Would this make a good Mame platform ?

[Level42]

Do you guys think this would be a good basis for a Mame cab ?

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1293723&Sku=MBM-MAM2V-340

 It would be replacing a Celeron 333 Mhz so it will be a huge improvement anyway, but should I need a real Pentium instead ?

[elvis]

Just a warning:

Despite saying "Prescott Ready" this board does not support 800MHz FSB:
http://www.msicomputer.com/product/p_spec.asp?model=p4mam2-v&class=mb

So you will need to find a 533MHz FSB CPU to match.  You cannot buy 533MHz FSB Pentium4 chips new any more - you need to source them second hand.  You can buy 533MHz FSB Celerons, but with the low cache they can be a bit of a performance crippler under MAME.

Other than that, going from a 333MHz celeron to the lowest current prescott-core Celeron on the market (2.4GHz Celeron "D") will be a pretty huge jump performance wise, assuming you'll be running identical software.

[NIVO]

not to mention the celeron D is a helluva overclocker, should the need arise to "bump" in the future.

[AceTKK]

I'd say that's a good deal and a fine system for a MAME cab considering the board and processor are included.  I wouldn't count on getting that rebate any time soon; Tiger Direct is notoriously bad at honoring them.

-Ace-

[elvis]

not to mention the celeron D is a helluva overclocker, should the need arise to "bump" in the future.

Ooh... good point.  Looks like people are getting 2.4-2.8GHz Celeron D's up to 3.0-3.6GHz without too much effort or extra cooling!

The 1/4 L2 cache is still a performance killer, but at those speeds it probably evens out a little.

[USSEnterprise]

I believe they have another package for $90, same as that one but includes 512 RAM

[Level42]

I wouldn't count on getting that rebate any time soon; Tiger Direct is notoriously bad at honoring them.

-Ace-

OK that worried me already..I also gotta get this stuff from the US to here so I have to calculate that in as well...It's just that I'd pay a lot more here for a set like that (around the 140 euro, and the 60 USD would cost me around the 48 euro...that's a lot of difference...thx for the heads up...