Front-ends: Whats the best direction to take?

[spacecowboy]

I have recently acquired a PC that I can use for my MAME cabinet.
Specs are as follows...
P4 3.0ghz (800mhz FSB 1mb cache)
512mb RAM
GeForce FX5200 128MB
C-Media 5.1 channel audio

Can someone please advise whats the best approach to take for OS and Front-end software.
I guess I would prefer DOS as this is lighter and less hassle than Windows?
Any thoughts or suggestions would be welcome

[zaphod]

NOT DOS on a 3gig machine!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Use XP and be done with it.  (I pray you were joking)

I prefer Mamewah but there are plenty of other great options.  Just read the frontend sticky.  Your 'pitiful' machine should handle all of them just fine.

[spacecowboy]

I guess I was veering away from Windows as it can be unstable and booting up XP when you switch on your cabinet isnt very retro unless there are ways and means to keep this to a minimum?  Or is it common sense just to go XP and be donw with it?

[Buddabing]

I have recently acquired a PC that I can use for my MAME cabinet.
Specs are as follows...
P4 3.0ghz (800mhz FSB 1mb cache)
512mb RAM
GeForce FX5200 128MB
C-Media 5.1 channel audio

Can someone please advise whats the best approach to take for OS and Front-end software.
I guess I would prefer DOS as this is lighter and less hassle than Windows?
Any thoughts or suggestions would be welcome

DOS is lighter and more stable, but much much MORE hassle than XP.

For front end software, read the front end sticky and try them ALL.

[mahuti]

I like Mamewah. And yes, there are a few tricks to hiding XP. Upup has a few good notes about hiding xp

http://www.upup.us/old/2003_09_01_old.html#106469688462437353

[hnugz]

Does mamewah work well with the arcade monitors also?

[mahuti]

With Mamewah, you can configure fonts & layouts so it wouldn't be a problem. Don't know much else about arcade monitor issues, though.

[brophog]

Why is this question even being asked. It's like buying a Ferrari and asking us how fast you can go.

That computer can run any FE you want. Pick one and try it out.

(P.S. Don't run DOS. )

[ahmer]

I have recently acquired a PC that I can use for my MAME cabinet.
Specs are as follows...
P4 3.0ghz (800mhz FSB 1mb cache)
512mb RAM
GeForce FX5200 128MB
C-Media 5.1 channel audio

Can someone please advise whats the best approach to take for OS and Front-end software.
I guess I would prefer DOS as this is lighter and less hassle than Windows?
Any thoughts or suggestions would be welcome Smiley

Never say DOS.

For a kind information,mame developers are thinking to stop releasing a pure DOS version of mame in future.The reason is that DOS is unable to utilise properly such Powerfull hardware (Processor, Memory) resources.
You will not happy in the end If you go with Dos.
There is a lot of headeche to configure Dos.
5.1 Channel audio in DOS. (drivers not available)
No USB support.

Mamewah is the best frontend.
WindowsXP is the very best solution to efficiently utilise your hardware.

The last but not least LINUX is the best choice and no one can opposed me here.
advancemame and advancemenu on LINUX quick boot setup will be a dream for you.

btw,Mame does not need a 128 Mb 3d card.you should be ok with a simple 8Mb AGP/VGA card.

 

[brophog]

8 years ago, DOS was the way to go for emulation. Now it's much slower than it's windows equivalent. I'm a DOS guy myself, but not for emulation.

[hnugz]

Here is that program to change your bootscreen:

http://www.stardock.com/products/bootskin/

[headkaze]

I recommend GameEx, although MameWah is definately cool FE. Both are well supported and frequently updated. IMO For a faster processor I would go for GameEx + XP (It requires .NET Framework 1.1), and for a slower PC I would go for MameWah (In your case your PC will run GameEx happily). GameEx is a little easier to configure, although there will probably be a config program for the new versions of MameWah soon. So try them both and see what suits you.

Also, on the GameEx site, there is a program that can remove the bootup/login screens and launch a FE directly. It's called Instant Sheller and it will work with any FE.

[youki]

With your machine, you can use all Front Ends.

Depends on what you expect of your FE. 

- Do you want very nice and complexe layout or just a background jpg
- Multiple emulator supports.
- Filter, Favorites...
- etc..

All front ends have strong point and weak point.

Personnally i don't like GameEx. Not because it is a bad FE (i think it is really good). But for me it is too much windows media center like. And it requires .NET  , i have the feeling it is heavy just for a FE.

MameWah is one of the first and it is a very good FE.  And Minwah (the creator) is very reactive and helps. Lot of tools have been developped to help  to configure the FE.

You can try mine too , AtomicFE . The engine of my FE , is honnestly one of the more powerfull. Unfortunaly , i don't have enough time to concentrate on development on configuration tools and documentations to make this power usable by a newbie.
Therefore for Basic Things, he is very easy to configure.

A new version should arrive soon, but you can try the current one. There a set of nice layouts on my web site.

[spacecowboy]

Thanks everyone for your replies.
The question is really about what makes the better environment for mame.
If Windows is now becoming the better environment over DOS then I will explore that avenue.  Im just looking for people's opinions as to what they think is best so I can save time.  Im not bothered which way but if Windows gives a better return given the spec of my PC I'll try it first.  My only concern with Windows is to do with booting up - how long etc, and switching off - can I shut the power off without powering Windows down or from an option in the emulator? 

[hnugz]

A clean install of windows on a mobo without a bunch of extra peripherals should boot up fairly quickly as long as you have a fairly recent pc, maybe 20-30 seconds max.

Here is a neat little mame bootscreen:  http://www.wincustomize.com/Skins.aspx?LibID=32&view=1&sortby=4&sortdir=DESC&p=1&advanced=0&searchtxt=mame

As far as shutting down, check out this page: http://aumha.org/win5/a/shutcut.php

At the bottom there is way to have your pc shutdown by clicking the power button instead of doing the start-->shutdown steps.

[youki]

XP, is very the best OS for your PC i think.

Very well optimized , it boots faster than Dos.

On my Athlon 2ghz , XP boot  on AtomicFE in 11secondes. 
On the same machine under DOS , the boots to AdvanceMenu takes 15secondes.

I think on your computer you can boot even faster on XP. You have surely faster harddrive than mine.

For the Shutdown, most of the Front End  (including Atomic) propose an Automatic shutdown when you exit the FE.

If you plan to dedicate your PC to MAME in an arcade cabinet. You can really hide totally windows. Change boot screen, shut screen , use appropriate FE.  And do really cool things.

If you choose DOS with a modern hardware, you will have lot of problem to find some driver.. you will have to buy a old sound blaster for sound for instance  etc..etc..

Then the question is . Do you plan to put your PC in a Arcade cabinet with a 15khz monitor? or an 31 Khz one (PC monitor).

If you plan to use the arcade monitor. You will need to have an ArcadeVGA video card for Windows. Or use tools like powerstrip (doesn't work with all card).

Under DOS , it is easier. You can use a driver ARCMON.SYS and it works.

[spacecowboy]

Thanks again people for all your replies!
Because of the machine spec and configurability I have decided to go for XP. 
I am currently evaluating all the FE's available, so many out there, so little time to actually test them.
Once I have chosen I will strip down XP to the bare minimum to remove its large footprint and help speed up boot time as much as I can and try to remove any evidence that the machine is running Windows.    Will post back when Im further down the line!