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Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: JoeyJoeJo on March 03, 2005, 09:47:14 pm

Title: Hardware to run mame
Post by: JoeyJoeJo on March 03, 2005, 09:47:14 pm

Hi again from your's truely.  I have been configuring a computer to build for my mame cabinet, but I'm not sure if there is some hardware thats better suited for running mame than other hardware.  Will just anything work, or do I need a certain video card or anything? I was thinking about an NVidia 5700 video card, an AMD 2700+ and 512 MB ram.  Does that sound good?

Title: Re: Hardware to run mame
Post by: crashwg on March 03, 2005, 10:29:48 pm

CLICK ME (http://www.arcadecontrols.org/yabbse/index.php?board=1;action=display;threadid=14155)

Next time check the FAQs and search first!

Title: Re: Hardware to run mame
Post by: tommy on March 03, 2005, 10:34:24 pm

The best way is the avga card read above

Title: Re: Hardware to run mame
Post by: GGKoul on March 03, 2005, 11:13:48 pm

Joey.. do a basic search or read the Sticky for Newbies on the top of the page..  This will help you get started..

Title: Re: Hardware to run mame
Post by: RayB on March 04, 2005, 10:37:31 am

2700+ is fast enough to run just about everything but the very latest games. And if you're only interested in the older (80's) games, then that is overkill.

Title: Re: Hardware to run mame
Post by: GGKoul on March 04, 2005, 10:40:34 am

Also, you don't need a high end video card.  Just make sure it has s/video/TV-out.

Title: Re: Hardware to run mame
Post by: daywane on March 04, 2005, 10:54:22 am

I have been told that Intel chip sets are best. I would not know personally because all my PC's just happen to be Intel chip sets. ( I do not know why or how it makes a difference)

Title: Re: Hardware to run mame
Post by: Lilwolf on March 04, 2005, 11:26:19 am

other items to consider...

what monitor... best is really a true arcade crt.  If you go that route (and you can get a new 19" delivered for 200... 27" are more (around 500 I think).... Then you want to go with arcadeVGA cards hands down.

But if not.. .You might consider going with a 3d card with some backbone... (not a lot, but some)... there is a new group of emulators for vector games that should work with FSAA... And poping a tv-out with native resolutions and 4xAA should be a great solution for those games...

Then you also have Zinc...  GREAT for some 3d games.

Then you have M1 / Nebula.  This works MUCH better with nvidia cards.. ATIs suck with it.

Title: Re: Hardware to run mame
Post by: Fat_Trucker on March 04, 2005, 02:49:47 pm

Don't know if it helps but I've just put my first PC together for use in my (nearly completed)cab.

It runs just about everything MAME has to throw at it. A couple of the more intensive CHD games are dog slow and several more need to be frame skipped to maintain a playable frame rate but mostly it loves it. Specs:

AMD Athlon 2800XP
MSI K7N2 Delta Mobo 4x usb ports
Creative Soundblaster Live (non digital)
512Mb DDR PC3200 (333) RAM
Arcade VGA from Ultimarc
Creative Soundworks 4.1 speakers (replaced front satellites with Kenwood 6x9 car speakers).
Hantarex 26" Monitor

If you are running an arcade monitor in your cab the AVGA is an absolute godsend.