What is a good yet cheap processor for MAME 3d games

[BubNBob]

I want to play Tekken series 1-Tag. Rival Schools. Killer Instinct. and more.

What is probably the cheapest processor I can get so I can run these games smoothly.

[ABACABB]

For Rival Schools, you'll be safe with an Intel processor, dual core at 3.0ghz or higher.  1st Gen Core i5 or even a core 2 duo would be inexpensive at this point and both would work well in MAME.  Stay away from AMD processors if you want 3D performance in MAME.

[Thamiel]

G3258 overclocked to 4ghz will handle everything nicely.

[Jakobud]

I'm not familiar with MAME's latest tech, but for a couple years now hasn't Mame development moved toward supporting Direct3D, which would allow Mame users to take advantage of graphics cards?

[slappyhooper]

Pretty certain all D3D allows for is better scaling/hlsl effects. MAME is about accuracy, so the developers eschewed anything but software acceleration.

[slappyhooper]

I second an overclocked g3258. They are just rock stars on certain things like MAME

[Yenome]

my aracde has an amd II x2 4600 (ithink the 4600) in it and i play KI with no issues but KI has been playing fine for years never sure why people talk like it is some power hungry none working game. Lots of people i speak to IRL look at KI and the MK series and claim it just now got playable. I been playing them at 100% since i got into mame.  havnt played the others.