The MAME 0.78 set remains a gold standard for several distinct reasons:
is significantly more advanced, the 0.78 set remains a "gold standard" for low-power emulation devices. Core Identity: MAME 2003 Version Reference mame 078 rom set new
If you are building a dedicated RetroPie cabinet, modding a PlayStation Classic, or loading up an Anbernic RG35XX, ignore the bleeding edge. Find a verified, non-merged, MAME 0.78 set. It is the last great arcade time capsule. The MAME 0
The parent clone contains the main files. The clone zip files only contain the unique regional/hack changes. modding a PlayStation Classic
It takes up the most storage space because data is duplicated across clones and regional variants. Split Sets