Some question on hardware and software.

[ISmokeCrackEveryDay]

I currently have a old single core powering my MAME cab, but it has been shutting down randomly and I can't figure out whu. The fans and airflow should be stopping it from over heating, but to be fair this computer is old and beat up.

So I recently ordered a Core Duo 2 @ 3.0ghz, 4gb of ram and I also ordered a low profile 1gb GPU for good measure. This should be a vast improvement over what I have already.

So, part of the upgrade is because I want to run Mr. Driller and it runs like crap on my current computer. The other being, I'd like to look into having some other emulators running on it such as N64 and Dreamcast. Gamecube would be cool, but I won't hold my breath.

Should the core Duo 2, 4gb of ram and the 1gb gpu be enough horse power to run the dreamcast emulator?

And as a side question, my cabinet has 2 joysticks, and 12 buttons (6 for each player). For emulators that use 'L' and 'R' and all that other jazz, how do some of you get around button limits? I already feel the panel is getting full and don't want to overcrowd it. Also the panel is steel and I don't want to cut anymore holes in it.

I think I have an old post somewhere with my cab and controls if anyone wants to take a look.

[wp34]

Early on in the design process I wanted to be able to play all the consoles on my CP.  Yotsuya has a great post about this subject somewhere but I can't find it.  In essence any console past the NES just doesn't play that well using arcade controls.  I'm not sure there is a good way around the L/R buttons short of plugging in a USB handheld controller.

IMHO the Atari emulators and NES play well enough on a cabinet.  Most anything later feels like a square peg in a round hole.  Your mileage may vary though.