I vote for mame for the emulator... But also consider Daphne, Nebulam2, Zinc, Modeler, and Viva... I use a few others, but these are my main ones now. This doesn't include consoles...
As for a frontend. With 1.4ghz, I would go windows and a windows frontend. Then decide what you want it to lookilike.
Tons out there. Read this board because there are at least 5 regulars on this board who have written FE's designed specifically for a cabinet (mine included....)