Looking for suggestions please

[GCS]

We have had our MAME cabinet for close to 3 years now and love it.  It gets used almost everyday by the kids.  Here is my "issue"

Currently its a 4 player setup (old Avengers cabinet) and has a 25" TV in there using the TV out on the Radeon.  Running MAME32.

My problem is that the Windows desktop looks lik --I'm attempting to get by the auto-censor and should be beaten after I re-read the rules-- and its a b**tch to try to do anything in configurations, setups etc.  Heck even selecting the game is a pain because everything is so fuzzy.  I built my sister a nice  MAME cab with a 20" computer monitor in it (from a deal posted here on the forums) about 2 years ago and her setup looks FABULOUS both the desktop and all the games!!  I mean its wonderfully crisp clean and the games look great.

Basically what I need to do is come up with a 25-27" COMPUTER monitor that can handle all the resolutions needed or an LCD that would work as well.  Problem is all the googling in the world has turned up nothing -- all the LCDs are widescreen in that size which will be too big, all the other things in that size are just TVs and will present the same problem.

I realize that using a computer monitor/LCD won't give the games that "authentic" look but I am ok with that .. really.

Any suggestions??

Thanks

Greg

[ahofle]

A multisync arcade monitor is probably the best solution (handles original arcade resolutions, while also going up to 800x600 for windows) .  They are expensive though.

[shardian]

Are you using composite output, or s-video? Also, you must be using mame32 to select games if you can't see which game you are selecting. Try out a front end instead. You can also go into your windows settings and use really big fonts/desktop icons to make things a little clearer. If I were you, I'd keep the tv as it is not worth the upgrade unless you were moving to a true arcade monitor.

[Stingray]

A multisync arcade monitor is probably the best solution (handles original arcade resolutions, while also going up to 800x600 for windows) .  They are expensive though.

This would also be my suggestion.

-S

[leapinlew]

We have had our MAME cabinet for close to 3 years now and love it.  It gets used almost everyday by the kids.  Here is my "issue"

Currently its a 4 player setup (old Avengers cabinet) and has a 25" TV in there using the TV out on the Radeon.  Running MAME32.

My problem is that the Windows desktop looks lik --I'm attempting to get by the auto-censor and should be beaten after I re-read the rules-- and its a b**tch to try to do anything in configurations, setups etc.  Heck even selecting the game is a pain because everything is so fuzzy.  I built my sister a nice  MAME cab with a 20" computer monitor in it (from a deal posted here on the forums) about 2 years ago and her setup looks FABULOUS both the desktop and all the games!!  I mean its wonderfully crisp clean and the games look great.

Basically what I need to do is come up with a 25-27" COMPUTER monitor that can handle all the resolutions needed or an LCD that would work as well.  Problem is all the googling in the world has turned up nothing -- all the LCDs are widescreen in that size which will be too big, all the other things in that size are just TVs and will present the same problem.

I realize that using a computer monitor/LCD won't give the games that "authentic" look but I am ok with that .. really.

Any suggestions??

Thanks

Greg

Greg -

Do you use it as a computer? I found, once I setup my cabinet and use a decent front end, it works fine. Are you using a front end?

If it does more than just play games, I could see why you would want to make the text more crisp. If it's just an arcade machine, what front end are you using now?

[GCS]

A multisync arcade monitor is probably the best solution (handles original arcade resolutions, while also going up to 800x600 for windows) .  They are expensive though.

If I go this direction will I then need to switch to an ArcadeVGA card as well??

Are you using composite output, or s-video? Also, you must be using mame32 to select games if you can't see which game you are selecting. Try out a front end instead. You can also go into your windows settings and use really big fonts/desktop icons to make things a little clearer. If I were you, I'd keep the tv as it is not worth the upgrade unless you were moving to a true arcade monitor.

Composite input as thats all this TV has (that an RF/Coax input).  Basically no matter what res I run the desktop it sucks.  Making fonts bigger just makes things larger.  I guess it could just be crappy TV output on the card (radeon 7200 I believe).

Yes I am using MAME32 to select my games.  Its easy and the kids have a good understanding of it as well.

Thanks

Greg

[GCS]

Greg -

Do you use it as a computer? I found, once I setup my cabinet and use a decent front end, it works fine. Are you using a front end?

If it does more than just play games, I could see why you would want to make the text more crisp. If it's just an arcade machine, what front end are you using now?

Never bothered doing anything else with it (would like to but likely to never happen).  It probably wouldn't be a bad idea to use a front end.  Will it really make that much of a difference even though windows 2000 will be its starting point??

I need make sure it stays simple for the kids.  Right now all they do is select the icon for the game they want.  They are fine with things as they are but for me it sucks because I need to invest some serious time on this to get all the buttons remapped on several games (mostly 4 player games) and things are so annoyingly fuzzy I can't see to get it done so I basically say the heck with it.  This has come to light more lately because every Friday for 2 hours we do family game night (MAME cab, pinball, and board games).  It provides us with a lot of fun and some dedicated time with the kids.  Its been a big hit at the house for the last 6-8 months but it sucks when doing X-men, TMNT etc we keep resetting the game when all of us are playing.

Thanks again.

Greg

[leapinlew]

Greg -

Do you use it as a computer? I found, once I setup my cabinet and use a decent front end, it works fine. Are you using a front end?

If it does more than just play games, I could see why you would want to make the text more crisp. If it's just an arcade machine, what front end are you using now?

Never bothered doing anything else with it (would like to but likely to never happen).  It probably wouldn't be a bad idea to use a front end.  Will it really make that much of a difference even though windows 2000 will be its starting point??

I need make sure it stays simple for the kids.  Right now all they do is select the icon for the game they want.  They are fine with things as they are but for me it sucks because I need to invest some serious time on this to get all the buttons remapped on several games (mostly 4 player games) and things are so annoyingly fuzzy I can't see to get it done so I basically say the heck with it.  This has come to light more lately because every Friday for 2 hours we do family game night (MAME cab, pinball, and board games).  It provides us with a lot of fun and some dedicated time with the kids.  Its been a big hit at the house for the last 6-8 months but it sucks when doing X-men, TMNT etc we keep resetting the game when all of us are playing.

Thanks again.

Greg

Ok... now I get it. I think a frontend will solve alot of your problems. I have plenty of kids playing my cab.

All they do on mine is pull the joystick down or up to select a game and hit 1player to start. There are screenshots to show which game your on as well as a large font name that is easy to read on a tv.

Check out Mala. It's easy to setup and once it's setup it really makes the arcade cabinet feel more game like. Out of all the front ends I've looked at - Mala was the easiest to setup.

[original_maxlamer]

It probably wouldn't be a bad idea to use a front end.  Will it really make that much of a difference even though windows 2000 will be its starting point??

Putting the frontend in the "startup" folder of your startmenu will make the frontend launch when windows starts, then you dont need to navigate windows with fuzzy text to get to the frontend.

And if you want to make things easier for yourself doing adjustments/settings, just hide a redundant/cheap computer monitor inside the cab. My keyboard and monitor sit in the base of the cab just behind the coindoor, so its just a case of reaching in to switch on the monitor and grab the keyboard.

[torez]

What is the resolution your video card sends to the tv?  Did you try 640x480?

I would suggest downloading latest drivers from ATI.

Also, couple of years ago I had ATI All-In-Wonder 8500DV, but my output to 20" monitor was very crappy.  My newer ATI card does a great job displaying on tv now.  As video cards are getting very cheap now, you can get a decent one from ATI or Nvidia for under $100 that should suit your needs.  You could try getting one and if you don't like it, just return the same week for a full refund.

[sphetr2]

You COULD use the startup folder..only if you want to see the windows GUI for like 10 seconds..

Or you could use instant sheller:

http://tomspeirs.com/gameEx/Shell.htm

It sets your FE's .exe as the Windows shell, and can change your boot screen for you!

[releasedtruth]

The killer really is the  composite in. S-video's bad enough, but composite is harsh so I know where he's coming from. I would 2nd the front end notion, that's for sure. The front end will make it readable, even on composite out.

[shardian]

The killer really is the  composite in. S-video's bad enough, but composite is harsh so I know where he's coming from. I would 2nd the front end notion, that's for sure. The front end will make it readable, even on composite out.

Composite is not always bad. I have found that divx movies look better on a composite out to a tv. 

[jelwell]

Definitely give a front end a try. My friend uses a tv and the games look great, but yes windows is awful and so is visual pinball.

If you still want to replace. I suggest finding the largest CRT monitor you can find (so far I've found a 25 inch for free). Lots of people are dumping old CRT monitors (in favor of LCDs). So check craigslist, and local recyclers.

When you find the largest CRT monitor around, shove it in (Decase if you like - or put black duck tape on the casing to hide the edges). If you still have a considerable gap, add a bezel.
Joseph Elwell.

[GCS]

Thanks for all the help fellas.  I will get to work on putting in a front end.  I have already downloaded MALA as mentioned and put it on my USB drive so I just need to find the time (and get the kids of the system) to get it done.

I am pretty sure the TV out is coming out a 640x480.

NP on the start folder as thats how I have MAME32 running now anyway so that once the system is up it pops right into the selection menu.  Of course its still in Winblows so it looks like crap but once the game is running no one knows or cares and they look great.

Hopefully this will make things bearable.  I still may switch to an Arcade monitor but for now I would like to make this a little better as I basically broke since I just bought a Star Wars Trilogy Arcade machine and a LOTR pinball machine to go with everything else we have (MAME cab, Monster Bash pin, STTNG pin, Tales of Arabian Nights pin, and a Revenge From Mars/Star Wars Episode pin as well).  Nice full gameroom now ... life is good!    

Thanks again

Greg

[Zeosstud]

I think without question the Front End is the cheapest solution.  While I happen to use Mamewah I know that its not the worlds easiest to setup and Mala is a great front end also.  Once you get that all going, you could certainly consider a new 25 or 27 inch TV with Svideo, it will sharpen things up alittle.  My kids ( Boy 4 and Girl 9 ) can navigate the front end without issue and yours will too, my wife, well...  Once you get financially ready to spend some more money, you could consider a Wells Gardner D9200 or one of the other Arcade Monitors with a standard 15pin connections, they are not cheap but they sure are nice.

Zeosstud