Minimum system specs for WinXP & MAME?

[Apollo]

Hi all. I want to run WinXP on my PC for my cab project but what are the minimum specs for this? I was thinking something like 600MHz CPU, 128MB RAM & 10Gig HD. Is this going to cut it or am I wasting my time? Bear in mind I don't have the money for a 2GHz, 512MB, 80Gig system.

[Odonadon]

Hi all. I want to run WinXP on my PC for my cab project but what are the minimum specs for this? I was thinking something like 600MHz CPU, 128MB RAM & 10Gig HD. Is this going to cut it or am I wasting my time? Bear in mind I don't have the money for a 2GHz, 512MB, 80Gig system.

The CPU should be fine, but you might want to add another 128-384Mb of RAM to that bad-boy.  My main PC is a PII 400 with 256Mb RAM and runs MAME32 quite nicely on WinXP Pro.  Not many games I can't play.

Odonadon

[Apollo]

Thanks for your input, a great help. Anyone else got any ideas?

[paigeoliver]

You may want to consider not running XP with only 128 RAM. If you are just making a dedicated Mame cabinet, then use 98, which has a much smaller RAM footprint.

[Richy]

ive got a PII 350 with 320 mb Ram. Most old games work, but i think i need a faster processor for it, because neogeo and 90s midway games don't work. 10GB hard drive should be enough for just mame roms.

[Tiger-Heli]

Hi all. I want to run WinXP on my PC for my cab project but what are the minimum specs for this? I was thinking something like 600MHz CPU, 128MB RAM & 10Gig HD. Is this going to cut it or am I wasting my time? Bear in mind I don't have the money for a 2GHz, 512MB, 80Gig system.

10G HD is fine if just MAME in an arcade cab.
Memory and processor depends if you already have the 128M and 600 CPU or are buying.

If buying, once set-up (assuming you can temporarily borrow a CD-ROM to load the OS and ROMS), you just need a mobo, PS, vidcard, CPU, Fan, Memory, HD, KB, and maybe mouse.

mobo should be about $60 for a KT400 (AMD) and will be the same for a 600Mhz to a 3.0 Ghz.

From Pricewatch -
Power Supply - 400W are about $11
Vid card -   ATI Radeon 7000, 7500 is $30-$45
CPU - Duron 1.1 Ghz is $29, but a XP 1700 is $42 and an XP 2000 is $55
Fan is about $7
Memory - 128M of PC2100 is $13, but 256M is only $21.

You could build a really fast system with 256M PC2100, XP2000, Radeon 7500, for under $200

[atomaka]

If you're running WinXP, make sure you have 256MB RAM.  That's pretty much the biggest key.  Otherwise, why go 600Mz.  If you have one already, that's a good way to go, but if not, Celeron 700s go for $44 (just a quick check on PriceWatch).  I picked up my Duron 950MHz for $30.25 and free shipping at Newegg and a motherboard for $45 that had decent reviews.  The motherboard supports PC2100 DDR.  You can build a machine twice your specs for a very decent price (sub $200).  That's the beauty of the computer market now.

Let me know if ya need any help putting together a computer.  I have built and bought parts for more than my fair share of computers so I can answer any questions.  AIM me at atomaka if you'd like.

[Tiger-Heli]

and a motherboard for $45 that had decent reviews. .

Which motherboard???