OK then, here's my pc building questions

[NipRing]

I want to build a new pc for my cab, but i dont which forum to post my topic in? Software? Main? Misc?
Thanks

[leapinlew]

I want to build a new pc for my cab, but i dont which forum to post my topic in? Software? Main? Misc?
Thanks

Dude, the questions belong in the questions forum. If it's a PC question, your supposed to put it in the computers forum, sub-section PC, subsection INTEL, subsection Pentium IV. Didn't you read the rules?

 

So... why don't you tell us what kind of games your wanting to play, what version of Mame and what you intend on using the computer for? That'll dictate what kind of computer you'll need.

[saint]

This forum is fine.

[NipRing]

I'm currently using a 3.2 P4 with 2gigs memory, but I'm at the limits of my mobo. I'm using the pc 97% MAME/Maximus Arcade/ and multiple emulators. and the 3% is for the few things i cant do on my non-intel mac  . Anyway, i'm not afraid to spend some money but it would be more along the lines of buy a component a week type of thing rather than dumping a wad of cash all at once (and the subsequent death stares i would get from my wife  ).
I want to be able to run as much of MAME at full speed as i can. For example what i have now i can get through Carnevil not too bad although it is slow and the sound is really choppy (i've since fixed that issue by buying my own Carnevil cab  ) . But there are sooo many components out there i dont know what works better with what. So many different makes and models of mobos and processors  .  I would like to try and somewhat "future proof" this but i know the bleeding edge of tech aint cheap!

Im looking for a micro size mobo for sure so this all fits inside my Sega Blast City cab. And i'd really prefer to use XP or else i'd have to go out and buy Vista which i dont have. However i have read about people having better performance with the 64 bit Vista, but i think i'm good with xp for now. Other than that, i'm open to suggestions.

Thanks
Bill

[NipRing]

I guess i should mention a few things i'm leaning toward.

A mobo with great built in video processor
Multicore processor
higher front end bus

is there a limit on what a computer can handle as far as managing the hard drive? I remember back when the G4 Cube couldn't handle more than 137GB HDD unless it was partitioned. I'd like to get 2 (two)  1.5TB internal SATA drives. One for everything and a second to back everything up. But can a modern pc manage 3TB?

[Mauzy]

Holy crap. Is this a MAME build or just a multi use PC build? If its a MAME build you'd be doing a little overkill.

[NipRing]

Like i said, its for my cab. I want to run the newest version of MAME (.129) as well as multiple emulators. I think what i have now is fine for 97% of what i do, but what happens down the road when the PS2 / GCN/ Xbox emulation is decent? I dont want to reach a boundry like i have now. I realize that some MAME games arent correctly emulated yet and that's why they dont run right, but I want to be well prepared for whats to come. Did you know that the entire PSX rom collection is 97 4.7GB DVDs? Heck MAME is almost 30 dvd now too., 17 dvds for Saturn, 13 for DC. 29 for GCN, plus all those emumovies, hence the 1.5TB drives. I dont want to have to update this pc for some time.

[Blanka]

Start with an Intel socket 775 mobo, and buy an E8400 processor. That one is still best value, and can be overclocked to 4ghz if you like. If you pick a G45 chipset you also will have pretty decent on-board graphics. Put in 2x2Gb, costs nothing and 4Gb will be fine for a while.

[ViciousXUSMC]

Well can I have more data, like your budget for instance?

I just built a HTPC a few months ago and I find that a HTPC and a Emulator build are almost exactly the same in there goals.

> Low Power
> Quiet
> Small
> Cheap
> High Storage
> No need for high end GPU

This is my forte, I came to this forum from the computer forums to learn about arcades, but I know all about computers

Let me link you my HTPC build, its OVERKILL for a emulator box with things like the 1TB hard drive but it was only like $300 so why not?

Build Log: http://forum.desktopreview.com/showthread.php?t=235647
Old Parts List:  http://secure.newegg.com/WishList/PublicWishDetail.aspx?WishListNumber=11010688

As you can see from the parts list there are things there for my HTPC you do not need for a Emulator build.

You can easily cut out the remote control, and wireless card, and you can get a smaller hard drive.

This build is amazing, its very powerful, the IGP is one of if not the best, and its silent and uses very little electric power.

You can kick off even the case if you want, just mount the motherboard to the inside of your cabinet, but then you have to buy a power supply still wich is included in that case.


If you were bulding a gaming rig id go Intel parts but for HTPC or Emulator AMD is the way to go since they offer the cheap low power hardware and also have better IGP options.

[Blanka]

Strange that you go for AMD if low energy consumption is important. They still bake the majority of cheap processors on 65nm, where Intel almost phased out all 65nm models. An E8400 will give more power with less watts (don't be fooled by the way too high TDP of the E8400, the 65watt is probably true when you OC it to 4.5 Ghz) than the X2 4850E. It uses 30 watt full speed at native 3Ghz on both cores, and is really powerfull. I run it with a Geforce 7600GS 512Mb. Pretty powerful card that supports dual 2560x1600 screens and uses 20watt and is passive cooled.

[ViciousXUSMC]

Strange that you go for AMD if low power is important. They still bake the majority of cheap processors on 65nm, where Intel almost phased out all 65nm models. An E8400 will give more power with less power (don't be fooled by the way too high TDP of the E8400, the 65watt is probably true when you OC it to 4.5 Ghz) than the X2 4850E.

I actually test these things not just buy them.  My HTPC at full load wont break 60w of power, thats less than most home lightbulbs.  The 4850E is a GREAT & CHEAP CPU that will give all the power he wants and needs + more, also it overclocks as well.

Dont think I did not consider intel, I did and my first drafts for my HTPC used intel, until it came time to find a good mobo/igp combo and thats where intel suffers the most.  There IGP cost way more and are not even as strong until you get to the x4500 and you can find quite a few review sites that go head to head with the HD3200 and Intel X4500 and the AMD wins the majority.  Plus in this case its cheaper and that mobo I used has 3 output modes, DVI/HDMI/VGA so its just amazily vesitile, with a full on PCI-E slot to boot.

Your CPU comparison is 65w for intel vs the 45w of AMD.  The 4850E is only a 45w CPU.

Whats more is that you should always buy based on price vs performance NOT peformance alone.

Newegg is a good store and has average prices.

Intel E8400 -  $165 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115037
AMD 4850E - $56 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103255&Tpk=4850e

Do you have any argument to tell me the E8400 is worth 3x the cost?  Does it give 3x the power?  Does he even need more power than the 4850E can produce?  The answer to all of the above is no.  Also again IGP issues, AMD has much better IGP motherboards.

[Blanka]

The board is nice yes. Shame its not I775. Intel is kind of ass with the chipsets, I know.
This is pretty similar in 775:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813186154
or this one:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813186162

[ViciousXUSMC]

The board is nice yes. Shame its not I775. Intel is kind of ass with the chipsets, I know.
This is pretty similar in 775:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813186154

Yeah thats a good one, I edited my above post

Im not starting an argument, but I can debate electronics with you all night in an adult manner.  I can also support anything I say with documentation and facts.  If I ever post an opinion I will clearly state that it is my opinion, because I hate when people post opinions as facts.

[Blanka]

As I said before, the E8400 is mislabelled with 65W. It uses only 30-35 watt max, where the AMD is more close in use to it's TDP. With the Intel you pay for the low power use of the processor too. Per watt I think it's 2x as powerful as the 4850E. Don't know how the mobo's compare.

[NipRing]

Does the Foxconn G45M-S have good onboard video? My cab has a tri-sync monitor so i wasnt planning on using a AVGA card anymore.

Thanks for the advice