7 replies to this topic

[FikapPacMan]

So I have a question.....was looking to buy a Mini Desktop (currently looking at the ASUS) to run some emulators on a large screen lcd tv along with XBMC..........any one have any suggestions.....I would like for it to run Sega M2 and Capcom Play System games without issues so I figured the processor would be pretty good along with RAM....was checking out the one below...


ASUS Mini Desktop PC - Intel Atom Dual Core D525 1.8GHz, 2GB DDR3, 320GB HDD, DVDRW, NVIDIA ION 512MB VRAM, HDMI, WiFi-N, Windows 7 Home Premium 32-bit, Black


Would this be acceptable to run or should I go for the higher end processor? Any help is greatly apperciated as I now the specs for cabinets but this is new to me for the main TV and wanted to buy once and play more

[Keatah]

You're gonna want to one-up those specs. There's little reason to not get at least an i5, preferably in the 1.5 to 2GHz range.

[FikapPacMan]

Any good links for the i5......also is there a difference with the video card.......I have a pretty top notch desktop PC that I was planning on using but it looks pretty silly in the living room setup and runs a bit loud at times. Which is why I am looking at this "slim" pc...

[NE146]

Personally I'd just go for one of the Intel Core series Sandy Bridge (e.g. a Core i5 who's prices are dropping due to Ivy Bridge being out). Get a Z68 board with some good built-in output video ports (HDMI, etc.) And then you can just use onboard video since the Intel procs have built in GPU. it's actually decent with regular gaming and would be more than sufficient for emulation.

..Of course if you have a GPU already, that's not to say go ahead and use it. But I'm just being stating facts.

Edited by NE146, Yesterday, 8:09 AM.

[Keatah]

Emulation doesn't really use GPU power that much. It's all about the processor and pushing memory and bitmaps around the simulated bus.

[NE146]

Exactly. Which is why I suggest just using the built in GPU of the Core series procs. They are more than sufficient.

[FikapPacMan]

Thanks so much for the advice thus far...not to sound like a noob....haha....in this mini pc area I guess I am....but do you have any links (decent webstores) to the Sandy Bridge.....or is it just better to go direct to a store such as tiger direct.....I wanted to check it out tonight to check it out......this works out great though. Thanks so much for the help...I was thinking that the asus was a bit smaller on the specs and it seems like this has been confirmed

[FikapPacMan]

Ok so in looking last evening I found this....

http://www.amazon.co...ASIN=B0053HGRRA

Is this what I'm looking for? If so then I assume I need to also purchase the RAM / Case and Power Suppy

In looking through these though they also look (larger) than the mini pc systems such as the ASUS.......any other help would be sweet! Thanks in advance!

PS - Sorry to sound noobish on all of this but I have built 2-3 gaming cabinets before but usually just scrimpted out and bought the PC used and then replaced the motherboard and added ram. I know that these mini cases come in all different sizes and are a different animal so I was hoping to be able to get that info.....thanks for the motherboard info.....cheaper than I expected