video card question

[SpeedEng]

got a new mb combo
celeron d 3.06 (yea I know celerons suck I was using a xp1600 so this is a huge leap )
on a p4m800 ecs mobo
768 mb ram
30 (os)+ 80(games) gb hd

im kinda confused on the video part
I read that video cards dont do anything for mame but then I see ppl getting some pretty good vcards (7600gs..ect.) in there for mame
so should I use the on board video or just throw in a older vcard gf4mx or something cheap?

I guess what im trying to ask is will onboard be good enough?
btw this will be a mame only box

[ahofle]

I'd start with onboard personally.  If you find you are having performance problems, then maybe you could try a cheap video card. 

[Green Giant]

The question here is what your monitor is?

I had to get a decent ati card so I could get the best resolution on my 27" tv.

[SpeedEng]

15'' lcd
bartop project

[Green Giant]

Onboard is fine then.  Won't need a video card unless you are looking to run some powerful pc games.

[SpeedEng]

Thanks I just wanted to be sure

all I have left is to make a bartop 

any hints/tips for a noob?

[Green Giant]

Start reading everything in the project announcement forum.  There are tons of people that have made bartops with details on how they did it.

[SpeedEng]

oh Ive seen all of the projects

I just think mine is going to look like doo doo, I never worked with wood  before

[Green Giant]

No problem with that.  Most of us never worked with wood before building a cab, or at least never doing detailed work like this.  With the proper tools:  router, circular saw, jigsaw, and drill, you can do it.

Take several measurements and mark out all the cuts on your wood.  MDF cuts like butter and is extremely easy to use.  It has no grain, just very messy.

If you have time and patience, there is no reason it won't look great.  When you start the project, make a thread in the project announcement forum.  As you work on it you can get immediate feedback to make your project great.

[genesim]

I would look into the Arcade VGA made by ultimarc.   The new version works with PC monitors.

As for a video card not doing good with MAME...while technically true when it comes to utilizing video ram, it does free up CPU power which is inherently what MAME works with.

But for me, it is also about using it for other applications as well.   Not to mention other emulators that do utilize Open GL support.

I still would get away from on board though because of bogging down the CPU.

[tommy]

The reason a lot of guys use a good video card is for running PC games and emulators along with their Mame.

I like to have everything i need in the box in case i decide to use something later on that will take advantage of that good video card.

[SpeedEng]

I would look into the Arcade VGA made by ultimarc.   The new version works with PC monitors.

As for a video card not doing good with MAME...while technically true when it comes to utilizing video ram, it does free up CPU power which is inherently what MAME works with.

But for me, it is also about using it for other applications as well.   Not to mention other emulators that do utilize Open GL support.

I still would get away from on board though because of bogging down the CPU.

well I would like to keep the price as low as poss. so arcade vga is out..
im going to be using atomicfe so it does use directx (dx7 min. i think)

if I were to use a agp card for video which of these cards would be better for mame only bartop (or is it all the same?)

geforce 2gts 32mb
geforce 2mx 32mb
geforce 4mx 420 32mb
geforce 4mx 440se 64mb (the only card that is 8x agp)
geforce 4ti4600 64mb
ati aiw (rage2 chipset) 16mb

the mobo im using does accept 8x agp (but I know mx440se cards stink )