Recommended 2016 PC specs to run most non-3d games

[Jakobud]

What sort of PC hardware is needed these days for running pretty much all games that are not 3D? Basically anything like Mortal Kombat 3 timeframe and before? Not really interested in games like Tekken or Virtua Fighter or any other 3d games. I'm assuming it doesn't take much these days but I just want to make sure.

[Haze]

What sort of PC hardware is needed these days for running pretty much all games that are not 3D? Basically anything like Mortal Kombat 3 timeframe and before? Not really interested in games like Tekken or Virtua Fighter or any other 3d games. I'm assuming it doesn't take much these days but I just want to make sure.

There's some 2D stuff with rather high requirements these days.

The IREM M62 (and related) drivers for example really require a decent  i5 / i7 even if they're simple 2D games from the 80s.  The reason for this is the emulation of the analog drum hardware and filters; all older versions of MAME were completely missing the drums in the audio emulation.

[Jakobud]

Okay so something like a Mini-ITX with Intel i5 or i7 would be good? What about video card? If I'm just planning on using an LCD in the cabinet, is it worth putting in any sort of graphics card? Do people still use Ultimarc's ArcadeVGA?

[paigeoliver]

Almost everything Non-3D that anyone cares about was running full speed 16 years ago on even older hardware. If your hardware can't support the bleeding edge mame then you can always roll back your mame version, even on a game by game basis if you want to be clever.

And Jakobud, I can't believe you are going to build an LCD cabinet, you have been here since the beginning, you aren't one of those safe-space kids who are afraid the big bad CRT will hurt them.

[pbj]

[BadMouth]

Okay so something like a Mini-ITX with Intel i5 or i7 would be good? What about video card? If I'm just planning on using an LCD in the cabinet, is it worth putting in any sort of graphics card? Do people still use Ultimarc's ArcadeVGA?

Do you plan to use MAME's HLSL effects?
(scanlines, glow, etc)
If not and you don't plan on running anything other than MAME, the graphics card is pointless.

If you do drop money on a graphics card, get something new (along with a new OS) that can do Directx 11.
That way you can add Demul and newer PC games later if you choose to.


The last version of MAME I tried was v.170, but here's my $.02 anyway.
For strictly 2D you'd probably be fine with an i3 or i5 in the 2.4 Ghz or faster range.
(can't tell you 100% for sure without using it myself)  Modern marketing has stopped mentioning clock speed, but it still rules for emulation.
If it were me, I'd drop the extra money on a 3Ghz processor just to be sure.
There are now drivers in MAME utilizing more than 2 cores, but the ones I've seen mentioned were 3D hardware, so for 2D you are probably fine using an i3.
Maybe Haze can comment on that.

Really though if you're only interested in 2D stuff and aren't worried about HLSL, any abandoned PC found near a dumpster can do it if you use an old enough version of MAME. 

[BadMouth]

Not sure what your budget is, but arrow direct usually has off lease 3Ghz+ i3's
http://arrowdirect.com/search?q=core+i3#/?_=1&filter.category_hierarchy=Desktops&page=1
Always google for a discount code.

I got a 3.something Ghz Pentium 4 for $15 shipped a few years ago.
Old, but it got the job done cheap in a cab for my nephew.

[Jakobud]

And Jakobud, I can't believe you are going to build an LCD cabinet, you have been here since the beginning, you aren't one of those safe-space kids who are afraid the big bad CRT will hurt them.

lol I know! The appeal is ease of installation, light, shallow cabinet, and long term viability. I like an authentic experience, but not at the expense of all the hassle. Like I enjoy leaf switches but I will probably never put them in my own cabinets because I don't ever want to open up the cabinet just to adjust their sensitivity every now and then. Just give me some semi-quiet microswitches that last forever and require zero maintenance and I'll be happy :-)

Also this cabinet is for a friend so they aren't going to care if it's using an LCD. Maybe add in that hardware scanline generator thing if that is still for sale. I've been outta the game for a while :-)

[Titchgamer]

I just fitted my cab with a scan line generator actually.
It used to have a CRT installed but after it blew up I changed it for a LCD.

Anyways I have no CRT to compare it to but it looks better than the emulated scan lines IMO.

[JDFan]

Not sure what your budget is, but arrow direct usually has off lease 3Ghz+ i3's
http://arrowdirect.com/search?q=core+i3#/?_=1&filter.category_hierarchy=Desktops&page=1
Always google for a discount code.

I got a 3.something Ghz Pentium 4 for $15 shipped a few years ago.
Old, but it got the job done cheap in a cab for my nephew.

Just got an e-mail from them today with the current 20% off promo and free shipping -

Enter coupon code HOLIDAY at checkout to save an extra 20% off your entire order.

[paigeoliver]

I have 20 games in my basement and most of them have leaf buttons. In the last 5 years I have adjusted one leaf button and had one microswitch button break.

And Jakobud, I can't believe you are going to build an LCD cabinet, you have been here since the beginning, you aren't one of those safe-space kids who are afraid the big bad CRT will hurt them.

lol I know! The appeal is ease of installation, light, shallow cabinet, and long term viability. I like an authentic experience, but not at the expense of all the hassle. Like I enjoy leaf switches but I will probably never put them in my own cabinets because I don't ever want to open up the cabinet just to adjust their sensitivity every now and then. Just give me some semi-quiet microswitches that last forever and require zero maintenance and I'll be happy :-)

Also this cabinet is for a friend so they aren't going to care if it's using an LCD. Maybe add in that hardware scanline generator thing if that is still for sale. I've been outta the game for a while :-)

[keilmillerjr]

My family tv is 24 years old in a few weeks. Still going strong with no signs of issues. It's not a Ching fu. Sony Trinitron. It will probably last another decade without issues. Keep in mind that a crt in an arcade at home will see less time than my family tv with my 4 year old daughter watching the same VHS scooby tape over and over.

[paigeoliver]

My family tv is 24 years old in a few weeks. Still going strong with no signs of issues. It's not a Ching fu. Sony Trinitron. It will probably last another decade without issues. Keep in mind that a crt in an arcade at home will see less time than my family tv with my 4 year old daughter watching the same VHS scooby tape over and over.

The one in my Pong clone is now 44 years old, has never been serviced and still works pretty well once all the tubes get warmed up (yep, tube based).

[pbj]

Yes, yes, the CRTs all of us are still hauling around are the "good" ones that didn't die. 

It's like you've all forgotten the TV repair shops that used to be EVERYWHERE 20 years ago.

[smass]

Ah... the lcd vs crt thread hijack.  Good times. 

[jan25th]

Young pup! I think the TV repair shops existed because you could fix them. Back in the day people fixed all kinds of things. The LCDs just go straight to the landfill when there is a problem.

[jan25th]

@smass Don't be a buzzkill.

[Titchgamer]

Yes, yes, the CRTs all of us are still hauling around are the "good" ones that didn't die. 

It's like you've all forgotten the TV repair shops that used to be EVERYWHERE 20 years ago.

Yup, when it was cheaper to repair than replace.

My old CRT was about 25 when it give up on life, Yeah I could of got it repaired but it was ---smurfing--- heavy and i got a new LCD for £20 so....

[keilmillerjr]

One day I'll open up a vcr repair shop. We will service vcrs and sell alien guns.

[paigeoliver]

Yes, yes, the CRTs all of us are still hauling around are the "good" ones that didn't die. 

It's like you've all forgotten the TV repair shops that used to be EVERYWHERE 20 years ago.

The tech is stupidly more reliable and longer lasting than flat panel tech. For example, did you know that back in the old days when you went to Sears or what not and bought a cheap set that the tube in it wouldn't even be new? It would be a "refurb" tube that already saw 10 or 15 years of service in another set, then got zapped once, tested as good, and off to a new set.