Any cheaper Arcade VGA Alternatives

[monkeybomb]

I'm not going to use the soft 15 khz this time and I want to know if there is an external alternative to the arcade VGA.  There are tons of converters that go to vga, but this is a generic jamma cabinet with a Wells Garner crt.  The only thing I can find is the unit in the link below, but the one review says it's not really doing the job because it's limited to a 640 x 480 resolution.  Since it's just one amazon review, I was hoping the group might know something more.  I like this unit because it's external, not $90 and it has an s-video output.  If the situation with this cabinet changes, I can use the s-video output with a 4x3 TV that I use for consoles.

http://www.amazon.com/Andoer-Portable-GBS-8100-Definition-Converter/dp/B00XKWX4F8/ref=pd_sim_sbs_21_3?ie=UTF8&dpID=51PsSHwcZLL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR160%2C160_&refRID=17QSTF1XH6FY2S6ZZE11

On a side note, I'm giving ultimarc the benefit of the doubt without ever having used an arcade vga and assuming the quality is top notch.  If anyone had an alternate experience with that, please let me know.

[pbj]

If you're determined to save money at all costs, which I can respect, you can flash the bios on a Radeon 9200 to have the same functionality as an Arcade VGA. 

[monkeybomb]

I would try that if I had one, but for me to get one and then just screw it up would be too frustrating.  I also need a PCIe card. 

For some perspective, this is my only full standup cabinet.  Over the years it's had 3 different multi boards and a computer with soft 15htz. None were worth leaving in the cabinet, because of quality.  I always wind up with a jamma board back in and at the moment only one of my boards is working.  I'm trying to finally do this right with a real PC going to the arcade monitor and I'd be okay buying the arcadevga if it really is the best.  But with the gap between the gbs8100 ($25 shipped) and the arcadevga ($94 shipped) being so big, I wanted to check in and see if the acadevga is necessary for emulated games to look as good as they can.  I can't find any plug and play option other than these two.

pbj, any chance I can just score some of this stuff for free on Amazon?   

[DudeRegular]

Sounds like you have a arcade CRT?
J-PAC + Radeon 4350 for hardware. Crt_emudriver and groovymame for software.

[keilmillerjr]

I also need a PCIe card.

I know of no solution for crt video that utilizes pcie.

The solution I choose is recommended by many - HD4350 (PCI) with crt_emudriver, DVI -> VGA dongle, and a JPAC.

You need to choose console or arcade. It will make your life easier. You can always get a raspberry pi with component out really cheap for tv fun.