What would a MAME-on-a-chip be like?

MM007 · Post by **MM007** » Mon Nov 01, 2004 2:40 pm

I was thinking about the NOAC, GOAC, and DOAC ideas, and started wondering: What would a MAME-on-a-chip be like?

True, MAME is actually an emulator, but what if someone made a hardware-equivalent chip? I'd buy it, if I can afford it, and MAME could move from computers and homebrew cabinets to cars and combo-consoles.

are there any MAME-on-a-chip projects out there, or is it just a dream?

Post by **gannon** » Mon Nov 01, 2004 2:44 pm

well, that's like asking for a 450mhz computer on a chip at least. I think a nano-itx board with clip on psu and cf card are as close as you'll get anytime soon.

MM007 · Post by **MM007** » Mon Nov 01, 2004 2:53 pm

It takes 450MHz to use the MAME EMULATOR.

Just like it takes 66MHz for some NES emus, but the actual NES hardware speed is MUCH less.

I'm talking about taking the actual circuitry of all the systems that MAME emulates and compacting them into a chip or small series of chips. Besides, if they can put a dreamcast on a chip, that's >200MHz right there.

I just call it a MAME-on-a-chip so people can relate. It would actually be a hardware equivalent like the NOAC.

This would mean a different processor core for almost each system, but considering how relatively simple they are(most are 650X or Z-80), it could be possible.

gannon wrote:well, that's like asking for a 450mhz computer on a chip at least. I think a nano-itx board with clip on psu and cf card are as close as you'll get anytime soon.

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Post by **gannon** » Mon Nov 01, 2004 2:57 pm

ah....well, considering MAME is the emulation equivelent of a JAMMA board minus the game program, I'd suppose you'd need a universal JAMMA-oac with something like a cf card to hold the game programming.
Of course, JAMMA isn't the only arcade standard around, so you would need a different system for each standard. It's like trying to run pc games on a mac.

MM007 · Post by **MM007** » Mon Nov 01, 2004 2:58 pm

gannon wrote:ah....well, considering MAME is the emulation equivelent of a JAMMA board minus the game program, I'd suppose you'd need a universal JAMMA-oac with something like a cf card to hold the game programming.
Of course, JAMMA isn't the only arcade standard around, so you would need a different system for each standard. It's like trying to run pc games on a mac.

Well, we can always use the original cartridges, but where's the fun in that?

Post by **Sparkfist** » Mon Nov 01, 2004 2:58 pm

Yeah, its not likily you will find a whole computer on a chip. If you want a small low budget mame, the Dreamcast would work, they have more emulators for that console then all the others combine.

MM007 · Post by **MM007** » Mon Nov 01, 2004 3:00 pm

Sparkfist wrote:Yeah, its not likily you will find a whole computer on a chip. If you want a small low budget mame, the Dreamcast would work, they have more emulators for that console then all the others combine.

True...and a portable DC would becaome a portable MAME... *grins evily...*

JackFrost22 · Post by **JackFrost22** » Mon Nov 01, 2004 4:31 pm

Uhhhhhhhh. Why portable Mame Get A GP32

yalborap · Post by **yalborap** » Tue Nov 02, 2004 5:56 am

Sparkfist wrote:Yeah, its not likily you will find a whole computer on a chip. If you want a small low budget mame, the Dreamcast would work, they have more emulators for that console then all the others combine.

Xbox has WAY more. WAYYYYYYYYYY MORE.

On that note, I'm playing majora's mask on mah xbox.

Post by **Sparkfist** » Tue Nov 02, 2004 8:35 am

Well heres a question can you put these emulators and roms on CDs and play them on the Xbox? I know you can with the Dreamcast.

scherzo · Post by **scherzo** » Tue Nov 02, 2004 9:11 am

One good thing about emulators on Dreamcast is that you don't have to install a modchip to use them.

Post by **Sparkfist** » Tue Nov 02, 2004 9:14 am

Which baggs the question why is there a mod chop for the Dreamcast, unless its for those that want to play imports.

scherzo · Post by **scherzo** » Tue Nov 02, 2004 9:17 am

Yeah, I think the sole purpose of the modchip for Dreamcast is to play non-copied imports.

NiN^_^NiN · Post by **NiN^_^NiN** » Wed Nov 03, 2004 6:11 pm

MAME on a chip is impossible as JAMMA has nothing to do with it JAMMA is the wiring standard used for controls monitors and power supply

Each arcade game is different most 16bit arcade games used a 68k CPU but they had other CPU with it most are compatiable with each other to some degree but the only way a MAME on a chip would work is being a emulator.

Now you could make a NEO GEO on a chip as the hardware is the same just diff carts

Usually Arcade games didn't use carts they had it all built-in on the board no base system or board to use it was all built in Jamma is the standard so u can just plug in any game board you like.

Only a few systems used carts as if u look at Neo Geo the carts cost $500+ for arcade cause they were HUGE they still are the biggest cart in size AND Memory to date.

There is also the Nintendo arcade system and the capcom system

There were a few special systems that used plug in boards but that was for special hardware and didnâ€™t take off.

But the funny thing is the 3 in 1 arcade boards u can buy actually run a mame on a chip type version for games like pacman space invaders and gorf as they used the same type of hardware