Quick CPU Question

[MaxAsh]

Wanted to move my PC-based MAME setup to a cabinet. I have had everything setup for a while now (.149 MAME) on an old single-core Athlon 64 3400+ system. Plenty of power to run all the normal stuff, classics, etc. A guy I know offered to sell me an old Compaq with an AMD Athlon X2 4450e Dual-Core Processor. The single core runs around 2.2Ghz, the dual cores 2.3Ghz. I've read a lot of discussion about processor power, overclocking vs. not, etc when it comes to MAME. Would there be any noticeable improvement switching these out, or would it not be worth bothering with those two CPUs in mind? Thanks!

[BadMouth]

As far as dual core is concerned, if you have games that are borderline it can help.
The extra headroom for background processes can be enough to get rid of some sound skips if those are your only problem with a game.
Some drivers in the newer versions of MAME are actually utilizing multiple cores now.

Where these two particular processors are concerned, the newer AM2 socket X2 outperforms the older Socket 939 Athlon 64 by a noticeable margin.
I'm basing that on having an old PC that was a dual core Athlon 64 and then using an X2 of the same speed in my first dedicated emulation build.
Still it's an older PC and I wouldn't spend much for it.

EDIT:  I have a 3.2Ghz X2 kicking around somewhere if you're interested. (processor only)

[MaxAsh]

He wanted $40 for the old PC with the Athlon X2 4450e Dual-Core. It also has 3GB RAM, 250GB HDD (vs. my 1GB / 160GB in my current MAME box). If it was a substantial jump, worth the $40, but it doesn't sound like a huge bump. I might be better served just keeping an eye out for something with a little more power for not much more cash. I'm still mid-build, so I can always upgrade the PC part later once I finish the rest of the setup I guess. Thanks BadMouth!

[blitzd]

I'm a bit of a noob here but I've been using MAME and other emulators for years. While I'd easily say that yeah, Dual core is substantially better than a single core CPU (and it is). It really all depends on what games you are playing and what OS you are running. Vista and Windows 7 use more space on your hard drive as well as RAM, so if you are using a frontend like Hyperspin you'd be better off using XP. The PC in the cab that I am building is an AMD X2 250 3.0GHz. it is fast enough to play pretty much anything up till PS2 games without slowdown. Right now I'm playing Soul calibur and Marvel vs Capcom 2 on it. FFX was a bit of a pain and it could play some gamecube and Wii games with noticeable slowdown.

Your comp is pretty outdated and that comp of his is as well. It's a socket AM2 processor so RAM for it would be kinda hard to find. I'd advise checking craigslist for free pc's then checking the model to see if the computer uses a a Socket AM3/AM3+ motherboard. And once you have a bit of disposable income you can toss one of these in your machine to really give it a boost, as I am doing pretty soon.
http://www.microcenter.com/product/428114/FX_4130_Black_Edition_38-39_GHZ_Quad-Core_Tray_CPU

Only 40 bucks!

[MaxAsh]

Yea, I'd love to pickup a Mobo/CPU/RAM cheap and just swap them out. I've got everything else (case, PSU, drives, extra HDDs, etc). Keeping my eye out for anything 3.0Ghz or higher with dual, tri, or quad core. If I can stay under $50 via craigslist or somewhere else, I'd be happy with the cost.

On a sidenote, I found a local place selling 4:3 LCD monitors super cheap. I bought a 21" 4:3 for $25, perfect for my MAME build until I find a ridiculously cheap larger one (or decide to spend the money to go ArcadeVGA old school).

[lilshawn]

memory bandwidth is a consideration too.

you can have an old athlon 3ghz and a newer X2 with 2.2 or 2.5ghz and have the x2 run faster overall...and it's not because of dual cores...

the older boards used old DDR ram. while newer boards are using faster DDR2 or even DDR3

even though the processor can be marginally slower, the increased bandwidth from the ram makes up for it.

[MaxAsh]

memory bandwidth is a consideration too.

you can have an old athlon 3ghz and a newer X2 with 2.2 or 2.5ghz and have the x2 run faster overall...and it's not because of dual cores...

the older boards used old DDR ram. while newer boards are using faster DDR2 or even DDR3

even though the processor can be marginally slower, the increased bandwidth from the ram makes up for it.

Good points. I'm used to shopping for modern day gaming when I purchase PCs, so I have to reset my brain slightly when working with the MAME plan. Keeping my eyes peeled for a mobo/cpu/ram combo that I can jam into this existing PC case and parts. Thanks all

[MaxAsh]

Update: I picked up a Asus NCCH-DL Dual CPU Xeon 3.6Ghz, 2GB system in a Lian Li case off craigslist for $25. The case alone is awesome feature-wise. The dual-CPU thing is a waste on MAME I assume, but I can't complain. The lady said something about an ex-boyfriend leaving it behind and wanting to de-clutter. She didn't know anything about computers and just wanted it gone. Talk about a deal - works great so far. Loading up all the MAME stuff and testing it out.

[lilshawn]

Update: I picked up a Asus NCCH-DL Dual CPU Xeon 3.6Ghz, 2GB system in a Lian Li case off craigslist for $25. The case alone is awesome feature-wise. The dual-CPU thing is a waste on MAME I assume, but I can't complain. The lady said something about an ex-boyfriend leaving it behind and wanting to de-clutter. She didn't know anything about computers and just wanted it gone. Talk about a deal - works great so far. Loading up all the MAME stuff and testing it out.

nice find...and cheap as all hell. a total waste for mame though.

I'd keep it an use it to run a network attached storage device for media or streaming video and keep looking, you'll find lots of deals from disgruntled girlfriends. 

also: http://www.freenas.org/

[BadMouth]

a total waste for mame though.

Why is that?
I'm not familiar with this processor, but 3.6Ghz sounds good to me.

[dkersten]

It's overkill but it will work well.  Games like MK4 really need some processor power to run well without being slow and stuttering.  But any game that already runs at 100% won't benefit a single bit.  One thing you can do if you wonder if your computer is too slow is to hit and hold the insert key.  If the speed in the top right corner goes above 100%, then you have enough processor power to run it at normal speed.  If it is below, you need more computer.

However, some games like the Naomi/Naomi2 games require a 3d card and a lot of horsepower (and a different emulator like Demul), so those would benefit from a powerhouse gaming rig with a lot of CPU and a decent amount of memory (as well as a good 3d card).  But then you have to question if it is worth putting a decent gaming rig in a mame cabinet to run mostly older arcade games. 

The xeon computer in question would be a good one to run a server OS and use as a NAS or media server, but then in a home environment even that is overkill, so I wouldn't worry about it.  Your old mame computer would run a file server just fine too..  if that is even something you want in your home network..

[BadMouth]

No such thing as overkill when it comes to emulation, only cost to benefit ratio.
(and it sounds like OP is doing good!)

I like the 90's shmups and 3D fighters.  I play other emulators and PC games on my cab as much if not more than I play MAME.

[kuehnau]

There's a few games that totally benefited from a upgrade to the CPU even when I had a dedicated GPU involved. Ones that come to mind are Battle Toads and Mr. Driller

[paigeoliver]

No such thing as overkill when it comes to emulation, only cost to benefit ratio.
(and it sounds like OP is doing good!)

I like the 90's shmups and 3D fighters.  I play other emulators and PC games on my cab as much if not more than I play MAME.

While true, the cost to benefit ratio, or bang for your buck is most optimal in emulation for that first dollar spent. Any old junker PC you pull out of the trash can handle 90+ percent of mame full speed as well as all the cart based consoles. While the overwhelming majority of the games in that final 10 percent (and in disc based consoles) require specialty analog controls that you almost certainly won't have on your cabinet or simply have controls that don't map well onto an arcade control panel (shoulder buttons used directionally and dual thumb sticks just don't translate onto that arcade panel in a playable way).

If you are having trouble getting full speed out of a particular game in your mame setup try dialing back your mame version (just for that game), 10 versions at a time, you might eventually get it to full speed that way.

[ark_ader]

Just get a modded xbox.