Mame PC Opinion

[heffe2001]

I have a spare Dell 4550 PC that I'm most likely going to use as my MAME PC, and am toying with the idea of upgrading the proc & memory.  Currently it's set up with a 2.0 P4 proc, and I believe 256mb ram.  I'm thinking of either putting a 2.53 P4, or a 3.0 P4 (I have both as spares, but am planning on upgrading one of my PVR PC's with whatever proc I don't use).  I'm also considering sticking an additional 256mb ram in that box as well.  Do you guys think I'll be able to run most Mame games, Daphne & most of the MESS stuff on that box with the 2.53?

I'm currently running on my 8400 which has a 3.4 proc & 1g memory in it, and it runs everything very well (with the exception of most of the newer games with CHD files, although the Area 51 games both work fine and are very playable).  I'd like to still be able to play the Area 51 stuff on the cab too.  I'm guessing I really should drop the 3.0 in there, and up the memory to keep that game playable?

I think the machine has an older GF4 videocard in it, which I understand is perfectly fine for Mame & most emus, as they don't use the hardware acceleration (am I right here?).  If not, I can upgrade it with a 5900xt from my old desktop if it would help out much.


*EDIT* Forgot to add it'll most likely be running XP Pro.  Might put Fedora Core 4 on it when it's released if I can get all the mame stuff & emulators running on it tho (would prefer Core, but setup seems so much easier on XP for mame).

[Bloinkxp]

First stab!

First, Put the extra memory in.  For newer games the change is significant.
Second, the 2.53 is a 533 FSB like the 3.06.  I am sure there is some difference, but I imagine it will not be alot.  Take a look at reviews of the 3.06 w/533 FSB on anandtech.com.
Third, don't bother with a newer video card.  Mame does not utilize the video card for emulation.

[heffe2001]

It's very possible that I may end up using the cabinet as the TV in that room as well, running my PVR client (I use SageTV, great HTPC PVR solution, networkable, etc).  That would be my reasoning behind a better video card (makes the PC play mpegs better, with VMR9 rendering).  I will most likely go with the 3.06 proc, and add the additional memory (might very possibly go with 1g memory like my main desktop, memory's not that expensive anyway). 

Now I just need to decide if I want to just buy a regular TV to use for output, or something like a Vision Pro 27" SVGA monitor (Happ has 'em, would like to find a reseller who can get them for less than the Happ listed price).  The video card in the PC has Svid outputs, so it would definitely drive a TV without any problems, but VGA would be easier to set up (and get refresh rates & such correct).

Another question tho, should I remove the dell from it's case and run it bare inside, or will that matter much?  I guess for cooling it would definitely be better than running it in the case (dependent on how much cooling I add to the cabinet when I'm done, I'm using the Mameroom Ultimate 2 plans, which I'm going to modify a slight bit).

[Bloinkxp]

Heffe2001,

1 Gig of memory and a 3.06 proc would definately make MAME Happy 

I have always removed the case from the computers when I mount them.  I then pull the fans from the chassis and mount them to the cabinet.   This way I can design the exhaust/intake much easier.   Also, it is easier to clean the computer when it gets dirty.  Besides, it looks neater!

BTW, I have never used SageTV, but doesn't Myth have a mame front-end?  Also, GameEX was made to work in Windows XP MCE, but doesn't require it.

[heffe2001]

I'm sure Myth does have a front end for mame (Sage also has support for mame games).  For my purposes tho I'm most likely going to leave it Windows (if I do make it my Sage client in that room, odds are likely that I will, also double as my DVD player in there as well).  If I switch to Linux on the box, I'll have to wait for the linux client that Frey is in the process of making for Sage.   I guess I really need to sit down and figure out what the worst-case is going to be on the machine, and if I'm going to have it pull double-duty as my TV for that room (it's most likely going in the PC room in our new house, hopefully I'll have the machine almost done when we move in there). 

The only part of removing the Dell from it's chassis I don't really like is the cooling they use.  Passive heatsink with a plastic shroud & a fan mounted in the end.  I guess I could always stick a good CPU HS/Fan on there for that tho.

As for the memory & Proc, I'm going to try it with the 512 I have now, and probalby the 2.53 proc and just see how bad stuff like Area51 play.  Like I said though, it works fine on my 3.4.  If it plays alright on the 2.53, I'll just leave it at that and put the 3.06 in the Sage client for our HD tv (you need all the HP you can get on HTPC machines, for ffdshow's filters and stuff).

I've worked alot with MCE2005 (I was a beta for Microsoft, they even supplied a HTPC for my testing and let me keep it after the beta was done ).  I've tried playing with GameEx, but had problems on my XP Pro PC that I tried it on (crashes on execution, can't remember the error).

With the cabinet being made of relatively thick wood, how bad would some of the bigger OCer friendly fans sound through the case?  I have a few around the house that are actually pretty noisy, would you still hear them?  I'm planning on putting a thermally controlled fan in the top of the case venting out, and a few mesh-covered slots in the bottom of the back door for air intake.