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Using a USB key instead of a hard drive

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ChadTower:

If I wanted to do a RAM operating, nonwriting boot, I'd probably use a DVD too.  You could put all of those MVS roms on a DVD without a problem.

hbm*rais:
Chad,

You're probably right about that. If you want a nonwriting system, you'd be better off with a DVD (except if you have very limited space, like in a bartop).

The thing with AdvanceCD and pendrives is that it opens the possibility of having a write enabled partition in the pendrive to keep some files that can be chanced once in a while (like configuration files ou hi-scores).

Notice that I haven't done this myself and I'm not saying I know how to do it, but the possibility is there .

ChadTower:

Yep, I wouldn't want to do a pure RAM based system either, for things like hi-scores especially.  It just seems like overengineering to do a RAM based boot when you can drop a cheapo IDE drive in.  Without the PC case, open inside a cabinet, an IDE drive is nearly as swappable as a pen drive.

hbm*rais:
I think advantage of the pen drive is not exactly the ability to swap it. I personally don't care for it. What attracts me in that kind of solution is:

1. Less noise, heat, power consumption. The whole system is already running from RAM, if you can turn off your monitor, you can probably leave the CPU running 24/7, ready for action. No boot time at all, just turn on the monitor and play.

2. As the main part of the system is already write protected, there is no need to shut it down properly. It's also less prone to file system corruption. If the pen drive eventually goes bad, just plug another one on your main computer and "burn" another image.

Those two things would make my cabinet more like a consumer device (or a real ROM-based arcade) and less like a glorified computer, and that's definitively a plus for me.

ChadTower:

--- Quote from: hbm*rais on March 28, 2007, 10:57:55 am ---1. Less noise, heat, power consumption. The whole system is already running from RAM, if you can turn off your monitor, you can probably leave the CPU running 24/7, ready for action. No boot time at all, just turn on the monitor and play.
--- End quote ---

The drive doesn't consume that much power.  If you took out the drive and then kept your machine running 24/7, you'd probably end up using more power than you started with.  Plus you're seriously shortening your machine lifespan.



--- Quote ---2. As the main part of the system is already write protected, there is no need to shut it down properly. It's also less prone to file system corruption. If the pen drive eventually goes bad, just plug another one on your main computer and "burn" another image.
--- End quote ---

That one works for me depending on how often you need to swap out a dying pen drive.



--- Quote ---Those two things would make my cabinet more like a consumer device (or a real ROM-based arcade) and less like a glorified computer, and that's definitively a plus for me.

--- End quote ---

One concern I'd have is that this setup may actually cost more, not less, since you need more RAM.  RAM is a lot more expensive than either a pen drive or IDE drive.

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