WWYD (If you could build it all over again . . .)?

[Vectoraster]

VectoRaster is officially out of retirement!  I'm building a new cab this year and need your help in deciding where to go with it.  My last project was VectoRaster 3, which I completed in the winter of 2006!  I thought I was satisfied when I got it running on AdvanceMAME in Linux.  But I've been drooling over what the MAME Devs have been up to in Windows ever since.  Especially the screen sizing issues that were AdvanceMAME's big selling point for me.  Seems like no problem for the latest MAME releases.

So I'm asking for your input. What would you do if you were in my shoes today?

The new cabinet will operate on XP Pro.  What computer specs should I be looking at?  Especially the video card?  Getting MAME running in Linux in 2006 was very video card specific.  Is the same true today in Windows?  Are there cards that I should favor or avoid?

I need a good spinner and trackball interface with no backspin.  Millipede and Tempest need to be flawless - no backspin issues like my former cabs. I'm thinking about going with USB interfaces this time.  Any recommendations here?

Monitor in last cabinet was 27" WG D9200.  This cabinet will have a 19" LCD 4:3 aspect ratio.  Would like to make it rotating since gauss is not a problem with LCD screens and they're pretty lightweight.  Any success stories/design plans out there?

VectoRaster 3 was in a Midway style cab I built according to the attached plans. I notice that after all these years the VectoRaster project link is still up on byoac (cabinets -> plans).  Here are those plans since the link is long broken.  There are also some ideas I was playing around with for VectoRaster 4.  But I've settled on the Stargate design still up on Jakobud's website.

=VR=

[skewba98z28]

I've got the Ultimarc U-trak and it is awesome!!!

[newmanfamilyvlogs]

Backspin is an encoder issue, so it really cannot be solved in software. I'm not sure what option you are thinking about.

That having been said, any modern encoder will fix this issue, and there are so many options that you have to look at your CP as a whole to settle on the best choice.

The U-Trak is nice because of its mounting options and built in usb encoder. Pair that with the U360s, an analog joystick with 8-button interface built in, and a TurboTwist 2 and you've got the whole panel usb with minimal wiring.

Going LCD solves some problems and causes others. That's a very subjective matter.

[syph007]

But I've been drooling over what the MAME Devs have been up to in Windows ever since.  Especially the screen sizing issues that were AdvanceMAME's big selling point for me. 

Hi, I'm just getting back into the scene with a new build and what you said got me curious.  What are the screen sizing features you are referring to, in the newer windows mame builds?

[alfonzotan]

Try hacking a USB mouse for your trackball controller before buying a specialized adapter.  It's easy to do, and you can get a ball mouse for next to nothing.  If you don't like how it works, all you're out is a little time.

[newmanfamilyvlogs]

I can't stress enough what an awesome thing is going on with Groovymame, the spiritual successor to AdvanceMame.

Groovymame can dynamically re-write the registry on systems with an ATI based display device to produce native refresh rates for games. Paired with the modified ATI drivers by Calamity which allow over 160 available resolutions, you can essentially run every game at native resolution and native refresh rate. That means no visual tearing and no sound stuttering (assuming there are no underlying emulation issues). It's primarily aimed at 15kHz monitors, but I'm successfully running it also on a 31kHz monitor using resolutions scaled exactly 2x.

There's been some anecdotal evidence that some LCDs will successfully display arbitrary refresh rates as well (image scaling issues not withstanding), but this is very dependent on the specific monitor and the driver board.


edit: And hacking a USB mouse can lead to backspin if the encoder can't handle the incoming signal rate. but yes it can be cheap.

[lastrega]

If I had it to do again, And I am sure I will........ I would have spent the extra money and bought 8 buttons per side....... Therefore I would not have needed a shift key for games that use over 4 buttons:)..... but my plan was a neo Geo based machine....... Looks great and but little less functional:)

[Cynicaster]

I've got the Ultimarc U-trak and it is awesome!!!

+1

[Vectoraster]

What are the screen sizing features you are referring to, in the newer windows mame builds?

The last time I compiled MAME in Windows (one of the builds after .106) the graphics were stretched to fill my screen while preserving the resolution, like the way I liked it in AdvanceMAME.  Hopefully I wasn't imagining it!

=VR=

[Vectoraster]

Groovymame can dynamically re-write the registry on systems with an ATI based display device to produce native refresh rates for games. Paired with the modified ATI drivers by Calamity which allow over 160 available resolutions, you can essentially run every game at native resolution and native refresh rate.

Awesome!  Thanks for the tip!!

=VR=

[Vectoraster]

Thanks for all the tips!  Really helps!

=VR=

[skewba98z28]

Backspin is an encoder issue, so it really cannot be solved in software. I'm not sure what option you are thinking about.

Yeah I looked again and didn't see it. I don't know where the hell I got that from