MAME FPS... (An Original Arcade VS MAME Debate)

[my58vw]

Hello all -

OK - something that has been on my mind for along time... I am a long time arcade person that has moved into MAME - but I still have a stong attraction to original arcade games, particulary NEOGEO Single and Multi slot systems. Today I was looking at the FPS on my mame machine on Metal Slug... at times I was getting 59/60 FPS but in game I was down to 5 - 10 - 20 FPS - with a slight slow down in game play. On my 2 slot original machene there is no slow down. Of course I am not using a slouchy computer (AMD 3400+, 2GB RAM, 6800 XT graphics card).

So for someone who plays a certain set of games is it still better to build a jamma compatable cabinet or will MAME be ok (assuming multisync and arcade VGA under mame)? I start to notice slowdown at about 20 -25 FPS -

Then what do I need to emulate NEO GEO games? - What is a better solution?

[ahofle]

According to MAME v0.109, the Metal Slug games run full speed at 59 FPS (not 60).  I am able to get full speed (59/59 frames) on both an Athlon XP 2000+ and 3200+, so there must be something else wrong.   You may need to post up your MAME settings to figure out the issue.  There are some combinations of video settings that really slow things down.  But to answer your other question, IMO the Neo Geo emulation is pretty much perfect.

[my58vw]

Well it looks like I fixed the problem - an issue with auto frame skip...

[Flip_Willie]

So for someone who plays a certain set of games is it still better to build a jamma compatable cabinet or will MAME be ok (assuming multisync and arcade VGA under mame)?

     
      A lot of the CHD Mame games do not run well on a computer.  ( I haven't heard of anybody getting Gauntlet legends or Gauntlet Dark Legacy to work well in mame.  Some of those games won't really be playable until computers get cheaper and faster). 

   So in that case, a Jamma compatable cabinet will work much better.

[DaveMMR]

FPS aside, they are purists who will argue that MAME is not 100% perfect compared to a real machine.  I myself can't tell the much difference with a majority of the games, but there are those who can.  Of course I'm not refering to things MAME wouldn't be able to replicate exactly like the Q*Bert knocker, rank lights on Gorf, etc., but instead the minute things like slight change in color palette or pitch of a sound effect.

If you're hardcore like that, then I suppose nothing would please you other than a Jamma (or dedicated Neo-Geo MVS) cabinet. 

However, since you mentioned specifically FPS - I found Neo-Geo to run fine even under my 1.8Ghz P4 (can't play MKs too well though). From what I can recall - nothing seems terribly "off" when compared - from memory mind you - to the real deal. 

Most people don't seem to mind those tiny differences (and I still can't convince people that vinyl sounds better than CDs).  Even still, I wouldn't mind owning a Jamma cabinet and a few boards, just for authenticity's sake....     

[daywane]

side by side....
super mario
I notice the colors are off a touch but were talking Nintendo Monitor Vs Pc monitor
I find so little differance not a problem