Minimum PC specs for running Cave shmups smoothly

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g_block
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Minimum PC specs for running Cave shmups smoothly

Post by g_block »

I'm gonna be in the market for another computer next year and I was wondering what specs you all would recommend to run some of the more resource intensive Cave shooters on MAME (just to make it clear, I'm NOT asking where to find them or the Caveedition of MAME, I've already done that myself). Just looking for spec recommendations as to what would run them at a full 60fps with no lag. Thanks! :)
Nasirosuchus
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Re: Minimum PC specs for running Cave shmups smoothly

Post by Nasirosuchus »

g_block wrote:I'm gonna be in the market for another computer next year and I was wondering what specs you all would recommend to run some of the more resource intensive Cave shooters on MAME (just to make it clear, I'm NOT asking where to find them or the Caveedition of MAME, I've already done that myself). Just looking for spec recommendations as to what would run them at a full 60fps with no lag. Thanks! :)
Any multi-core processor @ 2.2 GHZ or higher and your standard 4GB of RAM or more will be fine.
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shmuppyLove
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Re: Minimum PC specs for running Cave shmups smoothly

Post by shmuppyLove »

Nasirosuchus wrote:Any multi-core processor @ 2.2 GHZ or higher and your standard 4GB of RAM or more will be fine.
I wouldn't necessarily say that.

I have an AMD Phenom II X4 925 overclocked a bit to 3.0GHz, and there is some sound stutter in the SH3 stuff with 143u9. I also only have 2GB of RAM.

My work machine does a much better job, it's a Core i3 2120 I believe, roughly around the same speed.
Nasirosuchus
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Re: Minimum PC specs for running Cave shmups smoothly

Post by Nasirosuchus »

shmuppyLove wrote:
Nasirosuchus wrote:Any multi-core processor @ 2.2 GHZ or higher and your standard 4GB of RAM or more will be fine.
I wouldn't necessarily say that.

I have an AMD Phenom II X4 925 overclocked a bit to 3.0GHz, and there is some sound stutter in the SH3 stuff with 143u9. I also only have 2GB of RAM.

My work machine does a much better job, it's a Core i3 2120 I believe, roughly around the same speed.
I have an AMD Athlon II X4 640 Propus at 2.8GHz and they run just fine for me although I do have 4GB of RAM.
g_block
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Re: Minimum PC specs for running Cave shmups smoothly

Post by g_block »

the PC I'm running it on now is a Pentium Dual-Core E5400 @2.70GHz with 3 GB of RAM

Still a few hiccups with a couple games. So it sounds like the key is more RAM and possibly at least an i3 or i5?

Thanks for the replies so far :)

edit: in case it matters, I'm using MAMEUI v0.147u1 CAVESH3 NoNag HiScore x32 & x64
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shmuppyLove
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Re: Minimum PC specs for running Cave shmups smoothly

Post by shmuppyLove »

3GB of RAM is fine, but if you want better performance, definitely upgrade to a Core series processor.
speedlolita
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Re: Minimum PC specs for running Cave shmups smoothly

Post by speedlolita »

Buy a E8400 and clock it to 4GHz.
g_block
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Re: Minimum PC specs for running Cave shmups smoothly

Post by g_block »

speedlolita wrote:Buy a E8400 and clock it to 4GHz.
will overclocking it like that cause significant heat/cooling issues if it's a stock PC?
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shmuppyLove
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Re: Minimum PC specs for running Cave shmups smoothly

Post by shmuppyLove »

g_block wrote:
speedlolita wrote:Buy a E8400 and clock it to 4GHz.
will overclocking it like that cause significant heat/cooling issues if it's a stock PC?
Well I wouldn't do it with the stock cooler in, for example, an HP small form factor PC :lol:
g_block
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Re: Minimum PC specs for running Cave shmups smoothly

Post by g_block »

shmuppyLove wrote:
g_block wrote:
speedlolita wrote:Buy a E8400 and clock it to 4GHz.
will overclocking it like that cause significant heat/cooling issues if it's a stock PC?
Well I wouldn't do it with the stock cooler in, for example, an HP small form factor PC :lol:
If I wanted to buy a straight stock PC (not modifications or overclocking involved) what would be best then, please?
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shmuppyLove
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Re: Minimum PC specs for running Cave shmups smoothly

Post by shmuppyLove »

I'd go for an i3-3000 series, like a 3220.

Or an i5-3000 series, if you can afford it.
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