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

[Bluedeath]

HI i need some help i'm trying to make soft 15khz work on a AMD fusion asus e35m1-pro (it has a radeon 6310 onboard) on winxp64, every time that i install soft 15khz after reboot display reverts to vga 16 colors is there any way to make this configuration work?
Many thanks in advance.

[SailorSat]

Does Windows even list any resolutions now?

[Bluedeath]

It seems not getting any of the resolutions, i still have to try XP32 to see if is a OS issue, in linux card seems to be capable at least to show 640x480 interlaced but i didn't have the time to experiment properly to understand if standard arcade res can be visualized.

[Arnold101]

any news about ati 5770 and nvidia 250gts? thanks

[Arnold101]

i have installed soft15khz on xp64 driver 10.2 and 5770, it install and i see all the low res on quikres and i can switch too, BUT non in 15khz!! (( it remains to 31khz.. sigh 

[SailorSat]

I would have guessed. HD5000 and HD6000 don't work at all. Most likely the same "safe mode" ---steaming pile of meadow muffin--- that nvidia introduced...

[Arnold101]

...so you can't do nothing? i've tried with powerstrip too and same result

[abispac]

Hi,

i have amotherboardwith a GMA3150 built-in.
I would like to put this MB in my CAB, with  XP with Soft-15hz.
I think I understood that GMA processors are not fully supported and that only 5 resolutions can be used.

Does any gma processor are supported?Which are the 5 resolution that can be used? and how do i add them?
I wil be using hyperspin so i guess i need 640x480 or 800x600
neogeo games
cps2 games
and pacman ,galaga,and donkeykong wich i think they should be the same resolution.

many thanks for your futures answers!

[kamranijaz]

I would have guessed. HD5000 and HD6000 don't work at all. Most likely the same "safe mode" ---steaming pile of meadow muffin--- that nvidia introduced...

Hi SailorSat,

I am really new in arcade machine setups and so, i just bought sega naomi universal cab and upgrading the existing system in it which is quite old with ipac setup in it, I have bought new Q6600 processor and the HD4650 as you mentioned in your card compatibility list and installed windows 7 64bit. my monitor is nanao with toshiba tube only output 31khz.

my question is if i install the lower resolution will they work properly on that arcade monitor or they will do some harm to the monitor screen. or i need to stick with 31khz mode only. as i need to play different emulators like demul, supermodel3 etc which requires high end graphics card than the processor power.

thanks

[SailorSat]

Hm... Depends on the screen. If it is a 31kHz screen you most likely will see garbage on screen - and should not run it that way for too long.

[isucamper]

This may have been addressed somewhere but I couldn't find it.

Is there a modeline I can use with an NES emulator to get the native resolution (256x240) and native refresh rate (60.098hz) of the original system?

My issue:  I want to be able to run NES games without screen tearing and without enabling V-Sync.  Enabling V-Sync induces lag in the emulators I've tried.  On Nestopia, the lag is very obvious.  On VirtuaNes, the lag is almost imperceptable but I know it's there because I can't beat Mike Tyson's Punchout when it is enabled.  In fact, the only time I can beat Punchout is when I use Nestopia and disable v-sync.  VirtuaNes still seems a little slow when V-sync is disabled. 

So, my theory is that if I run the emulator at its native resolution and refresh rate, and play it on a TV, then there should be no screen tearing since its behaving like the original hardware and should match up properly with the strobing of the television. 

[SailorSat]

Take a look at:
http://www.geocities.ws/podernixie/htpc/modes-en.html

[RobMcRaf]

A request:

Can you add an option to exclude some of the "standard" resolutions?
(or allow me to edit the entries before sending them to the registry)

I use the following setup:
- My monitor is configured to display ~288/576 lines which means that 240/480 line modes will not fill the entire height. In mame I fill the borders on left/right with artwork so therefore I want the 240 modes to be "letterboxed" (e.g. 288x240 instead of 240x240) and also tweak the start slightly so they are centered on the monitor.
- I prefer double-sized interlace resolutions since I don't like visible scanlines (specially not in the artwork).

This means that I don't want to use many of the "standard" resolutions but still want to use your excellent tool.

Also, how can you do 800x600x50Hz in 15KHz? On my Hantarex POLO I have not been able to go higher than 47Hz.

My Polo doesn't like 800x600 either, and it doesn't handle interlacing at 640x480.  Looks like crap.  the WG in the machine right next to it has good interlaced resolutions, but diagonal faint red lines that I cant seem to adjust away.

[c0dehunter]

Thanks to everyone for posting informative information on this thread. OK, I have couple of quick questions:

1- Initially I made a custom built PC runing Windows XP with the following specs:
AMD FX, Asus AMD HD 5450, etc. The video card would simply could not accept 15Khz, and I ended up returning the parts and decided to use my old DELL 2400 desktop with the following specs:

Pentium4 2.4Ghz CPU
2GB DDR RAM
nVidia GeForce 6200 PCI (PNY brand)
Commodore 1084S-D1 RGB monitor (USA NTSC) - connected to the VGA connection of the card above
A custom built VGA to RGB cable (I have tested this and it displays my NEOGEO emulator games perfectly)
LCD connected to DVI connector, running extended desktop and using this as for selecting games and then launching them to the main 1084S-D1 monitor

.



2- Is the above a powerful enough system for running MAMEUI, Neo Geo, Sega, Amiga, Nintendo and other emulators? This is NOT for an arcade cabinet, simply for my desktop gaming sessions
 

[wilch]

hi, can anyone tell me if there is a soft-15khz equivalent for ubuntu. i know there is the groovyarcade live cd but i believe this does not support amiga or dosbox emulation which is what i'd like to use. thanks

[MonMotha]

hi, can anyone tell me if there is a soft-15khz equivalent for ubuntu. i know there is the groovyarcade live cd but i believe this does not support amiga or dosbox emulation which is what i'd like to use. thanks

No real need.  You can just dump the modeline into xorg.conf and specify it as your default (or only) mode, or you can use xrandr to add/change things on the fly.

e.g.

xrandr --newmode "ATSC-640x480-59.94i" 11.958 640 664 736 760 480 484 492 525 Interlace
xrandr --addmode VGA0 "ATSC-640x480-59.94"
xrandr --output VGA0 --mode "ATSC-640x480-59.94i"

(substitute whatever your output in use is named for VGA0 - you can get a list using the command "xrandr -q")

You can also do split modes - e.g. one monitor running a conventional PC mode and another running a low res mode.  This is very handy if you've got a normal PC monitor + an arcade monitor or are using a laptop (so you can keep the onboard panel active for debugging/troubleshooting).  There was a bug up through at least 10.10 that causes major problems if you try this, but it was fixed by 11.10 (and I think 11.04).

I suppose somebody could package all this into a little GUI similar to Soft15k, but the fact that it's relatively straightforward makes it unlikely anyone will bother.  I suppose somebody's probably written a shell script to do it.  Then again, a lot of people seem totally unaware of the existence of xrandr.

In general, the drivers will let you do anything the card is physically capable of.  If you're lucky, they'll even tell you what's wrong if you ask it to do something the hardware can't do (e.g. dot clock too low).

Anything you do with the command line xrandr interface won't "stick" across reboot, so you can just reboot if you mess something up.  If you want something permanent, you can modify xorg.conf to specify the modeline and default mode.

[Malenko]

Cant seem to get soft 15 to install. Geforce 9800GT WITH soft 15 EDID dongle, ran as administrator under win7. Thoughts?

[SailorSat]

Don't even try NVIDIA on Win7.

[Malenko]

Don't even try NVIDIA on Win7.

Worked with a BFG 6800GT , didnt need the dongle either.

[SailorSat]

Worked with a BFG 6800GT , didnt need the dongle either.

On Win7?
Guess its time tom look into an update s15k

[Malenko]

On Win7?
Guess its time tom look into an update s15k

Windows 7 Enterprise 64-bit. When this cab gets sold I plan to donate to the cause either way, I thought about using an AVGA, but I hate ATi cards (especially their driver software package)

[Sparki82]

Hi all,

I'm currently sourcing parts for my first build i will eventually buy the makvison tri mode arcade monitor but for the time being I'll be using a Lg LCD TV. Was just wondering what is the best performing graphics card i can get for my system? I'm currently thinking of buying this;

http://www.digitan.com.au/product.php?productid=63980&cat=1902&page=10

And is soft15hz the best to get or groovymame? I've been reading through this forum & I'm still confused on this subject? I know groovymame has issues with windows 7 and is limited to ATI HD series 4xxx cards. Dose soft15hz have these same issues? And what would be the easiest to setup for a complete noob!

Sorry for any repetitive questions complete noob! Any advise/suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance

[gonzalma]

On my first project and am still learning all of this...

Not sure what I am doing wrong.  I followed the instructions (or at least I think I did).  So using Soft15khz, I install the 15khz option for my card NVIDIA Geforce 6200 then using XP QuickRes, I change the resolution to 640 X 480 @60hz and power off the computer.  I disconnect my computer monitor and connect my arcade monitor (Sharp Image SI 327DS) to the DVI port with adapter.  I power on the computer and wait for a couple of minutes (for windows to boot to the desktop) before turning the monitor and I get the dreaded split screen effect.  Which by reading through the forum, means that it is not running at 15khz. 



So I am not sure what the problem is.  Is my card not compatible.  It is not on the list.  Did I just missing a step somewhere?  For instance, am I suppose to have the computer boot into MAME instead of the desktop?  I would appreciate any advice.  Thanks.

[Malenko]

did you install quickres? double click it, it goes to the system tray, right click that to set a resolution

[gonzalma]

I appreciate the reply but yes as stated I did use Quick Res to set the 640 X 480.  I went under the assumption that that my current graphics card is not  compatible.  I went ahead and bought a Ati 9600 Pro off of ebay for 20 bucks.  I know that this card is compatible and I get the more then 30 different resolutions that NIVIDA cards are limited too.  Everything else on my machine is done so hopefully in a week I will finally have a fully working system.

[Malenko]

Yup you did, I was reading on my phone and missed that part.  640x480 is higher than my 25k7171 will run (max is 640x240) did you try any other resolutions on your nvidia card?

[gonzalma]

640X480 is the lowest that Quick Res shows.  How do you add other resolutions?  Also I thought the double screen effect is cause by it not running at 15khz and didnt necessarily have anything to do with the resolution? 

[Malenko]

might be the card then.

heres my WG 25K7171 running 640x480:


and here it is running 640x240:


both are 15hz resolutions

[Silverwind]

Take a look at:
http://www.geocities.ws/podernixie/htpc/modes-en.html

Awesome link, thanks for that!

Are any of the console resolutions not supported by a multi-sync arcade monitor?  I have the betson imperial 27".

[gonzalma]

It's ALIVE!  Thanks to everyone for all their help.

[Gage]

I'm having a similar screen-splitting issue.  It's odd, because it only happens on a few games.  Most of the games play absolutely flawlessly, but if I try to load The Simpsons or G.I. Joe (both Konami games...coincidence?), the games run at what appears to be double speed and the screen becomes split into four identical screens.  I've tried different roms and all appear to have the screen splitting issue.  Any other game runs without issue. 

Are there any settings that might fix this issue?  I'm running cabMAME with soft15khz and use a JPAC/IPAC setup on my four-player arcade cabinet.

[Malenko]

change the resolution the game is trying to run at to something close to native res that doesnt mess up the screen

[Gage]

change the resolution the game is trying to run at to something close to native res that doesnt mess up the screen

Thanks, Malenko.  Are you talking about actually changing the PC resolution display option or are you talking about adding custom modelines?  (Or somethign entirely different?)  Is there a resource which lists the native resolution for MAME games or can this be found by some other means?

[Gage]

I'm having a similar screen-splitting issue.  It's odd, because it only happens on a few games.  Most of the games play absolutely flawlessly, but if I try to load The Simpsons or G.I. Joe (both Konami games...coincidence?), the games run at what appears to be double speed and the screen becomes split into four identical screens.  I've tried different roms and all appear to have the screen splitting issue.  Any other game runs without issue. 

Are there any settings that might fix this issue?  I'm running cabMAME with soft15khz and use a JPAC/IPAC setup on my four-player arcade cabinet.

Quick update on this... I was able to determine that both Simpsons and G.I. Joe have a resolution of 288x224 (loaded the rom on my home PC instead of the arcade cab and viewed the rom details).  It appears as if  soft15khz doesn't enable this resolution "out of the box".  It sounds like Konami uses this resolution in many of their games.  So my inclination now is to add this as a custom resolution option.  Does this seem like it could be the cause of the screen splitting issue I'm having?

Just to be sure, after doing a little research online, here's how I understand this particular set of modelines can be added in soft15khz:

1. Create a file called custom15khz.txt with the following text inside it:

modeline "288x224@61" 6,050909 288 304 352 384 224 236 254 260 -hsync -vsync
modeline "288x224@60" 6,03648 288 304 352 384 224 236 256 262 -hsync -vsync
modeline "288x224@60" 6,052147 288 304 352 384 224 238 257 264 -hsync -vsync

2. Save the custom15khz.txt file in the same folder as the soft15khz exe.

3. Open soft15khz and click the Enable User button.

4. Restart the PC.

Does this all look correct?

[Gage]

I'm having a similar screen-splitting issue.  It's odd, because it only happens on a few games.  Most of the games play absolutely flawlessly, but if I try to load The Simpsons or G.I. Joe (both Konami games...coincidence?), the games run at what appears to be double speed and the screen becomes split into four identical screens.  I've tried different roms and all appear to have the screen splitting issue.  Any other game runs without issue. 

Are there any settings that might fix this issue?  I'm running cabMAME with soft15khz and use a JPAC/IPAC setup on my four-player arcade cabinet.

Quick update on this... I was able to determine that both Simpsons and G.I. Joe have a resolution of 288x224 (loaded the rom on my home PC instead of the arcade cab and viewed the rom details).  It appears as if  soft15khz doesn't enable this resolution "out of the box".  It sounds like Konami uses this resolution in many of their games.  So my inclination now is to add this as a custom resolution option.  Does this seem like it could be the cause of the screen splitting issue I'm having?

Just to be sure, after doing a little research online, here's how I understand this particular set of modelines can be added in soft15khz:

1. Create a file called custom15khz.txt with the following text inside it:

modeline "288x224@61" 6,050909 288 304 352 384 224 236 254 260 -hsync -vsync
modeline "288x224@60" 6,03648 288 304 352 384 224 236 256 262 -hsync -vsync
modeline "288x224@60" 6,052147 288 304 352 384 224 238 257 264 -hsync -vsync

2. Save the custom15khz.txt file in the same folder as the soft15khz exe.

3. Open soft15khz and click the Enable User button.

4. Restart the PC.

Does this all look correct?

Okay, so ONE MORE update (I must be the only one on the boards today!!)...

I successfully (I think) added the modelines I mentioned above for the Konami games, but it didn't help.  Konami games still split into four screens.  After doing a little more research, I tried setting switchres to "0" in the mame.ini file.  Running the Konami games in cabMAME outside of Hyperspin worked PERFECTLY!  Simpsons, G.I. Joe, Aliens...all worked and looked great.  So it's fixed, right?  Nope.  When I run MAME through Hyperspin, the games play in a single window at their normal speed instead of split into four at double speed (which is an improvement), but it's a window about half of the screen size.  And it's not just the Konami games, it's ALL of the games that run in the tiny little screen.  I set the switchres back to "1" and the all of the games (except the 288x224 Konami titles) run in the full screen mode again.

This might be more of a Hyperspin issue, because as I said earlier, cabMAME runs the games full screen outside of Hyperspin without issue. (Note: I tried launching cabMAME through Hyperspin via both HyperLaunch and non-HyperLaunch with the same result.)

Anybody out there have any thoughts on this?  Because I'm pulling my hair out (and I don't have much left to pull).

[Malenko]

close to what I meant, simpsons runs at 288x224 so find a resolution close to that one that works like 300x240 (i just made that resolution up) just find which res is closest to native and see if it runs. Im not in front of my mame and Im working another 70 hour week this week, wish I coul dbe more help.

[Gage]

close to what I meant, simpsons runs at 288x224 so find a resolution close to that one that works like 300x240 (i just made that resolution up) just find which res is closest to native and see if it runs. Im not in front of my mame and Im working another 70 hour week this week, wish I coul dbe more help.

Malenko, are you talking about changing the actual PC resolution to something close to the native Simpsons res?  If so, the lowest mine currently goes is 640x480 @60hz.  If you're talking about adding custom modelines to match the resolution, I already attempted that with mixed results (see my string of incoherent posts above).  As of right now, I can get Simpsons to run perfectly in cabMAME with switchres set to "0", as long as it's not running through Hyperspin.  If I run Hyperspin first, then select MAME > The Simpsons, the game runs in a single window (which is an improvement), but the window isn't full screen.  It's about half of the full screen size. 

I'm positive this is simply something I have set incorrectly in either the mame.ini file or in Hyperspin, but I'm evidently not intelligent enough to figure it out.

As for the 70 hour work weeks...ugh.  I hope your job is at least enjoyable.

[Malenko]

I think maybe my post was incoherent, lol

what if you did a modeline like
modeline "288x224@60" 6,03648 288 304 352 384 224 236 256 262 -hsync -vsync

except do the calcs to use a slightly higher or loser resolution that fits.  if it works in cabmame it should work in regular mame, do you have mame changing windows resolution to match game resolution? I'll be honest I'm not an expert on soft15 or cabmame

[Gage]

I think maybe my post was incoherent, lol

what if you did a modeline like
modeline "288x224@60" 6,03648 288 304 352 384 224 236 256 262 -hsync -vsync

except do the calcs to use a slightly higher or loser resolution that fits.  if it works in cabmame it should work in regular mame, do you have mame changing windows resolution to match game resolution? I'll be honest I'm not an expert on soft15 or cabmame

I guess I'm a little iffy on the best settings when using cabMAME, soft-15khz and Hyperspin as well.  And I guess I'm not sure if the custom modeline I created was applied properly.  Is that able to be checked?

As it sits currently MAME runs perfectly OUTSIDE of Hyperspin (including the troublesome Konami titles) when I have "switchres" set to 0 i nthe mame.ini file.  I assume this means MAME is not switching resolutions.  When I run MAME through Hyperspin though, the game displays in the center of the screen at about half its normal size with black all around it.  Hyperspin is set to display at full screen, though.  Very odd...or I'm just missing something obvious.

Does anybody out there use the cabMAME, soft-15khz and Hyperspin combo that would be willing to post their mame.ini file?

[Bluedeath]

Edit because i know what is wrong: my card has the 7,12 mhz limit, i bought an old x600 on ebay and i hope it will work, can someone tell me if is so or i jus wasted 15 euros?

This was the original message

Hi i succesfully installed soft 15khz on  a radeon hd 2400xt ( i gave up using the integrated one of the asus m35) i still have a small problem: all the .x240 resolutoons are not @15khz(other seems to be fine) the frequency protection on my jamma adaper filters them out. Any idea why this happens? could replace theese resolutons with new modelines help?