How powerful a PC for my MAME cabinet?

[unit416]

I've got my cabinet done and I am picking up a 21" CRT monitor for it on Friday... now I need to know how powerful a PC I need to use. I want it to be able to play all MAME games and DAPHNE games (I have a full set of DVD's). I could also see using the PC to play the PC games (like call of duty) I alredy have. With Black Friday and Cyber Monday coming up I'd like to have an idea of what I should look for.

[whatzcrackn]

MAME vs PC Games

Your PC games are the ones which will take more processor demand.  MAME used be fine w/ 2+ Ghz.  PC games will also require a nicer graphic card.  So to answer your question I would think a P4 at 3 Ghz would do you nicely.  Thta is what I am using a P4 at 3.2 Ghz.

[GAtekwriter]

Has anyone got an opinion on whether Core 2 Duo is overkill or not?  Will P4s really handle the current MAME version as well as most of the "vintage" games?  I'd certainly like to buy ONLY what I need in terms of a processor, MB, and hard drive.  Any opinions on the original post or this question will be greatly appreciated. 

Jim

[taz-nz]

I want it to be able to play all MAME games

I suggest reading the thread I started on this, the benchmark results on the second page are more important to read than those on the first page, but I suggest reading the whole thread if your serious about running all the working MAME roms, there is a lot of information you will need to know.

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=72776.0

Has anyone got an opinion on whether Core 2 Duo is overkill or not? 

All depends on which games you wish to play, but the thing to remember is that most of the current developement in MAME is being done with the Core 2 Duo in mind. Again I suggest reading the above thread for a full understanding of what a Core 2 Duo can offer MAME.

[weasel-like_animal]

I'm running a 1.5ghz P4, 512 ram, with MAME 106... seems to handle every game (that works) at max framerate. I think my romset is .89b. It also helps to disable ALL of the applications that usually run in the background that aren't absolutely necessary.

Hope that helps.

[unit416]

Thanks for the advice everyone. I picked up a Gateway Pentium 4 2.8ghz for $165 off ebay this morning. Based on what you've suggested I think that should be adequate.

[badkitty]

well i have to say that my core 2 duo  standard clock 2.4ghz..(i OC to 3,6ghz normally) runs killer instinct series GREAT...with an ATI 1900XTX 2gb ddr2 677mhz.   my wife's computer P4 2.5ghz nvidia FX5950 2gb ddr400  runs same games around 90%..some sound issues...cinder's level alittle slow, but my cab pc..p4 2.4ghz 1gb ddr400  and Nvidia FX5900  runs killer instinct like CRAP!!!!!  i dont get it.    so i would say depending on what games you want to play..is what would determine what system to build. 

 i initially made it to play KI , but i have most other fighting games on it. i plan on upgrading it till KI works.