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Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: mrynit on March 06, 2006, 11:58:09 pm

Title: using old computers
Post by: mrynit on March 06, 2006, 11:58:09 pm: i have two old computers. P2 266mhz with 64MB 72pin ram & K6 AMD 400Mhz 128MB PC100 ram. the video cards i have are old ati RAGE 2 and 4 MB vram. what type of mame or emulators and FE could i use on them?
Title: Re: using old computers
Post by: AMDman13 on March 07, 2006, 12:04:37 am: Heck, I think I was using DOS mame .29 back in the days of those computers. Of coarse I'm sure they will probably work for a great deal of versions around that time period.
Title: Re: using old computers
Post by: USSEnterprise on March 07, 2006, 01:11:49 am: don't plan on playing anything from after 1985
Title: Re: using old computers
Post by: SirPeale on March 07, 2006, 01:24:22 am: The 266...not much. Pac-Man, maybe. The 400 will net you a bunch of games.
Title: Re: using old computers
Post by: mrynit on March 07, 2006, 01:58:12 am: well i was thinking the comps could run NES and older games....
Title: Re: using old computers
Post by: zaphod on March 07, 2006, 08:02:37 am: The 266 is plenty powerful for Vantage and ArcadeOS over DOS. I can run that on a P90 with 32MB RAM with full framerates.
Title: Re: using old computers
Post by: Mark70 on March 07, 2006, 08:24:40 am: My P2 233 will run all of the classics like defender, centipede, etc.... think black background coloured sprites.

It actually ran WWF Superstars well enough for my brother and I to have a game. It was really poor framerates though. I wouldn't call it playable for enjoyment, mostly just to show off the cab in progress.

I'm trying to get sorted out to buy a new computer so I can put my 1.7GHz in.

If you stick to way back classics, not much problem. You limit your game list seriously though.
Title: Re: using old computers
Post by: mrynit on March 07, 2006, 03:45:17 pm: Quote from: zaphod on March 07, 2006, 08:02:37 am
The 266 is plenty powerful for Vantage and ArcadeOS over DOS. I can run that on a P90 with 32MB RAM with full framerates.
tell me more! i havent heard or those before. how do i install DOS only?
Title: Re: using old computers
Post by: USSEnterprise on March 07, 2006, 03:57:31 pm: You can use Freedos or MS-DOS 7.1. Both can be obtained free, and installed onto a freshy formatted FAT32 Hard drive
Title: Re: using old computers
Post by: zaphod on March 07, 2006, 04:15:42 pm: Quote from: USSEnterprise on March 07, 2006, 03:57:31 pm
You can use Freedos or MS-DOS 7.1. Both can be obtained free, and installed onto a freshy formatted FAT32 Hard drive
Agreed. And DOS uses very, very little HD space.

Vantage: http://www.mameworld.net/pc2jamma/vantage.html
ArcadeOS: http://www.mameworld.net/pc2jamma/frontend.html
Title: Re: using old computers
Post by: miles2912 on March 07, 2006, 04:36:37 pm: Quote from: mrynit on March 06, 2006, 11:58:09 pm
i have two old computers. P2 266mhz with 64MB 72pin ram & K6 AMD 400Mhz 128MB PC100 ram. the video cards i have are old ati RAGE 2 and 4 MB vram. what type of mame or emulators and FE could i use on them?

What I have done to see if the PC would play a game is to plug it in and try. You could have a few emulators up and working in 10 minutes if you know what you are doing.

Don
Title: Re: using old computers
Post by: TOK on March 07, 2006, 05:30:07 pm: Both those machines are fine for oldies. I found MAME at .3something and it ran all the golden age stuff great on a Pentium 133. Just use an old build and keep the fluff to a minimum and the early to mid 80's stuff will be fine.
Title: Re: using old computers
Post by: SirPeale on March 07, 2006, 07:18:11 pm: Quote from: zaphod on March 07, 2006, 08:02:37 am
The 266 is plenty powerful for Vantage and ArcadeOS over DOS. I can run that on a P90 with 32MB RAM with full framerates.

This I know. VAntAGE has it's uses (I maintain the website) but these days I go for authenticity over speed, so I stick with Mame. Might require more pony-power, but it's more accurate.
Title: Re: using old computers
Post by: USSEnterprise on March 07, 2006, 07:56:36 pm: The only problems you may have with DOS is setting up config.sys, autoexec.bat, and the many drivers for various devices. I know I did at first
Title: Re: using old computers
Post by: mrynit on March 07, 2006, 08:00:55 pm: yeah drives for DOS could be a pain. how about win95 or 98? drives for that should be easier but then more CPU would goto OS.