Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum
Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: DrewKaree on May 04, 2004, 12:27:51 am
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I got this given to me the other day....it's got some scavenge-able parts if it won't work, but I figured I'd give it a go.
It's got:
100 Mhz CPU
16Mb RAM
800 Mb Hard Drive
I have another drive (or two) I can swap out if need be. I'm not sure what it's got for video, but I'd bet tall cash on NOT MUCH!
It's running Win98. I have Win95, 3.11, and DOS 6.
IF it's possible to use it, is my version of DOS the way to go, and what version of MAME should I use?
I realize this WILL NOT run anything new/modern, but what MIGHT be able to run on this setup?
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that comp. will run vantage with no problems. here's a link to some fps benchmarks with some older computers running mame, vantage, and retrocade.
benchmarks (http://www.mameworld.net/pc2jamma/vantage7.html)
here's a link to vantages main page:
Vantage (http://www.mameworld.net/pc2jamma/vantage.html)
it supports 30ish vertical classic games, and all the good ones(ie. pac, galaga, etc.)
another thing to try is an early version of mame. .36B12 or before would be the version your after. they put in a feature in the next beta that added a lot of overhead and would kill your fps.
and of course running pure dos will help as well, windows sucks up a lot of resources, but there are many others on the board who know much more about that than i.
good luck
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My Barcade has a P75 with 24MB on it. I run ArcadeOS/Vantage with MSDOS 6.x and the games run perfectly. As crsdawg mentioned, you will have a subset of games available but they are some of the very best from that era.
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To add to this, I remember downloading something that would rip DOS 7 from the Windows install disk. Would that be worthwhile, or is it not worth the time?
I've already got diskettes for DOS 6, so if it's a relatively minor difference, or if it won't make a difference for this particular application, I'd rather not waste the time.
So Vantage OR MAME v.36b12 and DOS would be the way to go then? Would that version of MAME run more games than Vantage (I realize the FPS hit shown in the benchmarks)?
Thanks for the replies so far. I was thinking I'd just be SOL, but I'm glad to put this to some other use than just a "parts machine".
*edit*
UGH! "Versions from 0.36b10 to 0.36b16 are unavailable for an indefinite period of time."
I don't suppose anyone has v0.36b12 handy, do they?
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MAME will run a lot more games than Vantage will. Just depends on what games you plan for the machine. DOS 6 should be fine for the OS.
There's nothing wrong with your machine; you just won't be able to run the newer games. Give it new life in a cabinet.
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I don't suppose anyone has v0.36b12 handy, do they?
I had the same question but went for a look today and found the following site:
http://patpend.net/ftp/emulators/arcade/mame/ (http://patpend.net/ftp/emulators/arcade/mame/)
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And it's available on the mame.net site, under downloads.
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And it's available on the mame.net site, under downloads.
I don't think it is. On the Old Downloads page it says that 0.36b10 to 0.36b16 are unavaillable.
That FTP site that Microwrx mentioned is the first place I've seen it available.
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Always a fun challenge using vintage cast-offs.
Consider finding an alternate compile that is built specifically for your CPU. There are DOS binary versions of MAME 0.36 floating out there that are built specifically for K6, PI-MMX, PII and other processors. I've had good luck boosting speed a bit by doing that. I'm guessing that the CPU is an Intel PI.
Also consider adding a bit more RAM. You'll likely find some SIMMs for near zero cost.
Lastly, consider overclocking the CPU to get a bit more speed out of it. I don't remember if the PI-100 was rate-limited or locked. Keep your eyes out for an unwanted 266MHz or faster K6-2 CPU that can replace your 100MHz for very little dough and give you double to triple performance and maybe get a couple more games to play. And you can definately overclock those chips if your mobo/BIOS will support it.
You can get a replacement PCI video card for like $5 if you need it. But I bet you don't.
- pmc
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I'm guessing that the CPU is an Intel PI.
You are correct there.
Also consider adding a bit more RAM. You'll likely find some SIMMs for near zero cost.
There are a total of 4 memory slots, two of which are taken. Where on god's green earth would I find these? I went to my ace-in-the-hole old parts place, and they had a total of zero of these chips.
I don't remember if the PI-100 was rate-limited or locked. Keep your eyes out for an unwanted 266MHz or faster K6-2 CPU that can replace your 100MHz for very little dough and give you double to triple performance and maybe get a couple more games to play. And you can definately overclock those chips if your mobo/BIOS will support it.
Dunno about overclocking yet, but I picked up a 233 for $3.....was told it will fit, I'll find out this weekend.
You can get a replacement PCI video card for like $5 if you need it. But I bet you don't.
Correct there. It's got one that works fine, and the former owner graciously had the latest driver DL'd and kept the .exe on the PC, so I'm as current on that as can be, and it runs some games my kids put on it pretty well.
Thanks fer all the help so far. I'll be working (and playing ;D) on this over the weekend.
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There are a total of 4 memory slots, two of which are taken. Where on god's green earth would I find these? I went to my ace-in-the-hole old parts place, and they had a total of zero of these chips.
Ebay...search for "72 pin simm (or simms...gets listed both ways)". There is tons of the stuff for nothing. Note I am assumming it takes 72 pin SIMM's (almost all P1 boards do).
Oh, forgot to mention, you'll want to buy them in pairs...memory bus width thing.