My new MAME (+other emulators) PC options - advice and feedback please.

[crispux3]

I know this question has been asked by countless new builders, so I appreciate your feedback. As this is only my second post, if this is in the wrong forum, please redirect it.

Anyway, I am starting a new bartop arcade project, and my first concern was to get a PC up and running and connected to a TV to see if everything works well, and then put it into a bartop.

I, unfortunately, don't have access to any spare PC parts, as I just don't have any lying around, and so I'll have to buy and build a new PC. I understand that I could save a few bucks and buy used, but I don't like to do that based on extremely bad luck with used electronics in the past. I received enough money at Christmas 2012 to build a budget PC specifically for a MAME cab. I'm looking to spend 300-350 total (including tax and shipping). Here is what I am looking at so far as far as parts as of 2/5/2013:

Motherboard - BIOSTAR H61MGC LGA 1155 Intel H61 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard - $49.99 Newegg + 10 rebate
CPU - Intel Pentium G860 Sandy Bridge 3.0GHz LGA 1155 65W Dual-Core Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics BX80623G860 - 69.99 Newegg
RAM - CORSAIR XMS3 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10600) Desktop Memory Model CMX8GX3M2A1333C9 - 47.99 Newegg (this is the fastest RAM that the pentium will support. I am not so concerned with CAS timings. I'm not even sure I need 8GB, but I may run Windows 7 x64, and if not Windows XP either x64 or x86. I plan on running hyperspin though as a frontend).
PSU - Rosewill CAPSTONE Series CAPSTONE-450-M 450W ATX12V v2.31 & EPS12V v2.92 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS GOLD Certified - 69.99 Newegg
HDD - Western Digital WD Blue WD10EZEX 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive - 84.99 Newegg (I am actually going to buy this for a little cheaper off Amazon. I won't be using it though in my mame cab. I will swap this into my HTPC at home and use a Seagate Barracuda 7200rpm 500GB drive in my MAME cab instead. I will only have classic ROMS, CHDs, and hyperspin on the system, and while I will be close, 500 GB will be sufficient for my needs.)
Video card - Radeon HD 4350 - 12 - ebay find. (I think it is a Dell model, so I'm not sure it will work with soft15khz, but I'm not sure why it wouldn't). If not, I'll probably splurge for an arcadeVGA or try to find another cheapo card.
Monitor - I will be using a 14" Toshiba CRT with component inputs that can display up to 480i. It will NOT do 480p. I will also use an RCA vga-to-component transcoder. I have partially got this working from a macbook pro laptop with bootcamp and powerstrip, and in displays just fine on my TV, so while it may not be the best transcoder, I think it will work.

Total cost: ~#334.95

So what do you think? A good budget MAME build or not?

I also plan on running 16bit and earlier system emulators, and may do N64, but I'm not sure.

I chose a sandy bridge pentium because from what I've read and researched, although Ivy Bridge is manufactured on a smaller die, the speed and gaming benefits are nominal over sandy bridge. I also wouldn't be saving that much heat and energy by moving to Ivy Bridge. I also realize I could wait until Haswell comes out, but again, if for only emulation, I can't see a justifiable purchase of a Haswell chip when a sandy bridge chip would do just fine. Then again, but Q3 (Q4?) 2013 when Haswell is out, sandy bridge may drop in price. Thoughts?

The mobo I chose because of price, options, and generally favorable ratings at newegg. Same with the PSU (although I did research that one well, and it is a rebranded Super Flower Green PSU which is a well regarded PSU in the enthusiast community), RAM, and HDD. I bought the vid card on ebay because it was cheap and is supposed to work with soft15khz. If it doesn't, well, I'm only out 12 bucks.

I am going for longevity, efficiency, and satsifactory speed in this build while being able to play in native resolutions. Hence the use of the TV and transcoder with soft15khz.

Thanks for your time and patience reading. Input and feedback is appreciated.

Oh, and one last question. I assume that I don't need a case do I? I can just leave these parts "open" in cabinet? I plan on purchasing case fans though and installing them into the wood cabinet for airflow.

Thanks.

[crispux3]

Hmm...80 views and no responses. That could either be good or bad. I'm under the impression that no news is good news, so I must have an okay pc build planned?

Was the original post simply too long to read? I would still appreciate any advice or feedback.

Thanks.

[Drnick]

Your problem is no pictures,  we like to look at Pics here 

Anyway the PC you are looking at building should have more then enough muscle for what you are planning to do.
Prices seem OK, and at least you know that you will be getting brand new warranted parts.

I would go with XP64 as the OS (But that just my personal choice)
Hyperspin will run happily with that setup no problem.
The 4350 is not the greatest but it will do the job as Mame relies on CPU more then anything else. It should work with soft15

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=119740.0

Although following thread advises using the dvi connection.

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=110631.0