Sega M2/Supermodel gaming rig specifications

[MoFoHo]

Hi all! First post here so please be gentle!  I also hope I've come to the right place, and posted in the right part of the forum!

Me and a couple of mates are wanting to build a modest, and portable gaming rig. We wish to revisit our misspent (possibly drunken) youth where we spent far too much money playing Sega Rally down our local. We're huge Sega Rally fans! I myself bought a Sega Saturn eons ago and boy did that machine get used! Now, short of buying a Saturn from Ebay, I think we can do much better...

For instance I can run the Sega M2 (v0.9) emulator on my laptop with considerable ease, even so far as running 2 emulators linked together with seemingly no real problems. And thats on a pretty old vista laptop! I can also run Supermodel too. The next logical step was maybe mapping a couple of gamepads to see if I can get some analog control going on... Again, no problems (although I could never get rumble working).

Soooooo, what we'd like to do is make up a gaming rig comprising of a modest PC, connected to a Logitech G27 wheel/pedal combo. The wheels/pedals will be fitted to a playseat or something similar. I'd build/program the PC, get the M2/Supermodel emulators running, and most likely install Hyperspin as a front end. And since it would be (relatively) portable we have no need for a display or speakers on this rig, we'd simply rig it up to whatever 1080p consumer TV is available.

So I guess my question is, if I may, is what kind of specs regarding the PC should I be looking at? Is M2/Supermodel a pretty processor intensive program to run? Obviously with regards to M2 there maybe some times when we'd run 2 instances of it, who knows, maybe build a 2nd seat, or just use a gamepad.

Another very important question! In fact, the whole project hangs in the balance! Will the M2/Supermodel emulators work with the Logitech G27 wheel/pedals ok? I've looked and looked and can't really find a definitive answer...?

Any answers or advice would be greatly appreciated, hope you've all managed to get this far without falling asleep!

Thanks, in advance, 
   Steve.

[RamjetR]

Hi MofoHo,

Welcome to the forum and your new addiction

First up to answer your G27 concerns... check these out...





For your PC Specs.

Almost any i5 Processor will do. My specs are as follows.

Intel Core i5 750
Gigabyte cheapest low end mobo to match CPU 1156
4Gb DDR3 G.Skill Ripjaws
1Gb nVidia 560Ti (for the HDMI 1.4 for the 3DTV output)

Run's like a dream, 60+ fps at all times and very happy with the performance. It's all Stock speed and it's even an old system compared to current Sandy Bridge CPU's.

You'll run them fine with anything from an 8800GT or higher.

If your going to do Dual racing rigs.... consider this as an option...



Happy building and don't forget to post pics of your rigs

Ramjet

[MoFoHo]

Oh wow, thats amazing! Thanks for the quick answer there! The G27 looks sweet as...
I'd been peeking at your you-tube vids before siging up here. 

Would a PC spec that you mentioned run Supermodel ok too?

[RamjetR]

Yeah, the Scud Race video's are a REEALLY early beta of the Supermodel emulator running on the exact hardware I spec'ed above. It runs silky smooth. Unless people have had issues with AMD processors with emulators that I'm unaware of, you'll find that any quad core will be enough since the games rely quite heavily on graphic card for frame rates. That's why I mentioned that an 8800GT or better will be quite sufficient in my experience. I know this because I've also had M2 and M3 games running nicely on a Pentium Dual core 925 with 4 Gb Ram and an 8800GT (the 7900GT 512mb didn't quite keep up...)

Note that I have read somewhere that nVidia cards are preferable due to texture glitches in supermodel(?) with some AMD graphic cards? Can't say I can verify that... but I had heard it.

If you look around online, you'll find G27's really cheap these days too... I got mine from Logitech ebay store and I think I only paid $179AUD each for them?

I did a bit of sacrificial cutting of my dashboard to make mine fit the cabinet and there was some cutting of the original support bracket behind the dash to allow it to fit the correct depth too.. but if your not building an authentic cabinet, then I wouldn't worry and enjoy building a race sim rig. That's what I did.... when you get the opportunity to make a project out of a cheap and trashed cabinet. You just build something that you can race with Faithful restoration in Australia (shipping costs) is quite expensive. So I made a race rig with an arcade feel. It's a pure blast to race in.

Actually, if your really keen to have a crack at building one... here is a basic layout of what I did... I think it's pretty comprehensively complete...


https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B-P3wlCiYEm3V2dtOHpJbUtEX2M/edit

[vandale]

Hi, heres my setup:


I run an i7 as the master and a dual core as the slave. Currently you can only network Model2 games so the slave PC is only setup with hyperspin and model 2 games whereas the master i7 on the left has MAME, M2, M3 and Naomi. You will need an i7 if you want to play games like Sanfrancisco Rush without frameskip or lag.

I used the original steering wheels and pedals, they came with 25k pots so I changed them to 10k pots to suit the analogue control hack on my USB gamepads. The gear stick on this cabinet is sequential so I use a script called h2seq which allows a sequential shifter to change gears in Daytona etc.

Hyperspin is a good frontend however it can take sometime to setup, especially for numerous emulators.

Good luck with your build.
Cheers

[Howard_Casto]

Man those are some cool rigs.  I wish I had the space for them! 

Well I guess I could get rid of the Pac-Man and Gorf... but naah. 

I'm going to try a different approach once spring hits.  I'm going to put a seat on a platform the exactly footprint of the seat.  My dash and pedals will be suspended on a framework that slides towards the seat with the buttom rails going into the box underneath when not in use.  Basically the whole rig will take up the space of a single racing seat. 

[vandale]

Man those are some cool rigs.  I wish I had the space for them! 

Well I guess I could get rid of the Pac-Man and Gorf... but naah. 

I'm going to try a different approach once spring hits.  I'm going to put a seat on a platform the exactly footprint of the seat.  My dash and pedals will be suspended on a framework that slides towards the seat with the buttom rails going into the box underneath when not in use.  Basically the whole rig will take up the space of a single racing seat.

Cool idea if you dont have the room for a big cabinet. I had the option to buy a Rad Mobile moving platform cab for $50 but I simply didnt have the room for such a large/noisey rig.

[RamjetR]

I ended up having to buy a new house mid last year (part of the reason why I'm so busy these days)... just to fit in the other two Sega DX cabinets and the TMNT machine in the garage. It really becomes an addiction... sadly the DX cabinets are huge but oh so awesome to see in action...

[TIGER8855]

Wow I've started a project which is almost exactly as you have described except my setup will be in an actual sega rally twin!

Basically the plan is restore a Sega rally twin, add a pc in each that will be linked to run M2/M3 using hyperspin as the FE and then modify the dashes to fit G27's. I also want to run ramjetR's vr output software for the view buttons and race leader lamps if I can find it because the link to the latest version is dead?

Current progress on the project is the sega rally twin has been stripped down and is ready to be modded then repainted. I have a full set of new decals to then apply. The PC's have just been built and I will make a start this weekend with the emulator setup and hyperspin setup.

[retrorepair]

You know Howard, the Sega twin racers split in two 



I've gotten a twin since then, much to the dismay of my significant other 

TIGER8855 > If you want a simulator go ahead with the G27 mod but if you want real arcade controls/force feedback you'd be better off leaving it stock. The video above uses a Sega Rally wheel/motor and it feel exactly as the original did.

[TIGER8855]

TIGER8855 > If you want a simulator go ahead with the G27 mod but if you want real arcade controls/force feedback you'd be better off leaving it stock. The video above uses a Sega Rally wheel/motor and it feel exactly as the original did.

I have actually been thinking about keeping the Sega rally wheel & FFB mainly because I have no idea how I'm going to modify the dash for the G27. The thing is, as well as running M2, I plan to also be running newer PC games and possibly even add a PS3 later on so unless I can't figure out how to fit the G27 in a good enough way then I will stick with the original plan but still keep all the sega rally steering and gearbox gear just in case.

Also I'm still search for V1.4 of the RamjetVR m2emulator output. Does anyone have a copy of the zip file or a link to it?? I would love to have the view buttons and race leader lamps functional in my cab.

[RamjetR]

PM'd you a link with RamjetVR1.4 and updated my sig. I didn't know SpekSNK had changed it's forums and site so much?!

I agree with Retro.. If you have the original wheel and motor etc and your looking for a faithfull restoration. Then keep the original setup and make it work with a logitech hack (retro can help you with details on that... ). If you are like I was with a wrecked cabinet missing everything except the seat and speakers... Then have fun making it your own. Cutting a G27 into a dashboard isn't easy and you don't want to make a mistake or not completely think the whole thing through before you take to it with a dremel and an angle grinder. I love my machine/s. They aren't original, but they were never meant to be. Everything I've converted has been a mercy effort saving a cabinet from the scrap heap. 

I didn't initially start out making an arcade machine. I had a wreck that was cheaper than buying a new computer desk and empty sunday afternoons ahead. It was purely a 'what can I make out of this?' affair. The more I got into it... the more I found I could interface the original pieces for my online sim racing. Then I discovered the M2 emulator about 3 months into building a race sim rig and I was hooked... It had to play Daytona and Sega Rally. So with a bit of reverse engineering and a lot of learning new programming languages mostly by trial and error (Retro will back me up on this) RamjetVR was purely proof of concept. I made a gui and didn't really expect alot of people want to use it. It honestly was just something for Retro and myself to use and play around with.

I'll get round to updating it someday. I can make it run alot smoother and more realistic. I also have a full working speedo, RPM tacho and a real brakelight working on my cabinet also. RamjetVR does alot more for me than just VR buttons. Howard will eventually add output support to his mamehooker which will have much more compatibility to other devices. I only have a PacDrive and it was unlikely someone would give me a controller to code and test for... sooooo it kinda stayed that way as it worked great for me and there wasn't much demand for other LED controllers.

Anyway, do post pictures of your progress. We will help where we can.... we're a friendly bunch....

Ramjet

[TIGER8855]

Thanks for the link Ramjet. I will definitely post some pics. Just need to start a new thread for my build as I think I've hijacked this one enough!

Will also need to make a call soon on the steering setup I will be using. It's good to know it's possible to keep original steering & gears.

[vandale]

hi, quick vid of my cabinet


Cheers

[RamjetR]

I can't believe how cheap you managed to build that setup! That's fantastic.

[vandale]

I can't believe how cheap you managed to build that setup! That's fantastic.

Thanks man!

I was lucky with the cabinet being free, it came about as the owner had decomissioned it from a local arcade after a screen failed. I swapped it for an original gutted Taito Space Invaders cabinet that cost me $100. I removed the insides of the Taito cab and sold them seperately for $150, so was up $50 on the whole deal, then sold the game boards and screens from the Ridge Racer for $100, so reinvested the $150 back into the cabinet.

I refuse to pay market value for anything and try to build my games on a strict budget as it is far to easy to get carried away when building these things. I think it was just luck that the Loewe 100hz tubes fit perfect and allowed CGA input direct into the SCART socket, these things are so cheap as no one wants CRT anymore. I like the scan lines as it gives a more authentic feel. Only disappointing thing was the force feedback never came in the twin ridge racers, only the deluxe singles.

I am just finishing my budget MAME cab build, just waiting for a dual wiimote M2 script lol

[RamjetR]

I like scan lines in games that are CRT based. My cabinet was one of those 39" rear pro's and they all go horrible. Burn in and blah... The Samsung 40" LCD does an amazing job however. A sacrifice of authenticity for visual fidelity to play all my PC race sims too. FF would be missed, but you can do some amazing stuff with tactile shakers these days to help with the immersion. I have 2 Sub's and a Tactile shaker on my rig and it will actually rattle eyeballs. Not to mention probably half the screws out too. I have a 8 x 2 tactile shaker setup I wanted to fit over xmas (but who has the time right) for directional forcefeedback on suspension travel. Check out SimVibe (and it's clone I forgot the name of now) which takes chassis suspension travel and impact, translates to tactile motion and kicks each corner of the cabinet. I can't wait to feel each impact from ripple strip to opponent cars with these things.

Urrghhh so many projects...

[vandale]

Sounds cool.

Initially I was thinking of installing a 55inch LCD and running networked M2 on a single machine with a false bezel on the screen but decided against it as I wanted to eventually play networked MAME games and that would simply chew up to much CPU power in that configuration.

Currenty setting up a few MAME classics like outrun, powerdrift etc but in doing so I noticed there are no Hyperspin themes for alot of racing games, probably because they arent fun to play without a wheel and many people dont build racing cabs. What themes do you use?

Thanks

[RamjetR]

Hey, Retro has a really nice hyperspin setup.. you can check out his video and see if any of his themes take your fancy?

[Andy_Bogard]

this topic is awesome :-)
I plan to have only one PC for 2 screens in my daytona twin cab. Considering this thread, it shoud work for model 2 emu.
But what about supermodel? Will it work for model 3, if yes what PC configuration should I need?
thank you!