Should I use Mame or Mame32 with FE like MameWah, Atomic FE and or Mala?

[BamBam]

Which version of Mame should I use with a Frontend.  I currently use Mame32 for Emulaxian and it works fine.  I have had no luck when trying it with mameWah.
I use Windows XP on an AMD XP2600+ Processor.
I note that there is Mame for DOS/Mame for Windows and Mame32.
What is the difference between mame for Windows and mame32?
The DOS version does not interest me except for an older computer I plan to use for a cocktail cabinet.
Binary, source etc. also confuse me???

John

[fatfingers]

mame for windows is a command-line program that accepts the ROM name to run as an argument (no GUI).  mame32 has a GUI that displays all the ROMs to run and you just click on the ROM you want to run.  Both programs run on the same OS.

I'm pretty sure most people would agree that running command-line mame behind your front-end is the best way to go.


Edit: If you don't want to compile in/out special features, then you just need the binary form.

[BamBam]

Thanks fatfingers.  I'll try the command line version and see how it goes.  I have been messing around with Atomic FE and Mame32 today and really like how it is working for me.
I could never get the Mamewah FE to work regardless of what version of Mame or Mamewah I ran.  I was determined only because it seemed to be the FE of choice.  However, after messing around with 3dArcade for the past couple of years and getting it to generally run and look the way I want, I wish I had discovered Atomic FE earlier.  It is much easier to skin and setup.  The only thing that I see that is missing is a way to search for games within the FE.  I'll dig a bit deeper into the readme.dc's and see what I can find out.
Thanks again.

John

[Havok]

The only thing that I see that is missing is a way to search for games within the FE.  I'll dig a bit deeper into the readme.dc's and see what I can find out.
Thanks again.

John

Atomic does not have a search feature yet. That's on the dev's to-do list. You can however change how the page down option works: you can have it page down a set number of items, or go to the next alphabetical letter...

[loadman]

Thanks fatfingers.  I'll try the command line version and see how it goes. 

That is my advice too.

Mame32 is cool for a PC setup and beginners and can work with a FE but...

Just gauging on the amount of posts here of confused users trying to config mame32 . They launch a game under mame32 gui and then launch a game under a FE and wonder why its sometimes diffrent as they assume the set-up will translate to mame32.ini. Its not worth the potential confusion for no gain in my opinion.

Am I rambling? 

[brophog]

Not only that, but you're using more resources for a GUI that you're not using. Only use MAME32 for desktop environments without an additional frontend.

[BamBam]

Thanks folks.  I'll download the windows version of Mame then and try that?