Video cards, PCs, and GunCons

[Vash]

I'm still in the planning and designing stage of making my cabinet, but I want to make sure I have all my bases covered before I go into building this thing.  I have a few lingering questions about the PC I should use, the video card I need, and a couple questions about GunCon compatibility. 

So first off, the PC.  I like arcade games, old and new, but I'm more inclined to play newer games.  Fighters, brawlers, and shooters are my favorites, but Gun Con games(Area 51, Time Crisis) blow those away.  I don't want the PC I buy to be more expensive than the cabinet, but unfortunately, it looks like it's bound to happen.  I was glancing around Dell's site and the cheapest computer they offer is $350, but only has an onboard graphics card - not what I need.  Suggestions? 

My CRT TV has component and s-video ports, but I'm leaning towards using the component.  Unfortunately, the graphics cards that have component outs on them tend to be pricey, so I was thinking of getting a vga -> component cable since they're both analog, and just getting a fairly standard card.  Two questions about this.   How integral is a graphics card to MAME?  And would a GunCon 2 work with this setup?  I read through a lot of the thread in the "Read Me First" thread, but there was a ton of information and not a lot of answers.  Someone said you could just use the green cable on a component instead of the yellow on the standard, but is that true?  And are there going to be any issues with h/v-sync?

Also, what's the best way to go for performance as far as front ends are concerned?  Since I'll be using a GunCon, I'm assuming I'll need to be running Windows, but I hear that hits performance pretty hard.  If I use XP I could shut off Shell32 and other non-essentials, but is there a better option?  If I just go for a purely DOS solution, will the GunCon/iPac work correctly? 

...I think that's it for now =p 

[Vash]

Really, any help at all with any of these would be more than welcome 

[ahofle]

You can pick up an ATI card that has a DVI output and also pick up a DVI-component dongle.  I don't think the VGA to component adapter is what you want (incorrect color space or something like that if I remember correctly).  Search for "ATI DVI component" and you should find a bunch of info about people using that, including which cards support it.

As for the lightguns, supposedly you can hook up the green wire as you mentioned, but I haven't heard of anyone actually doing it.

[Vash]

You can pick up an ATI card that has a DVI output and also pick up a DVI-component dongle.  I don't think the VGA to component adapter is what you want (incorrect color space or something like that if I remember correctly).  Search for "ATI DVI component" and you should find a bunch of info about people using that, including which cards support it.

As for the lightguns, supposedly you can hook up the green wire as you mentioned, but I haven't heard of anyone actually doing it.

Works for me =)  Thanks for the quick reply. 

[ahofle]

Regarding Windows, search for TinyXP, or you can just turn off unnecessary services -- should be fine.  I wouldn't bother with DOS personally.