Mame 2014 Reference Set Mame 0159 Roms Chds Top -
The MAME 2014 Reference Set (MAME 0.159) is a snapshot of arcade game data specifically curated to match the MAME 0.159 emulator version. This set is often used by retro gaming systems (like RetroPie or specific MAME 2014 cores in RetroArch) because it provides a "balanced" point between emulation accuracy and performance on mid-range hardware. Components of the Set Understanding MAME & all the different versions
CHDs (Compressed Hunks of Data): These are images of larger storage media like hard drives, laserdiscs, or CDs. Many complex games (e.g., Killer Instinct) require both a ROM file and a matching CHD file to function. mame 2014 reference set mame 0159 roms chds top
- Open ClrMamePro.
- Create a new profile -> Load the
MAME 0.159.xml(Datfile). - Point the scanner to your ROMs folder.
- Run the scan. It will tell you exactly which files are missing or have the wrong checksum.
Why Is 0.159 Still a Big Deal?
Good question. MAME is now past version 0.270 (as of 2026). Why stick with a decade-old version? The MAME 2014 Reference Set (MAME 0
A "reference set" is a snapshot of all documented arcade hardware at a specific point in time—in this case, February 2015. CHD files - RetroPie Docs Merged: All Clone games are packed inside the
- Match versions: Use a MAME binary built for the same version (0.159-ish) to avoid checksum/name mismatches.
- Verify with a DAT: Use a DAT file for the reference set to verify completeness and correctness of ROM/CHD collections.
- Keep backups: Preserve raw dumps + reference metadata (parent/clone relationships, BIOS files) so the set can be audited later.
- Consider a parallel modern setup: For best accuracy, have a newer MAME build for titles that received later fixes; keep the reference set for archival reproducibility.
- Legal caution: Only run dumps you own or are legally allowed to possess.
If you are looking to build a legal collection, the best approach is to purchase the original arcade PCBs and use a ROM dumper to create your own backup sets—a practice MAME was originally designed to support.
This guide is designed to help you set up a MAME 2014 reference set based on the MAME 0.159 source code.