MAME version & OS questions

[bernard]

Hello,

I have a MAME machine that I built years ago.  It doesn't run some games quite as fast as I'd like, and while working on a friends computer recently a couple questions came to mind.

I'm building a PC for a friend of mine who will want to use it for e-mail and internet, but he'll also want to run MAME on it, so I wanted to get the computer running as fast as possible.  As a test, I ran a recent version of MAME (I think .70) in DOS mode, and ran Donkey Kong.  I did NOT get 60 fps, so I was disheartened, and figured I'd have to speed up the computer.  I know he'd want to be able to run MAME with the ease of use that MAME32 provides, so as another test just to see how bad it would run, I installed AlphaMAME32 (again, I think v.70), AlphaMAME doesn't allow for cheats, etc, and is the one recognized for score submissions by MARP and Twin Galaxies.  This time running in Win98, I ran Donkey Kong again using AlphaMAME32 and to my suprize the game ran excellent with full 60 fps.

This confused me a lot.  I have always configured MY MAME machine to use DOS because I figured it would be significantly faster than using any kind of operating system like Win98.  But if this computer I built for my friend runs MAME faster in Win98 than in DOS (and this machine is SLOWER than my MAME machine)  I would seriously consider changing my MAME machine to run in Win98, though I'd hate to go through changing it again.

My MAME machine:
Slot 1 - Pentium 2 / 350 Mhz processor
64MB RAM
simple 16MB PCI ATI Rage video card
running AdvanceMenu in DOS using DOS MAME v.72

Friend's computer build:
Slot 7 - Pentium 233 Mhz processor with MMX
40MB RAM
standard on-board video card with 2MB
running AlphaMAME32 v.70 in Win98


My question is...why does his machine run better in Win98 than in DOS?  And would my faster/better MAME machine run better as well in Win98.  Am I missing something?

I'm considering upgrading the MAME machine to almost a 1GB processor, and putting in more RAM, and hopefully then it will run just about any game I want using any OS.  But the Holiday season is upon us and money is going to be tied up buying gifts, so if I can get by with what I have in the MAME machine and I just need to change the configuration I'm running stuff in, that would be better (though a pain in ---my bottom---).  I have read in this forum peoples' advice about trying to use a less current version of MAME to match your system specs, but I want to stay with the most current versions of MAME because some of the most recent games added to MAME I DO want to play.  I have no interest in playing high-demanding games like NBA Jam, or Mortal Kombat, etc.  I just want all the classics, and games up through early 90's to play perfect.

Thanks for suffering through this long-winded message.

[eightbit]

There are so many variables that its hard to say Windows or dos will be better at a certain processor speed.

Dos mode on a win98 machine is not as fast as real dos, your still loading Windows overhead unless you created an actual dos boot configration. Newer processors and peripherals like video cards are optimized to run in Windows and Windows can take advantage of using more memory. Another things is the mame devs have switched to developing in Windows and port it back to dos. So its not really surprising that mame performs better in Windows.

Give mame a try in Windows you'll probably be pleasantly surprised.

[bernard]

Thank you for responding.  When I ran MAME in DOS on his machine I halted the boot-up process and just booted to command line, and ran MAME there.  I never run in DOS MODE, that's just ridiculous.

On my MAME machine, I'm booting right into DOS using the DOS version ripped from Win98 (I'm not booting Win98, I'm booting DOS).  

What you say about MAME developers using windows might make sense in this situation.  I guess I'll just have to install Win98 on my MAME machine and try it that way.  I was extremely suprised to see MAME run faster in Win98 than in pure DOS, because for as long as I've been tinkering with building and updating my MAME machine the rule has always been "running MAME in DOS is faster than in Windows"... but maybe times are changing.

Thanks again.

[eightbit]

Times have definately been changing. There are many previous threads discussing this to death. Don't take my word for it, do a search here and read some other opinions. I believe the general consensus is that windows is now faster on modern hardware and the biggest reason some people are running dos still is for arcade monitors.

[Minwah]

I believe the general consensus is that windows is now faster on modern hardware and the biggest reason some people are running dos still is for arcade monitors.

...and if you have a little cash to spend on the ArcadeVGA, arcade monitor + Windows is now a piece of cake too