Help me choose my monitor

[dheck]

Ok, after reading the FAQ and countless hours of research I am still undecided on what to do for a monitor for my cabinet.

Here is my delima

I would really like to get a Betson monitor but the price is quite high.  I have also looked at monitors from this site http://www.sharpimage.net/ but I am unsure which one will work and they do not have pricing on the site.

I have a nice 27" TV with S-video input just sitting around, I could use that for my cabinet and not spend any extra money.

Here is what I know, my machine will be running windows XP.  I have a nice videocard with S-Video out, and I want to be able to play lightgun games (especially Area 51).  Can someone help me make a decision?

Sorry for all the questions, just hoping you guys can keep me from making a huge mistake. 

[Skadar]

I have a nice 27" TV with S-video input just sitting around, I could use that for my cabinet and not spend any extra money.

If it were me, this quote would have answered my question.   

From what I've been able to determine, most people barely notice any difference between a TV or a regular arcade monitor.  Does your TV only have S-video input?  No component?  Hmmm...

Why not hook your PC up to the TV for a few days and play around with it.  Give yourself a chance to see if that's all that you really need.

[dheck]

Yes, my TV has S-Video input but no component.

[Jomac]

Your TV would be a great choice ,You can buy a little Arcade CGA to SVHS converter that works very well
 http://www.highway.net.au/parts/converters/1865.html

[dheck]

Your TV would be a great choice ,You can buy a little Arcade CGA to SVHS converter that works very well
 http://www.highway.net.au/parts/converters/1865.html

What do I gain from that piece of hardware over just hooking the S-Video straight from my PC to the TV?

[Jomac]

Sorry my answer was only in reference to using an arcade game signal directly from a game pcb.

If you only want to use it for mame via your video card with SVHS output to the SVHS input of your TV what was the point of the question when you knew answer the answer already ?

Jomac

[dheck]

Sorry my answer was only in reference to using an arcade game signal directly from a game pcb.

If you only want to use it for mame via your video card with SVHS output to the SVHS input of your TV what was the point of the question when you knew answer the answer already ?

Jomac

That was not my question.  My question was if I should use the TV I already had or bite the bullet and get an arcade monitor like the betson.  I was trying to make sure I didn't make the wrong choice and regret it in the long run.  I thought I might enlist the advice of people who have done it before... 

It will only be used for MAME. 

[Jomac]

My fault I didn't read it all properly .

If you are only using for mame then your TV would be a great idea .

Jomac

[dheck]

My fault I didn't read it all properly .

If you are only using for mame then your TV would be a great idea .

Jomac

Good deal!  I will hook it up and see how she looks today.  I am guess there isn't a big enough difference inbetween the 2 to offset the extra cost.

Here's a side question.  For light gun games, is it bad to have the monitor tilted like most acrade cabinets are?

[Jomac]

hopefully one of the regular mamer's could answer that for you ? I specialise in monitor / TV repair and have very little ( actually nothing) to do with mame

Jomac