S3 Virge-VX (4MB) or ATI AIW Pro (16MB)?

[Dougmeister]

The obvious answer is the ATI, but is it going to benefit me is the real question.

Configuration: P200 MMX, 128 MB RAM, 4 GB HD.

Only getting 40 frames per second on PacMan.  Couldn't get the DOS drivers working, so even slower in pure DOS.  Running Win '98 and Mame32.

Suggestion/help/advice appreciated.  Thanks.

[Trenchbroom]

Does the Virge VX have TV-OUT like the AIW?  Does it matter to you?

Are they close in price?  If they are ATI all the way.  16 MB will make a difference IMO, even on a P200.  In fact you shouldn't have to replace the AIW any time soon...TV OUT in case you go that route, 16 MB is just about perfect amount of memory for a video card (anything greater is probably overkill).  Better brand and probably more stable drivers as well.

As for your chugging pacman framerate--go get MAME .36 final.  It will play the old classics much better on old machines then the newer version.

[Dougmeister]

Thanks for the reply.

Virge = no TV out.  And 'til I decide to buy a bigger monitor or a 20" tv, it doesn't really matter to 'cause all I have right now is an extra 15" monitor

I already own both cards... just don't want to go through the hassle of pulling the AIW (it's a 2ndary card on a dual-monitor machine), getting drivers, etc. if it won't really make a difference.  If you say it will, then I'll try it.

And as far as the 0.36 version of Mame32, will it work with my 0.83 roms or do I have to go back and pull out my archived 0.36 roms?

[Dougmeister]

Also, anyone have the URL to download v0.36 final?

[bloodyviking77]

www.mame.net/oldmame.html

And I think you'll find you will need to roll back your roms to the archived set.

[SirPeale]

Only getting 40 frames per second on PacMan.  Couldn't get the DOS drivers working, so even slower in pure DOS.  Running Win '98 and Mame32.

SLOWER in DOS?  What drivers couldn't you get working?  Sound?

And, as mentioned before, use .36 final, or VAntAGE.

[Dougmeister]

Sound worked fine, so I'm guessing the video drivers were hosed.  I downloaded the files from Gateway's web site, so unless it was just Windows drivers and not Windows/DOS as it said... I dunno...

All I know is that DOS Mame on this thing is a dog.

[SirPeale]

Yeah, it's the version of Mame you're using, not the drivers.  In DOS, the only driver you should need loaded is the sound drivers.

[Dougmeister]

Ok, thanks.  I'll grab 0.36 final DOS and give that a shot.