Newbie post: Advice on LuSid MAME monitor

[texasag90]

Hello;

This is my first post here.  Nice board.  I have read the FAQ and searched the video board some as well.  I wanted to see if I could find someone who has actually done what I am planning:

I am planning on building a LuSid style arcade machine as described in John's book "Project Arcade."  I do not want to spend "a lot of money" -- whatever that means.  I want to play games like PacMan, Galaga, etc.  My plan is to use MAME to drive it.  My questions is:

Will I be happy with a 27inch TV as a monitor if I use a Radeon 9550 for TV output?  The Radeon supports 3 color component output.  I have read on this board that if component video is used, that the results are "similar" to the more expensive VGA/Arcade hybrids.

Any comments?  Has anyone tried this combination of a Radeon 9550, MAME and a TV using component input?

Thanks in advance,
Mark

[SirPeale]

Jeeze...talk about trying to kill a mosquito with an atom bomb!

Since it appears that you're looking to play vertical classics, why don't you just get yourself a 19" arcade monitor?  You could always get a 25" one if it's the size you're looking for, but for vertical games, you *really* don't want to go too big.  Otherwise your eyes can't follow everything on screen due to your proximity.

[texasag90]

Well, I was thinking about "cheap and easy" -- I know how to hook up at TV

Seriously, I appreciate the comment.  I had not thought about the "too close to the big monitor" issue.

So, do you have a favorite VGA/Arcade hybrid?


Thanks for your input,
Mark

[SirPeale]

Seriously, it's not that hard.  If *I* can do it, ANYONE can do it.

To get the arcade mode you'll need a card capable of those modes.  There are many.  The ArcadeVGA will do it out of the box, but it's not necessary.

ATI Rage 3D cards do it easy.  Easy to find too...people practically throw them away.  Sometimes literally...the last two I found were in the dumpster.

If you're running classics, you don't need a world class computer.  You could run DOS with some older hardware.

I'd recommend a video amp, unless you get a monitor like the new Wells Gardner 9500.  IIRC it's a 19" digital monitor that does both 31KHz and 15KHz.

there are TONS of options available.

Heck, I built my vertical classics cab for about a hundred bucks.

[Ghoward]

Make sure you get your TV before you build your cab. My cab was somewhat based on his plans however when I went to get a TV to fit I could not find one. I ended up using a WG9200.

Gary

[texasag90]

Thanks Ghoward.

Are you happy with the WG9200?

[Ghoward]

Yes it is a great monitor. I also have a Betson in another machine they are both about the same.

[ArtMAME]

I am running a JVC 27" TV with component inputs and a Radeon 9550 card.  I am very happy with the results. 

I tried S-Video before, but the component inputs made all the difference.  I am quite satisfied with the results.  Especially with the old-school games that you said you wanted to play.

Check out my threads:

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=55015.msg539585#msg539585

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=52105.msg510720#msg510720

I have other posts about it, just go through my post history and you will find more. 

I have since gotten an NEC 29" Multi-Sync monitor that can display PC resolutions as well as the lower arcade resolutions.  I could put it in my cab and go for the low resolutions, but honestly, I am extremely satisfied with the TV in my cab.  Plus, me and a buddy have tested the lower resolutions on the NEC 29" monitor, and we felt that the monitor was just too big.  Really  .  He has a 19" arcade monitor at home and the low resolutions look really good on that. 

I do have plans for the NEC 29" to put it in a future project cab.  If I do, I would probably just run it at normal PC resolutions, I would not really mess with the lower resolutions because you have to install Powerstrip and a few other apps, then tweak the settings a good bit to run the lower resolutions (at least in my experience). 

As with most everything in this hobby, the choices you make are a matter of personal taste... and budget   ... 

[MaximRecoil]

Jeeze...talk about trying to kill a mosquito with an atom bomb!

Since it appears that you're looking to play vertical classics, why don't you just get yourself a 19" arcade monitor?  You could always get a 25" one if it's the size you're looking for, but for vertical games, you *really* don't want to go too big.  Otherwise your eyes can't follow everything on screen due to your proximity.

On the other hand, a 25" or 27" horizontal CRT gives about as much screen area for letterboxed vertical games as a 19" vertical CRT running them fullscreen does, while still giving the option of horizontal games, and there were plenty of those even in the classic era, such as Defender, Robotron, Joust, Berzerk, Asteroids (not so great on a TV), Missile Command, Mario Bros., Popeye, etc. With a tinted plexi monitor screen, where the image appears to just hover there sourrounded by a dark void, vertical games would look very similar to if they were running on a 19" vertical monitor.