Hardware Upgrade or Not?

[nickbuol]

OK.  I am actually an old timer around here, but I have been away for about 2 years.  Anyway, I am back, but I have a question.

My current MAME cabinet has been running like a champ on a Pentium III - 500MHz box.  I have not touched any new MAME version or new ROMS for over 2 years, but that is fine too.  Most of what I like is already there.

Anyway, I have the opportunity to get a free PC from work.  It is a Gateway 1800 desktop, which is running at 1GHz, but is a Celeron.  I am wondering if it is worth the time and effort to swap out or if I should just stick with the 500MHz true Pentium III...

Anyone?  
Thanks!

Nick
(Nickster's Arcade)

[nickbuol]

Another Note:

My P3-500MHz box runs everything pretty much but NBA JAM, Stun Runner, and maybe just a couple of others that get a little choppy.  NBA JAM is playable, but not quite right.  Again, this is based off of a 2 year old, DOS version of MAME.

I can't justify a new PC right now because I just bought a kick butt screamer of a PC, but it sits in my bedroom, the arcade is in the basement rec room, and my wife uses the new PC all of the time, so I can't combine them.

[SirPeale]

Two choices:

1) swap out the PC.  Sounds like pretty much a hard drive swap. Easy.

2) build another cabinet for the new PC!  

[Generic Eric]

All I have to say is FREE.
If its free, you should take it home either way.  If you don't use it as a replacement, than use it for a MP3 jukebox. Or build a second cab.
Its free.

I say swap it out.  Its gonna take up maybe half a day of your time I'd guess.

YOU CAN DO IT!

[nickbuol]

OK, for the rest of you pack rats (like me) I am taking it home anyway.  As for swapping it out, you bet, piece of cake, but my question is will it make that much difference in performance being a Celeron?

[hyiu]

if its a 1G celeron.... I don't think it'll make much difference...

I think you'll be able to play NBA JAM... but not much more...

I would say... take it home first... then just install Mame (a newer version) and dump like 3-5 games in there and try it... (even just play with keyboard or whatever...)
and then you'll see if its worthed...

especially... play something like Mortal Combat that is more "video" than street fighter which is more "cartoon"...

if its 1G, but Celeron and using onboard video and sound... its not much better than your 500MHz....

ps: I think memory matters also... so.. before bringing it home... try to load it up with memories... haa haa haa....

good luck...

[Generic Eric]

OK, for the rest of you pack rats (like me) I am taking it home anyway.  As for swapping it out, you bet, piece of cake, but my question is will it make that much difference in performance being a Celeron?

Oh...
Dunno, I went from a Athalon 600 OC'D to 700 to a 1.8ATHALON XP.  Not a very good gauge for comparison.  Good score on the free PC though.  I wish a computer would fall in my lap.

[GroovyTuesdaY]

OK, for the rest of you pack rats (like me) I am taking it home anyway.  As for swapping it out, you bet, piece of cake, but my question is will it make that much difference in performance being a Celeron?

Oh...
Dunno, I went from a Athalon 600 OC'D to 700 to a 1.8ATHALON XP.  Not a very good gauge for comparison.  Good score on the free PC though.  I wish a computer would fall in my lap.

Hehehe.  I make a deal with my friends and anyone that wants to me to do a computer upgrade for them. I will do the upgrade at no cost out of their pockets, but .....BUT, i get to keep whatever hardware i upgraded them from    Makes it nice for me, because i can keep a stash around of old "stuff""just in case" hehe.

As far as seeing any real performance differences from the old to the new pc, i would think that the celeron would still be a decent upgrade from the 500 p3. Your doubling the speed even though its not a power horse, it should still perform reasonably well. Just make sure you got plenty of memory. I would say at least 256 if your using anything under win xp. If its XP go 512 for sure, but it sounds like your probably running win ME or 98 or even dos.

Good luck
groovY~

[nickbuol]

I know the feeling up upgrading.  

I went from a P3-500MHz for my main (not Mame, although I have the same in there too) computer up to an OC'd Athlon XP 3200.  1GB dual path RAM with LEDs, a nice 180GB drive, a smoking $250 128MB vid card, etc, etc.  I feel like I am standing still when I fire up my "old" computer now (great for the kids).  I can't afford another dump of money like that for the MAME cabinet.  I will "score" the 1GHz celeron and see what happens.  Heck, it is only a matter of time before they are throwing out 1.6+ GHz boxes, right?