I’m trying to get stuff together for a MAME cabinet, and I’m looking at PC components right now. I know for old games you don’t need much of anything, but what would you need to run some of the newer ROMS and such? I mainly want a video card that has a composite output and just wnt to know what I should look for there. I’ve heard MAME performance is pretty much based entirely on your CPU, so can I just get any ol’ video card then?
I have an integrated GeForce 2 from idk how many years ago, and I run nFBA flawless. Including CPS-3 stuff.
i don’t think mame uses the vid card much anyways
it really is based entirely on the cpu
so yeah just any ol video card. but if your getting a vid card you should probably get a good one for maybe other type of games that do require the power
Since MAME is pure emulation there’s no practical way for it to use Direct3D. Therefore, all the work is done by the 2D graphics functionality and the computer’s CPU. Pretty much any AGP or newer card should do.
I haven’t messed with MAME in quite awhile. I suppose it’s possible some of the latest ROMs might require a fast CPU. All the classic games will run completely fine on a basic single-core P4 machine.
If the system doesn’t need to be on the internet, turn off windows updates, disable any onboard network interfaces and don’t load antivirus software.
If you’re putting a PC in a cabinet, the only thing I’d recommend is putting some thought into routing the heat out, as well as a cold air intake. The PC can generate a surprising amount of heat inside something as small as a game cabinet.
MAME doesn’t support 3d hardware acceleration so all 3d graphics in games like Street Fighter EX, Soul Edge, Tekken and the like are calculated by the CPU. Don’t get fooled by MAME’s direct3d output option, this output module simply takes the already CPU pre-rendered image and loads it as a direct3d texture map on top of a flat polygon to speed things up a bit and enable some special filters. If you’re only planing on playing 2d games you should be fine with almost any directx7 and higher Video card. If you want to run some of these 3d games, you’re better off running MAME++, it’s a MAME version supporting plugins from PSX emulators, you can also try ZINC emulator.
As mentioned, MAME doesn’t use the graphics card’s GPU to help render stuff, so it doesn’t matter for that.
However, if you’re making a MAME cab, think about if you want to emulate other things as well (Gamecube/wii/ps2/xbox/dreamcast/naomi), because those emulators DO want good graphics cards 
In short; dont put windows on it to begin with.
Give damn small linux a try. Weighs in at about 50MB and is more free than free beer. Because you were going to pay for your copy of XP on it, right? :wgrin: