What is currently the best way to use TV monitor?

[dheck]

Hey guys, I have been reading a lot lately and some of the information seems to be dated or spread out or I am just not looking in the proper area.  I was wanting to see if anyone had updated info on using a TV as your arcade monitor.

I have a 27" Sony Trinitron I would like to use.  I also have a windows XP machine with an ATI Radeon 9800 video card.

A lot of what I have been reading is that these will work well, but I am confused on some of the other aspects.  Mainly the software and physical connection between the computer and TV/monitor.

Lets talk about software first.  After reading I have made assumptions that using GroovyMAME along with CRT_EMUDriver is the best solution for duplicating the correct resolutions?  I saw some information on soft15khz but it looks like CRT_EMUDriver is the better option?  I also see powerstip as a popular software.  Is this needed along with the others?  What is the current best combo of software/drivers to get the best experience?

As for the physical connection.  This is where I got confused.  Do you go from VGA out of the video card to a VGA to Component Transcoder, then component cables to the TV?  I saw the mention of come custom cabling that needed to be used for this.  What custom cabling would I need?

I see a popular transcoder is the Crescendo Systems TC1600 VGA but it seems impossible to find one of these.  Is there a newer type of replacement for this piece of hardware?  Is this hardware still needed?  What about just using a VGA to component video cable adapter?

I guess I am asking what is the current best method for connecting my video card to a 27" Trinitron.

Thank you in advance for your help!

 







   

[haynor666]

soft15khz basically installs native low resolutions that could be used by any emulator including groovymame but default table of resolutions is too small - you need mostly also resolutions that are not on list. Of course you could install custom additional resolutions but for this you need calculate raw parameters for each resolution.

VMMmaker by default also have limited list by could could use mame to generate additional required (that's easy process). If you prefer you can make custom list but this time you have to put only resolutions that you need to be created ie 240 x 256 @ 50 instead of raw calculated values so again is easier. Naturally VMMaker resolutions can be laso used by other resolutions.

Both soft15khz and VMMaker can use CRT emu driver but soft15khz will also work with standard driver as well.


For connection PC - TV I use UMSA and custom made VGA-SCART cable. If your TV is component only that I really can't help you.

[shanecrow99]

Does your ATI 9800 have TV-OUT?  Like S-Video (or better yet, RGB component)?

That is the easiest way to hook it up without having to mess around with the software side of things.

[haynor666]

TV-OUT outputs 640x480i and if I remember correctly won't allow to output custom resolutions. As for component - I really don't know.

[shanecrow99]

Your right, the video will not be in it's native resolution due to being locked at 640X480.  However, if the OP doesn't care about native resolutions then it's practically a plug-and-play solution.