What CPU and GPU do you guys use for your arcades?

[Soundwave]

And is it enough performance for you or complete overkill?
Also what is the minimum CPU and graphics card that should be used? I plan to use some heavy HSL settings and not really sure how much GPU emulators even use anyway. I hope to use my Geforce 210 because it has no fan and is quiet...will that be enough power for best performance?

[Phreakwars]

I use MAME with different front ends on different computers.

On my son's cabinet, I'm using an AMD A6-5400K APU and it seems to run everything just fine (AtomicFE front end). On my current project, I am running an AMD 5350 (AM1). On my personal machine in my office that I'm using an X-Arcade stick on, I'm running an AMD FX-8350 with an Nvidia GeForce GTX 960 4 GIG AMP! Edition. Everything I throw at that PC just screams.

Then, on my HTPC I'm running an AMD Athlon II X4 650 CPU with an Nvidia GeForce GT 610 and it seems to run Hyperspin and MAME pretty smooth, though not perfectly smooth. My son's PC runs MameUI with an AMD A10-6800K on an Nvidia GeForce GTX 550 Ti, and it's just as good as my FX-8350. My daughter utilizes Mame UI with an AMD FX-4100 and Geforce GT 730, and finally you have my wife's laptop running MameUI on a Core i5 2450m with Radeon 7600m graphics under Windows 10.. All of these PC's are running Samsung 850 EVO SSD's & 8 gigs of Ram except my personal PC which runs 16 gigs.

In rank from fastest to slowest for MAME (and other games) would be:

FX-8350+GTX 960
A10-6800K+GTX 550 Ti
FX-4100+GT 730
A6-5400K APU (Radeon 7540D)
Core i5 2450m+Radeon 7600M
Athlon II X4 650+ GT 610
AMD 5350 APU (Radeon 7600M)

My honest cost effective advice.. I'd go with an A6-5400K and pair it up with a GT 730, or for a bit more, go with a core i5 with the GT 730.

I like the GT 730 for MAME because the card isn't being pushed to it's limits even when using HLSL and you can pick one up fairly cheap. I won't say any more then that is overkill, but I will say it is well rounded for moderate/mid level gaming and MOST MAME games. I wouldn't recommend using integrated graphics for HLSL at all, but I would recommend them for standard MAME setups. With that being said, before I put the 550 Ti in my son's PC, he was using integrated 6800k APU graphics which ran the Radeon HD 8670D.. Now THAT setup was actually pretty dang decent for integrated with HLSL, but still.. go with dedicated.

If your hardware isn't up to par with the above configurations, then at the VERY LEAST, you are gonna want to get a GT 610 which comes in not only PCI-E, but AGP and PCI flavors as well, which means it's probably gonna be the fastest card you can get for older hardware.

As far as CPU's go, a core i5 (and some core i3's), will beat the AMD chips hands down but are a bit pricey... also keep in mind for MAME, the most you will need is a DUAL CORE CPU, any more cores then that, is kind of a waste.

As far as your GeForce 210.. won't be powerful enough....check this out to compare it to the GT 610 I spoke of:

http://gpuboss.com/gpus/GeForce-GT-610-vs-GeForce-210

Hope that helps.

[rball5]

I'm using a G3258 (3.2ghz, overclocked to 4.2ghz).  Without HLSL enabled, the onboard graphics were enough to run everything at 100% speed ("everything" for me is defined as:  Mame, Daphne, Kawaks, NES, SNES). 

When I enabled HLSL, performance dropped & I bought a GTX 750 TI ($95 after rebates).  Everything is back to 100% with my G3258 / GTX 750TI combo.  I have ini files built for all of my games based on the rom's original resolution & I'm using pretty high prescale values in some cases (for my  1920x1080 display). 

Unless you're playing new-ish PC games, a high-dollar GPU is a waste of money.

[BadMouth]

Everyone's idea of running "everything" varies depending on what games are important to them.  Some who only care about 80's classics and use older versions of MAME will tell you a pentium 3 or raspberry pi will run everything.

Are they including Tekken 3, NFL Blitz, or Ridge Racer in "everything". 
Does everything include Naomi and Atomiswave arcade games running on Demul emulator? 
Most importantly, what would you consider "everything"?
I draw the line at arcade games, but it's also possible to run playstation 2 and Wii games on emulators if you have enough horsepower.

First, you either have to define the most demanding game you want to play OR how much you can afford to spend.
It's a case of diminishing returns.  It's up to you to decide where the line is drawn.
The individual games in MAME vary, with 3D ones usually being much more demanding.
(in MAME, your CPU has the job of emulating both the game's original CPU and GPU.  Nothing is offloaded to your GPU except the HLSL effects) 
There is not a processor on the market that can run everything in MAME at full speed.
You can get a $20 used PC and play 2,000 arcade games in MAME (a couple hundred you'll actually play) or spend $800 to be able to play a few dozen more (newer 3D games).
It depends on whether those newer games are important to you.


Here is what I recommend if you can afford it:
MAME is optimized for intel processors.  My own cabs use AMD because they were budget builds from years ago.  If buying today, I'd get the fastest i5 I could afford.  There isn't much point in having more than 4 cores.  MAME mostly just uses 2, but that's starting to change.  The extra cores can handle background stuff and other emulators like Demul and Supermodel use them.  I usually say 3Ghz or go home, but that's a bare minimum.  Buy the fastest thing you can afford, even if that means putting off buying the video card.

For the GPU, Supermodel and Demul run well with Nvidia 60 series (460, 760, 860) or better (770, 870) or the Radeon equivalent.  The newest release of demul from a few days ago is having issues with nvidia cards, but I'm sure that will get sorted.  If you want to play the new mortal kombat x on it, that requires at least a 1GB card.  I know because my 512mb card fell short.

I'm currently running a 3.4Ghz Athlon X3, 512MB Nvidia 9800GT & 4GB RAM.  It's an old budget build.  The video card was used.  I manage to successfully transfer a copy of Vista from my old PC with a dead mobo.  I think I have around $250 in it not including the OS.
It is just good enough to run the things I want to play.
The Naomi shmups hiccup and slowdown in Demul, so I'm running them on an older emulator called Makaron.
It runs NFL Blitz in MAME at full speed, but I had to reduce the resolution (via dip switches in MAME IIRC), turn off scaling, and tweak a few other things.
Definitely can't use HLSL on it or any of the demanding games, but I use it on the older 2D games.
It can run most new PC fighting games with medium settings at 1280x720. 
I'm happy with it for the $$ I have in it, but I'd build something else if building today.

[Malenko]

In my MsPacman I run a Z80 on a 6 in 1 kit

In my Faster than Speed cab the  CPU is a Hitachi SH-4 32-bit RISC CPU (200 MHz 360 MIPS / 1.4 GFLOPS) and the GPU is a PowerVR 2 (PVR2DC)

Cruisn USA cab runs on the standard TMS32031 CPU clocked at 50 MHz, an ADSP-2115 DSP clocked at 10 MHz for sound and a custom 3D GPU

Offroad Thunder runs a PII 333 with a Quantum Obsidian 3DFX GPU

My MKII runs a  TMS34010 @ 6.25 MHz CPU

My sportstation cab runs a MIPS RM7000 CPU with an 3DFX Voodoo Banshee Chipset GPU

[yotsuya]

In my MsPacman I run a Z80 on a 6 in 1 kit

In my Faster than Speed cab the  CPU is a Hitachi SH-4 32-bit RISC CPU (200 MHz 360 MIPS / 1.4 GFLOPS) and the GPU is a PowerVR 2 (PVR2DC)

Cruisn USA cab runs on the standard TMS32031 CPU clocked at 50 MHz, an ADSP-2115 DSP clocked at 10 MHz for sound and a custom 3D GPU

Offroad Thunder runs a PII 333 with a Quantum Obsidian 3DFX GPU

My MKII runs a  TMS34010 @ 6.25 MHz CPU

My sportstation cab runs a MIPS RM7000 CPU with an 3DFX Voodoo Banshee Chipset GPU

That's some hardcore analysis.

[lamprey]

And is it enough performance for you or complete overkill?
Also what is the minimum CPU and graphics card that should be used? I plan to use some heavy HSL settings and not really sure how much GPU emulators even use anyway. I hope to use my Geforce 210 because it has no fan and is quiet...will that be enough power for best performance?

What version of MAME are you planning on running?

I have a couple of machines ranging from a Atom processor with built in graphics to a i7 OCed to 4.4GH with a nVidia 970(I think it's a 970 maybe a 960 can't remember). If you want to do some "heavy HSL" I really don't see a Geforce 210 cutting it. But, it kinda depends on MAME version. The latest versions of MAME are slower is just about every aspect and the recent HLSL update is also slower than the previous incarnation. Depending on that you are trying to do you might want to compare GLSL versus HLSL to see if one is more performs better than the other..?

[nitrogen_widget]

And is it enough performance for you or complete overkill?
Also what is the minimum CPU and graphics card that should be used? I plan to use some heavy HSL settings and not really sure how much GPU emulators even use anyway. I hope to use my Geforce 210 because it has no fan and is quiet...will that be enough power for best performance?

What version of MAME are you planning on running?

I have a couple of machines ranging from a Atom processor with built in graphics to a i7 OCed to 4.4GH with a nVidia 970(I think it's a 970 maybe a 960 can't remember). If you want to do some "heavy HSL" I really don't see a Geforce 210 cutting it. But, it kinda depends on MAME version. The latest versions of MAME are slower is just about every aspect and the recent HLSL update is also slower than the previous incarnation. Depending on that you are trying to do you might want to compare GLSL versus HLSL to see if one is more performs better than the other..?

I would say GLSL is lighter on the hardware.
I can do Timothy Lotte's shader on older hardware on Linux Vs HLSL on windows using the same version of Mame.

[Green Giant]

And is it enough performance for you or complete overkill?
Also what is the minimum CPU and graphics card that should be used? I plan to use some heavy HSL settings and not really sure how much GPU emulators even use anyway. I hope to use my Geforce 210 because it has no fan and is quiet...will that be enough power for best performance?

What version of MAME are you planning on running?

I have a couple of machines ranging from a Atom processor with built in graphics to a i7 OCed to 4.4GH with a nVidia 970(I think it's a 970 maybe a 960 can't remember). If you want to do some "heavy HSL" I really don't see a Geforce 210 cutting it. But, it kinda depends on MAME version. The latest versions of MAME are slower is just about every aspect and the recent HLSL update is also slower than the previous incarnation. Depending on that you are trying to do you might want to compare GLSL versus HLSL to see if one is more performs better than the other..?

What exactly is HLSL?  I see it a bunch and then saw mention that I won't need it since I will be using a CRT. 

If I want to run Gauntlet Legends, would the best i5 work using the built in GPU and disabling HLSL (if it is a feature you disable)?  Or what video card knowing it is a CRT.

[Soundwave]

It's for MAME 161. I'll also be using 16 and 8 bit emulators and Neo Geo...probably use Kawaks since MAME doesn't seem to run but a few rows for me.
My front end for the build is GameX.
I won't be running much in the way of 3D games. Probably just Hard Driving. I know Cruiz'n USA seems to be pretty hard on hardware, I would like to have it at peak performance but not sure if it needs lots of GPU power or not.

Also, should Autoframe skip be 0 if I want the smoothest performance?

I use MAME with different front ends on different computers.

On my son's cabinet, I'm using an AMD A6-5400K APU and it seems to run everything just fine (AtomicFE front end). On my current project, I am running an AMD 5350 (AM1). On my personal machine in my office that I'm using an X-Arcade stick on, I'm running an AMD FX-8350 with an Nvidia GeForce GTX 960 4 GIG AMP! Edition. Everything I throw at that PC just screams.

Then, on my HTPC I'm running an AMD Athlon II X4 650 CPU with an Nvidia GeForce GT 610 and it seems to run Hyperspin and MAME pretty smooth, though not perfectly smooth. My son's PC runs MameUI with an AMD A10-6800K on an Nvidia GeForce GTX 550 Ti, and it's just as good as my FX-8350. My daughter utilizes Mame UI with an AMD FX-4100 and Geforce GT 730, and finally you have my wife's laptop running MameUI on a Core i5 2450m with Radeon 7600m graphics under Windows 10.. All of these PC's are running Samsung 850 EVO SSD's & 8 gigs of Ram except my personal PC which runs 16 gigs.

In rank from fastest to slowest for MAME (and other games) would be:

FX-8350+GTX 960
A10-6800K+GTX 550 Ti
FX-4100+GT 730
A6-5400K APU (Radeon 7540D)
Core i5 2450m+Radeon 7600M
Athlon II X4 650+ GT 610
AMD 5350 APU (Radeon 7600M)

My honest cost effective advice.. I'd go with an A6-5400K and pair it up with a GT 730, or for a bit more, go with a core i5 with the GT 730.

I like the GT 730 for MAME because the card isn't being pushed to it's limits even when using HLSL and you can pick one up fairly cheap. I won't say any more then that is overkill, but I will say it is well rounded for moderate/mid level gaming and MOST MAME games. I wouldn't recommend using integrated graphics for HLSL at all, but I would recommend them for standard MAME setups. With that being said, before I put the 550 Ti in my son's PC, he was using integrated 6800k APU graphics which ran the Radeon HD 8670D.. Now THAT setup was actually pretty dang decent for integrated with HLSL, but still.. go with dedicated.

If your hardware isn't up to par with the above configurations, then at the VERY LEAST, you are gonna want to get a GT 610 which comes in not only PCI-E, but AGP and PCI flavors as well, which means it's probably gonna be the fastest card you can get for older hardware.

As far as CPU's go, a core i5 (and some core i3's), will beat the AMD chips hands down but are a bit pricey... also keep in mind for MAME, the most you will need is a DUAL CORE CPU, any more cores then that, is kind of a waste.

As far as your GeForce 210.. won't be powerful enough....check this out to compare it to the GT 610 I spoke of:

http://gpuboss.com/gpus/GeForce-GT-610-vs-GeForce-210

Hope that helps.

Thanks. I do have a 680 GTX that's not being used but it has 3 huge fans. Probably shouldn't spend money if I don't really have to but I also didn't want a noise machine either so I might just see how the 210 fairs paired with a Core i7..If not then I'll either use my 680 or get a 610 as you suggested.

[ChanceKJ]

A standard, off the shelf, 2009 MacMini.

Thats it.

[nitrogen_widget]

And is it enough performance for you or complete overkill?
Also what is the minimum CPU and graphics card that should be used? I plan to use some heavy HSL settings and not really sure how much GPU emulators even use anyway. I hope to use my Geforce 210 because it has no fan and is quiet...will that be enough power for best performance?

What version of MAME are you planning on running?

I have a couple of machines ranging from a Atom processor with built in graphics to a i7 OCed to 4.4GH with a nVidia 970(I think it's a 970 maybe a 960 can't remember). If you want to do some "heavy HSL" I really don't see a Geforce 210 cutting it. But, it kinda depends on MAME version. The latest versions of MAME are slower is just about every aspect and the recent HLSL update is also slower than the previous incarnation. Depending on that you are trying to do you might want to compare GLSL versus HLSL to see if one is more performs better than the other..?

What exactly is HLSL?  I see it a bunch and then saw mention that I won't need it since I will be using a CRT. 

If I want to run Gauntlet Legends, would the best i5 work using the built in GPU and disabling HLSL (if it is a feature you disable)?  Or what video card knowing it is a CRT.

I have a 2nd gen i5 and it runs gauntlet legends fine.
I put in a 9400GT nvidia card and piped it out to a CRT with component in.
at that point you can leave it or add a simple mask to enhance the scanline affect.

[BlueGhost]

And is it enough performance for you or complete overkill?
Also what is the minimum CPU and graphics card that should be used? I plan to use some heavy HSL settings and not really sure how much GPU emulators even use anyway. I hope to use my Geforce 210 because it has no fan and is quiet...will that be enough power for best performance?

What version of MAME are you planning on running?

I have a couple of machines ranging from a Atom processor with built in graphics to a i7 OCed to 4.4GH with a nVidia 970(I think it's a 970 maybe a 960 can't remember). If you want to do some "heavy HSL" I really don't see a Geforce 210 cutting it. But, it kinda depends on MAME version. The latest versions of MAME are slower is just about every aspect and the recent HLSL update is also slower than the previous incarnation. Depending on that you are trying to do you might want to compare GLSL versus HLSL to see if one is more performs better than the other..?

What exactly is HLSL?  I see it a bunch and then saw mention that I won't need it since I will be using a CRT. 

If I want to run Gauntlet Legends, would the best i5 work using the built in GPU and disabling HLSL (if it is a feature you disable)?  Or what video card knowing it is a CRT.

HLSL is MAME's built in scan line generator.  It's used to give LCDs the appearance of having scan lines like a CRT would.  It also helps make low res games on high res displays not look so jaggie.

HLSL works best with dedicated graphics, without HLSL enabled on board graphics is typically sufficient.

[Soundwave]

And is it enough performance for you or complete overkill?
Also what is the minimum CPU and graphics card that should be used? I plan to use some heavy HSL settings and not really sure how much GPU emulators even use anyway. I hope to use my Geforce 210 because it has no fan and is quiet...will that be enough power for best performance?

What version of MAME are you planning on running?

I have a couple of machines ranging from a Atom processor with built in graphics to a i7 OCed to 4.4GH with a nVidia 970(I think it's a 970 maybe a 960 can't remember). If you want to do some "heavy HSL" I really don't see a Geforce 210 cutting it. But, it kinda depends on MAME version. The latest versions of MAME are slower is just about every aspect and the recent HLSL update is also slower than the previous incarnation. Depending on that you are trying to do you might want to compare GLSL versus HLSL to see if one is more performs better than the other..?

What exactly is HLSL?  I see it a bunch and then saw mention that I won't need it since I will be using a CRT. 

If I want to run Gauntlet Legends, would the best i5 work using the built in GPU and disabling HLSL (if it is a feature you disable)?  Or what video card knowing it is a CRT.

HLSL is MAME's built in scan line generator.  It's used to give LCDs the appearance of having scan lines like a CRT would.  It also helps make low res games on high res displays not look so jaggie.

HLSL works best with dedicated graphics, without HLSL enabled on board graphics is typically sufficient.

Yes and if the settings are tweaked just right, it really does an amazing job of mimicking a CRT including screen edge curvature, phosphor effects..etc. I have a really good file for my 17 inch and since I use LCD to keep size and weight down, especially since this will be a tabletop arcade.

Hopefully a 210 card will be enough for it. I don't really see why it wouldn't be considering the modern 3D games it's capable of running.

[cw]

I have a ver of mame that runs fine on a p100 but to run daphne  you will need a 800 mhz puter or better.  It will cover golden age stuff..

[fleskebacon]

MAME isn't very good at taking advantage of multiple cpu cores, so the 2-core G3258 would probably be a good bugdet choice. The single core performance of the G3258 is almost on par with the i5 cpus which cost many times more.

My 3 Ghz Core2Duo is starting to fall behind, it won't run i.e. Kung Fu Master at full speed on newer builds of MAME, even with HLSL disabled. The older builds appear to be generally faster, although even these old games often suck 75% cpu power when running.

I also have a GT-630 with passive cooling which provides HLSL just fine, if I don't use much prescaling.