mame 'ing a cab couple of the same old questions

[clok]

I had a Pandoras Box 3 on order and got stiffed (well sorta of, got money back so all is well, just time lost waiting). I have  FINAL BLOW i am going to convert to mame for a IT break room in our office.  Since the Pandoras box failed I am leaning towards a PC build again.  The big questions if anybody knows and keep in mind i want to use the original cab monitor-

1: Mortal Kombat 3  how much PC do i need to run this? I am thinking this is my BASE game for performance. ( i have lots of older PC, but  just dont know the answer to this as all mine are higher end and all run War Gods etc. my extra pcs are much weaker)
2: Interface from PC, best to just wire a JPAC,  or?  I got time , lots of my own free time so cheaper is better.
3: should I just order another Pandoras box 3?


I know, I know, what do I WANT? well im not sure so I wanted to  hear cons/pro's things I maybe am not thinking about.

[DudeRegular]

1. Well not knowing what your pc specs are i can tell you my e8400 at stock 3.0 Ghz runs pretty much all the 2d mame stuff just fine. Umk3 and all the capcom fighters are great.

2. Do you have a good jamma harness and setup in the cab now? Jpac is good if you want to use the stock harness and it can help interface a pc to the monitor that has standard or medium res. You will probably have to run some more wires for extra buttons depending on what all you want to get going.


Read up on the groovymame here in the forums too. Its the best way to play mame on a crt with a pc.

[clok]

I was wondering on some older stuff,  i have a bunch of P4's  not near as fast as a 8400, my very first Mame cab has a 8400 OC in it and it plays most stuff, when i built it I was looking at Gauntlet Dark Legends as my "must play" game.  I was assuming MK3 would take a lesser machine to run it, but how much? But this is moot now, i picked up one of the PCs in the for sale here 2500 so its got all the juice i need.

I have never MAMED a working cab so just not sure. Monitor is excellent but after that i was  leaning towards a new CP.  All my builds to this point have had PC monitors, so they where hooked direct to the PC,  Is there some simple interface to pump the PC into the stock monitor? err I know there is, again, jut looking or thoughts, pro's cons, etc.. as I know many have done this.

I am trying to keep the build price as low as possible as its all out of my pocket for  our IT room. I am going to reuse joysticks and buttons i have , but will need more buttons, looking to do  standard 6 button, 2 joystick setup, with 2 coin up buttons, 2 player start buttons and maybe a ESC  button.