277

this HD

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136322

total $400 ,


running tinyxp , anyone know where i can get tinyxp ?

thanks Jason


do you think this works ?

here is my dream on paper

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=103342.0

thanks again J

[HaRuMaN]

Missing a power supply.

[mwong168]

I do have a wells gardner arcade monitor ... that I would like to try and use ...

How do you have this hooked up in your cab and is your cab JAMMA based?  If it is then you would also need a JPAC in order for the ArcadeVGA to work with your WG. 


http://ultimarc.com/jpac.html

[Jasonmm]

I do have a wells gardner arcade monitor ... that I would like to try and use ...

How do you have this hooked up in your cab and is your cab JAMMA based?  If it is then you would also need a JPAC in order for the ArcadeVGA to work with your WG. 


http://ultimarc.com/jpac.html

cant I use a vga breakout cable found here ? ....  http://www.ultimarc.com/JShopServer/section.php?xSec=2

[mwong168]

cant I use a vga breakout cable found here ? ....  http://www.ultimarc.com/JShopServer/section.php?xSec=2

I think so but I have never tried.