***I have a P2 300Mhz computer...what can I run? what's the best setup?

[marknetwork]

Hello,

I am building my own MAME machine right now and am currently working on the computer setup.  The system I currently have is:

- Pentium 2 300Mhz
- 64 MB SDRAM
- ATI 3DRAGEII Video Card w TV out  (MB unknown)

I have been using an older version of MAME32 and it sometimes has problems with games.  Newer versions of MAME32 have even more problems with the games.

My question is:
How should my kind of computer be best setup to play MAME games?  It will be using the X-Arcade dual controller to play.

What kind of MAME games is my computer made for since I know I can't play the newer mame games?

I REALLY REALLY APPRECIATE ALL OF YOUR HELP!  Once I become a pro like all of you I will definitely help out the new members.  Thanks again you guys!

Cheers,
Mark

PS- And the P2 processor fan just died somehow but is it necessary to replace it?  What will happen if I use it without replacing the fan?

[Tiger-Heli]

Hello,

I am building my own MAME machine right now and am currently working on the computer setup.  The system I currently have is:

- Pentium 2 300Mhz
- 64 MB SDRAM
- ATI 3DRAGEII Video Card w TV out  (MB unknown)

I have been using an older version of MAME32 and it sometimes has problems with games.  Newer versions of MAME32 have even more problems with the games.

My question is:
How should my kind of computer be best setup to play MAME games?  It will be using the X-Arcade dual controller to play.

What kind of MAME games is my computer made for since I know I can't play the newer mame games?

I REALLY REALLY APPRECIATE ALL OF YOUR HELP!  Once I become a pro like all of you I will definitely help out the new members.  Thanks again you guys!

Cheers,
Mark

PS- And the P2 processor fan just died somehow but is it necessary to replace it?  What will happen if I use it without replacing the fan?

There's a whole thread on this at the top of the forum.  My comments on a Pentium 1 200Mhz are in there.  There should be somewhat better, so maybe it will play afterburner and 1941  and Sky Shark full speed when I needed Frameskip turned on.

Slower system advice - Run an older MAME, R36B12 or older especially for vector games with artwork, but also for anything unless it's only available in the newer MAME builds.  Try dropping the sample rate for the audio down to 22050 or 11025.  Also play with the other mame settings to see what give you the best performance.

[paigeoliver]

I would use Mame .55 for that processor.

But I would ALSO check the motherboard and see how fast a processor it CAN run. If it can take a 500, then spend the $8 on ebay and upgrade the processor. A 300 will run most under .55, while a 500 will run nearly all under .55

The amount of ram shouldn't be an issue, the few games that require more aren't gonna run full speed on that setup anyway.

[marknetwork]

Is it necessary to replace the processor fan?  What happens if I don't?  lol  

[marknetwork]

That's a great idea!!  I will have to find the info about the motherboard and do that.  Is it easy to replace a processor?  What's involved?

Mark

[GamingGreg]

Is it necessary to replace the processor fan?  What happens if I don't?  lol  

Definiately make sure you have a fan (or heatsink, or both) on your CPU.  If you don't you might "let the smoke out of the chip" after a while.  Chips don't work after you let the smoke out.  

You might be able to reuse the fan that you've currently got as it's usually just clamped to it.  However, if it's glued, you may or may not be able to remove it.

[marknetwork]

Thanks Greg!  I think I'll get one today then.

As for a processor switch is it easy to do?

Thanks,
Mark

[abrannan]

Thanks Greg!  I think I'll get one today then.

As for a processor switch is it easy to do?

Thanks,
Mark

Sickeningly easy.  

(instructions for socket type processors)
1. Remove fan (careful not to preak the tabs on your processor socket or you won't be able to put it back on)

2. Lift the bar along the side of the socket to allow the processor to be removed

3. gently lift out the processor

4. Drop the new processor into the socket (It *will* drop, if there is any resistance at all, stop!  The processors are keyed to only be insterd one way) and lower the latch (bar) to lock it in place.

5. Apply termal transfer paste to the top of the processor

6. re-install heatsink/fan

[TalkingOctopus]

Thanks Greg!  I think I'll get one today then.

As for a processor switch is it easy to do?

Thanks,
Mark

Sickeningly easy.  

(instructions for socket type processors)
1. Remove fan (careful not to preak the tabs on your processor socket or you won't be able to put it back on)

2. Lift the bar along the side of the socket to allow the processor to be removed

3. gently lift out the processor

4. Drop the new processor into the socket (It *will* drop, if there is any resistance at all, stop!  The processors are keyed to only be insterd one way) and lower the latch (bar) to lock it in place.

5. Apply termal transfer paste to the top of the processor

6. re-install heatsink/fan

His PII is most likely a slot instead of a socket, which makes the installation even easier.

[Minwah]

His PII is most likely a slot instead of a socket, which makes the installation even easier.

If it is I didn't think they made many above 300mhz    I have a 333, anyone know what the biggest was?

[atark]

I'm pretty sure slotted PII went to at least 450.

[paigeoliver]

THey have socket to slot adaptors anyway, granted it would add a couple more bucks, but it is still simpler and cheaper than replacing the whole PC.

[marknetwork]

Is it easy just to replace the motherboard and processor?  I've seen a few good deals on ebay.

[GadgetGeek]

I'm running Vantage on an old P120 and having no problems.  It only supports something like 80 games,but I only play the old classics anyway.

[garyh]

My PC is very similar (http://www.cix.co.uk/~ghh/mame.htm) to yours and it runs the classics (which is all I'm interested in) without any problems. I run DOS MAME and ArcadeOS under MSDOS 6.22.

Regards

Gary

[Danny R]

His PII is most likely a slot instead of a socket, which makes the installation even easier.

I'm pretty sure slotted PII went to at least 450.

Yup, but you can upgrade the old motherboards to far faster.

I'm going to be putting two Powerleap iP3/T slot 1 upgrade processors on ebay this weekend.  The hard drive in my old dual slot 1 server finally died a few weeks ago, and I'm not planning on replacing it.  

They are rated at 1.4 GHz I believe:

http://www.powerleap.com/PL-iP3T.html