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Good or Not?
djsting:
Is an ATI XPert 128 video card good for MAME or not? I have seen where some ATI cards are prefered and would like to know how this one compares.
ashardin:
First off not know ing much about that card but...
from my understanding of the software, MAME does not rely much on the video card (unlike a 3D game).
The emulator draws the graphics directly to the screen, the card simply displays it. You can find more info about this at the FAQ at www.mame.net but in the 5 machines I have used for different cabinets I've always used the onboard graphics and its worked great.
Now, if you are planning to put some newer PC games in there that require a 3D card, that would change things.
seaner:
--- Quote from: djsting on April 07, 2003, 04:06:58 pm ---Is an ATI XPert 128 video card good for MAME or not? I have seen where some ATI cards are prefered and would like to know how this one compares.
--- End quote ---
I believe this is the one I am using.. (not totally sure though, as it was just purchased and installed and forgotten about, but I do know that the rage128 chipset is the one detected by svgalib).
No complaints, and does 15khz modes, etc. without any problems.
Tiger-Heli:
--- Quote from: ashardin on April 07, 2003, 04:32:34 pm ---First off not know ing much about that card but...
from my understanding of the software, MAME does not rely much on the video card (unlike a 3D game).
The emulator draws the graphics directly to the screen, the card simply displays it. You can find more info about this at the FAQ at www.mame.net but in the 5 machines I have used for different cabinets I've always used the onboard graphics and its worked great.
Now, if you are planning to put some newer PC games in there that require a 3D card, that would change things.
--- End quote ---
I think that card is fine.
Regarding Ashardin's comments - funny, I just finished reading a review on the KM266 integrated graphics for a possible upgrade.
My thoughts - MAME uses 2D graphics, so the type of video card is less demanding than newer 3D games. However, newer MAME games (Cruisin' USA, Stun Runner, etc.) are very processor and memory intensive, so while on-board graphics would be fine for the video portion of these games, I would think the bandwidth might slow down the CPU and memory requirements that the games need.
shmokes:
This may be neither here nor there depending on your financial position, but I think the PC running your arcade cab should be as smoking as possible. My cab, for instance, will have a steering wheel on it. Not to say that Outrun and Spy Hunter aren't fun games, but I want to be able to fire up Colin McRae 3 and Driver now and then. For those (and any game made in the last couple years) you're going to want a decent 3D chipset. Luckily I'll be using a TV for my monitor which restricts me to 640x480 resolution so the 3D chipset doesn't have to be THAT decent. I just hope developers of 3D games don't start dropping support for 640x480 any time soon.
The same advice goes for all modern games (that are playable with arcade controls), of course, not just racing games.