Benefits of ArcadeVGA

[JAZ]

If I had an ArcadeVGA card, am I better off purchasing a monitor such as the Wells-Gardner D9200 or Hantarex Polo Star or just getting a 15kHz arcade monitor?

[Ghoward]

Yes, I have a WG9200 and Arcade VGA they are the perfect match for each other as you get the 15khz for arcade games and the 30khz for windows.

Gary

[FractalWalk]

The point of ArcadeVGA ia that it works with 15khz aracde monitors at original resoltuions. I don't see what a D9200 would gain you.

[JAZ]

Will the ArcadeVGA also allow games at different frequencies to run (eg. 24 - 31k)?

[Muttley]

The point of ArcadeVGA ia that it works with 15khz aracde monitors at original resoltuions. I don't see what a D9200 would gain you.

The D9200 would gain you the ability to run higher VGA resolutions non-interlaced (for you frontend or DOS/Windows games for example) as well as all the benefits of the 15khz modes.

Muttley

[Muttley]

Will the ArcadeVGA also allow games at different frequencies to run (eg. 24 - 31k)?

From the Ultimarc Monitor F.A.Q.

"Full-Range 15Khz - 31Khz multi-scan arcade monitors. For example the D9200. Very Nice! Expensive but can display ANY game at it's native resolution. These can be used with an ArcadeVGA card to display 15Khz and 31Khz resolutions, using a special installable utility for the card. Bear in mind that if you have one of these monitors, using it with an ordinary VGA card will only run it at 31Khz (unless you use Advanced MAME) so you will not be taking advantage of it's full potential and ability to display native arcade resolutions as well as Windows VGA resolutions."

Muttley

[Minwah]

The D9200 would gain you the ability to run higher VGA resolutions non-interlaced (for you frontend or DOS/Windows games for example) as well as all the benefits of the 15khz modes.

Also there are getting more and more medium / high res. games in MAME, especially 3d games...They look pretty good at 640x480 interlaced, but they would certainly look even better non-interlaced.

[JAZ]

Thanks everyone. Looks like it will have to be a Wells-Gardner or similar.

[JAZ]

Can someone point me in the direction of the webpage (I've seen it somewhere before) that allows you to serach the MAME database for which games use which frequency? From memory almost all the classic MAME games use 15kHz. Most of those that use something higher are either fighting games (yawn) or uninspiring clones of better, older games.

I was about to order the WG from Australia but the vendor, who has been in the arcade business for years, said the WG was reasonable but a decent Nanao or Pentranic arcade monitor was "vastly superior".

[Minwah]

Can someone point me in the direction of the webpage (I've seen it somewhere before) that allows you to serach the MAME database for which games use which frequency? From memory almost all the classic MAME games use 15kHz. Most of those that use something higher are either fighting games (yawn) or uninspiring clones of better, older games.

http://www.mameworld.net/maws/ allows you to filter on resolution.

Use the 'deluxe search' to use a dropdown of all MAME's resolutions - this should give you an idea...

Personally I have a standard res screen and it is fine for me.  Most high-res games are 3d games which don't run properly / full speed anyway.  The only games I regret not being able to play authentically are medium res Atari games (720, Paperboy etc).  That said, at 640x480 -hwstretch they look pretty good anyway...

[FractalWalk]

The D9200 would gain you the ability to run higher VGA resolutions non-interlaced (for you frontend or DOS/Windows games for example) as well as all the benefits of the 15khz modes.

I guess I just never noticed the advantage of the higher resolution for Windows. My Windows games look great at 15k, but then again maybe my games are older lower res games.

[etumor]

If I had an ArcadeVGA card, am I better off purchasing a monitor such as the Wells-Gardner D9200 or Hantarex Polo Star or just getting a 15kHz arcade monitor?

You should take a look at this review:

http://www.retroblast.com/reviews/avga.html

Evidently, using the ArcadeVGA on the D9200 does in fact create a more "authentic" look for 15kHz games than simply plugging the monitor into a regular VGA card.  However, he does caution that if you are using the Act-Labs light gun, it may not work properly with the ArcadeVGA card (results seem to vary).

I have a D9200 which I run with a regular nVidia card, and it looks beautiful.  I also just got a U3100 (19" version of the D9200) which I am using for a new cabinet.  I am considering buying an ArcadeVGA card to experiment with.

I am curious, if anyone knows -- how well does the ArcadeVGA work with Daphne?  I ask because Daphne uses hardware accelerated video, and I don't know what the capabilities of the ArcadeVGA are in that area.  Anyone know from personal experience?

-Jeff "etumor" Allen

[Minwah]

I have a D9200 which I run with a regular nVidia card, and it looks beautiful.  I also just got a U3100 (19" version of the D9200) which I am using for a new cabinet.  I am considering buying an ArcadeVGA card to experiment with.

Beautiful it may be, but not authentic (unless you are running AdvMAME).  Running the low-res games at native (or near to) looks great, is authentic and is a cinch with the AVGA  IMHO there is no point using a D9200 without using low-res modes, you (almost) might as well use a PC monitor...