Unholy Mame PC Question

[level42]

I still don't understand why there isn't a "one go" MAME set-up still...

[DarthNuno]

I still don't understand why there isn't a "one go" MAME set-up still...

Sure, things like mame32 for windows can be 'one go' setup, and working fine for 99,999% of the users on pc/windows...
But things like advance mame DOS are really working with the hardware in place. That build of mame is doing 'un-natural things' like outputting 15kHz RGB signal through a card supposed to output 31 kHz VGA signal for example...
The tricks for doing that are very close to the graphic card hardware. In addition, the same card model, for example ATI Rage II, are working different if it's the PCI or AGP version... it's the same card/chipset, but because of that difference, you'll have difference on screen : graphic glitches or not, pixel ratio 1/1 or not ... perfect refresh rate at 60 hertz or not... full screen display or not... when using a real monitor, sometime you've to send H+V sync, sometime only the V (or H)...
Add the same kind of problems with sounds cards...controls...multiply all of that with the software setup... and you can imagine how 'tricky' it can be to find the right setup...
Unfortunately for us, the 0,001% who are using use such 'mame build' in order to have an accurate arcade graphic display emulation... are a minority, and so we cannot expect update and improvement as much as we would like from the genius developers, and so we have to compose with these solutions for the moment.

[Superully]

That thing is a Flash IDE drive, so very simple stated, its a 128mb harddisk  
only no moving parts, its flash memory, like the card in your camera
so the "noise" from a spinning harddisk is not there, and there is less change of crashing, not to mention the powersavings..

sounds nice, so if there's still one available, please put me down for it and send me the check

i assume you have installed windows before, or not even that ?

yeah, i'm not that bad with computers, it's just that i never had to deal with mame, so i wouldn't know where to start, but i'm sure bruno or max (or someone else) are going to help me out eventually!

[Etienne MacGyver]

sounds nice, so if there's still one available, please put me down for it and send me the check

Well, today is your lucky day my friend  

they are just 128Mb so for DOS they are fine. (although win95 should also fit)
These where leftovers when i upgraded some thin clients at a customer..

That means, € 0,-  

EDIT:

Thats 2 for Andre, and one for Ully, since its his topic  

earlier in this topic i already reserved one for you 
it could be that there are more available at that customer that i attend, but i am still having some days holiday atm so i cannot check now
if i find more leftovers, i will bring them and then there are more available

[scr33n]

it's just that i never had to deal with mame, so i wouldn't know where to start, but i'm sure bruno or max (or someone else) are going to help me out eventually!

No problem Ully  

start to check this site - very well explained:

http://dosmame.mameworld.info/index.php/DOS_MAME_Support

[Etienne MacGyver]

never digged into that, but that is indeed very well documented ! +1 

[Superully]

That means, € 0,-  
earlier in this topic i already reserved one for you 

it could be that there are more available at that customer that i attend, but i am still having some days holiday atm so i cannot check now
if i find more leftovers, i will bring them and then there are more available

thx so much, etienne, you're a genius! and if you manage to find more leftovers and don't know where to store them, i'd gladly help you out, because i might need one or two more

[Etienne MacGyver]

I'll keep that in mind

they are excellent for this kind of solutions

by the way do i need to reserve also some of these ? :



Clickpic..

i believe they have the Nvidia TNT Vanta cards, which are supported by advancedmame as i read here:

http://dosmame.mameworld.info/index.php/DOS_Hardware_Compatibility

NVidia
 
All TNT based video cards
 
TNT1, TNT2 & TNT2 Ultra

EDIT:

Just checked "the attic storage tm" and i count 4 by just putting my head through the entrance, could be more there  

at least 4, and also some other models are haning out there..

[PunkRockCaveman]

I have set up an old 600mHz PIII with advanceMame (DOS) and JammASD on a board as a plan-b-option if any of my boards fails when a party is going on mine works with DOS and mame installed on an old harddisk but with no ROMs on it. I have installed a 3,5" floppy, which holds the wanted ROM and the corresponding mame.ini which includes the modelines (yes, this is possible in advanceMame!) for the game and other settings neccessary to play the game as it is.

[gyruss]

Great topic! I'm about to start messing around with mame myself.
I was thinking about using tiny XP, because it's seems so easy to install and i haven't used DOS for 10/15 years.

[Superully]

by the way do i need to reserve also some of these ? :

that would be awesome, i'd take what you are willing to give (and get rid off), because i might need some pcs for future maming and it can't hurt to have some in the back of your hand. i will have to choose a small cab for eurocade to have enough space in my car

THX ETIENNE!!!

[level42]

i will have to choose a small cab for eurocade to have enough space in my car

Yeah......WoW is not that big really ! 

[level42]

Great topic! I'm about to start messing around with mame myself.
I was thinking about using tiny XP, because it's seems so easy to install and i haven't used DOS for 10/15 years.

DOS:

format c: /u

 

Reminds me about the time I was working in IT. About 9 years ago already. We were in the Win 95 period still at that company (which was great, LOTS of support to do !). Some (much younger) colleague called me and asked: "Hey, I here you know something about old stuff. How can I print a .PRN file ?" So I told him to open a DOS box (he said, no no, I want to print it) I say: OPEN A DOS BOX then type:
copy  filen.....he says again, no I don't want to copy anything I want to print it........so I say, listen young chap, you want this think printed or what ? "Yes" Good, then you listen and do as I say !
Copy filename.prn Lpt1:

And press Enter.....

Some wild exclamation following that it worked ! (duuuuuhhhh)

Loved that

I'm not a DOS expert though. Always hated it. Already then when DOS PC's came up, I was used to a menu (text, but still) driven DOS on my A8.....much more ahead of it's time then MS-DOS !

[Etienne MacGyver]

that would be awesome, i'd take what you are willing to give (and get rid off), because i might need some pcs for future maming and it can't hurt to have some in the back of your hand. i will have to choose a small cab for eurocade to have enough space in my car

THX ETIENNE!!!

Yeah, the are just eating space in my "attic storage tm" 

so if i can donate them to a guy who will use them to save a classic from the past, than i feel good about it.

I have many time customers where i "renew" networks and PC's  so many time there are free leftovers that otherwise will go into the trash.
these pc's dont have any value for "standard" people anymore, but i hate to trash something that is working.

So many times i take the leftovers with me, and make somebody happy with it.
i did some comparing and i can get 15 - 25 € for them, but i rather donate them like described above.

like the laptop screen from Andre, same story, old laptop, slow and leftover at a customer, so i stripped it and saved the screen, memory, hdd, keyboard, and wifi module, trashed the rest 

talking about space, i can ofcourse strip them, and just bring a box with 3 mainboards, powersupplies and some videocards 

the cases i can ditch, or do you want to use the metal mountings for the cards ?

[Superully]

the cases i can ditch, or do you want to use the metal mountings for the cards ?

once again, etienne: YOU ROCK!!!

please leave the pcs "as is", because some of them will go into storage in my mother's attic and it's better to have some protective casing around them!