need help with arcade cabinet with only a monitor.

[technium]

Hi

I recently purchased off a well known auction site a Sega arcade cabinet (used to be virtua striker) which only has the crt monitor with a vga cable in it which I was told I could just hook up a pc to it and a special cable to get the joysticks and buttons to work and away I would go.

Unfortunately this has not been the case, the monitor when connected to the pc only shows wave lines almost as if its not the correct resolution, also the cables I brought have different size spade connectors on so need to sort that out.

The pc im planning on using is a Windows xp machine with onboard graphics although if you suggest I change it then I can buy a graphics card and if you think Windows is naff then I can change it to Linux but as there is different flavours of Linux could you suggest what would be better.

My idea was to just hook up the windows pc, run mame and im sorted but obviously this has now turned into a harder than thought project LOL so need some expert advice.

Someone on another forum has suggested something like soft 15khz to maybe get the monitor working but also mentioned I could need an arcadevga card but suggested I post on here for more expert advice.

sorry for being a newbie 

thanks in advance.

[TOK]

That era of Sega games are medium resolution, so if that is the original monitor it won't be 15khz. Should be 25khz.

[technium]

ok but soft 15khz still changes to 25khz right???

What do you guys think is the best way forward with this cabinet? Windows or Linux? Mame or Advancemame or something completely different?

thanks again.

[technium]

Anyone???

[TOK]

Anyone???

I would go with Windows (most front end options), regular MAME and an Arcade VGA from Ultimarc. Not sure if onboard graphics you have will support 25khz using Power Strip.
Have you checked the wiki link at the top of the page? I think you're not getting replies because you're asking the most basic of questions. Everyone has battled over this hump and its all documented.

Good luck, and post some pics in a project announcement!  

[Turnarcades]

Your first post is a bit of an all-encompassing question that can open a whole can of worms. Unfortunately it's also a major noob problem comment I've commonly heard; you should really do some research first.

The reason it seems so easy is because although simple to us, the process has been refined over the years enough for us to say "yeah, just dump a PC in and hook it up and away you go", but it's only by doing our homework we can say this.

Not meaning to piss on your chips, but you should read about various aspects before youy decide what's best for you. TOK has answered your question as most of us would, so get on the Wiki and I would say to look at 3 main areas to piece together what works for you: Budget, PC software, cabinet hardware.

[Osirus23]

Yes I believe soft15kHz also has an option to load 25kHz modes.

[Malenko]

try soft 15 with 25kHz mode might work with your onboard card.

Also, it never hurts to read a bit, theres a lot of information to be found here. Its like coming into my house and me telling you to help yourself to the beer in the fridge but you insist on me getting up, walking over, and getting it for you.

[bkenobi]

Not exactly.  It's more like knowing there is beer in the fridge, but having 1000 refrigerators in the house you have to search in to find the right one.

I have a new 15kHz monitor that I want to play with, but the information (while I'm sure it's there) is hard to parse.  I think having a couple links to a starting point would help the OP (and myself  ).

[TOK]

Not exactly.  It's more like knowing there is beer in the fridge, but having 1000 refrigerators in the house you have to search in to find the right one.

I have a new 15kHz monitor that I want to play with, but the information (while I'm sure it's there) is hard to parse.  I think having a couple links to a starting point would help the OP (and myself  ).

Yea, that was kinda where I pointed him. I actually don't like when someone just says Read The FAQ or Read The Wiki, but there are times when it really is the best answer. So, here's your link: 

http://wiki.arcadecontrols.com/wiki/Video

[technium]

Sorry its been so long since being on this thread but ive been so busy with sorting out other stuff that this was put on the back burner.

Anyway ive had a read of the wiki but still cant saying I  entirely understand. It says about different resolution monitors but I cant tell what khz mine is. Im thinking of going along the route of getting an Arcadevga card as that seems to work with all monitors (correct??) so would then work but the only site is PCIe which I dont have in the pc I have also is there a UK company that sells the same card?

Cost is not really an issue so am happy to listen to all ideas so that I can get this up and running.

thanks in advance.

T.

[scream1973]

The card is made by Ultimarc which is a UK based company..

[technium]

What an idiot. 

I thought they were uk but whenever I went to checkout the prices were in Dollars but then just realised theres an option to choose uk prices LOL

Thanks again.

T.