# System Requirements

The Windows version of MESS runs on Microsoft Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows ME, Windows NT, Windows 2000, and Windows XP. Ensure the latest version of DirectX is installed. NT4 users will need SP4 or greater. If Internet Explorer 4.0 or higher has never been installed, the MESS GUI will need the common controls update. This will prevent property sheet errors when going to the Properties tabs for individual games or the Options • Default Options menu item.

Because of the wide range of arcade hardware supported by MESS, system requirements vary considerably. Early arcade games circa 1984 and before can be run on Pentium/2/3 level boxes with 64M of memory. However, the more complex the original arcade hardware, the more CPU power is needed to emulate it. More recent games can often take upwards of 512M of memory, and AMD Athlon / Pentium 4 chips to emulate at 100% speed with effects. For those wishing to upgrade their systems; MESS benefits most from adding more CPU power, then memory and upgraded video card.