It's been a long time....

[PUSHtoEJECT]

Long story short, I built my cabinet in 09 and the economy finally caught up to me and we had to move. I had to store my cabinet because we didn't have the space.  Then came a new career and family. Now I can finally use it again, but I am a bit lost. I am just looking for some general help to point me in the right direction.

I have a Wells Gardner monitor which I think is the D9800 model? All I remember is that it can do the max 800x600 rez.

Graphics card is the ATi Rage 6.

Old hand me down PC built around 2011. (I can boot up and pull specs if needed)

Iam looking to emulate as much as I can but mainly 80's MAME games and consoles. I would also like a nice frontend.

Q1. What graphics card should I get? I see the HD5450 recommended a lot. Looking to get all those low rez/Fq outputs via analog output but beefy enough to run frontend smoothly and maybe some newer fighters.

Q2. What Operating system?

Q3. What frontend? I see groovyMAME recommend wit CRT Emudriver but I do have a license for Launch box/Bigbox.

Q4. I do have a gaming pc (2700x/Vega64) that is right next to the cabinet. Could I run dual cards or would it be better to just use the old PC? I mostly run Iracing on my gaming PC and I am a bit worried about all the usb cabinet controls interfering with my wheels/pedals for Iracing.

I think that's it for now to get me started researching. 

Thanks!

[jimj]

...
Q1. What graphics card should I get? I see the HD5450 recommended a lot. Looking to get all those low rez/Fq outputs via analog output but beefy enough to run frontend smoothly and maybe some newer fighters.
Q2. What Operating system?
Q3. What frontend? I see groovyMAME recommend wit CRT Emudriver but I do have a license for Launch box/Bigbox.
Q4. I do have a gaming pc (2700x/Vega64) that is right next to the cabinet. Could I run dual cards or would it be better to just use the old PC? I mostly run Iracing on my gaming PC and I am a bit worried about all the usb cabinet controls interfering with my wheels/pedals for Iracing.

I'm no expert and basically in the same boat as you (currently bringing and old long neglected MAME cab back to life), so take my opinions with a grain of salt.
Q1. No advice other than AFAIK GPU doesn't matter much to MAME, it's your CPU that counts
Q2. GroovyArcade (Linux) or Win10 with GroovyMAME/CRT Emudriver (basic GM info here)
Q3. Launch box/Bigbox should work with GroovyMAME
Q4. I think using the old PC dedicated to your cab would be simpler

[bobbyb13]

Launchbox is the front end and is just the user interface that is prettier than the perfectly functional mame UI.
GROOVYmame is the mame build that takes advantage of...
CrtEmudriver (and VMM, and the arcade OSD) which is what makes your monitor behave properly.

You will want/need all of these.

GPU actually can make a huge difference in regard to ease of setup and the 5450 has only given me headaches- with Win 10 at least.

You want the least drama in doing this...?

-Start with a PC that has at least a 2.6 processor AND a pci-e slot.
-Get a pci-e slot graphics card at least HD7000 series that has multiple outs (vga for your WG and something else that you have a monitor for.)  I use a dvi in pc monitor myself so I can leave it plugged in as I get my real screen tuned in and not be left in the dark so to speak.
-Begin with a drive scrub and fresh Windows install.
-Load 7zip, groovymame and the proper CrtEmu version for your card onto the box.
-Get your roms and other add-ons squared away so that GM boots and runs on you PC monitor.
If you already have GM completely set up then when you fire up CrtEmu and the video mode maker it will do everything you want in one shot.
-Follow Calamity's CrtEmudriver setup precisely. VERY precisely.  Read it a few times before you even start and make sure you have the right version for the graphics card you have!
As in, have a tablet or something to read Calamity's instructions directly from while you work on the PC.

Chime in with how you do.

[PUSHtoEJECT]

Thanks JimJ and bobbyb13 for the reply.

I booted up the PC and found out that it is an intel core 2 quad CPU @ 2.4 Ghz, 3GB Ram and a 500gig HDD.

So do you think it would be better just to Get a pci-e slot graphics card (HD7000 series or better)  OR

Get this https://www.microcenter.com/product/644537/hp-elitedesk-705-g1-desktop-computer-off-lease

It's an APU AMD A8-7600 that can boost up to 3.8, 8 Gigs ram, integrated Radeon 7 Graphics and 256 SSD. It has a VGA output but is there a possibility its digital only and I won't get the low rez?

[bobbyb13]

If the box you have has a pci-e slot it should work fine with a proper graohics card (certainly to run older games.)

I have no experience using on board graphics with CrtEmudriver myself but if it is a GPU on Calamity's list then it should work.

VGA is analog.
I recommend having a card with two outputs as you can use two screens while getting your resolutions aquared away and never be left with a blank screen from trying out of range settings and having to start all over.

Have you read through all the CrtEmudriver stuff yet?