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Quick CPU Question
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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:

--- Quote from: BadMouth on June 20, 2014, 11:56:18 am ---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.

--- End quote ---

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.   :blah:
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