first time computer builder for mame

[jpenguin]

I need some help, I'm gettin a fast HDD, but there are a few things, I'm not sure on

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2727697&CatId=0 or http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2668619&CatId=0

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2155016&CatId=0 OR http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2367977&CatId=0

I am planning on nrunning gentoo linux on it with sdlmame

[Fozzy The Bear]

I am planning on nrunning gentoo linux on it with sdlmame

WHY!!??  Mame is NOT Native to Linux and you're just setting yourself up for a fall when it comes to drivers, controllers and interfaces.

Best Regards,
Julian (Fozzy The Bear)

[leapinlew]

I am planning on nrunning gentoo linux on it with sdlmame

WHY!!??  Mame is NOT Native to Linux and you're just setting yourself up for a fall when it comes to drivers, controllers and interfaces.

Best Regards,
Julian (Fozzy The Bear)

I agree with Fozzy, but I think it's do-able. Just like putting tits on a bull is do-able.

[jpenguin]

are you suggesting that I should run $$$ windows,  Linux is free  & since when doesn't sdlmame work.  I use it on my desktop com.  I guess I could LOOK INTO xmame, advancmame...

anyway does anyone  have anything to say about hardware?

[leapinlew]

Is it just running mame?

More can't hurt. Newer versions of mame have been making some games run slower and you don't want to be held back because of a memory bottleneck.

[jpenguin]

I may run 2d games made for Linux, possibly even tuxracer, but it will mainly be a MAME machine


thanks for the RAM opinions all you guys

[Fozzy The Bear]

are you suggesting that I should run $$$ windows,

DOH!! you need that question answered?? Of course you should be running Windows, that's what Mame was written to run on.

Linux is free  & since when doesn't sdlmame work. 

Linux is not FREE! It's under licence for you to use. There's a difference.

Didn't say that sdlmame doesn't work. But if you insist on using Linux then you'll have to source or write drivers for all the hardware you choose to use(key encoders, light guns, trackballs etc etc)....  You'll find little help here because most of us wouldn't even know where to start with that.

As for comments on the hardware that you're requesting... It's impossible to answer..... 99% of us here don't use Linux for Mame.  So telling you what hardware you need to run that system with Mame effectively, will be very difficult. As a Linux user you should know the answer to your own question far better than most of us do.

You're just making things way more difficult for yourself than they need to be and as I said at the start, you're headding yourself for some huge pitfalls.

I'm not saying it can't be done. Just saying, why make life more difficult..... Perhaps you're after more of a challenge than it is already??

Best Regards,
Julian (Fozzy The Bear)

[sfrascella]

I have been running a cab with xmame and the gxmame frontend for over a year with no trouble at all with Fedora. As a matter of fact it plays some games better than Windows. I am not a Windows hater, I just didn't feel like shelling out the $$$ for the operating system to do one thing that Linux could do for free.

[Xam]

You don't have to run XP or a newer version of Windows (Win2000).
Lots of peeps here are running MAME on 98. You can pick up 98 on Ebay for $20 or so if you are patient.

Xam

[jpenguin]

I have been running a cab with xmame and the gxmame frontend for over a year with no trouble at all with Fedora. As a matter of fact it plays some games better than Windows. I am not a Windows hater, I just didn't feel like shelling out the $$$ for the operating system to do one thing that Linux could do for free.

I couln't agree more.  My computer curently is dial-boot(Mandriva + MacOS X)  I hate Micro$oft,  I use oopenoffice, I don't us windoze & love opersource.

FEAR THE PENGUIN
      TUX RULEZ

[jpenguin]

Linux is not FREE! It's under licence for you to use. There's a difference.

Didn't say that sdlmame doesn't work. But if you insist on using Linux then you'll have to source or write drivers for all the hardware you choose to use(key encoders, light guns, trackballs etc etc)....  You'll find little help here because most of us wouldn't even know where to start with that.

I'll use my mac to download codes to and ipac, I do like a challenge.  I shoulddn't have to know how bto code, other than basic commandline code- like- ./conffigure make, make install...

[TOK]

You're cutting yourself out of access to all the best front ends by running Linux. I experimented with Mandrake before switching over to Windows. It wasn't any faster booting or shutting down than Windows XP with the unnecessary services shut off.

Unless its all about the cost, you're making a mistake, IMO.

Oh, 512. 

[Turnarcades]

I concur!

If you want your machine running as a stand-alone cabinet, the best front-ends (OK, the nicest-looking front-ends) will not be accessible to you on Linux.

I have my own personal gripes with Windows, but for sheer availability of support on MAME issues alone, it has to be Windows for me every time. Even XP is great to use for a cabinet, once you remove all the unwanted sytem processes (see advice elsewhere) as you get one of the distinct advantages of not requiring drivers for USB devices - great when updating and you are using flash drives, hard drives etc. plugged in by USB to transfer data.

Since the only real pain for me is the online security of Windows, using it in a MAME cab should be fine, since you don't need to ever connect to the internet. In theory.

[jpenguin]

I'm only 17, so I'm on a strict budget.  I could run reactos http://www.reactos.org/en/index.html.  But I am all about the cost.  I do like the FE's for windows better (especially 3D Arcade" but I don't think I can afford it.  Pretty nice linux FE at http://kymaera.sourceforge.net/

[ahofle]

If you do go with Linux, you may want to check out this thread:

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=56385.0

[jpenguin]

 :troll:i have an SATA HD