Another TV Question

[Demon-Seed]

Hi,
I am thinking of using a TV in my cab this time around. So I can hook up xbox, dc etc.... a nice 19} flatscreen. not too expensive but with svideo. How will this look in MAME etc? any comparison pics?

thx
Jim

[DarkSoul1]

There's not a huge amount of info around on using a TV.  I'm considering using one as in Australia a 21 inch CRT is worth about $700 - $1000 AU for a cheapie (about $490 - $700 US).  I can buy a 21 inch TV for about $450 AU ($315 US) with s-video input.

Basically, order of quality of input to a TV is as follows (highest to lowest)

- Component/SCART (uses RGB)
- Svideo
- Composite

Component/SCART gives picture quality on par with an arcade monitor.  The drawback being that many smaller TVs (below 21 inch)don't support this type of connection.  

S-video is said to give picture quality below that of an acrade monitor and is generally supported on most reasonable quality TV's of all sizes.  Some people have reported quite good pictures on S-video though.

Composite definitely give poor quality pictures.

[Demon-Seed]

I am looking at my nvidia geforce 128 mb card. looks like it only has S-video out? not sure what that other better connector looks like, component rgb

[Demon-Seed]

Darn I guess I should mention that I was thinking tv because I have limited space in the new cab... only like enought for 20" screen and I want to play XBOX, DC on it.

[Demon-Seed]

Um will my Act-Lab gun work on a tv?

[mr.Curmudgeon]

No. Unless you have the TV version of the Act Labs gun. I'm assuming you have the PC version.

[Demon-Seed]

Crap. Well I have searched the forms and it seems split with people who like tvs vs. do not. I am really at a hump. My tv can only be 19-20 so I could buy a decent set. I just would like to see more comparisons to quality. I checked the faq here and seent he snaps and the snaps on oscars site. any tv users advise or help me out?

[menace]

Yeah the tv guys are a quiet bunch--I asked for some input on the FAQ for guys that used tv's, what they did, how it looked etc--got zilch input.  this is prolly no help but i plugged in an older set with just the composite connections into an ati card--looked like crap so I went back to using an arcade monitor.  maybe you'll get better results with the s-video

[Demon-Seed]

I don't know, I REALLY dont feel like buying a tv and it suck ass... eheh wish someone could assist any tv users out there shed some light on this?

[Demon-Seed]

I need something plug and play. Like a tv set once set up for pc works, and it will work automatically with xbox, dc etc... no monkeying around. problem with arcade monitor is the frequencies and all that bs... same thing with a pc monitor need adapters out of your ying yang. unless someone has a solution i am not aware of?

[bigmoe]

I need something plug and play. Like a tv set once set up for pc works, and it will work automatically with xbox, dc etc... no monkeying around. problem with arcade monitor is the frequencies and all that bs... same thing with a pc monitor need adapters out of your ying yang. unless someone has a solution i am not aware of?

That may be the single biggest plus on the TV camp.

One option for you would be to get a TV with both component and S-video.  Then you could buy a mid- to high-end video card for your computer that connects component and have a good quality signal...and still have all the versatility of the s-video for your consoles.

You will probably still have to use your TV remote to change inputs and stuff like that.

You could possibly also get component adapters for your consoles, and run everything component.  I know X-box has one, not sure about dreamcast.  I've never seen a component switchbox (link if someone has one?) but I own an s-video switchbox myself.

Note that the TV lightguns will work with s-video, but not with component, so the component-quality vs. s-video compatability is a question you'll have to answer.

Right now, I use s-video on my living room TV because I don't have any other option  .

b

[FloLob]

I ve tried several methods including S-Video and RGB / Coponent on my german Scart - TV.

S - Video quality really sucks compared to true RGB.
To use RGB , you could solder a VGA to Scart Cable:

http://www.jayma.org/mamescart/

It works fine, but you have to tweak the Screensize manually with Advancemame or try using the build in "Servicemode" of your TV - set. But remember: you need a 15 KHz signal from your graphics card. The ArcadeVGA delivers a 15 KHz signal.
You could use the J-Pac from ultimarc as an alternative, because this device brings the frequency down to 15 Khz (would be the best choice when you own a cab with a jamma-adapter).

[Demon-Seed]

Ok if I stay with a PC monitor, can I play DC, XBOX, PS2 on a PC without messing around with changing resolutions and settings? I just want to change a switch or inputs to make it work.

[Demon-Seed]

SCART or RGB I dont know what that is? can some explain? does it come on a tv standard like S video?

[Demon-Seed]

if i go with a adapter to pc do they make one that is multiple inputs? like i can connect xbox/ps/ps2 all together

[FloLob]

I am sorry .... where do you come from ?
Scart is a european standard. You have seperate signals / cables  for R (red) G (green) B (blue) V-sync and H- sync.
My Xbox , Gamecube and Dreamcast all have Scart connectors, so its pretty easy to switch from Xbox to Dreamcast and your Mame - PC.

 

[b3atmania]

SCART is also available in Australia. Be sure to go the RGB (SCART) route. No need for inferior S-video if you can have RGB.

[Demon-Seed]

i am in Canada never heard of scart

[BULL]

I

[Demon-Seed]

One of the problems I have is my cabinets spot for a screen is small about 15-17 inches high X 23 wide... so I thought a flat screen tv would be the best way to get the largest screen possible.
maybe an arcade monitor was the way to go not reallly wanting one though

[maraxle]

I have this Panasonic 20" TV, and couldn't be happier.  The picture is great, it has S-Video, the price is reasonable, it's not too wide (like the ones with speakers on the sides), and it can turn itself back on automatically when you cut the power to it.

[DarkSoul1]

itls a dilemma, isn't it?

Size vs quality vs price vs ease of use

 

[Demon-Seed]

Hi
I guess my big delima is getting the largest possible screen to fit in the cab. any suggestions
?

[GGKoul]

OK

1st)  Your limited to what size TV you can put in your cab by the width of your cab.  I was able to put a 27" Zenith TV in my cab, but I have a shave the insides of the cab to get the TV to fit.  

So I suggest you get a TV that doesn't have a speakers on the side but on the bottom.  Therefore you can get the maximum TV width.  Also try to get one that has Video 1 & Video 2 inputs.

2nd)  I use my Cab to run PC, Mame, PS2, Xbox, Sege Genesis & Dreamcast systems.  I have my the S/Video out from my video card plugged into my "Video 1" input on my TV.  Then I purchased a S/Video "System Selector" from Walmart for @ $20.  And plugged in all the A/V cables from the consoles to the "System Selector" and the System Selector output is plugged into the "Video 2" input on my TV.

So if I want to watch TV, then I put the TV on normal.  If I want to use my PC to play Mame, then I select "Video 1" on the TV.  If I want to play any console games, then I select "Video 2" on the TV and I select whatever console I want to play via the "System Selector"

Also,I bought 2 Act-Labs TV light guns and they work great.  

Hope this helps.
-GGKoul