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| JeffferysGhost:
First post here(Happy New Year BTW). So, I'm planning my MAME machine, and this will be on a very low budget. There are plenty of desk-top computers available on Craigslist, for $80 to $100. Is there anything I should avoid? Do operating systems matter, and , if I want the monitor to power up, when the PC is turned on, is there something special to look for? Thanks, JeffferysGhost |
| Darkjudge1:
Well, some of this will be up to you and what type of games you want to run. Personally, I managed to nab a dual core and monitor in exchange for some help I was giving someone. FYI, sticky for FAQ did have a link to your answers: http://www.arcadecontrols.org/yabbse/index.php?board=1;action=display;threadid=14155 Personal opinion: it depends on your level of technical skill and how much you want to fiddle with it. MAME has pretty low requirements if you're just looking to run the classics (Pentium 4, 2-3 Ghz... and even that might be overkill.) If you want something like... Tekken Tag, then it's going to be a bit more in the hardware department. I'm sure I'll get someone yelling at me over this, but I don't like Vista personally. Windows 7 and XP I've had good luck with. (I've been tinkering with MAME since .34, if that gives you any idea. I'm fairly experienced with the software/computer hardware stuff, not so much with the cab building/wiring stuff... which is why I'm here!) That's the short version. Much longer version is here: As to the last question, I know there's some power strips that do that for you (see ultimarc.com or groovygamegear.com ... at least I think one of those suppliers carry it.). That to me looks like a dead simple option. |
| PL1:
--- Quote from: JeffferysGhost on January 01, 2014, 12:43:10 am ---Is there anything I should avoid? Do operating systems matter, and , if I want the monitor to power up, when the PC is turned on, is there something special to look for? --- End quote --- Welcome aboard, JeffferysGhost. Things to avoid - Vista systems and slow clock speeds. ;D IIRC, some Dell systems are hard to tap into the power button (ribbon cable) but there are posts that show how to work around it. For monitors, check the menus to see if there is a setting for power-on resume(?), if not: 1. Plug it in 2. Turn it on 3. Unplug it 4. Plug it back in -- Does it power on automatically? Also check monitor viewing angles, especially for cocktail builds. The power strip you're referring to is called a "Smart Strip" -- IMHO spend a bit more and get one with the sensitivity adjustment or make your own using a 12v relay. IIRC one guy killed his CRT because his non-adjustable strip was switching on and off all night long like a car's turn signal -- the passive current draw of his system was right at the edge of triggering the strip. Scott |
| ark_ader:
Avoid the Raspberry Pi. (Happy New Year too) |
| JeffferysGhost:
Thanks for the responses, hmmm... Al the craigslist computers seem to be Vista, the games I'm going for are really vintage, like Space Invaders and Asteroids, but I'm sure once I get into it, that list will become more diverse (my kids think those vintage arcade games are the "coolest things ever"). |
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