Anyone running Sega Model 2 emulator games like Sega Rally in native EGA res?

[Zebra]

I am trying to find out if there is any way to run emulated model 2 driving games in their native 496 x 384?

I use Groovymame with CRT EMU with a tri-sync (cga, ega, vga) arcade monitor for most games currently. But... AM2 games don't work in mame currently. I have the nebula AM2 emulator which plays AM2 games with some glitches but it doesn't seem to work properly below 480p.

I can set a custom ega res in the ini file and then it does switch to 24khz but... chunks of graphics are missing (like the people and houses in Sega Rally) and it runs at half the speed that it runs at in 480p...

Has anyone here found a way to play emulated Sega Rally or Daytona on an ega monitor?

[segaturbo]

hi have run them on a nanao ms9 just swap jumper to 24khz they run fine.
if you run games changing res on the fly I don't think it is a good idea for the monitor in the long run.
I have run them on 31k and they look about same it is just 15k games that don't look as good on 31k 

[Zebra]

My arcade monitor is one of the later CRTs so it auto-syncs (so no jumper needed) and it is design to do it on the fly with mame set-ups. I run my Windows desktop in 480p and play most games in 240p.

I just need to figure why Model 2 games works in VGA but not EGA on mine.

What software do you use to make your PC output 24khz and which 24khz res did you use? I am wondering if it is the super resolution used by CRT EMU  that is causing the problems.

[buttersoft]

I am wondering if it is the super resolution used by CRT EMU  that is causing the problems.

It... could be. I've had something like that happen.

Segaturbo might have been using original hardware, I'm not sure, but you can certainly get 24kHz from crt_emudriver. The monitor presets sticky lists a few range line examples that would cover it.

   // Arcade 15.7/25.0/31.5 kHz - tri-sync
   arcade_15_25_31
   
      crt_range0  15625-16200, 49.50-65.00, 2.000, 4.700, 8.000, 0.064, 0.192, 1.024, 0, 0, 192, 288, 448, 576
      crt_range1  24960-24960, 49.50-65.00, 0.800, 4.000, 3.200, 0.080, 0.200, 1.000, 0, 0, 384, 400, 768, 800
      crt_range2  31400-31500, 49.50-65.00, 0.940, 3.770, 1.890, 0.349, 0.064, 1.017, 0, 0, 400, 512, 0, 0

Can you install the resolution 496x384@60.00000 with VMM and switch to it in m2emu? I know i have 800x600@50 installed, and i can use it.

The link below is about adding individual resolutions to an existing setup - just make sure your monitor range lines will allow the resolution you want to install.

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,153488.msg1608259.html#msg1608259

(IMO it's actually nicer to use slightly higher res for 3D games, but i can understand you wanting to try out the native res.)

[segaturbo]

at the time I was using soft 15k 

[Zebra]

at the time I was using soft 15k 

Mine also used to work properly when I used soft 15khz. This issue is since I switched to crt emu. Now, everything mame related works perfectly but every other emulator either won't work at all or works with issues.

For example, my SNES emulator (which used to work in 15khz) won't open now. It just gives me an error message that direct draw failed to do something.

I am trying to figure out how to play SNES and PC engine games through mame (without luck so far) but model 2 and 3 games don't work in Mame at all.

[Zebra]

I am wondering if it is the super resolution used by CRT EMU  that is causing the problems.

It... could be. I've had something like that happen.

Segaturbo might have been using original hardware, I'm not sure, but you can certainly get 24kHz from crt_emudriver. The monitor presets sticky lists a few range line examples that would cover it.

   // Arcade 15.7/25.0/31.5 kHz - tri-sync
   arcade_15_25_31
   
      crt_range0  15625-16200, 49.50-65.00, 2.000, 4.700, 8.000, 0.064, 0.192, 1.024, 0, 0, 192, 288, 448, 576
      crt_range1  24960-24960, 49.50-65.00, 0.800, 4.000, 3.200, 0.080, 0.200, 1.000, 0, 0, 384, 400, 768, 800
      crt_range2  31400-31500, 49.50-65.00, 0.940, 3.770, 1.890, 0.349, 0.064, 1.017, 0, 0, 400, 512, 0, 0

Can you install the resolution 496x384@60.00000 with VMM and switch to it in m2emu? I know i have 800x600@50 installed, and i can use it.

The link below is about adding individual resolutions to an existing setup - just make sure your monitor range lines will allow the resolution you want to install.

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,153488.msg1608259.html#msg1608259

(IMO it's actually nicer to use slightly higher res for 3D games, but i can understand you wanting to try out the native res.)

I want to try adding non-super resolutions but I don't understand the instructions in that thread. It's no surprise though. I generally don't understand anything related to command prompt instructions. With Soft 15khz, custom modlines were added through a Word-like ini file. I could just cut and paste modlines that worked from forums like this.

Is there a way to add modlines with CRT EMU without opening a CMD window?

[buttersoft]

Techincally it's not a CMD window, it's VMM's CMD window But yes, you may need to use it. Keep reading.

The crt range lines in a monitor preset define what modelines VMM will allow you to add. You need to make sure you have a monitor preset that covers 25kHz horizontal scan rate, and that will allow the right number of lines (vertical resolution). Bolding is the scan rate range, then the allowed lines min/max for a progressive mode. (Note the latter are visible lines only, the 496x384@60.000 mode will actually have ~416 lines in total to include the blanking interval, and scan rate = total lines x fps)

   crt_range1  24960-24960, 49.50-65.00, 0.800, 4.000, 3.200, 0.080, 0.200, 1.000, 0, 0, 384, 400, 768, 800

Go into the directory where you have crt_emudriver and VMM. Open the monitor.ini file, and study it until you find a preset that contains a range line that looks like the above. There are probably other range lines in that preset, so make sure all the modes you want to use are covered. (CRT's often sync to distinct bands, so do not presume you can just add one, wider range line where multiples exist now). If you’re not sure what preset you used, open VMM, check which preset, and copy and paste it giving it a new name because you don’t want to remove any information. Then add the range line above or something like it. Now select your new custom preset in VMM, then click ok to go back to the main black window and use the instructions below.

>>modelist import

This will load your existing modelines from the driver. Make sure the correct mode list has been loaded, by typing.

>> modelist list

Study this list to make sure it looks right, and resembles the contents of your user-modes.ini file of whatever it is. Now you can add a new mode to the RAM list, by typing, e.g.:

>> mode add 496x384@60.000000

Now, list all modes again to make sure the mode is added to the RAM list:

>> modelist list

If this mode was not allowed by your range line, it won't be in the list. Finally, if you're happy with the resulting mode list, install it to the driver:

>> modelist install

This should get you your mode. You could also just add the mode you want to the user-modes.ini file, and then reinstall all modes as per Calamity's crt_emudriver install guide, but if you've made any adjustments to size or timings using ArcadeOSD, or any changes to the sizing in MAME, these will be lost. If ALL you want is the 496x384@60.000 mode, no other modes at all, consider using the Arcade_25 preset.

Further reading is in the monitor presets sticky of the GM forum – http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,116023.0.html

And section e) of the guide I wrote up - https://www.aussiearcade.com/showthread.php/87668-A-guide-to-connecting-your-Windows-PC-to-an-SD-CRT-TV-PVM-or-Arcade-Monitor

[Zebra]

Techincally it's not a CMD window, it's VMM's CMD window But yes, you may need to use it. Keep reading.

The crt range lines in a monitor preset define what modelines VMM will allow you to add. You need to make sure you have a monitor preset that covers 25kHz horizontal scan rate, and that will allow the right number of lines (vertical resolution). Bolding is the scan rate range, then the allowed lines min/max for a progressive mode. (Note the latter are visible lines only, the 496x384@60.000 mode will actually have ~416 lines in total to include the blanking interval, and scan rate = total lines x fps)

   crt_range1  24960-24960, 49.50-65.00, 0.800, 4.000, 3.200, 0.080, 0.200, 1.000, 0, 0, 384, 400, 768, 800

Go into the directory where you have crt_emudriver and VMM. Open the monitor.ini file, and study it until you find a preset that contains a range line that looks like the above. There are probably other range lines in that preset, so make sure all the modes you want to use are covered. (CRT's often sync to distinct bands, so do not presume you can just add one, wider range line where multiples exist now). If you’re not sure what preset you used, open VMM, check which preset, and copy and paste it giving it a new name because you don’t want to remove any information. Then add the range line above or something like it. Now select your new custom preset in VMM, then click ok to go back to the main black window and use the instructions below.

>>modelist import

This will load your existing modelines from the driver. Make sure the correct mode list has been loaded, by typing.

>> modelist list

Study this list to make sure it looks right, and resembles the contents of your user-modes.ini file of whatever it is. Now you can add a new mode to the RAM list, by typing, e.g.:

>> mode add 496x384@60.000000

Now, list all modes again to make sure the mode is added to the RAM list:

>> modelist list

If this mode was not allowed by your range line, it won't be in the list. Finally, if you're happy with the resulting mode list, install it to the driver:

>> modelist install

This should get you your mode. You could also just add the mode you want to the user-modes.ini file, and then reinstall all modes as per Calamity's crt_emudriver install guide, but if you've made any adjustments to size or timings using ArcadeOSD, or any changes to the sizing in MAME, these will be lost. If ALL you want is the 496x384@60.000 mode, no other modes at all, consider using the Arcade_25 preset.

Further reading is in the monitor presets sticky of the GM forum – http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,116023.0.html

And section e) of the guide I wrote up - https://www.aussiearcade.com/showthread.php/87668-A-guide-to-connecting-your-Windows-PC-to-an-SD-CRT-TV-PVM-or-Arcade-Monitor

Thanks. Your instructions here are a lot clearer and easier for me to follow so I'll give it a go.

I already have VMM set up with the tri-sync option. I have no issues getting CGA, EGA and VGA resolutions. The problem is that I have no resolutions that are less than 2560 wide.

On a good day, I almost understand why CRT EMU's default is to only install super wide resolutions for CGA games but it seems strange for EGA games where there is only a small number.