Minimum requirements to play 3D games

[Nitro0602]

Hey guys, a newbie here. Wanted to build/buy a computer that run 3D games like tekken on a mame system.
What are the bare minimum I need to run it, as I have a friend that works at a used computer store.
Want to save as much as I can, I have a p4 but it lags on 3D games.

Please help a newbie!!!!

[BadMouth]

Shoot for at least 3.2Ghz
3.5+ is really more like it.

My old setup is running them on MAME v.137 and they work fine.
(It's a 2.9Ghz X3, but it has absolutely all unecessary services disabled and a lot of tweaking done)

My new setup is running a faster processor (3.4Ghz X3) and MAME v.146 and they stutter.
I haven't had time to work out what the issue is, but you may need to stick with an older version of MAME.

Buying a 3.2Ghz-3.5Ghz processor still doesn't guarantee they'll work without sound skips.
There are many other things at work like having a 64bit OS, having background services disabled, etc.

Your P4 will probably run them on Zinc emulator depending on how fast the processor is.

[Malenko]

Your P4 will probably run them on Zinc emulator depending on how fast the processor is.

This^

There are other emulators that do a better job with certain games, with the right front end it looks seamless

[Nitro0602]

Thanks guys I will try that, anything I can do to make the graphics look more smooth?
Some games look pixelated.

[Malenko]

Thanks guys I will try that, anything I can do to make the graphics look more smooth?
Some games look pixelated.

play on a CRT or use scanlines/scan line generator

[MyNameIsRu]

I'm looking at a 3.3GHz processor right now, but I noticed the X3 is a quad core; the one I'm looking at is a dual core. How much of a difference will that make when playing games like NFL Blitz, and would the presence of a graphics card make any noticeable difference?

[BadMouth]

I'm looking at a 3.3GHz processor right now, but I noticed the X3 is a quad core; the one I'm looking at is a dual core. How much of a difference will that make when playing games like NFL Blitz, and would the presence of a graphics card make any noticeable difference?

NFL Blitz will probably be playable on the 3.3Ghz X2 or X3 as long as it has a 64 bit OS and all unecessary services are disabled, but it will probably still have small hiccups.  Blitz Gold and 2000 will probably be unacceptable.  Gauntlet Legends probably won't be playable.

Graphics card doesn't make much difference for MAME unless you're using extra features like hlsl (to draw scanlines on the screen). 
In MAME, your computer's main processor emulates the entire arcade hardware including the original 3D card that was in the arcade cabinet.
The 3D work isn't offloaded to the video card because that wouldn't be emulating the original hardware (which is MAME's primary purpose)
That is why 3D games in MAME require a powerful processor and other emulators like Model 2 Emulator and Zinc don't.

I think the extra cores help with overhead and make a difference on games that are borderline on running 100% or not.

Try to keep expectations in check. 
You're probably not going to be running games like NFL Blitz and Gauntlet Legends flawlessly unless you pay for an upper end i5 or an overclocked (4Ghz+) Core 2 Duo.
It's a question of whether you're willing to pay an extra $200 to make three or four more games playable.

[Malenko]

It's a question of whether you're willing to pay an extra $200 to make three or four more games playable.

Of if you want to use what you have with a different emulator. Dreamcast emulators can  be used to play Blitz and whatnot.

[MyNameIsRu]

Looks like I need to focus more on my processor! The extra $100 for another i5-2500k will go a long way, though... I never really messed around much with MAME's capability to run the higher end games until recently when I started looking into setting up a cab of my own.

Thank you for your input, gentlemen!

[brad808]

Looks like I need to focus more on my processor! The extra $100 for another i5-2500k will go a long way, though... I never really messed around much with MAME's capability to run the higher end games until recently when I started looking into setting up a cab of my own.

Thank you for your input, gentlemen!

At this point people that consider the 2500k might as well pick up the 3570k instead unless they can get a really good deal on the former.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus

[Nitro0602]

Does it matter if I'm running windows ultimate 32bit rather then a 64bit operating system?
Computer is an e8600 core2duo 3.3ghz, 4gb ram, GeForce 210 video card, 500gb hard drive.