What console would you run MAME on?

[blazingwolf]

I want to have a console dedicated to Arcade Emulation and MAME. I have a pretty powerful PC, but I'd rather sit down in front of the TV and start up Retroarch on one of my consoles. I have all softmodded machines up to PS5/Switch/360.

I thought about making my Wii U my MAME machine since it doesn't get much use otherwise. The 360 softmod is too inconsistent to me my main MAME machine. What's the best balance of ease/compatibility/performance outside of a PC setup?

 

[Taleweaver]

Depends on what you want to play, I guess.

I have some older (nineties) arcade games installed on my wii. Took me some hours to completely configure wiiflow to boot into it and have all the games running with just a few clicks after booting.
Do note that it can't (properly?) run newer arcade games, and that a wiimote obviously isn't a good choice when a game needs more than a couple buttons (street fighter comes to mind). Yes, a classic controller helps. No, the idea is less controller hassle.

 

[Segger]

I know you said outside of a "PC setup" but I assume you have a traditional PC tower in mind.

I'd get one of those BeeLink or Minisforum mini computers. They're super small and the ryzen ones have decent graphics capability, probably overkill for MAME depending on what you wanna play but it would enable other types of emulation/PC gaming. They don't really break the bank either.

But since you have so many modded machines I guess I would go with the Wii U since you're already considering that, so long as it plays the stuff you want.

 

[handy333]

I'm using MAME on a Playstation Classic. I really suck at he original Donkey Kong, I have noticed.

 

[Exnor]

Xbox Series S In dev mode. Its a emulation powerhouse .

A cheaper alternative is a PS4 on a exploitable fw, not as powerfull but cheaper.

 

[BigOnYa]

Another option is a Raspberry Pi 4/5. A nice frontend with Mame plus many, many more emulators.
https://retropie.org.uk/
https://www.recalbox.com/
https://batocera.org/
https://www.lakka.tv/

 

[Segger]

Another option is a Raspberry Pi 4/5. A nice frontend with Mame plus many, many more emulators.
https://retropie.org.uk/
https://www.recalbox.com/
https://batocera.org/
https://www.lakka.tv/

I don't know how long Raspberry Pi is going to be able to ride out their reputation as the flexible and affordable single-board-computer, but it's no longer true.

As good as the Pi5 hardware is, it's cost is way too high when there are other viable alternatives in the same price range that include enclosures,power supplies,NVME drive slots, and upgradeable RAM.

That said tho, your software suggestions are great and luckily can run on a wide range of hardware.

 

[Exnor]

I don't know how long Raspberry Pi is going to be able to ride out their reputation as the flexible and affordable single-board-computer, but it's no longer true.

As good as the Pi5 hardware is, it's cost is way too high when there are other viable alternatives in the same price range that include enclosures,power supplies,NVME drive slots, and upgradeable RAM.

That said tho, your software suggestions are great and luckily can run on a wide range of hardware.

This ^^

Raspberry Pi's are nowadays overpriced. For the price of a Pi 5 one can buy a mini PC with an Intel n100, n150 and 8 or 16 GiB of RAM (depending of the seller).
That was what I did. I wanted a new media center / emulation box for my niece and I started to look for prices and got a BeeLink brand "NUC" with a N100 and 16 GiB for 120 euros.
This is a complete computer with a 256GiB SSD and power supply.
I could not get a Pi 5 or even a Pi 4 with box, more than 4GiB of ram, storage and PSU for that price.

I love the Pi's but the current prices are not afordable as they were in the begining.

 

[Segger]

I'm glad others agree about the Pi.

I think we'll soon see the enshittification of their brand since they've gone public.

I was willing to give them the benefit that supply chain problems were hiking prices, but the fact that they've just never come down is really telling.

OP; one other thing I forgot to mention was the Steam Link. Since you said you have a powerful gaming PC, the Steam Link smart TV app or the discontinued standalone box (cheap on ebay) is a great way to leverage a decent PC at the couch.

 

[JuanMena]

I personally think it depends on the display I'll be using.
A CRT? Definitely my Wii with RetroArch + MAME 2003 Plus + CPS1/CPS2/FBA/FBA NEOGEO.

If modern LCD/4K/8K definitely any decent computer although I hate vertical games in wide-screen.

Going back to Wii+CRT, I'd just "force" 4:3 as the main video scaling and Vertical (shmups) and Horizontal (more shmups) will look okay stretched to a square.

I'd say, more powerful hardware capable of CRT video connection would be ideal, but honestly, the old Wii is very capable. Get a GameCube controller if you have an old Wii or a Pro Controller if not, and you're set!

 

[BigOnYa]

Even a Amazon 4k Firestick can play many emulators including Mame, and link to Bluetooth controllers. You see them on sale often, as low as $25.