Soft-15KHz - slim new tool for 15KHz on normal vga cards

[Sledge]

Just wondering if anything has been done to include newer Intel chipsets?
IE the 'Intel HD Graphics 2000' etc as found on the i3-2120 cpu's

Would love to be able to use one of these things in the arcade machine instead of a discrete graphics card.. ??

[boerbiet]

I was pleasantly surprised to see my arcade monitor working immediately after installing soft15khz and rebooting. Nice!

There is, however, a small problem of not being able to get the whole "picture" to show. On the left and right side, part of the picture is not visible. Since my monitor only has a dial for changing the horizontal position, not the size, I cannot correct the picture that way.

I don't know much about modelines, but I suspect it has something to do with those. I used a custom list of modelines which I copied from someone who posted them on some emulation forum, who has the same monitor I have (WG Prismatic K7000). These are the custom lines I use:

Code: [Select]

Modeline "240x240@62" 5.05 240 272 288 320 240 245 248 253 -hsync -vsync
Modeline "256x240@62" 5.29 256 288 304 336 240 245 248 253 -hsync -vsync
Modeline "256x256@58" 5.28 256 288 304 336 256 261 264 269 -hsync -vsync
Modeline "256x264@56" 5.30 256 288 304 336 264 269 272 278 -hsync -vsync
Modeline "288x240@62" 5.80 288 320 336 368 240 245 248 253 -hsync -vsync
Modeline "296x240@62" 5.93 296 328 344 376 240 245 248 253 -hsync -vsync
Modeline "304x240@62" 6.06 304 336 352 384 240 245 248 253 -hsync -vsync
Modeline "320x240@62" 6.43 320 352 376 408 240 245 248 253 -hsync -vsync
Modeline "320x256@58" 6.43 320 352 376 408 256 261 264 269 -hsync -vsync
Modeline "336x240@62" 6.68 336 368 392 424 240 245 248 253 -hsync -vsync
Modeline "352x256@58" 6.93 352 384 408 440 256 261 264 269 -hsync -vsync
Modeline "352x264@56" 6.93 352 384 408 440 264 269 272 278 -hsync -vsync
Modeline "352x288@51" 6.93 352 384 408 440 288 297 300 301 -hsync -vsync
Modeline "368x240@62" 7.18 368 400 424 456 240 245 248 253 -hsync -vsync
Modeline "392x240@62" 7.56 392 424 448 480 240 245 248 253 -hsync -vsync
Modeline "384x288@51" 7.44 384 416 440 472 288 288 291 292 -hsync -vsync
Modeline "400x256@58" 7.68 400 432 456 488 256 261 264 269 -hsync -vsync
Modeline "448x240@62" 8.57 448 480 512 544 240 245 248 253 -hsync -vsync
Modeline "512x240@62" 9.58 512 544 576 608 240 245 248 253 -hsync -vsync
Modeline "512x288@51" 9.58 512 544 576 608 288 292 295 296 -hsync -vsync
Modeline "512x488@61i" 9.58 512 544 576 608 488 499 502 513 interlace -hsync -vsync
Modeline "512x512@58i" 9.58 512 544 576 608 512 523 527 539 interlace -hsync -vsync
Modeline "632x264@56" 11.59 632 664 704 736 264 269 272 278 -hsync -vsync
Modeline "640x240@62" 11.72 640 672 712 744 240 245 248 253 -hsync -vsync
Modeline "640x480@62i" 11.72 640 672 712 744 480 491 494 505 interlace -hsync -vsync
Modeline "800x600@49i" 14.36 800 832 880 912 590 595 598 600 interlace -hsync -vsync
I have also attached an image to show what the problem is (look at the top left and right). Sorry for the low quality telephone picture

Any hints as to how to correct this are appreciated!

[adder]

hi i have a question about soft15khz, i would only like to use one modeline if possible, and that modeline would be 800x600 at 60hz

EDIT: i read around and it seems 800x600_60hz is not possible in 15khz mode

....but i think 640x480 is ok?

i found some modelines:

Modeline "640x480_60 15.62KHz 59.95Hz" 12.980 640 664 728 832 480 482 487 521 interlace -hsync -vsync
                                  Modeline "640x480" 13.09 640 672 736 836 480 486 489 525 interlace -hsync -vsync
       Modeline "640x480 15.750KHz 60iHz" 13.608 640 704 768 864 480 486 492 525 interlace -hsync -vsync

i guess i can use any one of those, doesnt matter which?

[Jack Burton]

Does anyone have a custom modeline for 1024x768@100hz?  That would really help me out. 

[SailorSat]

Modeline "1024x768@100" 126.64 1024 1056 1536 1568 768 781 794 807

[Dr.Venom]

Hi SailorSat,

We PM'd some time ago on the EAB board, about using Soft15Khz in a dual card setup. I recently purchased a new card, which is set in the primary GFX card slot, but unfortunately it takes 6 entries in the Soft15Khz menu, crowding out completely my HD4850  in the second gfx card slot .

See the image below:


Would it be possible to have the number of possible entries in Soft15Khz enlarged a bit, or maybe have the first 4 entries (vga framebuf etc.) moved to the end of the listing (like you used to have in earlier versions)? That way the HD4850 would show again. Any help with this would be greatly appreciated.

Best regards

[adder]

it takes 6 entries in the Soft15Khz menu, crowding out completely my HD4850  in the second gfx card slot

try clicking on one of the visible entries, and then using the down arrow key on your keyboard to move down to one of the entries which is not in view

[SailorSat]

That's a rather creative idea Might even work!

Guess I'll "shortem" the menu to a simple dropdown.

[Dr.Venom]

it takes 6 entries in the Soft15Khz menu, crowding out completely my HD4850  in the second gfx card slot

try clicking on one of the visible entries, and then using the down arrow key on your keyboard to move down to one of the entries which is not in view

Thanks for the suggestion, but unfortunately it doesn't work. Moving down with the arrow key simply wraps at the last 7800 entry back to the first one.

Guess I'll "shortem" the menu to a simple dropdown.

That would be perfect    

[Jack Burton]

Modeline "1024x768@100" 126.64 1024 1056 1536 1568 768 781 794 807

Thank you, however it looks like this one is way too narrow to fit my monitor even with the horizontal size maxed. 

Is there anyway I can just install a few resolutions with Soft 15khz and keep most of the ones my graphics card uses? If I use the customusers.txt option it causes all manner of issues. 

Is there a way to copy the modelines my graphics cards usually uses?

[amiga500]

Hi,
I have a cabinet perfect working with soft15khz for about 3 years. Now the graphic card I was using broke (ATI 9600XT - 256mb agp). So I replaced it with a spare one I have, it's a Geforce 6200 256mb AGP. Now I don't remember how I had to do this process of setting up the card. I've tried different combinations of resolutions and it shows a double image when Maximus Arcade starts, with the old card it worked great. Is it a card compatibility issue? For example, I can see the Windows Xp loading screen just perfect, but when the desktop loads, or maximus arcade the image gets doubled. I will keep trying to find the right resolution, any help will be appreciated. Thanks.

[amiga500]

Nevermind, I got a ATI 9250 and the problem is solved, I guess the Geforce 6200 wasn't compatible with soft15khz.

[Sorex]

Hello,

I'm preparing a new setup here for my cabinet.

When I install 15KHz for my Xentor Maxi Gamer card (which appears as an NVidea TNT2/TNT2 Pro card under windows)
I get some new fancy modes but the standard modes now appear blury on my LCD monitor and I need to scroll up/down
for a standard 1024x768 mode which fitted nicely on the screen before.

Is this normal and can I add a custom mode that looks 'good' on this screen?
(I need to use a remote control tool now to be able to read text as it seems to skip pixels)

Also when I check the 1024x768 mode via the modelines tool it lists the mode as 1024x768 but when I double click it it gives 1024x600 in the config window???

I could not use the 15KHz tool with the ATI RAGE Pro Ultra GL AGP card tho, it's just grayed out altho I think it's a better card (has more memory tho 32MB instead of 16Mb in this one)


an additional question...

on my old setup, that also had this TNT2 card, a mode like 640x480 displayed interlaced, problem is that the interlacing is off by 3 or more pixels
so the screen looks shifted too far vertically and the start of a letter appears in the middle again of the same letter.

Can I adjust this with the modelines tool so that it appears normal and readable?

[MTPPC]

Why would you use soft15khz with an LCD? That driver is for CGA CRTs

[SailorSat]

Also when I check the 1024x768 mode via the modelines tool it lists the mode as 1024x768 but when I double click it it gives 1024x600 in the config window???

I could not use the 15KHz tool with the ATI RAGE Pro Ultra GL AGP card tho, it's just grayed out altho I think it's a better card (has more memory tho 32MB instead of 16Mb in this one)

It's technically impossible to display 768 lines on a 15kHz screen. That 1024x768 is there for software that refuses to run in resolutions below, altough it intentionally cuts the screen.

ATIs Rage can be programed, but you can't add new resolutions. Therefore the buttons are disabled.

[BLASTEROO]

Hi guys,

I used to have a radeon 9600 pro agp installed on a P4 and it work fine, but I was forced to move to PCI-E due to a mobo failure.

I'm trying to use a RADEON HD 2400PRO = asus eah 2400 pro

http://www.ebay.com/ctg/ASUS-ATI-Radeon-HD-2400PRO-EAH2400pro-HTP-256-256-MB-DDR2-SDRAM-PCI-Express-x16-Graphics-adapter-/73799324

but I can't get it to work with soft15khz.

Anyone using or tested this card? I'm about to call it quits... 

All help appreciated

B.

[adder]

I'm trying to use a RADEON HD 2400PRO = asus eah 2400 pro

hmm, should work, as it's on this list:

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=119740.0

[MonMotha]

HD2400 Pro definitely works.  You have to use an older driver release, IIRC.  The one I have kicking around is from October, 2008, I think.

Also bear in mind that most of these have two outputs.  Both just show up as "Radeon HD2400 Pro".  The first one in the list is usually, but not guaranteed to be, the DVI output.  The second one is (again usually) the analog VGA/RGB output.

[BLASTEROO]

thanks for the replies, that's good news!

9600 pro was so easy to configure, almost turn key, while hd 2400 pro as been a total headache.

Monmotha,

Any chance you could send me the drivers you're using for hd 2400 pro? Via we transfer maybe?
I'm using win xp 32 bits, currently.

B.

[DeLuSioNal29]

Hi all,

I'm jumping back into setting up this program again on my arcade machine, since my original hard drive failed.  I'm using a different OS this time around (64 bit XP) and I'm having issues with Soft 15kHz.  edit:  Got it working!  Soft15khz ver:  0.1.0.48  works.  Ver:  0.1.51  would not work.

Here's my card that I took a snap of and SailorSat posted as working:  http://community.arcadeinfo.de/showthread.php?7925-Getestete-Grafikkarten&p=99609&viewfull=1#post99609


I used to have:
Windows XP (32 bit)
ATI Catalyst 9.2 (32 bit)
Soft15khz ver:  0.1.0.48

Now I have:
Windows XP (64 bit)
ATI Catalyst 9.2 (64 bit)
Edit:  Soft15khz ver:  0.1.0.48 was the version that finally worked. The newer version 0.1.51 did not.

So the big question is:  Does this work with the 64 bit version of XP?  edit:  It sure does!

Also:  I only have 1 video card and I see 2 radio buttons when I run the program.  Which one do I use?  One or the other or both?edit:  Got it working using the first radio button.  The 2nd button is for my DVI port, which I'm not using so I left it alone.  Each radio button is for each port on the card.  i.e: 1st one is for the D-Sub (vga) port, 2nd is for the DVI port, etc .

Last but not least:  I can't recall the name of this program, but it allowed the user to COMPLETELY uninstall all graphics drivers on your PC.  Anyone remember the name of it?  edit:  Still can't remember it, but I also found another handy program called Reforce which allows you to add or delete resolutions from the windows driver on the fly.

Thanks in advance!

DeLuSioNaL29

[Gray_Area]

@Delusional29:

That's Refresh Force, I think.  Don't know about the uninstall program; wiping parts of the registry can do that. Heh.

There are two radio buttons because your card has two outputs.

[mitsurugi]

Hello!! 
I'm using windows 7 x64 with a hd4850 and soft15.
Windows run in 15hz, but when i try emulators 3d games have slowdown.
I have tested mame (games like tekken tag and psx 3d games), model 3, model 2 and all have several slowdown and choppy sound.
Demul only runs ok.
In monitor computer everything runs ok.
What could it be?
Thank you very much.

[scotth1]

Is there a tutorial for using a dual video card setup to enable one card to be used for boot and a second card to only be enabled after being successfully switched to 15khz? I saw mention of doing something along those lines early in this thread (and in some other forum posts for that matter), but could not find details on how to pull it off. I am hoping to do this in win xp.

[mitsurugi]

I really don't know what causes the slowdowns but 3d games run very very slowly.
I must disable v-sync and tripple buffer, and games run good in that case, but have several problems wich games like taito typex, because the launcher don't have graphics options and i can't disable it. Example: kof mi runs very very slowly!!
Maybe somebody can tell us where are the problem.

[ckong]

Allright, I am using soft15K (build51) since a few days (was used to work with ArcadeVGA) together with a Radeon HD4250 onboard GPU and it works great. But I have the feeling that I don't use it yet to the full extend and I am struggling to this long, long but very informative topic. But still I have a few questions:

1. What is the difference between usermodes.txt and f.i. custom15khz.txt?
2. what happens if I have them both in the map where soft15K is?
3. If I install 15K, while one or both of the txt files is in the same map, do the modleines in these txt files also get installed, or do I have to press 'Install User'?
4. If I install soft15k the I see a lot of modelines in the 'modeline editor for windows' program, and when I uninstall soft15K, the modelines are gone. So I guess that those modelines are installed by installing soft15K (duh). Are these the modelines from one or both of the txt files?

[Gray_Area]

Allright, I am using soft15K (build51) since a few days (was used to work with ArcadeVGA) together with a Radeon HD4250 onboard GPU and it works great. But I have the feeling that I don't use it yet to the full extend and I am struggling to this long, long but very informative topic. But still I have a few questions:

1. What is the difference between usermodes.txt and f.i. custom15khz.txt?
2. what happens if I have them both in the map where soft15K is?
3. If I install 15K, while one or both of the txt files is in the same map, do the modleines in these txt files also get installed, or do I have to press 'Install User'?
4. If I install soft15k the I see a lot of modelines in the 'modeline editor for windows' program, and when I uninstall soft15K, the modelines are gone. So I guess that those modelines are installed by installing soft15K (duh). Are these the modelines from one or both of the txt files?

No difference, so use either. If you want to know more about display modes, read the wiki.

[bryhud]

Can anyone tell me the newest AMD cards that soft 15 supports?

I need to upgrade my PC and looking for suggestions on one of the newer cards to get to work with a WG 9500 monitor.

Thanks

[fogisgod]

Rite l start from the beginning:

I have bought a old virtua striker arcade machine which I know the monitor is a medium res 25khz. I'm in the process of turning this into a mame cab.
With regards to my PC I have a ATI radeon 9550 graphics card that is supported with soft15khz programme. I have installed the recommended ATI Catalyst 6.5 programme. I have then installed soft15khz and only installed 25khz as that what my monitor is. I then changed the resolution settings to 600x480 as stated.
Then Using a VGA breakout cable I have connected all the right leads from my monitor to the cable. I.e R.G.B horizontal sync and vertical sync. Turn out the pc and absolutely nothing, just a blank screen. There as been on 1 occasion where I can slight see the desktop but was flickering
Badly. What am I doing wrong???

[gonzalma]

Was the game and monitor working before you started the conversion?  If not, I am guessing that you have one or more bad capacitors.   Lots of threads and help here on buying a cap kit and replacing them.  It is a pretty straight forward process but still a big pain in the butt. 

If the monitor was working fine before, then the only other thing that comes in mind is the brightness adjustment on the a Flyback.  Here is a really nice video explaining the Flyback adjustments. 

http://transcriptvids.com/v/MUL5TiUYAss.html

The Arcade Repair Tips site in general is a great resource to check out.

[veggav]

Good one.
Basically my GTX460 worked fine with the dongle last time I tried (using XP).

32 modes limit is true for the "old" format drivers (XP). Haven't tried on the "new" format drivers (Vista/Seven).

Which driver were you using Sailor?

Maybe I can replicate it here.

EDIT: do you think the code for the EDID dongle is available online?

[Geomancer]

Is there any way to get 15khz output using W7 x64? I have a HD 4870 and I tried with the 9.3 and 10.3 drivers but itsn't working.. I will be trying XP x64 but if I can get W7 to work it would be awesome.

[DeLuSioNal29]

Is there any way to get 15khz output using W7 x64? I have a HD 4870 and I tried with the 9.3 and 10.3 drivers but itsn't working.. I will be trying XP x64 but if I can get W7 to work it would be awesome.

I've had success with older drivers on my HD4xxx series card but your mileage may vary.  Try ATI Catalyst 9.2.  You can grab it here (it says Vista64 but it should work).  http://www2.ati.com/drivers/9-2_vista64_dd_ccc_wdm_enu_75977.exe

Also, the latest version of Soft-15kHz would not work for me.  I used version 0.1.0.48 with success.  (P.S. - PM me if you need this older version.  I could not find a link to it anywhere).

D

[DeLuSioNal29]

Quick question:  Does anyone know where we can find previous versions of Soft-15kHz?  I couldn't find any archives anywhere.  (Aside from my hard drive of course).

Thanks!

D

[dandro]

fixed.

[XT73]

Hey SailorSat, just a question for you. Is there any kind of way this can be an option for xbox1 users? Since i think the card in the xbox is actually one of the supported ones for this, would be a lot easier for us to try to get low res on our xboxs as we are still working on ways to try to get it.

Hope to hear from you soon!

[Geomancer]

I received the replacement Audio Authority 9A60A and it's working with a Sapphire HD4870, Windows 7 x64, Catalyst 13.1 (latest one) and the latest version of Soft15khz..

I have to adjust the resolutions because the images are splitting with every resolution, but at least the tv is getting signal so I can start working again in the cabinet.

[Geomancer]

EDIT: I have fixed this by adjusting the potentiometer inside the Audio Authority 9A60A now it's working perfectly fine for all the default resolutions, and will be checking the forums on the following days for a way to adjust the tv geometry because I have just realized how bad it is..

I have been trying to set any of the modelines with my tv and I'm having a problem because I can't get none of them to show perfectly (1:1), I have attached two pictures so I can explain myself better because I don't know the correct words to explain the "aberrations" and "artifacts" my tv is showing.

I'm using Windows 7 x64, ATI HD4870, Catalyst 10.3 (it's the same with 13.1), and an Audio Authority 9A60A transcoder.

The first pic is using 320x240p, and the second one 640x480i. What is really strange is the 480i image is showing scanlines, something it didn't happened when using the s-video to component adapter. Probably is because it's not pixel perfect but is really strange.

I have installed Powerstrip, but I can't seem to get a perfect image by playing with the timings, I cannot find a tutorial with some steps to try and get a nice image.. I don't know if there is a problem with my lack of knowledge in configuring the timings, or is a drivers/operative system problem and I need to downgrade to XP/Catalyst 9.x to get more precise timings.

I am really trying to avoid reinstalling the OS, but if is necessary I will..

[northerngames]

anyone know what the suggested drives are for a ATI Radeon HD3650 512MB AGP card?

is it still 10.3 or should I use the omega driver I have used on all prior ati cards without issue?
 

[tdarcade]

Has anybody gotten Soft 15 to work with an ATI Radeon Xpress 1150? Sorry if this is redundant but I don't seem to have the right to search threads.

[starwarsfan54321]

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=8114540&CatId=7709

Would this APU be able to use soft15khz in windows 7?

I really want to keep my CRT monitor and have a cab tat can play Naomi Games.

Also, the GPU is a Radeon HD 8670D