Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum
Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: predator314 on September 15, 2008, 03:48:10 pm
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I'm building my first MAME cabinet. My friend gave me a 2.4 Ghz Dell from his office to try out. Unfortunately, it is un-usable. Even Linux won't run on this thing. I'm assuming it's bad RAM or something on the motherboard (none of which are replaceable because it's "mini" machine). So I decided to scrap it. Also, even more unfortunate is that when I bought my house last year, I donated a lot of PC parts to poeple because "I wouldn't need them anymore". So here I am in need of a PC for my new cabinet.
I wnat the PC to have enough power to run most of the MAME games.
This machine will also serve as a mp3 server/jukebox, so I opted for 80 gig of HD space (I have over 50 gig in MP3's). The wireless card will also help with that aspect as well as updating ROMS and such.
Anyway, here's what I got:
JetWay JM26GT3-SVP AM2 NVIDIA NF6100-405 Micro ATX AMD Motherboard (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813153073)
Athlon 64 X2 5000+ Brisbane 2.6Ghz CPU (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103211)
2GB G.Skill RAM (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231098)
80 GB WD 3.0 Gb/S SATA Hard Drive (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136195)
EDIMAX Wireless PC Card (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833315041)
I already have a big Power Supply that I was going to use in a Gaming PC I built last year, but never even took it out of the box. It's overkill for the application, but at least it will be put to some use. I intend on mounting the components inside the case, so no computer case will be needed.
Do you think these parts will be sufficient for a decent MAME cabinet + MP3 Server + Jukebox combo? Any changes you would make?
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That PC is more than you will need for MAME, but better stronger than weaker if you ever decide to run console emulators.
Edit: Oh, and get a bigger hard drive.
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Yeah, a bigger hard drive is a must (depending on which way you go with it). Figure in an entire set of MAME with CHDS, plus video previews of all games, plus console games, music, etc.
I have 250 GB and it's filling up quickly.
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Especially with the coming LD CHDs. You can find 500 gig drives on ebay for a hundred or less. Probably a bit less now that terabyte drives are under $200.
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What about the on-board video for that motherboard? I only see a VGA port... how would I hook this up to a television? Do I need a different video card to achieve this?
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Ya, a video card with svideo out would be good. You can find those cheap. And if the TV has component video inputs, you can get a newer DVI card with component out capability, as I hear that makes using windows (reading text, etc) a lot clearer.
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I assume this card should do the trick? :
SAPPHIRE Radeon X1550 512DDR2 PCI Express X16 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102786)
I'm assuming HDTV = Component?
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what kind of monitor/tv are you going to use?
old school tv = svid or rca (some have component)
hdtv = vga or component or dvi or hdmi
lcd computer monitor = vga or dvi
what does your monitor/tv have?
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I'm still trying to find a TV. Most likely it will have RCA/Svideo... maybe component inputs.