Using X-Box as frontend

[ackbar]

Hey, I've been looking into this for a while, but can't seem to find any straight answers.  Hopefully someone here has done something similar to what I'd like to do.

I am planning on building another arcade cabinet (my third), and I'd like to use a TV and X-Box to run MAME.  The only problem is that there doesn't seem to be a good dedicated frontend for the X-Box.  The X-Box will not be used for anything other than running MAME.  So far it looks like my best options are MAMEoX, or Linux.

Is there a good frontend for Linux?  I think the most direct method would be to put a larger hard drive in the X-Box, put Linux on it, and run MAME from there.  Then I'd just be treating this like any other MAME box.  However, I haven't found a good frontend for X-Box Linux, so this idea might not work out.

The other choice is MAMEoX- from what I've gathered, this is loaded onto a DVD with some ROMs, and the X-Box just runs the DVD as if it's any other game.  This is an OK solution, but not perfect; MAMEoX seems a little hairy to get going, and I can't fit all of the supported ROMs on one DVD.

So, any tips?  Corrections to my "findings"?  Thanks in advance.  When I get this working, I'll be sure to document it so that others don't have this same problem.

[Howard_Casto]

Linux on teh xbox is a dumb idea..... you don't have any memory to begin with, so putting linux in the footprint lets you play even less games.  Stick with mameox.

Btw as for front-ends, there aren't any.... What I mean to say is, there are, but by the time you load them and linux into memory, there hardly isn't anything left for mame.  You'll be able to run pacman and a few classics and that's about it.  

[ackbar]

Thanks.  I'll stick with MAMEoX, then.

[Thenasty]

I can't fit all of the supported ROMs on one DVD.

Even if you can fit al the ROMS in it, The X-Box is too slow for most of the games. You can probably only run classics games like Galaga,Pacman, Ms.Pacman on the 733mhz.
Till this day, I am still waiting for some NERD to come up of how to upgrade the CPU on the system (even tho I know its imppossible) but hey, I can dream can't I? Good luck.
Running an old version of MAME on a 733mhz will be much better. I don't know if there are un-official builds of MAME-ox, NonamameXp or Advmame for Linux etc...of version 36 Final. i find that 36Final runs more games on a 733mhz.

[Howard_Casto]

I can't fit all of the supported ROMs on one DVD.

Even if you can fit al the ROMS in it, The X-Box is too slow for most of the games. You can probably only run classics games like Galaga,Pacman, Ms.Pacman on the 733mhz.
Till this day, I am still waiting for some NERD to come up of how to upgrade the CPU on the system (even tho I know its imppossible) but hey, I can dream can't I? Good luck.
Running an old version of MAME on a 733mhz will be much better. I don't know if there are un-official builds of MAME-ox, NonamameXp or Advmame for Linux etc...of version 36 Final. i find that 36Final runs more games on a 733mhz.

The processor isn't the issue at all, it's the puny 64 megs of ram.  Even though the processor is technically a 733 mhz, it's a custom intel chip designed soley to pump out framerates.  In other words, if running software designed with the xdk (ie not linux)  it'll out-perform most 1 gig+ systems.  

[drunkatuw]

Till this day, I am still waiting for some NERD to come up of how to upgrade the CPU on the system (even tho I know its imppossible) but hey, I can dream can't I? Good luck.

These guys put a 1.4GHz processor in an xbox and they sell it.  Most games don't run properly because the timing for most games is based on the processor speed (unlike PC games).
http://xbox.upgrade123.com/

[ani]

The xbox can be a frustrating solution. I've been running mame-x on it for about a year now, so i've experienced it all. About the most graphically intensive game it can do is mk1. Some games that are slightly more intensive will load then run at about 25 fps. What's really bad is that when it runs out of memory, it just locks up and tells you it's locking up. You have to thank the guy for porting it, but it still needs alot of work.
The emu I use most on the xbox is kawa-x. It will run all of the neo-geo, cps1, and cps2 games about flawlessly. The xbox may be a good stop gap solution, but I imagine you would get frustrated with and through a pc in eventually.

[Howard_Casto]

The xbox can be a frustrating solution. I've been running mame-x on it for about a year now, so i've experienced it all. About the most graphically intensive game it can do is mk1. Some games that are slightly more intensive will load then run at about 25 fps.

Yeah my point exactly.... processor isn't the issue.  Although it's a 733 mhz it's performing like a gigahertz.  If you need more than that to run your mame games then the xbox isn't for you anyway.  

[ackbar]

Thanks, everyone, for the input.  I think I'll just be going with a PC instead.  The Xbox just isn't going to fit the bill.