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

[orchidius]

Everything is working properly on the computer... So it should have some drivers installed, right? (I did format the whole thing though, so any previously installed drives have been deleted...).

As far as the catalyst thingy goes --> Server umgezogen

Should I try to get all recent drivers for the graph card and try again?

[SailorSat]

Oops... wrong url :X
Fixed it

[orchidius]

Ok, first off, let me thank you for your accurate troubleshooting... Installing the missing driver was indeed the solution of my first problem! That of course implies that there's a second one...

Here's the deal: I installed the driver, launched the program again and clicked "install 15khz". So far so good. On the left halve of the screen I had the choice between 2 drivers (I think it were drivers, since I didn't had the option to select either one before installing the driver). Both had the same name as my graph card : ASUS EAX600PRO and ASUS EAX600PRO secondary.

After clicking "install 15khz" I closed everything, hooked my computer to my (50hz) tv with my selfmade VGA/SCART cable and rebooted the pc.

The tv automatically tuned to the right channel (as it's supposed to), and displayed the computer booting up. The screen it showed me was clearly the bootup screen, but nowhere near readable. It looks like a combination of the following 2 video's:



and



I then tried installing all 3 resolutions in soft15khz (15khz, 25khz, 31khz). Same problem. Also tried one at a time --> same problem.

Any ideas? :s

[Malenko]

*EDIT* Yay! Page 47 xD
Is there a size limit to a thread?

cheesecake thread is at 87 pages, so you have a while to go

[I/O]

Two threads for this would be good. One with technical information in it, another for discussion. Then a custodian to sort out useful material from the latter to include in the TI thread. Any volunteers?

[jimmy2x2x]

I then tried installing all 3 resolutions in soft15khz (15khz, 25khz, 31khz). Same problem. Also tried one at a time --> same problem.

Any ideas? :s

I had a very similar issue, I built my own cable BUT had it wired wrong for my card.

This is sailors advice that worked for me

"Well... You need to connect VGA Pin 14 to SCART Pin 20 as your card does NOT output composite sync but rather seperate h- and v-sync.

You could also combine VGA Pin 13 and Pin 14, and use only one wire to Scart Pin 20"

Which is different to the first wiring diagram show in the scart thread.

[orchidius]

Oh boy...

I glued the whole thing together to make sure it's all isolated (lots of little wires VERY close to eachother)... Hope I can crack it open!

[jimmy2x2x]

This may not be the problem, but it was for me - maybe best to wait for sailor

[orchidius]

Too late... I started fidling with the glue, accidentally broke 1 connection, cursed loudly and cut the whole cable off... I'll be starting over following your guidelines :p

If sailor has got anything to add before I get behind the soldering iron once more, please do!

[orchidius]

Recap:

Move the brown wire (SCART 20 to 13) to VGA pin 14 like in the picture below. Or split it up and make it go to 13 ànd 14?

http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/9716/naamloosi.jpg

[jimmy2x2x]

OK, looking at that diagram - leave everything alone except the broken brown line

the broken brown line should connect pin 14 on the VGA (your black arrow) to pin 20 on the scart (same place as the solid brown line goes to)

[orchidius]

Like this?

http://img580.imageshack.us/content_round.php?page=done&l=img580/4853/naamloosd.jpg&via=mupload

Just tried this (booting up pc with Soft15khz) and didn't work... same problem.

Also, do you run your pc at 15khz with this cable? Or at 25 or at 31?

[SailorSat]

15khz only.

[orchidius]

So you're suggesting that the above setup should work when using 15khz and 640x480 resolution?

[SailorSat]

Yup.
Should work like a charm.

[orchidius]

 

Things are still looking exactly the same as before 

Anything else that is worth giving a shot? Could it be TV related? Graph card related? Software related?

[jimmy2x2x]

Just noticed that you say your tv is 50hz, is it 60hz compatible?

Did you install soft15khz on both adapters?


Another odd issue I had:

I had big problems with 640x480 res, it wouldnt work for me in 15khz with the default settings
I also had issues when connecting a second monitor to the second port on my vga card.

This is the way that I got it all to work.

unplug arcade monitor (or tv) and plug in a normal monitor
Install VNC server on the target machine (the one I want to run soft15khz), ensure that this works unattended and autoloads (service mode)
Install VNC viewer on another PC on my network
uninstall soft15khz from all adapters
uninstall video drivers
power down target pc
unplug normal monitor and plug in arcade monitor (or tv)
power up target pc
use VNC to install graphics drivers reboot when prompted
set resolution to 640x480
install soft15khz on all available adapters (mine only shows 1 adapter at this point as only 1 monitor has been attached to the target pc)
reboot target pc
if the screen is still rolling after reboot (mine was) use quickres via VNC to try out some of the lower resolutions (these worked for me)
at this point I could run 99% of all low resolutions upto 640x288
for me I had to install powerstrip and install the 640x480i arcade resolution to get a stable 640x480 res on my monitor
The VNC option is very useful for tweaking the size and position of all resolutions as it allows you to see a stable image on the viewer pc even if the target screen is unreadable

This may or may not work for you, but its how I solved it.

[orchidius]

I suspect that it's related to the tv itself. I moved the whole setup to my friend's house, measured everything out again and booted the pc. This time I only got a black screen (tv shutting down to protect itself?). Both tv's are 50hz (doesn't say anywhere that they're 60hz capable).

Am I correct to state that a 60hz tv is required to make it work? It won't work on 50hz only tv's? Ifso, where do I find if the tv is 60hz capable (as most tv's only note 50hz on the back).

Would quickres be of any help in my case?

[SailorSat]

Nah, there is no 50Hz/60Hz issue.
I have yet to find a TV with SCART that does NOT support 60Hz.

1st) Most TVs support RGB on the FIRST port only (at least the cheap ones)

2nd) If you can see the bios and boot screen "twice", your cable most likely is wired correctly.

3rd) Boot Windows with the TV attached -> Unplug the VGA Cable to the TV and plug in a "standard" VGA screen (either CRT or TFT will work).

--

a) If you get a "normal" desktop with the VGA screen, your card outputs 31khz (or more).

b) If the VGA turns off (or displays "signal out of range" or something like that) your card outputs 15khz.

In both cases try to change the desktop resolution to 640x240 or something like that (you will need quickres for that!)

--

As for something general.
If you get a black screen, try the OTHER output of your card.
Most newer cards have their "primary" output set to DVI and our good old TV in most cases doesn't get detected as "valid" display so the cards fall back to their "primary" port.

[BlazzingFlippers]

Can't run the tool.  I get a

Run-time error '13':
type mismatch

Thanks for any help

[SailorSat]

My magic glass ball says...

Well some more info would be nice
What gfx card? What OS? What drivers?

[BlazzingFlippers]

My magic glass ball says...

Well some more info would be nice
What gfx card? What OS? What drivers?

I'm the guy with the screaming Wells.  XP SP3 with the ArcadeVGA 3000.  I thought maybe installing Soft15k would enable the 31khz resolutions so my monitor won't scream.

[SailorSat]

If I remember correctly, Soft-15kHz does NOT work with an ArcadeVGA, as the custom drivers don't like the registry changes

[orchidius]

Doesn't the ArcadeVGA put out 15khz natively?

[BlazzingFlippers]

Doesn't the ArcadeVGA put out 15khz natively?

It does but apparently my ears are too sensitive.  All the 15khz modes kill my ears.  There is no way I can stand it

[orchidius]

The ArcadeVGA is a great controlled variable as far as software/hardware goes, so your problem is elsewhere. What monitor do you use? What connection to your gfx card? Do you have the opportunity to hook the pc to another monitor?

[Haggar]

Hi,
Winmodelines "says":

most drivers have a limit in the number of custom modes they can load, and when exceeded some or all inserted modes may be ignored. ATI Catalyst versions 5.x and previous are limited to 40 modes, versions 6.x and newer are limited to 60 modes. There is a modified ATI driver that will load up to 160 modes. Nvidia will accept 32 modes.

Can you confirm that?
Do you know how many modelines can we use with newer catalysts?

Thanks

[BlazzingFlippers]

The ArcadeVGA is a great controlled variable as far as software/hardware goes, so your problem is elsewhere. What monitor do you use? What connection to your gfx card? Do you have the opportunity to hook the pc to another monitor?

The monitor is a Wells Gardner D9410, bought new in May of 2009.  Hooking to the VGA port of the ArcadeVGA 3000, everything works as expected but its just the 15khz resolutions hurt my ears.  Plugging into the DVI port and using the DVI to VGA adapter, I don't get the screaming however I get nothing on the Wells.  If I unplug and hook up a regular LCD monitor, I get output just fine.  I'd like to get output working to the Wells while plugged into the DVI port.  Not sure why the Wells won't display anything.  I've tried many resolutions by first picking them hooked up to the LCD, then switching the cable over to the Wells where nothing shows up, just an all black screen.

[orchidius]

You say that you get "output just fine", that means that the card is not running at 15khz I think... Your LCD display should display something like "frequency out of range", since it can't display 15khz.

[SailorSat]

The arcadevga is supposed to output 15khz on the VGA and 31khz on the DVI port.
I suppose the windows driver doesn't detect your wells as "valid" monitor if it gets detected at all.

[jimmy2x2x]

How do I get my scrolling games silky smooth with soft15k?

I've been reading through the earlier parts of this thread, but haven't really drawn any conclusion.

Do I need to recompile with frame rates set to 60hz?

[thesharkfactor]

  hi folks,

i hope someone can help..

i have a sucessfully installed soft-15khz in a pc that i use in a jamma cabinet with a 19" arcade monitor. it works great and plays mame with 1:1 pixel mapping.. no problems there..

i now have a 2nd cabinet.. a sega initial D driving cabinet with a 29" tri sync monitor (pentranic ch-250) and im trying to get soft-15khz working properly with both mame and model 2 (nebula) driving games.  

im using the same pc as before, with an ATI Radeon HD4350.. i have 2 problems, i would appreciate help with..


1.. i have all 3 modes of soft-15khz installed. model2 games run fine in 640x480... but as i have a tri-sync, i'd like to have sega rally and daytona etc running in native resolution (496x384). i have tried adding a modeline i found in thread..

"modeline '496x384-24,960KHz-60Hz' 15,57504 496 512 576 624 384 386 391 416 -hsync -vsync"

..but when i change the model 2 emulator resolution to 496x384, it does not work (picture is unviewable, and a very high pitched buzz can be heard).

can someone help with a good modeline for model2 games on a tri-sync?



2. the 2nd problem. when running a 15khz mame game eg, outrun, i have a full screen, but 2 or more images can be seen, the images been mirrors of each other, neither is centered or in the correct postion.
also, i reckon what i can make out on screen looks more like a 31khz picture would.. not the image (distorted or not) with scanlines and bleeding colours that i would expect..

it is worth noting.. if i plug this same pc into my jamma cab with the 19" arcade monitor and j-pac and with only 15khz mode installed within soft-15khz, i get a perfect 1:1 arcade quality picture.. but, switch back to the tri-sync monitor and i get the same interfered screen during any 15khz mame game..

thanks for reading..and i hope someone can help.

cheers

[thesharkfactor]

anyone?

this thread is over 3 years old with 47 pages.. i couldnt have killed it have i? lol..

update: i took my mame pc over to mate. he has a few cabinets with tri-sync monitors.. we tested my pc on 2 of his tri-syncs.. on both of the monitors tested, i get exactly the same results..

31khz (windows) runs fine at 640x480 and even 512x448- ok

25khz (model2 emu at 496x348) is heavily interfered and jumbled up- not good.

15khz (mame) runs but is 2 interlaced images that dont line up/sync with each other- not good.

so that is now 3 tri-sync monitors i have tried my set up in.. each time the same results.

does anyone have experience with soft-15khz and tri-sync monitors? should they automatically sync to a 15/24/31 signal or do they need switched/adjusted? i have made all the adjustments i can using the 6 pots on the remote board.. but no joy..

or perhaps the tri-sync monitor has limited 15/24khz resolutions available and im not sending the correct signals??

any help appreciated!..

cheers
 

[SailorSat]

What card, driver, operation system?

[thesharkfactor]

hi sailor sat..

its a ati radeon hd4350.
im sure it is catalyst 9.2
win xp is the operating system.

thanks for any advice!

if i can get just 15khz and 31khz working together, id be happy..

[thesharkfactor]

here it is in 15khz mode..



note.. its not a double picture. my mistake.. it is one picture stretched and folded/overlapping itself.....

[jimmy2x2x]

SailorSat: Would this be possible?

On a PC with an Asus Commando motherboard/8800gtx

Could I add a older standard PCI (or maybe a PCI-E card - this board has 2 slots) graphics card and use this card just to drive a soft15k output, and retain my existing 8800GTX for normal pc tasks?

Many thanks

[SailorSat]

@jimmy:
Yep that works

[Mittens]

I've been trying to figure this out myself for awhile now, but I guess now I'll ask here since I can't get it to work !


For starters, this is what I'm working with:
-JPAC
-Radeon HD4350 video card w/ soft15khz (15khz, 25khz, 31khz installed). ATI Catalyst 9.2 Drivers
-(WG) Wells Gardner 25k7197 Monitor, 25 inches.

When I turn on my PC with the VGA from the JPAC, I get the usual split screen BIOS and Boot screen. However, when Windows is done loading, I get a dark screen with some lines.

However, when I boot my PC up using a normal VGA monitor, then unplug the monitor and plug my JPAC into the VGA port, I get a split Windows screen (with vertical scrolling and shakiness that messing with knobs doesn't seem to fix).

I have not used any custom15khz.txt specifications because I wasn't sure which ones this monitor would use. I've also tried uninstalling/reinstalling video card drivers (from 10.x to 9.2), and reinstalling soft15khz.


Here's a picture if it helps any.


http://i45.tinypic.com/2a6rpma.jpg

[SailorSat]

Hm... You have installed all three options in S15K. Are you sure your monitor is a Tri-Sync/MultiSync monitor?

If not try just using 15kHz option.