: If you are using RetroArch, always aim for the MAME 2003-Plus core. It uses the 0.78 set as a base but adds "backported" fixes for sound, better controls, and support for additional games not found in the original 2003 release. Where to Put Files

While modern MAME versions (now 0.260+) are more accurate, they require significantly more processing power. MAME 0.78 strikes a perfect balance between performance and compatibility for older or resource-constrained devices.

A common mistake is downloading only game ROMs and forgetting the BIOS. In MAME 0.78, if neogeo.zip is missing from your ROMs folder, no Neo Geo game will boot.