Minimum Requirements Assistance

[MilitiaMan]

While finishing up my first attempt at a MAME cab, I have had numerous requests from friends, co-workers, etc. to assist them in building one.

I don't mind doing this, but I don't want anyone else to go broke in the process (like I am)   .

There are numerous "barebones" computers for sale on E-bay that I could use to get the projects started. But I have some questions that need answering -- any help you folks can provide will be greatly appreciated.

1. What are the minimum CPU and RAM requirements needed to run MAME .066 and Emuloader on Windows XP? I want every game to be playable ... not glitchy or "flinchy". Sidenote: What game is the biggest resource hog? I.E. If I wanted to test a system, what game should I run that would utilize the greatest amount of system resources?

2. If I use a standard computer monitor, are there any benefits to having a video card, like the Radeon 7500? Or are they primarily for connection to televisions, etc?


3. What is the smallest Hard Drive I can get away with using if I have WinXP, Emuloader, MAME .066, and every rom installed?

The reason I have so many questions is because when I built my cab I had a pretty powerful CPU with a vast amount of RAM and a video card. My questions pretty much pertain to what can I get away with using and still have a highly functional cab?

Maybe if everyone just posts what they are running in their cabs and if any games are "not playable" this would answer many of my concerns.

Thanks in advance for your help.

-MM

P.S. I did do a search for this info and found some sporadic answers, but thought it would be helpful to have everyone respond to a single post. Thanks Again!

[DeathMonk]

It really depends on what games you like.  There's games that are emulated right now that no computer can run perfect.  As far as video cards go, if it's just going to be connected to a computer monitor then I think you'll be alright.  Computers and all their components are really cheap right now.  Go to pricewatch.com and check out all the deals.  I think you'll find something very sufficient that fits your budget.

[anthony691]

Some games won't even run on a 3 GHZ computer. A good P3 450 with a good FSB speed can actually play CPS2 and NEOGEO GigaPower full speed, but I would recommend a 1 GHZ machine to be a minimalist; otherwise as fast as you can afford  

[2slk]

MilitiaMan,

 I'll try to answer your questions as best I can.

1 - If you are real picky and obsessive like myself, buy the most CPU you can afford. With the addition of compressed hard drive support for certain games, you will need a pretty mean system and it will still not be 100% for every game.
 
 The latest system I ran KI1 and KI2 on was a AMD XP 2400+, GF4 Ti4200 128MEGS, 512MEGS ram. The game ran pretty smoothly with frame skipping (3) enabled. I'll have to say though, that even if you had a much less powerful system, you can run a LARGE majority of MAME stuff on it. Well over 90% will run well on a P III with a decent video card. To answer the last part of # 1, it depends but I would say run any game that uses .chd files.

2 - If I understand your question, you are referring to a RADEON 7500 that has a TV out connection. These are good cards even if you use them on a PC monitor. Benefits? It' a cost effective performer. Still, any modern video card will be OK for MAME. There are different schools of though as to which company or chipset may be better but again, pretty much all modern cards will be OK.

3 - A full ROM set for .66 including art extras and .chd files will be about 7 gigs or so. At today's prices, you might as well get yourself a nice big drive to hold that, some music and for future expansion.

 HOPE THIS HELPS!!!!

[anthony691]

well, I sort of dissagree w/ you on a few things 2slk; On my PIII 450 I can't get a playable framerate on Area 51, but I can play all CPSII games perfect speed! Alot of it matters on the stages of a games emulation. IMHO the emulation of Vs. Balloon fight sucks, I can't seem to get a playable framerate; any dev will come back to you and say: Yea... well... it's really, really accurate.

[2slk]

anthony691, yup... you are right. Different systems, different resources, different drivers, different MAME versions... it all has an impact. But like I said... well over 90% will work fine. I never gave a list of specific games. I just gave a few examples that were specific to my system