Questions x 2: Gamepads and new pc I'm eyeing

[releasedtruth]

Well, I put 4 USB ports on the back of my control panel for the Top Guns and potentially some gamepads. I have a 2-P setup right now, but if I could string a few gamepads for players 3-4 that would be niceness. Logical/possible and if so, what works well of the USB type?

Secondly, here's my current pc specs. Runs real well, but it's a surplus machine I was given by a friend and I'd like to give it back if I can upgrade sufficiently at a reasonable price. HD, video (Radeon 9600 Pro), sound card, usb hub will move to the new machine.

P4 2.2Ghz, 512MB ram, 250W PS

For about $285 I could move to a Pentium D 3.0Ghz, 512MB DDR2, 450W PS.  Worth the move? Thanks in advance gents... and rarely, ladies.

GT

[NickG]

Possible.  That's how I set things up, here.  I use a 2-port Playstation to USB adapter because I already have the controllers (and dance pads.)  You'll probably have to customize the inputs of your games and emulators.  With MAMEplus, for example, I have to enable joystick input, but then I have to remap the buttons to player 3-4 instead of P1 an P2.  Dang, now that I think of it, I guess it is much easier to use joytokey to map the controllers to MAME P3 and P4 defaults, and leave joystick input off in the frontend/.ini

For $285, you may be better off with an entry level Core2Duo (e6300) system.

[releasedtruth]

Dual Shocks, why didn't I think of that? That's a great solution. I'd love to use something silly like my Saturn controllers, since I have 6 of them or so, but probably no USB adapters for those. 'scratches chin' Yes, that sounds real good.

When I priced out the low end Core 2s the processor alone was nearly double the price. 285 covers the case, cpu, power supply, ram, heatsink/fan, mboard.  I always get my barebones from mwave.com  Solid dealer.

GT

[rdowdy95]

DualShocks if you got them.  I use 2 Xbox 360 controllers (USB Wired versions).  You just download the drivers off of Microsoft.com

[xmenxmen]

Where does one go to pickup the usb to dual shock adapter?

[steveh]

Dual Shocks, why didn't I think of that? That's a great solution. I'd love to use something silly like my Saturn controllers, since I have 6 of them or so, but probably no USB adapters for those. 'scratches chin' Yes, that sounds real good.

When I priced out the low end Core 2s the processor alone was nearly double the price. 285 covers the case, cpu, power supply, ram, heatsink/fan, mboard.  I always get my barebones from mwave.com  Solid dealer.

GT

You can purchase a Saturn USB kit From 
http://www.retrousb.com/

Actually you can get pretty much any one you can think of from there.  I purchased the Genesis kit, and the adapter.  both work flawlessly  It took a little time soldering them together.  but i am very happy with the results.

[releasedtruth]

That's sweet! You can get USB dual shock adapters on ebay for cheap. One usb plug to 2 dual shocks. Not a bad way to go

GT

[Bluedeath]

otherwise you can buy some dualshock style usb pad for 6$