Emulation PC suggestions
Posted: Sun Aug 02, 2015 9:34 pm
I recently reacquired the family video game collection (it was in safe keeping with my brother) and I was all excited to play the old games again when it occurred to me that I don't really have physical space to set all of them up or store the games close by. While I would love to have a setup akin to James Rolfe (the Angry Video Game Nerd) I just know in my current living conditions that's not possible or practical. So I had another idea in which I'd try and get a smaller PC that I could hook up to my TV who's sole purpose is to run emulation software, and possibly a few lower-budget games like Castle Crashers or Freedom Planet via Steam.
So i'm looking for a media center PC to work with. In my current state I'd need something physically small; really no bigger than my Wii U as I really don't have much space to store things. Graphics aren't a huge concern, but I would like the system to be strong enough to support fifth generation console emulation (Gamecube and Dreamcast are as far as I go) as well as lower-end Steam titles (nothing like TF2, but things like Castle Crashers and other local co-op titles that don't require extensive graphical support). I have access to a copy of Windows 7 Basic and I plan on using GameEx for a front-end to have everything running smoothly, though having the option to use Steam Big Picture would also be nice. Don't need to have a significant hard drive, my emulation collection right now only takes up 25GB, and half of that space is nine Gamecube ISOs. I'm thinking either 256GB or 500GB mostly for the OS and Steam, as well as other media I might decide to put in later since I could always use the thing for movies. One more concern is that my current TV is not HDMI compatible so I need something for component or DVI input. As far as a budget is concerned, I'd love to keep it under $500 if possible and the lower the better.
If anyone has any experience with this sort of project, I'd like to hear some recommendations on what I should go after.
So i'm looking for a media center PC to work with. In my current state I'd need something physically small; really no bigger than my Wii U as I really don't have much space to store things. Graphics aren't a huge concern, but I would like the system to be strong enough to support fifth generation console emulation (Gamecube and Dreamcast are as far as I go) as well as lower-end Steam titles (nothing like TF2, but things like Castle Crashers and other local co-op titles that don't require extensive graphical support). I have access to a copy of Windows 7 Basic and I plan on using GameEx for a front-end to have everything running smoothly, though having the option to use Steam Big Picture would also be nice. Don't need to have a significant hard drive, my emulation collection right now only takes up 25GB, and half of that space is nine Gamecube ISOs. I'm thinking either 256GB or 500GB mostly for the OS and Steam, as well as other media I might decide to put in later since I could always use the thing for movies. One more concern is that my current TV is not HDMI compatible so I need something for component or DVI input. As far as a budget is concerned, I'd love to keep it under $500 if possible and the lower the better.
If anyone has any experience with this sort of project, I'd like to hear some recommendations on what I should go after.