To Linux or Not to Linux -- That is the question ..

[d00dness]

Good evening folks.  Yup the MAME bug bit me again!!! So this is just an idea now that I"ve been out of the scene for the last few years, on how the technology is going when it comes to OS's.  I fiddled around with MAME about 5yrs ago and created a MAME XP box that was running MAMEWah on it.  Since then as you know better operating systems and processors have come out.  Now that I have been messing with Linux I wanted to see what advantages / disadvantages there would be by building a Linux MAME box.  What I'm looking for is an operating system that can access all the emulators - MAME, CPV2, PinMame, etc... Now I know these can run on a Windows (x) box but what about Linux?  Will it be more of a  in the butt for Linux or is it doo-able?  Also if anyone has experience with Ubuntu and wahcade PLEASE /w me.  I'm having just a grand time with the configurations .. Thanks in advance and I hope I was a tad clear..

[Le Chuck]

If you're shooting for an easy on easy off machine that plays any emulated system you really can't do much better than TinyXP or even W7 that is paired down.  Sure there is some bloat with windows but if you're going for a full compliment of 3D gaming emus then you're going to running a beefy system anyway and the best selection is on the M$ platform hands down. 

I am a huge Ubuntu fan, and do MAME on it occasionally, but baring a few circumstances there is no overarching benefit to using linux for a gaming cab.  The juice just isn't worth the squeeze.

[d00dness]

Le Chuck - Thanks for your input.  So IYO you don't think that building an Ubuntu box, with 8GBS RAM and a 1GB/2GB vid card would work?  I was thinking of getting one of NewEgg's DIY kits they sell (which is either a tri or quad core CPU) and use that as my arcade box.  So far using MAME and wahcade seems to run great on my laptop, just not sure about the other EMUS like you mentioned.  And personally I'd rather go Linux then Win because of all the headaces associated with Windows but that's just me ... Tks again ..

[Le Chuck]

If you're just doing MAME then sure, it's easy, but by the time you muscle with WINE and dosbox and everything else you'll need to get all the other more esoteric emus up and running you could have been finished with XP already.  The headache of windows is completely and quickly manageable, which is why you see the preponderance of builds here using it. 

[d00dness]

Le Chuck - Thanks.  I've reciently been using HyperSpin FE on my laptop here and it seems pretty nice.  I like the layouts and how easy it is to configure.  Since WinBlows (heheh) seems the way to go, in your opinion would a dual core benifit ROMS and CHDs or should I be thinking more in the lines of Quad->Six core CPUs?  I'm not sure if MAME can even see or utilize more then 1 processor core?  Thanks in advance..

[compute]

I have to agree.  Getting stuff to work is a lot more complicated compared with Windows.  Most of the reason for using Linux had more to do with wanting to learn about it.  As much as I love using Linux, I can't suggest it for someone unless they're REALLY cheap or they're already familiar with and prefer Linux.  That said, the Windows front ends are way more fancy, and there are way more emulators available.  It just depends what you want to get out of the experience.