Create a computer for Mame32

[MrTeamWork]

Hello all, I have not posted in awhile but I am here now. Life gets in the way sometimes you know? :0
 
 Well my cabinet is done , a sweet 4 player setup with a 4 player SlikStik with all the options added on. Now my focus turns to the computer side of things, and I find myself a year out of date in this respect. I built my last computer in July 2002, and now I need to build another one that will be devoted to this cabinet and MAME32.
   
 Since it's not going to be used for cutting edge 3D games that saves me alot on the video card I suspect. I need help with the other aspects though. I plan to play every 2D game in Mame32, including 'Sprite monsters' such as Garou and Last Blade 2, etc.. What speed CPU does everyone suggest? What brand? Amd? Intel? etc..
    Which Motherboard would be good? Something simple with onboard audio? A Sound Blaster card? etc..
 
 So basically if I may have a moment of your time, if you were putting together a computer devoted for a cabinet and ONLY playing MAME32, what kind of setup would it be?

 Thanks for your time, and the more details the better!

- TeamWork

[radiator]

personally, if I needed to build another computer, I'd go with exactly the same setup...ie:

AMD AthlonXP 1700 (overclocked to @2.1Ghz)
512Mb DDR RAM
ATI Radeon 7500 (or any other ATI card for that matter)

as for soundcards, you can get away with onboard audio if you get an N-Force motherboard...their onboard sound is brilliant (better than my SBLive, IMO)

the thing about MAME is that it's very CPU intensive, and plenty of RAM helps too (depending on the OS you're gonna be using)

the above 3 items cost me around

[MrTeamWork]

Hey thanks for the answer. I suspected that AMD was the way to go value wise ;0
  As for the ATI card, I assume because it has a better video quality and TV out than nVidia cards?
    By the way, which motherboard do you use? I should just copy you since you seem to have a  nice set up all worked out lol
 
 - Teamy

[kaustik]

If you are wanting to go with TV out, ATI is the way to go.  As far as the motherboard and RAM are concerned.  Get the most that you can afford.  When it comes to MAME, the more the better.  Go with atleast 512 of RAM and nothing less than an Athlon 1700+.  If you can afford more, get it.  You won't regret it.  The sound card doesn't really matter too much if emulation is the only thing you plan on doing with it.  Just stick with a name brand (just make sure DOS drivers are available for it if you plan on going that route).

[radiator]

yeah, ATI have the best s-video output quality (if I'm not mistaken)

the mobo is an A-Bit NF7 (with the N-Force chipset)

if you're into overclocking, try and get hold of the AMD Athlon XP 1700 'JIUHB DUT3C' (that particular model of CPU overclock very well - same one as I've got; a 1700 is really only a 1.45Ghz, and mines running @ 2.1...thats a massive leap in speed!)

if you're not much of an overclocker, just get some kind of AthlonXP...1700 should be fine without the overclock...

 

[MrTeamWork]

Ok I did some research online and including the advice I recieved here I went with this:

 AMD Athlon 2400+
 A-bit NF-7
 ATI Radeon 8500 LE ( for TV out )
 512MB PC2700 DDR 333MHz Memory


 Now I hope I put on the Athlon CPU fan the right way now! I don't want to crack the CPU ... 8(

 BTW all of the above I located online for $384.21  ( USA )
   Did I get gipped or did I get a good deal ?

 Thanks for all the help!!!

 - Teamworky

[radiator]

...thats about

[MrTeamWork]

radiator, how well did you connect the heatsink/fan to the AMD cpu>? I heard it can be dangerous because of the chance you can crack the CPU core. Im nervous can you advise me since you already have done it?

 Thanks !


- Team

[isugoat]

Ok I did some research online and including the advice I recieved here I went with this:

 AMD Athlon 2400+
 A-bit NF-7
 ATI Radeon 8500 LE ( for TV out )
 512MB PC2700 DDR 333MHz Memory


 Now I hope I put on the Athlon CPU fan the right way now! I don't want to crack the CPU ... 8(

 BTW all of the above I located online for $384.21  ( USA )
   Did I get gipped or did I get a good deal ?

 Thanks for all the help!!!

 - Teamworky

did a quick system for ya:
91.50    AMD XP2500+
102.00  Abit NF7
65.00    ATI 8500LE
76.00    2 sticks of 256MB PC2700 Corsair Value RAM
-------
334.50

a couple upgrades from what you had, but $50 cheaper (S&H is included in that total).  all prices from newegg.com...only bad thing is they only ship to US i think, so hope ya live here.
couple things to note...it's worth the few extra $'s to get 2500+.  also, make sure you get a retail 2500+ not oem.  retail comes with a heatsink and fan, oem doesn't.  retail has a longer warranty too.
and on the ram...if you want 512 MB total, you actually will want to get 2 sticks of 256 because the NF7 motherboard is dual channel, an option which will give you more speed.  but you must have two sticks of ram to make it work.
as for installing the heatsinks on athlons, it isn't too bad.  as long as you have the heatsink centered perfectly, you shouldn't have a problem.  also, remember to take off the little plastic piece that covers the putty on the bottom of the heatsink before you install it.

[SirPeale]

radiator, how well did you connect the heatsink/fan to the AMD cpu>? I heard it can be dangerous because of the chance you can crack the CPU core. Im nervous can you advise me since you already have done it?

It's fairly easy.  Once the CPU is secure in the socket, place the first part of the clip (the part without the little 'handle' thing) on the tab by the socket.  You can tip the heatsink back and forth a bit to get it.  Lower the heatsink so it is level with the CPU.  

You'll notice little black pads on four corners.  Make sure that the heatsink is more or less centered on these.  The heatsink also has a lowered portion.  This should be just over where the text on the socket is (Socket XXX).

Take a flathead screwdriver.  Hold the heatsink firmly so it doesn't shift.  Insert the screwdriver into the 'handle' I mentioned earlier.  With even downward pressure, and not moving anywhere BUT down, put the notch down and hook it to the other tab on the socket.

Just remember to take the 'tape' off the pink chewing gum looking thing (a heat pad) before you do all this.

If you want better cooling, take off the heat pad, and SPARINGLY use a bit of thermal grease.  I'm talking teeny tiny itty bitty bit.  Artic Silver brand is one of the better varieties.  Smooth it over the square in the middle of the CPU (where the actual CPU lies) but NOT over the edges at all.  It must be completely coated.  You should be able to see thru it.  If you can't, you've used too much.

[bleakboy]

Just a quick question what ATI Card is worth getting can't find a 8500le in england

but can find a 128mb 7500le card with tv out, or should i get a 9000 with tv out? what do you reckon

at the moment i have a GF4 with TV out and not all the games will run off it i.e King Of Boxers, and out runners, this is using a tv works fine on my monitor but i am building a cab at the moment and going to use a spare tv 25inch with s-video at the moment, i am going to get a arcade monitor but have no

[Spawn859]

Ok I did some research online and including the advice I recieved here I went with this:

 AMD Athlon 2400+
 A-bit NF-7
 ATI Radeon 8500 LE ( for TV out )
 512MB PC2700 DDR 333MHz Memory


 Now I hope I put on the Athlon CPU fan the right way now! I don't want to crack the CPU ... 8(

 BTW all of the above I located online for $384.21  ( USA )
   Did I get gipped or did I get a good deal ?

 Thanks for all the help!!!

 - Teamworky

if you are that worried about cracking the die use a copper cpu shim, almost no chance of die cracking, they are only about $3-6 bucks ......

[cdbrown]

Just a quick question what ATI Card is worth getting can't find a 8500le in england

but can find a 128mb 7500le card with tv out, or should i get a 9000 with tv out? what do you reckon

at the moment i have a GF4 with TV out and not all the games will run off it i.e King Of Boxers, and out runners, this is using a tv works fine on my monitor

You don't need to get built by ATI, you can get powered by ATI - I bought the Hercules Radeon 8500LE which works just fine for me as I couldn't find anywhere (locally) that supplied ATI cards.  This card is 128MB DDR.  Look at you suppliers and just search for 8500LE, many manufacturers use the ATI chipsets.

What happens when you run those games through the tv compared with the monitor?  People have reported some problems before where the frame rates drop to 50 instead of 60 and sound issues arrise.  This is due to the TV refresh rate being 50Hz (for PAL in Australia it is).  Just interested in the problems you are getting with those games as a new card may not actually solve them. *shrug* (c) Rampy 2003

Cheers
-cdbrown

[bleakboy]

CDBrown

The problem is it king of boxers just won't show on the screen

I am running MAME32 on XP, i think this could be the problem just finishing seting up MAME DOS and a ARCADE OS, so i will give it a go on that, but could always try TVMAME32 as well

[cdbrown]

I will try it tonight (if I remember) and report back.  I've got XP, mame32, and s-video out through a Radeon 8500LE.

Have you tried to force the video settings within mame32?  Like making each game play at 800x600, 16bit colour etc instead of auto resolutions.  Also does Ring King work as that's the US clone of King of Boxer?

[bleakboy]

CDBrown

No Mame32 is running through my GF4 TV-Out, and the res is set to auto and can give that a try of auto 800x600 res does it make a difference all the king of boxers (clones aswell) don't work

Let me know, becasue I might just get a ATI as everyone seems to use them

[TrickyFishy]

If you are only going to play classic games (pre '86 or so) a 500 Mhz PC seems to be plenty fast to me and you can get 'em for under $100.

I'd be interested in hearing what others think the slowest PC is acceptable for the oldies.