which computer would be better?

[ohioratrodder]

Building my first mame cabinet right now using a wg d9200 there is 2 different computers i am looking at. I know both will play almost all games but my main concern is which one is better for nfl blitz and gauntlet dark legacy . I would think the i3 3.3 would be better because of the faster cpu. Both computers have basic mobo which wont allow overclocking. If neither of these computers would be good is there any other sub $400 option to run nfl and gauntlet? Price does not include buying a video card for the wg d9200 but i also only have a copy of xp 32bit to use if i build a machine.
first one is $200
specs:
Intel core i3 3225 3.30 GHz ivy-bridge arch.
intel hd 4000 graphics
gigabyte b75m-d3h board
usb 3.0/ sata 6.0gb/s. pcie 3.0
crucial 4gb ddr3 1333(up to 32gb 1600 ram)
bitfenix merc alfa case
antec earthwatts continuous 430watt psu
LG optical writer
160gb seagate hdd(sata)
windows 7 home premium x64 SP1

Second one is $250
specs
Intel i5 Quad-Core r 2.5Ghz 2400s
8 GB DDR3 ram - 500 GB SATA hard drive
DVD
dual-monitor capable
matching 19" Lenovo widescreen LCD monitor included
keyboard & mouse also included
Windows 7 Professional w/ COA attahced
Thanks

[brad808]

Let me pose this question to you: Are you comfortable putting pc parts together yourself? Is it really necessary to get all the "extra" stuff with the computer such as dvd, monitor, windows, keyboard/ mouse?

If you don't need that stuff and are comfortable building a pc you can remove the unneeded stuff and move that money into the basic parts that would get you a better system for mame. Basically just mobo, cpu, ram, powersupply.

Also don't use a 32bit operating system. Make sure you use 64bit... it does have an effect on mame performance.

[ohioratrodder]

Both of these computers are used on Craigslist. I have no problem building a computer, but have not followed up much on cpu the last few years. I figured i could barely buy a mobo, cpu and ram for much cheaper then $200 and that does not include a 64 bit operating system. I didnt really know how fast of a cpu i need to play nfl blitz or gauntlet. I tried looking on the forums but most people playing them games also where building med to high end pc gaming systems. This one will be for mame and a few other arcade type games

[brad808]

OK fair enough. I would go the second option. That chip (2400s) has a turbo boost that will take it up to 3.3 ghz if need be anyways. 4 cores. Chip has a higher value so if you are unhappy with the cpu you could always sell it and purchase a better one. More ram. If I was buying that's the one I would go for.

[ohioratrodder]

Ok I wasn't sure if mame would use turbo are hyper treading.  I am waiting fo either to get back with me. What would be idea for running the two games in either amd or intel

[brad808]

Intel tends to perform better clock for clock in mame

[ohioratrodder]

i prefer intel only because i know more about them. If i found a good deal on a mobo/cpu amd bundle or built computer i would buy it.

[brad808]

In most cases Intel is recommended for mame because it performs better. Amds will be slightly cheaper for a higher clocked cpu but they won't preform as well.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus

[jammin0]

i5, that's what I would choose.

With that powerful of a setup you will probably find a lot of other games other than MAME that you can run on it.  U360s so that you have more options with games?

[ohioratrodder]

I am building two machines, one 2 player and one 4 player. The 2 player will be mostly for2d  fighting games and a few other odd games i like. That one i can throw together a bunch of old parts i have and make it work. The four player is the one i am worried about, its for me and the kids to play anything from the xmen/tmnt/cadillac and dinosaurs up to nfl blitz/gauntlet dark legacy. My computer now plays both of them fine but its a gaming computer i build about 5years and still plays most new games on high res so i am not ready to retire it yet. I didnt know nfl and gauntlet need such a powerful cpu because we always played them on my pc and i thought nothing of it till now. I have an over clocked i7 920 that ran at 4.0 stable since new. Do you have and idea what a good min cpu to look for to run both of them games? I am not worried about anything really beside on it either, will the i5 2400s be fine?