computer question

[rlswick]

Im thinking of buying a new computer for my cab

If I do it will be a quad core(3.0 ghz)

What does quad really mean?

3.0X4=12 ghz

[bkenobi]

No, it means you have the equivalent of 4 cpu's in the system. They are all on the same die, so I'm not sure if that means it's better or worse than 4 physical cpu's. Think of it more like 4x the processing bandwidth, not 4x the throughput. In other words, you can do 4x as many processes in the same time, not 1 process 4x faster.

[we1dont7die]

  rlswick said:

Im thinking of buying a new computer for my cab

If I do it will be a quad core(3.0 ghz)

What does quad really mean?

3.0X4=12 ghz

I'm curious. Is quad core overkill for a mame cabinet? would any dual core be just fine?

[rlswick]

  we1dont7die said:

I'm curious. Is quad core overkill for a mame cabinet? would any dual core be just fine?

yes,

Ive already got a dual core

was going to go with the quad for a few of the chd's

[bkenobi]

I'm not sure if MAME supports multiple CPUs. I think I remember reading something about it, but I don't remember what I read . Anyway, it will definitely help with consoles though as some of those do support it. Model2 definitely does...

If you are going to buy a new system, you might as well go that route since MAME will support multi-cpu setups at some point.

[Fatone85]

  we1dont7die said:

I'm curious. Is quad core overkill for a mame cabinet? would any dual core be just fine?

It really depends on what you want to be running on there.

If you're strictly running MAME, then Dual Core with a decent Hard Drive and Video Card is way more than enough.

I could see running a Quad Core if you want to get into later-gen emulators like XBOX or PS2, things like that. Or if you want to use your cab to run HD flicks like 1080p. But even then, a Dual Core processor should have no issues. Otherwise, you're definitely over-qualifying your box.

Then again, if you can afford a Quad, why not right?

[gryhnd]

If strictly MAME, you can get away with much less.

My upright runs a 3.0 P4 with HT, a 6000 series nVidia graphics card and 2GB RAM...and it does awesome. My kid also runs his PC games on there with no problems and some of them have fairly high system requirements.

On the opposite end of the scale, I'm working on a cocktail cab right now, and it's running on an old PIII 500 laptop I recycled. For MAME games it works just fine (although I do have some issues with the old fashioned embedded Neomagic graphics chip), but I have zero expectations for it to do anything else down the line.

So essentially "where do you want to go today?"

[rlswick]

  Fatone85 said:

It really depends on what you want to be running on there.

If you're strictly running MAME, then Dual Core with a decent Hard Drive and Video Card is way more than enough.

I could see running a Quad Core if you want to get into later-gen emulators like XBOX or PS2, things like that. Or if you want to use your cab to run HD flicks like 1080p. But even then, a Dual Core processor should have no issues. Otherwise, you're definitely over-qualifying your box.

Then again, if you can afford a Quad, why not right?

Thats why I love this forum

I was going to use use the quad core for for some of the chd's that need a really good computer

and for future emulation,but when xbox ,gamecube,ps2 emulation is really good.

the quad core will be probaley be outdated.

[bkenobi]

Buying for the future is always a mistake IMO. I've done it in the past and by the time the program came out that supported it, I was horribly behind the curve (thinking specifically of Doom3). By the time you will get a significant advantage from the quad core, the price will be a fraction of it's current cost. If you need the power now, then go for it! If you don't see needing the power for at least the next year, hold off and get something affordable now that can do what you need today.

On the other hand, if you are looking to build a HTPC rather than a cabinet, that's different. In an HTPC you will be running multiple applications at the same time. A lot of those apps are processor heavy and can benefit from multiple cpu's. In the case of a cabinet, you are going to be running one application from a FE. If the FE is nice, it will cut back it's system resources while it's idle (GameEx does according to what Tom said in another thread). That means that you won't see a significant advantage UNLESS the emulator/application specifically uses multiple cpu's. AND, as far as I know, no emu/app currently uses more than 2 cpu's (at least that would be run on a cabinet).

Conclusion: If you have the need for quad core and money to blow, get it now. If you don't need it now and/or you don't see the need to throw money away (sorta), then get a good dual core system. You will see more benefit from going 64-bit for your OS than you will going quad over dual core AFAIK.

[rlswick]

  bkenobi said:

Buying for the future is always a mistake IMO. I've done it in the past and by the time the program came out that supported it, I was horribly behind the curve (thinking specifically of Doom3). By the time you will get a significant advantage from the quad core, the price will be a fraction of it's current cost. If you need the power now, then go for it! If you don't see needing the power for at least the next year, hold off and get something affordable now that can do what you need today.

On the other hand, if you are looking to build a HTPC rather than a cabinet, that's different. In an HTPC you will be running multiple applications at the same time. A lot of those apps are processor heavy and can benefit from multiple cpu's. In the case of a cabinet, you are going to be running one application from a FE. If the FE is nice, it will cut back it's system resources while it's idle (GameEx does according to what Tom said in another thread). That means that you won't see a significant advantage UNLESS the emulator/application specifically uses multiple cpu's. AND, as far as I know, no emu/app currently uses more than 2 cpu's (at least that would be run on a cabinet).

Conclusion: If you have the need for quad core and money to blow, get it now. If you don't need it now and/or you don't see the need to throw money away (sorta), then get a good dual core system. You will see more benefit from going 64-bit for your OS than you will going quad over dual core AFAIK.

Thats what Ive got now (amd 64X2)-2.43ghz

Im running xp-32 bit,How is xp64?(any problems,drivers,ect)I dont want to go vista

Im not the most computer smart guy(I just dont want to try to learn a new OS)

[bkenobi]

There's a lot of bad press on Vista since it was released (primarily due to Apple spending so much on negative ads). My wife works with the developers (on the marketing side) and says that everything is working fine at this point (and has been for quite a while), but M$ screwed up by not countering the bad press. As a result, Vista is a technically sound OS but a commercial failure.

To answer the question, I haven't used Vista or XP64, so I can't say. I've heard that there are a couple emu's that don't work under Vista (because they aren't being developed any more and haven't been updated), but that's very few from what I understand. I don't think there are any problems with XP64, but, like I said, I haven't run it so I can't say. HK (and certainly others) has been/is running XP64, so perhaps he could comment better.

[Fatone85]

  bkenobi said:

There's a lot of bad press on Vista since it was released (primarily due to Apple spending so much on negative ads). My wife works with the developers (on the marketing side) and says that everything is working fine at this point (and has been for quite a while), but M$ screwed up by not countering the bad press. As a result, Vista is a technically sound OS but a commercial failure.

To answer the question, I haven't used Vista or XP64, so I can't say. I've heard that there are a couple emu's that don't work under Vista (because they aren't being developed any more and haven't been updated), but that's very few from what I understand. I don't think there are any problems with XP64, but, like I said, I haven't run it so I can't say. HK (and certainly others) has been/is running XP64, so perhaps he could comment better.

I wouldn't call Vista successful by any means.

Although I think "Windows 7" (which should really only be an upgrade as opposed to a totally different OS) will act as one of Microsoft's greatest releases and make up for alot of Vista's mistakes. I've installed the latest release of Windows 7 and it's obvious they tackled some of Vista's main issues.

[papazark]

FYI, I'm running Vista 64 Bits here, and have absolutely no complains.

It's running perfectly all my apps

The only thing it really needs is a lot of RAM. (don't go for less than 4 Gb)

The driver issues are mostly due to 3rd parties manufacturers not wanting to develop new drivers for old hardware.

If you are upgrading from XP 32 to Vista 64 with your old hardware, this may be an issue (Webcam, Scanner, printer, etc)

I think Vista 64bits drivers are now supported by everybody.

[Mayhem]

I own 3 PCs with quad core's the Q6600 ( i got them when they were £99 and it was cheap). They are good for encoding and things like that. But gaming wise and emulator wise a faster duel core would be better option.

There is a slight loading difference but its very minimal. When all in all is considered if running you Gaming rigs like me with sata raid and a high amount of Fast ram and running multi Processes it is worth it. But If you are not then its more of a gimmick than any thing else and not worth the money to a normal user. Most people i know who have them use them more as bragging rites and realy do not and will never be able to put the Quad CPU to the test.

Best advice is Go for a duel core to keep costs down and if you can afford it and like a little extra boost and are into running evry thing at once than go quad core.