21in CRT or 19in LCD for a Williams Cab?

[wonderalex]

Ok - I've been driving myself crazy for the last few days - flip-flopping from one to the other.

I've been working on a MAME conversion of a gutted Williams cab and I have been looking for a 19in CRT or LCD to place into it (i have the original bezel).

And before you mention it - yes I know about Arcade Shop and PentUsa, I just don't have the budget to buy one of their CRT replacements.

Suddenly I find myself with a free 21in PC monitor and I've been offered a free 19in PC monitor - both are flat-screens.

So here's my dilema:

1. use the 19in (which looks a little small in the cabinet) and fits well
or
2. use the 21in (weighs a ton) and may not quite fit the cabinet without removing the casing and possibly more.

I keep flip-flopping - is it worth the hassel to get the 21in in there or should I go the easier route and go for the 19in?

Right now I'm inclined to go for the 21in - but I'd like the opinion of anyone whose had to do this before.

Be seeing you,

WonderAlex

[Jack Burton]

I'd go with the 19".  It's what was originally in the cabinet and will look the best with the rest of the cab's aesthetics.  

Have you taken either monitor apart yet?  Probably go with whichever one has a metal cage around it and will mount easiest.  

In any case I would definitely recommend CRT over LCD.  IF you a CRT it's likely you can use 120hz modes to play your games in native resolutions.

If I were you though I would check craigslist and see if there are any older 19" PC CRT monitors out there that have a curved screen.  The curved screen and coarser dot pitch will be much closer to an arcade monitor than anything else, including a TV.    

[wonderalex]

Thanks Jack - I spent some time staring at the cab and I think you're right.  A 19" is the way to go.

Just need to find that curved screen - so far I've only found flats.

I haven't taken them apart yet (life has gotten busy).

Be seeing you,

WonderAlex

[ahofle]

I would do the 21" CRT over the LCD any day.  Remember, if it's a computer monitor, it's not really 21" viewable (closer to 20" or less).  

[Jack Burton]

Depends on whether or not he decides to decase it. 

If you don't decase then use a 20 or 21" monitor.  Probably the easiest way to go, but you will have a lot of trouble finding a monitor that size with a curved screen.

If decasing you will want to go for an actual 19" tube to match up more or less exactly with what was originally in the cab. 

There were a few 19" PC monitors made that had screens with curvature similar to an arcade monitor.  A lot of them had strong  metal cages surrounding the CRT.  Those are fairly easy to adapt to be put into a cabinet. 

[Blanka]

Yes, and 19 inch is not 4:3 but 5:4. With a proper 4:3 image it is more 18 inch, and then you have not-so-black bars (LCD remember).
If you go LCD, get a decent 20 inch one so there is full aspect use. HP LP2065 or so.
On the CRT you can tweak the image to be 20,19,18,17,16 inch, whatever you like.

[Marsupial]

you should post pictures of your cab, that would help.

I had an operation wolf conversion, placed a 21inch CRT VGA screen similar to what you are describing. The problem was to find out "how" to put it in there... there was no way I could redo what they had originally done and still have room in the cab; computer screen often have long tubes. I ended up making a shelf.  here's some pictures, for inspiration.

slanted back didn't work:


ended up making a shelf and putting the monitor in there. Easy, really:


I am currently making a japanese cabaret conversion to MAME; it used to have a VGA arcade CRT. I tried to put a 19" CRT in there, there's no way it fits - I have a similar issue, but no way up front to fix it:


I might be able to put a 19" arcade CRT in there, but the one I have is in unknown state, and fitting it in there seems very tricky; altough I think once in there it would fit perfectly.

For that one, I'm going LCD; seems the best option. Plus, it is WAY lighter. but it doesn't look as good for retro game play - if you want that old 80s look, LCDs aren't great.

Really, its not just a matter of monitor, but there's personal tastes in there, plus the cab itself. Do your CRT fit in there to begin with???