Processor vs RAM?

[kelemvor]

I have a couple PCs I'll have accces to to make my MAME machine.  I know the better the processor the happier MAME is but how does RAM come into play?

THe two machine are:

1) P4 2.8 w/256 RAM
2) P4 1.7 w/512-756 RAM

Just not sure which would yield my better performance.

This would be on an XP base I guess which would warrant the more memory but if I strip out everything normally running XP, maybe 256 would be OK.

THoughts?

[Xam]

If you go the 256 route...get more ram. I wouldn't run XP with less than 512.
but then again....I'm a computer idiot.

On second thought, wait for someone that knows what they are talking about.

Xam

[jfh2112]

Faster processor always wins in regards to MAME. Although I would also try to at least double the RAM in that system. If you can pull the RAM from the 1.7GHz machine and use it with the 2.8GHz, that'd be the way to go. You might also want to have a look at the XP Build Script thread - http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=59353.0 - for suggestions on how to slim down XP.

EDIT: Also have a look at the nLite thread in the Software Forum - http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=59373.0

[holdennut]

I'm running XP home in my cab with only 256mb and I haven't found a game yet that uses it all (run task manager and take a look). Normally I'd recommend 512mb but for me it didn't make a difference. The real speed boost is the processor, makes a huge difference. Games that run smooth on my 3.5Ghz desktop run like a limp dog on the 2.8Ghz in my cabinet.

Just my two cents!

[kelemvor]

Unfortuantely the 1.7 computer uses different memory than the 2.8 but I ordered 512 for the 2.8 since I got a good deal on it.  We'll see what happens.

[ahofle]

I agree with holdennut, going from 256 Meg to 512Meg RAM didn't make a difference in MAME speed for me.

[eccs19]

Ram will not make that much of a difference on how fast an application will run, but it will make a difference on how fast the application opens.  With Mame, I don't expect that you would see that much of a difference with RAM as the program itself it not that large, but Windows itself will start up a hell of a lot faster with more ram, and therefore less waiting around till mame is actually up and running from the time you turn the computer on. My Bartop take forever for Windows 2000 to start up, and I know it's because of the lack of ram.  Once I get ---my bottom--- in gear and get more, then I will be happy.

[leapinlew]

A windows XP machine that is being dedicated to MAME will only need around 100mb of ram to run after it's properly configured (turn off unneeded services). That leaves you more then enough memory to run mame and a frontend like mamewah or mala.

If you want to run office, antivirus, and multitask between various programs - 256mb isn't enough, but for MAME use - you'll be fine.

[ChadTower]

Faster processor always wins in regards to MAME.

Yes yes.  Emulators require horsepower.  Horsepower is CPU.  RAM is secondary in a MAME purposed computer.

[Bill Mote]

if I strip out everything normally running XP, maybe 256 would be OK.

I have XP down to 50 MB memory footprint.  You can see my build script here: http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=59353.0

dot

[kelemvor]

Well, for now this is my wife's primary PC so it now has 768 in it since my 512 got here already.  But we'll be getting her a new laptop once the BF deals come out and then this PC will become my MAME PC (barring any unfortunate last minute changes).

So I think we'll be fine for now.

[torez]

Make sure the frequency of your new memory is the same as the old one that you had in your computer.  If your old memory is rated at a lower frequency, your new memory will run at that speed also.  In that case I would recommend removing the old one, so the new RAM will run at the full speed (assuming your mobo can support it, of course).

[ChadTower]

The difference in such a situation is so miniscule as to be irrelevant unless his PC spends its days running floating point mathematics in some physics simulation.  Even then it wouldn't matter much in the power genre of a desktop.