What are your emulators of choice?

[Mark Thomas]

Hi guys just thrashing out my plans for the pc side of my Arcade project and am considering buying the following set up:

Processor - [/url] http://www.ebuyer.com/251596-intel-core-i5-2500k-3-3ghz-socket-1155-6mb-cache-retail-boxed-processor-bx80623i52500k [/url]

Motherboard -  http://www.ebuyer.com/261288-msi-p67a-gd53-b3-p67-socket-1155-8-channel-audio-atx-motherboard-p67a-gd53-b3-] [url]http://www.ebuyer.com/261288-msi-p67a-gd53-b3-p67-socket-1155-8-channel-audio-atx-motherboard-p67a-gd53-b3-[/url]

And the Ultimarc Arcade 3000 VGA graphics card

Operation system probably Windows 7 64 bit

I'm toying with the idea of an i7 but depends on whether to not this is needed for certain emulators?

When looking at emulation I will be wanting to run the following:


A version of Mame for use with 143 Rom Set with arcade monitor - Groovymame?

Neo Geo

Sega Model 2

Sega Model 3

Snes

Nes

Sega Master System

Sega Genesis

Sega CD

Dreamcast - Just for - Virtua striker 2, virtua tennis, powerstone, Soul  Calibur, confidential mission and house of the dead 2

Playstation 2 - All of the time crisis games

GBA

Daphne

Capcom systems

1.What do you think to the pc set up, is that substantial enough for my requirements?
2.What emulators are you guys using and rating as the best for the above consoles?

I have picked some very specific games here too so if you have been playing them on an emulator your feedback would be very welcome, I won't add a game if it plays like garbage or has slowdown/ sound issues etc.

Many thanks in advance hopefully your imput and experiences with these emulators will help me buy the right stuff and get me up and running.

[elkameleon]

Heres my input:

I'm toying with the idea of an i7 but depends on whether to not this is needed for certain emulators? OVERKILL, stick with an i5

When looking at emulation I will be wanting to run the following:


A version of Mame for use with 143 Rom Set with arcade monitor - Groovymame?

Neo Geo

Sega Model 2

Sega Model 3

Snes ZSNES

Nes Nestopia

Sega Master System KEGA Fusion
Sega Genesis "
Sega CD "

Dreamcast - Just for - Virtua striker 2, virtua tennis, powerstone, Soul  Calibur, confidential mission and house of the dead 2 Chankast

Playstation 2 - All of the time crisis games PCSX2

GBA no$gba

Daphne

Capcom systems

[RyoriNoTetsujin]

I have the i5-2500k and can confirm it smokes through pretty much anything MAME, even without overclocking.  If it's emulated well enough to have the potential to run 100%, that proc can likely do it.

I haven't spent any time with the Model 3 emulator, but I imagine it'll handle that too. Works great on Model 2.

You might have an issue with that ArcadeVGA and running PCSX2 - it might not be powerful enough in terms of 3d capability.  That chipset is based on the Radeon HD 2600, which benchmarks lower than the integrated graphics built in to the i5. See here: http://www.videocardbenchmark.net/gpu_list.php

Using the i5's integrated graphics, I've noticed certain games (at least the Namco fighters like Tekken 4/5, Soul Calibur 2) will not run full speed... I don't have the PS2 Time Crisis games to test them for you, sorry!  

Do you already have your monitor?  Are you attached to the idea of using a CRT, let alone an arcade monitor?  Most of those emulators support some form of HLSL or at least scanlines.  A more powerful graphics solution is all my rig needs to run just about everything available at this point.  It's a trade-off, but nowadays it's really not a bad one, in my opinion.

[Howard_Casto]

Just a general rule of thumb:

Install MAME

Install MESS


If mame or mess won't properly run the games to want to play install additional emulators, but 90% of your games will be covered via mame/mess.

For most people this isn't an issue because those two run almost everything.

In addition:

Daphne for laserdiscs
Model 2 emulator
Model 3 emulator
Demul (for Atmoiswave)

And that should probably do it until you get into pinball, and that's a whole other rabbit hole to venture down. 

[Dariusz]

Just a general rule of thumb:

Install MAME

Install MESS


If mame or mess won't properly run the games to want to play install additional emulators, but 90% of your games will be covered via mame/mess.

For most people this isn't an issue because those two run almost everything.

In addition:

Daphne for laserdiscs
Model 2 emulator
Model 3 emulator
Demul (for Atmoiswave)

And that should probably do it until you get into pinball, and that's a whole other rabbit hole to venture down. 

Hi Howard_Casto

I am interested in your view on the pinball aspect of emulation. Can you please provide your thoughts on this subject. I look forward to your reply.

Thank you.
D

[Howard_Casto]

Well that's the problem right there.  It isn't emulation, it's simulation. 

Sure the DMDs are emulated, but the tables aren't. 


Just in general launching is difficult, there's no name standardization, multiple versions of the same table have been created by multiple authors ect....  I've made a few tools to help out, but it's still a bit messy.

[Mark Thomas]

Thanks guys I'd never heard of Mess or Atmoiswave before I will have to look into these emulators