EDIT: Here is the first draft of what I would like to accomplish. If a lot of comparable processors fall into the same range, I may substitute a number for the processor model and then list multiple processors under the same number. I'll probably have Stage 1, Stage 2, etc.
WIP - use at your own risk. Processor lines as well as color lines will be moved as more people chime in.
THIS IS ONLY THE FIRST DRAFTTo help those who want to know what the required specs are to run the games they are interested in, I thought I'd make a chart.
Sorry I don't have a sample made up, but I'm at work and I don't want to waste time making a crappy version in MS paint.
On the left side will be select games/emulators listed from least demanding, to most demanding.
Next to them will be a bar that turns from red to yellow, to green. The more demanding will not turn to green until farther right.
Along the bottom, left to right, will be processors, slowest to fastest, with vertical lines drawn where they fall in relation to being able to run the games.
I don't want to list too many games. I'm guessing if someone wants to run pole position on an ancient PC, they'd probably use an old build of MAME anyway.
outrun
m2emulator (daytona usa, sega rally, etc)
cruis'n usa/world
california speed
supermodel emulator (daytona 2, scud race, etc)
san francisco rush
ridge racer (in MAME)
I'd like input from people with other processors, especially intels.
Please list your processor, OS, Video Card and the most demanding game/emulator on this list that it runs 100%. Feel free to add comments that might help place them appropriately.I know lots of other things factor into it, but this will help give people an idea.
I'll put some info about video cards, OS's, and disabling services in Windows in the same post.
Example:
3.4Ghz AMD Athlon X3, XP64, Nvidia 8600GT
just barely plays California Speed 100% after MUCH tweaking to the PC.
Plays Supermodel Emulator. Plays SF Rush at 90-100%.
I'd place this processor aligned with the yellow section of those games, as a 64 bit OS and a lot of tweaking was needed.
Someone should not have expectations that a PC with this processor would run those games perfectly out of the box,
especially with antivirus and a bunch of other windows background processes going.
If they are up for tweaking, they may get away with using it though.