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Newb questions
bobbyb13:
A PC has more processing power so can play more games faithfully at full speed than a RPi and you can continue to update it with newer versions of MAME and also set it up to work with faithful screen resolutions per game.
If you want easy and faithful there is a lot of fpga development ongoing with plug n play jamma boards, like those from jrok and craftymech's BitKit boards.
It all depends on what you want to play and how much work you are willing to put into it.
Your game list desires will dictate which path.
lilshawn:
--- Quote from: lilshawn on July 26, 2023, 12:55:15 pm ---XXX-in-1 boards typically use what we colloquially call CHAMMA (chinese jamma) it does not 100% conform to JAMMA pinouts, as some wires are repurposed for other buttons and whatnot... in particular the E/27 positions have been used for a button instead of ground. plugging a xxx-in-1 into a jamma harness results in "BUTTON6" being pressed all the time. not necessarily a problem in games that don't use the button, but a problem in games that do.
so putting a 5000-in-1 or whatever on your machine that currently has a 410-in-1 would probably work just fine.... but the aforementioned issue would arise if it where to be plugged into the MVS systems JAMMA harness.
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sorry, i should clarify a bit... the pandoras box, game elf, and the like typically use CHAMMA, the 60-in-1 boards do use standard JAMMA wiring. xxx-in-1 and xxxx-in-1 boards could be a crap shoot as to what they are and could be either or their own non standard wiring (while still using the 28 pin edge connector)
you will have to double check with your chosen device if it is compatible with JAMMA or not. it's not a big deal to rewire a JAMMA for CHAMMA... just a couple things need to be moved around.
PL1:
--- Quote from: Cariba on July 27, 2023, 11:54:18 am ---I think it gets harder to do that (switch to PCBs) with the MAME PC connection right?
--- End quote ---
Not if you use a J-PAC.
https://www.ultimarc.com/control-interfaces/j-pac-en/j-pac-jamma-interface/
--- Quote from: Cariba on July 27, 2023, 11:54:18 am ---Can you explain why MAME PC would be better emulating that XXX-1 or vers Rpi etc?
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XXX-in-1 units use an ancient hacked version of MAME so you'll lose all of the emulation improvements since then and you won't be able to play any of the games that have been added since then like Kono e Tako.
Most RasPi images are running ancient versions of MAME and the ones that are running recent versions of MAME can run into the computing power limitations of the RasPi if you try to play a processor-intensive game like Gauntlet Legends or NFL Blitz.
PCs are more powerful and flexible, but they also involve more setup/configuration.
Which approach is best for you? Depends on your wants/needs, how accurate you want the emulation to be, your desired game list (especially the "can't live without it" ones), etc.
Scott
Cariba:
Yes, in terms of games, really basic early to mid era Arcade, up to street fighter era. I have a DIFFERENT MAME system for everything else in terms of higher end games, 3D games, shooter/driving games etc, AND I was suppose to build a PC MAME system anyway for capcom cab, and I think I have enough computing power for shooter games like leathal enforcers etc. What I am trying to determine, is IF and how (what systems) I can use that will allow me to SWITCH between using MAME PC system and PCBS (and even MVS system)...and trying to first understand what xxx-in one and, pandoras boxes, etc have to offer, and how they compare to MAME PC. Particularly that I have not done my own MAME set up, and installing a pandora, or XXX in1 was more straightforward.
Further I've been trying to understand the limitations and requirements of doing all this on dedicated CRTs (as I am not doing this on LCDs).
So what I seem to have gathered (and humbly learned) is: (pls correct anything I have stated wrong)
- (some) Pandora boxes can in fact display on a SIGNLE (say 26" Horizontally mounted) CRT monitor BOTH vertical and horizonal games
- Can XXX-1 boards do this as well? or only certain ones? I know my Elf 412 in one is only vertical.
- A MAME PC set up can be connected to a JAMMA harness using J-Pac
Based on this, here is my curent plan of action:
For the Capcom 26" horizonal CRT cab
- leave wiring Jama harness as is, and leave MVS system in place (I don't believe I have an MVS/Neo Geo wiring, as original cab and wiring was a capcom, and that is plugged into the MVS system - but perhaps I am wrong, I know that the cab doe snot have a select button to select game like a neo geo would)
- Continue with the plan to install PC MAME system but using J-Pac connector (I Already purchased the PC and video card [and an I-pac]), this way I can perhaps also add shooter guns and games in the future.
- This will allow me to remove main Jamma harness and connect to either MAME PC or MVS or PCB boards (with a switcher?) - Only thing is I am not sure how the main power will be handled to do all this
For the 19" Cab w/ Jamma harness, I am not sure, perhaps if the previous MAME PC build goes ok for me, I may just make smaller less expensive MAME PC for this as well, and use a J-PAC and as well, and switch between this and playing of off PCBs (with switchers).
So in general, as long as I can (power up) and have option to play PCBs or MAME I'm ok.
bobbyb13:
Yup.
1. Jamma wired horizontal monitor cabinet
2. Jamma switcher from RiddledTV
3. J-Pac
4. MAME PC
5. Any other jamma board that displays to horizontal
Don't forget an isolation transfomer for the monitor.