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Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: boogieman on May 02, 2008, 12:14:44 am

Title: Integrated video, would this computer work?
Post by: boogieman on May 02, 2008, 12:14:44 am

Will this work? (http://cgi.ebay.com/Intel-Pentium-4-3-06-Ghz-Computer-Small-tower_W0QQitemZ250241426024QQihZ015QQcategoryZ179QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)

Just wondering, how it says integrated video, I would like to use an arcadevga setup, if a comp has an integrated video setup can you use a different one too?

This should work with most games for a mame machine right?  I was thinking about building my own but this seems real cheap, probably less than I could buy the components for.

Title: Re: Integrated video, would this computer work?
Post by: protokatie on May 02, 2008, 12:20:10 am

For one, they have 3 PCI slots, so you may be able to add a newer GFX card into them. Also, 99% of the work MAME does (even with graphics) is done with the CPU. The Graphics card (or integrated graphics) is only used as a frame buffer and to output the graphics to the screen.

Here are two scenarios:

1. "OK-ish" CPU with awesome graphics card = Not so good for MAME (esp if it is a newer version of MAME)

2. Great CPU with some stupid intel extreme integrated GFX = Will work very well for MAME, even newer versions.

Its the CPU, not the GFX card, that you need to focus on.

EDIT: Email Andy Warne if arcadevga would be compat with the specs given. Dont know if ArcadeVGA will work in a standard PCI slot.

Title: Re: Integrated video, would this computer work?
Post by: paigeoliver on May 02, 2008, 02:37:27 am

ArcadeVGA is simply a video card, if your system has the appropriate slot then you can use it, if it doesn't then you can't. The website that sells the arcadeVGA tells you what sort of card it is. You don't need to email andy.

boogieman, that computer is overkill for mame. Computers you pull out of the dumpster are overkill for mame. Everything you hear about mame speed problems is related to the hard drive games and new mame versions. You can always downgrade your mame version if your system can't handle it.  Almost every game in mame that anyone cares about was running full speed in mame back when 500 mhz was a hot system.

Title: Re: Integrated video, would this computer work?
Post by: boogieman on May 02, 2008, 01:49:48 pm

Thanks for the info!

I went ahead and bought one.  Around here people think used computers are made of gold or something.  I got it for $99 + $38 S&H.  That seems reasonable.  I doubt I could have bought one around here for that, or made one for that matter.  I have a bigger hard drive already so I will probably swap that out when it arrives.