Help in troubleshooting cabinet setup

[boywondered4]

Hey All,

I'm new to arcade cabinets and am trying to keep as much as the cabinet intact as possible.  The arcade I bought was a 2 player Hit the Ice with a 19" WG K4906.  The monitor appears to be in fairly decent shape with very minimal burn-in (only noticeable when when the screen is a solid color, and even then it is almost imperceptible).  I am trying to turn it into a MAME, but am running into some issues.

The PC I am using is a Zotac Zbox with an Nvidia integrated graphics card.  It is a micro-pc, and there are no PCI slots on it. I purchased a JPAC, as well as a GBS-8100 to try to get the video to the right frequency.  I have tried using both soft15kz and Powerstrip (the graphics chip isn't specifically listed for either, but it does respond to configuration changes from both programs). 

No matter what I do, the best I can get is a split screen (both with and without the GBS-8100).  I was under the impression that the GBS-8100 would set the correct signal, but I can't get it to work. 

I am getting close to the point of pulling the original Tube out and sticking in a 19" LCD that I have that I know works.  I am not a purist at heart, but like the idea of having it as original as I can.  I haven't been making any headway and have gone past my abilities in terms of hardware/software configuration.  I realize that another option would be to find another computer that would accept something like the ArcadeVGA, but at this point I am trying to minimize buying more hardware since I have something that may be able to be made sufficient.

Any thoughts, comments, or suggestions are welcome. 

[Garza]

If you want to use the og monitor you should try to get a VGA to CGA converter card I used them in the past for the og monitor and mame and worked perfect and you still have a place on the board for settings to adjust the screen if needed. Hope this helps.. its a little more money but I tell you what.... It made my life alot easier 

[boywondered4]

Garza,
    That looks just like the GBS-8100 card that I have tried already with no real luck.  It is possible I am not setting it up correctly, since the instructions leave a lot to be desired.

I guess it's possible the VGA-CGA card is faulty.  Do you have any suggestions on how to troubleshoot it?

[mgb]

Probably goes without saying but make sure your using a compatible resolution
From the PC to the 8100
You will have force mame to display games at the correct resolution

Did you buy it from jamma boards.com? Maybe send them an email

[boywondered4]

I did pick it up from jamma boards, and have not tried to contact them yet.  I have tried all the listed resolutions in the "manual" as well as others down to 640x480, but I still get the split screen.  I am going to continue to mess with it some, so hopefully something will click.

[Slippyblade]

I've never used one of these, but the mentioning of "split screen" makes me think it's an interlacing issue.

[mgb]

Well that'd be an indication of resolution issues of some sort.

[PL1]

Just to be sure we're using the same meanings for terms here, a pic is worth 1000+ words, Boywondered4.   


Scott

[boywondered4]

Here is a photo of the card for comparison. 

It may very well be a resolution issue.  I have tried everything I can find to do with my current hardware.  I can get it to display split screen with and without using the video card.  Without it, using soft15kz and 640x480 res I can get it to split, but when I set Powerstrip to interlace it goes all wonky.  Using the card, I am fairly limited in changing things and having a video image display.

[mgb]

I believe PL1 may have been referring to a pic of the issue for better reference.

[boywondered4]

Highly probable, mgb.  It was late last night so I think I read it wrong.



This first image is when I use soft15kz, res set to 640x480



This is the same as above, with interlacing enabled from Powerstrip

I get the splitting both using and not using the GBS-8100.  Only difference is the setting I have to set to get there.

[mgb]

I've never used either soft15k or powerstrip but it seems you've got the wrong res.
I'm not sure why the res would be set at 640x480. a standard res monitor can't show a vga resolution (hence using special software or a vga to cga card)
can't you set the soft15k to a res like that of the game that was originally in there which would be 320 x 224? or something close.
that split image you're getting there is what happens when you push too high a resolution into a standard resolution monitor.

also, maybe I'm missing something but why use soft15k or powerstrip with a vga to cga card?
have you tried the converter without the software?
I have also read that those converters are kinda hit or miss.
Have you looked into grooveymame?

[boywondered4]

I guess I have been a little convoluted.

When I first got the cab, I ordered the JPAC and started playing around with soft15k.  I could only ever get it to do a split screen (which everything I have read, both in forums and from Ultimarc means that the JPAC is still receiving a 31k signal).  I tried using Powerstrip independently, as well as with soft15k, but could not get it to work correctly.  It wouldn't even show up split screen unless it was at 640x480 res.

I decided the most universal option would be to get the VGA-CGA converter, so I wouldn't have to find a different computer get a ArcadeVGA or or try configuring some other video card.  I had also read that the GBS-8100 could be hit or miss, but every thing I read said that as long as it was purchased through a reputable company (jamma boards, etc) and not eBay the odds were good that it would work.  I restored my computer to before having soft15k and Powerstrip on it, and tried the GBS-8100 with no luck.  I tried every resolution, and the best I could get was a split screen as I did with soft15k.

I have submitted a trouble ticket to Jamma boards, in case the problem is a faulty GBS-8100, and am waiting to hear back.

I have not tried Groovymame, so that may be the next attempt 

[boywondered4]

Turns out that I will get to take a different path.  A friend was about to toss a desktop computer, so I saved it from it's demise and am going to try to start from scratch with that.  I just happen to have a Radeon 7000 video card from several computers back, so I am going to try using that with Groovymame.

Thanks for the input on the problem.  I'll report back if this works out better.

[mgb]

Good luck with it.
It seems Groovymame is a good solution.
Remember there is a Groovymame section on the forums that should help on setup