Which will be the faster machine?

[joeH]

I'm currently running ver .113 on my P4 2.4ghz spare computer in my cab.  With the new 64-bit optimizations of Mame, would it be  faster to run it on a Amd64 3700+ (2.2ghz) running windows xp64?  I'd be losing .2 ghz of processing power, but upgrading to the 64 bit build.  Secondly, have there been any benefits yet to using dual-core processors? Wondering if any Core2Duo owners have found marked improvements over a single core setup.

[zelony]

The Athlon64 3700+ is much faster than the Pentium 4 2.4GHz.  Even without running it in 64 bit mode.  There is a reason that they call it a 3700+ and not 2200.  No matter what OS you use, the Athlon will be much faster.

[joeH]

Would you think that some of the chd's such as Blitz99 and Gauntlet Legends may be playable with the new 64bit builds and the 3700+?

[zelony]

No. I have a dual core Athlon64X2 4600 and it can't play those games.

[joeH]

Appreciate the input.

[SGT]

Wondering if any Core2Duo owners have found marked improvements over a single core setup.

There have been major improvements recently in Mame for Core 2 Duo using 64 bit Mame.  You can see benchmarks at the link below for an overclocked C2D.  Mameworld.net has more information regarding the Mame improvements.

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

[joeH]

I just read through that thread. A lot of good info in there.

My main computer is a e4300 overclocked to 3.0ghz.  I was contemplating whether I wanted to build another cheap rig with a e4500 in it or not.  I don't think that I'm going to as I don't think blitz and gauntlet legends are going to be running smoothly enough at 3.0ghz.  I'm thinking about moving my 3700+ into my cab, and upgrading the OS to XP64.  The money I'll save will go to putting a e6850 into my desktop computer, oc'ing it, and trying out the chd games on it (although I hate playing them with a 360 controller as opposed to my cab sticks ).