Kevin Rudd is buying me a PC for an arcade cabinet! What do I tell him to get?

[rabidpuppy]

Since I'll and other Aussies will soon have some free money to the tune of AUD$900, it may as well be used for a PC for an arcade cabinet.

I am really not sure of what specs to look for to tell Kev to get.   

This is what I do know:

- It will be used with a 24inch 1920*1080 widescreen LCD monitor.
- It will be used 80% for MAME, the rest for other console and computer emulators
- The 'bezel artwork' feature will definately be used for MAME games
- The control panel hardware is already taken care of (2 joy 6 button layout)
- Harddisks , software, frontend etc already taken care of (MAME .130, GameEx current ver, other emus current versions)
- timber and tools for cabinet construct not included as part of this free money

This is what I don't know:
- AMD or Intel
- 32bit or 64bit OS
- Video/sound card
- Any motherboard features that may be useful
- other?

[Turnarcades]

Since I'll and other Aussies will soon have some free money to the tune of AUD$900, it may as well be used for a PC for an arcade cabinet.

---steaming pile of meadow muffin--- the bed! You only get handouts in the uk if you've never contributed dick to society. 

I used to be a civil servant until the ---daisies--- fired me when I had a stroke - that's how much our government looks after us!

[taz-nz]

Unfornuately my Aussie Birth Certificate isn't enough for me to get it too, I think you have to have lived in Oz for at least 5 years. 

This is what I don't know:
- AMD or Intel
- 32bit or 64bit OS
- Video/sound card
- Any motherboard features that may be useful
- other?

Here's what I'd recommend: (all links to Umart onlinestore in OZ)

Intel Core 2 Duo E7400 (Overclock to 4ghz)
Xigmatek S1283 CPU Cooler
Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3R Motherboard
Corsair 2x1GB DDR2-1066 Kit
Gigabyte ATI HD4550 512mb graphics card

Comes to about $620 AUD.  wasn't sure if you were buying the 24" LCD as part of the $900 or not so tried to get the cost down.

[cdbrown]

Crappy handout.  Wish I was getting it, but instead I'll just continue to pay tax at the highest bracket 

Can't even get the baby bonus 

[Blanka]

Get a 1920x1200 monitor. 1080 is really too low for vertical classics. They get really tiny on those screens. It's like a 14.5 inch vertical 4:3 screen, where the 24 inch 1920x1200 makes vertical ones at least 16 inch. 1080 screens are made to ask people more for tinier screens in crisis time! Hey! It has the FULLHD awesomeness badge on it, so you must buy it! We 1920x1200 dumbheads just like it to see the complete full hd movie with the subtitles under the picture instead of on top of Naomi Watts her breasts!

Show this image on a 24 inch 1920x1200 display (imac or so) to get the idea:

The 24 inch full-hd is actually little smaller (23.5) and thus has rougly the same pixel-pitch as the 1200 vertical one.

[Blanka]

Can't even get the baby bonus 

In Belgium there is a guy, the Stalion of Walone, that lives on baby bonuses. He runs a business of a family with 3 wives and 27 kids on just baby/kid bonuses and 3 unemployment fees (for the 3 wives). His oldest kid is the same age as his youngest wife, but that is where the comparison with Fritzlness ends. He's pretty decent for the rest.

[Ummon]

Can't even get the baby bonus 

In Belgium there is a guy, the Stalion of Walone, that lives on baby bonuses. He runs a business of a family with 3 wives and 27 kids on just baby/kid bonuses and 3 unemployment fees (for the 3 wives). His oldest kid is the same age as his youngest wife, but that is where the comparison with Fritzlness ends. He's pretty decent for the rest.

Polygamy is okay over there, huh?

[rabidpuppy]

Get a 1920x1200 monitor. 1080 is really too low for vertical classics. They get really tiny on those screens. It's like a 14.5 inch vertical 4:3 screen, where the 24 inch 1920x1200 makes vertical ones at least 16 inch. 1080 screens are made to ask people more for tinier screens in crisis time! Hey! It has the FULLHD awesomeness badge on it, so you must buy it! We 1920x1200 dumbheads just like it to see the complete full hd movie with the subtitles under the picture instead of on top of Naomi Watts her breasts!

Thanks for that info, unfortunately I am using an existing 1920*1080 screen, its not part of this purchase.  But now I know that, if (when) I make a second, I will remember this.  Or make a dedicated vertical.  (Off-topic: what aspect ratio is best for dedicated vertical?)

[Blanka]

For vertical cab with LCD you best find a HP 2065. It's S-IPS, so great angles, real 4:3 (not 5:4 as the 19 inchers) and 20 inch vertical is about the same as the old 19 inch ones.

[atomikbohm]

Alright I know this has been asked many many times before but, just like Blanka, I'm in the process of building a CP and very soon a cab.

Does any one know of a way to find out what the min requirements are for Mame ROMs?  I know it changes just about every time a new version of MAME is released but there must be a data base or something that lists min CPU, Vid Card, RAM (Qty and Speed) requirements to obtain 60 fps for a given ROM. 

In the famous words of Ben Stein's character in Ferris Bueller's Day Off ... "anyone ... anyone ..." (I'm looking for a better answer other then "the Declaration of Independence") 

[Turnarcades]

Alright I know this has been asked many many times before but, just like Blanka, I'm in the process of building a CP and very soon a cab.

Does any one know of a way to find out what the min requirements are for Mame ROMs?  I know it changes just about every time a new version of MAME is released but there must be a data base or something that lists min CPU, Vid Card, RAM (Qty and Speed) requirements to obtain 60 fps for a given ROM. 

In the famous words of Ben Stein's character in Ferris Bueller's Day Off ... "anyone ... anyone ..." (I'm looking for a better answer other then "the Declaration of Independence") 

You should be so lucky.

See every other posting I and many others have made in loads of threads recently for a general guide, and take the time to read why this is not possible to document.