When searching for a MAME 0.78 download, you will encounter different file structures. Choosing the right one depends on your available storage and how you plan to manage your library:

Once you’ve secured your files, here’s how to get them running:

to run at full speed on hardware that would struggle with the overhead of version 0.250 and beyond. The "ROM Set" Dilemma

He looked at the hard drive. Then at the alert. Then back at the drive.