To have a truly "complete" experience, a reference set usually includes three distinct parts: : The actual game code. CHDs (Compressed Hard Disk Images)
Building the perfect retro arcade setup requires navigating the complex world of arcade emulation. If you use a single-board computer like a Raspberry Pi, or run frontend software like RetroArch, RetroPie, or Recalbox, you have likely encountered the term . Mame 2003-plus Reference Full Non-merged Romsets
File duplication. If you have 50 Neo Geo games in a non-merged set, the BIOS files are duplicated 50 times (wasting ~2-3 MB per game). For modern storage (128GB SD cards), this is negligible compared to the convenience. To have a truly "complete" experience, a reference
Batocera, RetroPie, Recalbox, and EmuELEC. File duplication
The is the Sistine Chapel of plug-and-play arcade emulation. It sacrifices the ultimate accuracy of modern MAME for the ultimate convenience of non-merged packaging. For the hobbyist building a bar-top, a handheld, or a living room RetroArch box, this set transforms the chaotic world of arcade ROM management into a simple folder of ZIP files.
Because this is based on 2003 code, you will not find games that require 3D acceleration (e.g., Virtua Fighter 3 , Crazy Taxi , Star Wars Trilogy ) or heavy CHD reliance ( Killer Instinct 1/2 may run poorly or not at all). For those, you need MAME 0.195+ or FB Neo.
The reference set excludes BIOS from game ZIPs, using a separate system/neogeo.zip . Thus, the term "Full Non-Merged" is slightly inaccurate for BIOS-dependent systems. A purist non-merged set would duplicate BIOS per game (not done officially).