Question about Arcade resolutions

[Hituro]

Hi All,

I recently got my cabinet all built, but I've been having some issues with some games as far as resolutions.  I have a Wells Gardner D9800 running off of an ArcadeVGA PCIe from Ultimarc, system is Windows XP.  I'm using MAMEUI since I seem to have better luck with it than just regular MAME.  Anyhow, my question is, I've been trying to set up the resolutions on my games.  I followed Andy's instructions from the website and even used a utility for arcade resolutions called AVRES.  My Main problem however, is that even though some games run in the right resolution, I often get the game running off the top and bottom of the screen.  It's not hurting the game play, but at times it's hard to read scores and any other information of this nature.  Now Fighting games like MK2, MK3, Marvel Vs Capcom, and all the street fighters, I have to set them at 800x600.  If I try to run them at their native resolution, the game becomes completely vertical, and I'd rather have it playing in the full screen.  Has anyone else had any other issues like this?  Or is having some games run at 800x600 the norm?  I mean they don't look bad or anything, but I'm not sure what resolution to set them at or if I'm just doing something wrong to have some games running off the edge of the screen on the top and bottom.

[Epyx]

Have a look at the tutorial in my signature for the same combo of card/monitor. I have both and explain in a bit of detail what you need to do. Also, feel free to msg me if you have any other questions.

With the D9800 and AVGA you should be running MK at 25khz...not 800x600.  I am curious by what you mean by they are running vertical?  They run fine on mine again with the same combo of hardware.

[Hituro]

Ok so I watched your videos, I've done everything you've done.  But after running AVRES I'll go to play the game  and lets say, a game like Marvel VS Capcom, it will play at full screen res, but slightly off center, and the audio will be slowed down.  If I manually adjust it to its native res that is reported in MAME, the game runs ok, but it doesn't fill the whole screen, it runs as if it is being played on a vertical monitor.  If I set the res to 800x600, the game runs fine, no slowing in the audio, and it fits the screen.  Only issue though is that the game runs off the edge on the top and bottom of the screen.  So I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong =/  But it's like AVRES doesn't light fighting games.

[Epyx]

I just need to understand what you mean by it runs like a vertical game? Does it flip your screen to vertical mode?

Here is what I use for various systems/games:

Mortal Kombat -> 401x256
CPS/CPS2 -> 392x240
Neo Geo ->320x240

Also, have you also used the digital controls on your WG9800 to center the resolution etc?  The D9800 comes with a small panel that is strapped to one of the chassis bars. You can remove the straps to free it and holding it make adjustments to the resolution.  It will remember the settings for that specific resolution.

Hit F11 and let me know what the frame rate is saying. Game should be set to no Frame skip. Let me know what it says for the percentage it is running at with 0 frame skip.

It needs to be at 100% to get no audio skipping etc. Make sure you don't have Vsync or other options set at first.  For example mine is set to Frame Skip 0/10 and my games read 100%.  IF they are reading 0/10 85% for example it means you may locked in vsync incorrectly or your processor is too slow etc.

I tweak each game further using MAMEs advanced options.  For example some games that don't scroll i just leave VSync off for no tearing...some others I adjust with the TBuffer etc.

So try these things and failing that post a screen shot for a specific game with F11 and a 2nd one with your advanced options and I will compare to that same game for you and tell you how mine is configured.

EDIT: PM'd you, have a read and let me know.

[Hituro]

OK just wanted to let you know, I turned off refresh speed in the options, and it was able to get me back to 100% frame rate.  However, some of the game resolutions aren't filling the whole screen.  Is there something I'm missing?  I'm gonna try and send you the screens but I don't know how to upload them on here

[Hituro]

Wow I'm dumb   Ok I found out how to attatch under additional options.  So here's the examples.

[Hituro]

I'm not too concerned with Donkey Kong, it's probably an adjustment I need to make with the digital controls.  But notice how on Marvel Vs Capcom it doesn't fill the whole screen?  would this be fixed with the digital monitor controls as well?  Also, keep in mind I fixed the frame rates by taking off the refresh speed.  Let me know though if you can suggest anymore changes to the settings to get more optimal arcade feel   thanks again for your help

[Epyx]

Ok...what resolution are you using for Marvel Vs Capcom? The one I suggested above?  For this title you will want 392x240 and make sure of the following settings:

- D3D is turned off. Use DirectDraw
- Switch Resolutions to fit has a checkmark ON (enabled)
- No to hardware stretching

Show me your screen and Display tabs with these options.

[Hituro]

went ahead and changed the resolution for MArvel vs capcom and it was perfect.  My only question is, shoulding AVRES be taking care of this on its own?  If not, how do I know all the resoultions to go through every game to set?  Is there a list some where? I just dont want to have to manually go through every game to change the res, I thought AVRES was supposed to do that for me =/

Here's the screens you asked for.

[Epyx]

First thing to check.  If it works fine now after manually setting it then yes it is definitely a case where you haven't used AVRES properly.  Did you create the .ini files ? There should be a .ini file for each games's "best" resolution. I use the term "best" loosely as you will be changing these fairly frequently...for example, Avres won't default to 392x240 in my experience for CPS2 so you will need to change those manually.

For ones you have to create manually just use the parent rom as your master and change it which will change the "underlings" underneath it.

[Hituro]

yes i have ini files from avres. looks like i need to go through and fix some resolutions though. just wish i new of a list to go by for correct resolutions.

[Epyx]

Some of them will require manual tweaking but you can do them in chunks.   IE All Neo Geo games will be one of two resolutions, all CPS/CPS2 will be similar etc. Most of the other misc games AVRES gets right (Black Tiger/Galaga etc).

[Hituro]

Cool!  Thanks again for all your help!  you've been awesome   If I need to, I hope you won't mind if I PM you with any questions I may have

[Epyx]

No problem, anytime!