What PC tower to use for MAME?
Well Im to the point where I need to purchase a descent tower for my MAME arcade cabinet. The MAME forums were not much help. What specs do I need to be looking for? I want to be able to run games like Outrun, and maybe, hopefully Cruisin USA. I also would like to have an N64 emulator but this is not a must.
Its MOSTLY going to be filled with older games.
I was looking at this one - http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=150428940946&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT
Would that one be fine? Too much? Too little? Would it play Outrun fine?
Thanks.
Comments
I'd stay away from the one you linked because it has a garbage on-board video card, unless you're going to do the legwork to find a discrete card that's compatible that you can add to the machine.
Especially if you want to run N64 emulators well, having a dedicated video card (probably with 128MB of memory or more) will be a necessity. Yes, the N64 probably did that work with 4 or 8MB of video RAM, but you're emulating it through a software/hardware combo, resulting in MUCH higher hardware requirements.
Honestly, I'd recommend reading up on the latest deals at Fatwallet Hot Deals. They get updates on new and refurb computers pretty regularly. I know you can get manufacturer refurbed Dell desktops for pretty cheap, and very well equipped.
If you're planning to hook this machine up to your main TV, consider also that you'd want to be able to use it as a media center with Hulu and Netflix streaming playback (both of which benefit greatly from a discrete video card).
ETA: I'd also set my price expectation a little bit higher at maybe the $250 range.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Nvidia-Geforce-7600gt-7600-GT-512-AGP-Video-Card-P4-x8_W0QQitemZ290422467373QQcmdZViewItemQQptZPCC_Video_TV_Cards?hash=item439e872b2d
Some of the newer higher res and 3d games may pose a problem, but a simple cheap AGP video card should remedy that, if you try to play anything really new.
When I had my MAME box setup, it was an older Celeron 1.3Ghz with 768 Megs and RAM and the cheapest video card I could find and it run everything I thru at it. Most graphically advanced game I played was either Marvel vs Capcom or Strikers 194X or whatever it was called.. Some shooter game..
Im going to be using the ARCADE VGA card here - http://www.ultimarc.com/avgainf.html
with an original WG K7000 monitor mounted in a Dymano cab painted Viper blue with a lightning bolt theme.
You would have SO much issue getting a decent layout of N64 controls in arcade style, anyway, I'd just abandon that concept, and stick to the more classic consoles to supplement your arcade games.
And don't do one of those idiotic "gotta-have-it-all" control schemes that you see on ArcadeControls.com...they look so ridiculous. At least build a cabinet that could confuse your average joe into believing it's a real arcade machine.
It runs all the things I'm interested in (Alpha 3, 3rd Strike almost flawlessly, etc.) as I don't care for any 3D games for the most part. They're cheap (like what, $150?), can run just about any emulator you want on it, and with the controller adapters it's almost straight plug and play.
Obviously not the set up your going to want for your specific needs, but something to consider for a future project.
N64 is officially abandoned. I didnt even think about the extra controls. I want this to look like a real arcade machine. How about NES Emulators? Would it be okay to add that to the machine?
NES, SNES, Genesis, TG16, and Neo Geo (as well as all the handheld systems) are all doable additions if you lay out your controls well, and are willing to put in the elbow grease configuring all of the emulators to play nice with the layout.
Basically you'll need at least 4 buttons for most of that stuff, plus 4 more for the SNES. With 8 buttons total, you should be able to handled everything.
I think the most common layout is to have a bank of 6 buttons (Capcom kick-button style) and then add a right-thumb button to the lower bank so it matches the Neo Geo layout. (heck, you can even use the Neo Geo colored buttons for the lower bank to make them stand out). And then a right-thumb button for the upper bank so you have enough buttons for the SNES.
Look up the X-Arcade and see how their controls are laid out. I have one of their joysticks, and it's a pretty versatile setup without being TOO much stuff.
You could do SNES/Genesis with a 6-button, so I wouldn't think that would be too far out of the question...
Yeah, it all depends on where you want to put the Start/Select buttons.
If you have a coin-add button and player buttons, then those can be your start and select, cutting your main control down to 6 (or 7 if you want a real Neo Geo layout on the lower 4)
I have room for 6 buttons, a joystick, and a start button. 6 is the max I believe or it will start to look messy. I do want to be able to play Street Fighter 2 on MAME hence the 6 buttons.
OK, what about coin insertion? Are you going to hide buttons for that under the front lip of the machine?
If you can squeeze a hidden button for that, for each player, somewhere on the cabinet, then you'll have all the buttons needed for SNES, as well as every other "classic" console.
The only downside of the layout is that it might be awkward to play certain Neo Geo games, though you will have plenty of buttons to do it with.
I will probably hide them underneath. I'll figure something out.
Cool. I'd recommend smaller tactile switches for that. No reason to use full-size arcade buttons and makes them easier to hide away.
The N64 is not a must have.
Im going to be using the ARCADE VGA card here - http://www.ultimarc.com/avgainf.html
with an original WG K7000 monitor mounted in a Dymano cab painted Viper blue with a lightning bolt theme.
Can you find another source for the ArcadeVGA? From their website it seems like they have been sold out. I've been watching the site for a while, but haven't seen any stock come in. *edit apparently they are in stock now...