Best os for a mame only cab

[gazz292]

i'm slowly sorting out making my first mame cab, only been waiting 9 years to do it, still havent bought any joysticks or buttons yet, but i do have the cab now (golden tee) and am currently playing with the computer side of things.

Figured i'd use an arcade vga grafix card just to keep things simple (using the cabs 15/25Hz monitor) i believe the latest avga cards can do dual sync monitors, so maybe able to display med res games properly on this monitor too (hantarex polo 2, auto switching between syncs)

i'll be using usb i-pacs and opti-pacs, so need something usb inputs are accepted easily,

So i was thinking i'd want the absolute minimum OS on the machine, it will only ever run mame, i have a real jukebox, so wont be adding things like that to the cab, no interest in running any other emulators than mame.

What's the bare minimum i need and how do i go about doing it.

i'm rubbish with command line type systems, used to windowz, but would consider a linux os if it'll be the best.

i just dont want loads of things running in the background that i dont need to run mame,
my goal is a fast start up time, straight into the game selection screen, so far i have only used mame32/mameUi, tho i guess it's time i learnt about a front end and all that,

oh yeah, i'm using the same machine that i used to play mame on a few years ago, only differance is the OS, used to be XP, and is now Vista, and back then i was using an older version of mame32, now got the latest version,

but before i could play stun runner fine, cant recal the fps, but it was high, sound smooth etc,
now it's got a really low fps, and sound it echoing and jerky, is this likely to be due to vista or the newer mame version needing more processing power or something?

[Gatt]

The Ubuntu version of Linux with the SDLMame port would probably be the best fit for your skill and wants.

Your only other options are XP or Win7 IMO.

Your lag is probably due to both.  Vista has much higher memory requirments,  and is probably eating most of your available memory just for the OS(There's more to it with Vista,  but that's going to take a hefty discussion on caching to explain).  Mame also evolves over time,  it's goal is to run the harder stuff fastest so the older stuff tends to have a little slow down over time,  which isn't noticeable if you're doing regular upgrades,  but is if you're using hardware that was already having a hard time with game X. 

My advice:

Build your cab,  install Ubuntu,  run with SDLMame for now.  You can always upgrade the computer down the line,  and let's be honest,  you'll likely want to do so to take advantage of newer games.  So,  IMO,  your primary concern is getting the cab built and the controls settled(You're going to end up wanting more than what you go with down the road,  again,  this *is* addictive   ).  After all,  a top-of-the-line computer without controls or a cab doesn't do much,  but a finished cab with a older computer plays all the classics just fine until you're ready to look into a new computer.

[HaRuMaN]

I built a simple MAME machine using Win 98SE and an older version of MAME (like 0.6x or something), and it ran just fine.

[angryred]

I run MAME v112, Visual Pinball 8, Daphne and multiple console emulators on a Windows 2000 machine. Win2k's nice and stable, and IIRC, it's the last version of Windows where you could install on as many machines as you wanted from just one disk. I use Win2k on my media PC/projector setup, too-- all it does is play movies.

[Benevolance]

I use Win2k on my mame and media machines for those exact same reasons. I'm running the latest version of mame and I haven't noticed any problems.

[mvsfan]

I couldnt get 98SE to run anymore on my newer (but not that new) Athlon Hardware. Couldnt get Millenium to go either.

So i run A stripped down version of Xp on my arcade. Ive basically turned off all of the nonessential crap that runs in the background. Its served me well for 7 years now. Go and get yourself the latest version of tweak UI, have fun with that and then also read up on and learn how to turn off all non essential services in the control panel.

by the time your really done you should basically end up with something close to Windows Xp Embedded. I wish i had access to that though cause that lets you turn everything on or off right from the start or even compile your own version unfortunately its only available to hardware developers.

[mvsfan]

I run MAME v112, Visual Pinball 8, Daphne and multiple console emulators on a Windows 2000 machine. Win2k's nice and stable, and IIRC, it's the last version of Windows where you could install on as many machines as you wanted from just one disk. I use Win2k on my media PC/projector setup, too-- all it does is play movies.

i agree totally with you on the "last MS Os installable on many machines."

But it dont work for newer hardware. someday people have to bite the bullet and buy Xp, for the updated hardware detection.

unless someones already fixed that...

Problem is that if your thinking of this route, dont. Most unofficial software made by multi billion dollar companies thats out their today, contains malware.

[milkit]

windows xp + nlite to strip it down to nothing

[Dannymh]

I have winXP on mine and have stripped it somewhat. I wanted to go with Linux but haven't managed to find a way to get ArcadeVGA working with Linux yet

[gazz292]

Thanks for the brilliant replies,

looks like XP is the way to go then, and cut out all the rubbish i dont need, that's gonna be fun to learn, but rewarding in the end.

i really want to get on with converting the cab, but i need to save up the money for the bits in one go, as most of it will be from ultimarc ~ arcade vga card, ipac, opti pac, 2 x mag stick pluss's, 12 fire buttons, 2 player buttons, however many other buttons i decide on etc, that lot comes to about £180 straight off,
but if i do it in stages as i'd like to do it, i get hit with postage charges that bumps the end price up a fair bit (if i order just one button it's a tenner postage, or 12 quid for the full £180 order) being on the sick means i can't work overtime to get the dosh, have to wait till i have it over the weeks i can spare some dosh.

But hey, i've been waiting 9 years to do this project, i'll prolly have it half finished in another 9

[angryred]

I run MAME v112, Visual Pinball 8, Daphne and multiple console emulators on a Windows 2000 machine. Win2k's nice and stable, and IIRC, it's the last version of Windows where you could install on as many machines as you wanted from just one disk. I use Win2k on my media PC/projector setup, too-- all it does is play movies.

i agree totally with you on the "last MS Os installable on many machines."

But it dont work for newer hardware. someday people have to bite the bullet and buy Xp, for the updated hardware detection.

Yes, that is true.  The Aimtrak config utility wouldn't work for me in Win2k, for example. It wasn't a big deal, as I was able to do what I needed to do on my XP machine and then calibrate the gun on the cabinet. It's mostly older software on my cab, so this was the first time I'd run into such a problem.

[Raitsa]

My choice has been a stripped Windows7 called Tiny7 rev01.
Its been the perfect choice for me; fast, up to date, everything working perfectly in my about 4 year old 32bit Mame PC.

[ryguy425425]

If you are only running mame, then look at Lincade and KnoppiXMAME. One is a live cd and the other has a few other emulators built in, I forget which is which. I'm used to a Windows os, so I'm running 2000. Xp would probably be my first choice, but I'll be upgrading the computer in my cab soon, and I didn't feel like reinstalling the os.

[milkit]

My choice has been a stripped Windows7 called Tiny7 rev01.
Its been the perfect choice for me; fast, up to date, everything working perfectly in my about 4 year old 32bit Mame PC.

they have made it up to rev10 now. only problem is no 64bit

i made my own 64bit with a combo of vlite and 7customizer, and then manually setting things after install. it flys!

[Comtek]

i been using one called Windows.XP.Pro.Performance.Edition.April.2009.v2-TJ quite fast no issues yet

[Dagitt]

The question I have is with an XP install is there a noticeable difference if you go with 64 bit instead of 32?

[smalltownguy]

The question I have is with an XP install is there a noticeable difference if you go with 64 bit instead of 32?

I noticed a difference on my P4 3.0 HT. Area 51 for me was a bit 'stuttery' with XP 32 bit, but XP 64 bit moved the frame rate to just enough to smooth it out. I'd say a 10% performance gain.

[Ond]

The question I have is with an XP install is there a noticeable difference if you go with 64 bit instead of 32?

I noticed a difference on my P4 3.0 HT. Area 51 for me was a bit 'stuttery' with XP 32 bit, but XP 64 bit moved the frame rate to just enough to smooth it out. I'd say a 10% performance gain.

I agree with this estimate, I've seen this difference b/w both XP 32 to 64 bit and Windows 7 32 to 64 bit ea. with custom Mame compiles suited to the relative OS.  The games that have a 'stuttery' performance on 32 bit improve on 64 bit (at least the ones I've tested).

[Dagitt]

Looks like I'll be going with 64 Bit for my install.  Thanks for the info guys 

[smalltownguy]

Looks like I'll be going with 64 Bit for my install.  Thanks for the info guys 

When you go to compile MAME, if you wish to do so, check my posts in the Mame Compiler thread about getting Headkaze's program to work properly with older versions of MAME, if that's the route you're going.

[Dagitt]

Looks like I'll be going with 64 Bit for my install.  Thanks for the info guys 

When you go to compile MAME, if you wish to do so, check my posts in the Mame Compiler thread about getting Headkaze's program to work properly with older versions of MAME, if that's the route you're going.

Thanks for the heads up, I will definitely check that thread out.