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

[bent98]

LOL


I wasn't expecting your to buy those cards. I was just wondering if you knew anyone who tested it with them.

I hope the ATI 4870x2 works. That card should be future proof for a while .

[bent98]

This is more of a cabmame questions but check this out.



I found this in the whatsnew.txt included with latest Mame 127u2:

Changed refreshspeed target to 0.25Hz below rate provided, in order to
guarantee that inexact timings do not lead to sound stuttering.
[Aaron Giles]

Wondering if this fixes issue with sound stuttering with tripple buffering enabled??

[Ummon]

You didn't try it?

[sham69]

HI,
I am completely new to this so be gentle.
I am trying to get my pc to output to a philips 21" tv (pal)
I currently have onboard graphics (intel) and a ATI Rage II PCI (4mb I think).
When i load up soft 15khz it doesnt support the card?
I have tried about a dozen other applications to try to get the pc to output to 15khz with no success.
I think I need a new graphics card and was wondering what is the best option for me?
I will be running mame through windows (XP), I won't be running through dos.
I won't be using the pc for anything else.
I need the cheapest option available.
Thanks,

Finally got the card, went for the radeon saphhire 9250 128mb.
I used the svideo out and it worked on the tv once I plugged it in so I didnt need the vga to scart cable I bought.
The list og games looks terrible in mamui32 and the actual games are not as clear as the pc monitor I was using but I am happy enough as it looks more like I remember it in the arcade. Is there anything I can do to improve the way the games list works in Mameui32? ad anything to improve the games, they look a little bit blurry and there is some shadowing around any text and some of the sprites.
I was trying a command line mame with mamewah but just couldnt get the config right.
Thanks all for the advice on the card.

[SailorSat]

If you are using S-Video then there is no way to improve the image as you are basically stuck with the 640x480 image the tvout is providing.

[sham69]

Thanks for the reply.
I still have the VGA to Scart cable I bought, is there anything I can do with this maybe using soft 15khz?
Thanks.

[SailorSat]

Well yeah thats the whole point of Soft-15kHz
Install it, plug in your VGA-to-SCART (I really doubtfull on this one, as I don't believe there are any VGA-to-SCART cables in any shop, because most of them are SCART-to-VGA, which is a different pinout) into your VGA card, and the SCART plug into your TV.

[Ummon]

Wouldn't it be VGA to SCART, as that is the direction of signal?

[SailorSat]

Most of those cables I saw in shops are to connect DVD Players (which with SCART) to a beamer (with VGA).

Those cables don't work without rewireing

[sham69]

This is the one I bought?
I assume its ok to send a link to it?
Will I need to rewire and if so is there a guide somewhere?
Thanks for all the help.

http://cgi.ebay.ie/2m-SCART-LEAD-TO-15-PIN-HD-VGA-CABLE-to-LCD-TV-DVD-2m_W0QQitemZ380062644950QQihZ025QQcategoryZ41999QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[SailorSat]

Try it, but I fear the cable will have the wrong pinout.

If you need a Pinout check http://community.arcadeinfo.de/showthread.php?t=9365 .

[bent98]

Hey Salior

A while back you said you may work on a tool similiar to AVRes that will create modelines based off games and monitor specs. Are you or do you have any plans to do that?

[SailorSat]

That didn't work out too well. Haven't looked at it for quite a while.

[Malenko]

ok, so I love your program , it is the cat's meow.  The ONLY games I have graphical faults with is the midway games. MKII looks the worst, Im lookin for my camera so I can post a pic. 

ok so I cant seem to take a good picture, but I think it has something to do with MK refreshing at 53 instead of 60. it looks like Lui Kang has 2 sets of eyes.



its more obvious in person then in the picture.
What res should I try to run MK at? I was using 401x256 (?)

[SailorSat]

Actually 401x256 is output at 53Hz.

Are you using default MAME or cabMAME? Direct3D or DirectDraw? Questions over Questions.

[Malenko]

mame32 (stop laughing) happens with D3D and Direct Draw.

[SailorSat]

Hm... Can't tell from a distance sorry. I'm pretty clueless right now.

[lettuce]

Has there been any results posted using a ATI 3400 series card?

[Ummon]

mame32 (stop laughing) happens with D3D and Direct Draw.

 MK and MKII run at 15khz - it's just that their refresh is not standard. That doesn't look like 15khz to me. You HAVE to set it to DDraw to function properly, with hardware stretch off, effects off. You may want to post your ini.

This is the one I bought?
I assume its ok to send a link to it?
Will I need to rewire and if so is there a guide somewhere?
Thanks for all the help.

http://cgi.ebay.ie/2m-SCART-LEAD-TO-15-PIN-HD-VGA-CABLE-to-LCD-TV-DVD-2m_W0QQitemZ380062644950QQihZ025QQcategoryZ41999QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Post in the SCART thread below this one. They'll be able to better help.

[Malenko]

i messed around ALOT with various settings (with some help from northerngames)

I think I found a resolution I like BETTER then 401x256
the mame cab is off now, but its the one right below it 392x240(?)


this is 401x256:

notice the bar thingie at the bottom of the screen?

heres MKII running on the other one (392x240 I think):


I know a little of the top is cut off better then that thign at the bottom; Im still tweaking it. both resolutions looks leaps and bounds better then the VGA that was in Mortal Kabinet.

Thoughts, ideas?

[Ummon]

Hmmm. I haven't had this issue with that game. The latter resolution makes sense, as you're getting less lines drawn, but the the top image is some kind of distortion. What monitor is this on?

[Malenko]

Hmmm. I haven't had this issue with that game. The latter resolution makes sense, as you're getting less lines drawn, but the the top image is some kind of distortion. What monitor is this on?

27K7391

[Ummon]

I'm not that familiar with WGs. Some more info on it?

[northerngames]

MK 2



400X254 (H) 53.204948 HZ

video options from tab

standard (4:3)

pixel aspect (200:127)

[Malenko]

MK 2



400X254 (H) 53.204948 HZ

video options from tab

standard (4:3)

pixel aspect (200:127)

thats perfect, I manually went in and changed all the 399x243 resolutions to 400x254 and they all look gorgeous without the crazy bar thing. I cant take a picture because of the glare right now but expect one tonight.  Soft 15 needs its own sub section.  26 pages for a thread is redonkulous

[retrometro]

Soft 15 needs its own sub section.  26 pages for a thread is redonkulous

Maybe not it's own section ... but maybe to separate video/monitor issues between physical problems with monitors vs look & feel/drivers, etc?

[Malenko]

Soft 15 needs its own sub section.  26 pages for a thread is redonkulous

Maybe not it's own section ... but maybe to separate video/monitor issues between physical problems with monitors vs look & feel/drivers, etc?

I started a thread in the website feedback section =)

[Ummon]

MK 2



400X254 (H) 53.204948 HZ

video options from tab

standard (4:3)

pixel aspect (200:127)

thats perfect, I manually went in and changed all the 399x243 resolutions to 400x254 and they all look gorgeous without the crazy bar thing. I cant take a picture because of the glare right now but expect one tonight.  Soft 15 needs its own sub section.  26 pages for a thread is redonkulous

Hmmm. So you had to create that mode. Mine works fine with 401x256, though I'll keep that one in mind. As long as it works.

[northerngames]

it should work better then yours as it is the correct and original size for the originals machines.

to get the best display set them for what they were made for originally.

[Ummon]

it should work better then yours as it is the correct and original size for the originals machines.

to get the best display set them for what they were made for originally.

This to me or him? Incidentally, I use Advancemame so it gets done for me, but if I use soft15 in the future, I'll keep this one in mind if necessary.

[northerngames]

Both actually.

 I use mamefx with mamewah and don't know anything about advancemame.

[bent98]

Sailor

I really would like to upgrade to Vista 64 on my cab. The only thing holding me back is soft 15khz not working in htis enviroement.

Sailor can you tell me if this is something tha can be fixed in the near future?

[SailorSat]

Maybe, maybe not.
Last time I've tinkered with Vista I got pretty pissed
So don't expect anything in the near future.

[retrometro]

Sailor

I really would like to upgrade to Vista 64 on my cab. The only thing holding me back is soft 15khz not working in htis enviroement.

Sailor can you tell me if this is something tha can be fixed in the near future?

Just use XP x64.  Runs mame 64bit just as fast and soft15khz works great on it.

[muzzakus]

G'day.  What a great time to be into the Mamecab scene.  First and foremost I must say, fantastic work Sailor for bringing true arcade quality output to the masses!

Couple of questions for the thread :

- Does anybody have a 1:1 pixel and refresh mode for Rtype? - and how did you derive it?

- Are there any pro's and cons in generating modes with LRMC?  I have played with it to some degree using the following commandline (lrmc x y refresh -cga -l)  where -cga enables 15khz and -l enables low pixel clock generation so as not to double the rez. 

Is LRMC the defacto standard, or at least a more than suitable generator?  The resason I say this I have attempted generating some modes already present as default in soft15khz and the results are not the same.

- How is this mode derived 401 256 53Hz (Mortal Kombat etc)
?  I cannot get anything anywhere near 53hz for that resolution using calculation. 

- I'm also getting crap geometry onscreen, a lens type effect where the further you get from the center of the screen, the wider things get...it's like projecting a picture onto a chinese wok.  Are there any fundamental differences between a true arcade board and a 15khz Vga output?  Can this geometry issue be overcome by tweaked modelines? - or is it simply a chassis/tube issue and replacement is the only solution.

Thanks for the input.

[bent98]

Sailor

I really would like to upgrade to Vista 64 on my cab. The only thing holding me back is soft 15khz not working in htis enviroement.

Sailor can you tell me if this is something tha can be fixed in the near future?

Just use XP x64.  Runs mame 64bit just as fast and soft15khz works great on it.

Some of my mobo drivers have issues with XP 64.

Sailor

  please say you will look into it further.

[northerngames]

Sailor

I really would like to upgrade to Vista 64 on my cab. The only thing holding me back is soft 15khz not working in htis enviroement.

Sailor can you tell me if this is something tha can be fixed in the near future?

Just use XP x64.  Runs mame 64bit just as fast and soft15khz works great on it.

Some of my mobo drivers have issues with XP 64.

Sailor

  please say you will look into it further.

check to see if there is any updated drivers for it or your bios if possible.

[Ummon]

G'day.  What a great time to be into the Mamecab scene.  First and foremost I must say, fantastic work Sailor for bringing true arcade quality output to the masses!

Couple of questions for the thread :

- Does anybody have a 1:1 pixel and refresh mode for Rtype? - and how did you derive it?

- Are there any pro's and cons in generating modes with LRMC?  I have played with it to some degree using the following commandline (lrmc x y refresh -cga -l)  where -cga enables 15khz and -l enables low pixel clock generation so as not to double the rez. 

Is LRMC the defacto standard, or at least a more than suitable generator?  The resason I say this I have attempted generating some modes already present as default in soft15khz and the results are not the same.

- How is this mode derived 401 256 53Hz (Mortal Kombat etc)
?  I cannot get anything anywhere near 53hz for that resolution using calculation. 

- I'm also getting crap geometry onscreen, a lens type effect where the further you get from the center of the screen, the wider things get...it's like projecting a picture onto a chinese wok.  Are there any fundamental differences between a true arcade board and a 15khz Vga output?  Can this geometry issue be overcome by tweaked modelines? - or is it simply a chassis/tube issue and replacement is the only solution.

Thanks for the input.

For R-Type I think I've just used 384x288. Or you can calculate your own that is more specifically 384x256.

Yes, there are at least two different calculation formats or whatever. The answer I got from SS was that it was arbitrary which one you wanted to use.

For MK, unless you're really curious about it's workings, just use whichever one - stock or your own - that works best on your set-up.

Weird geometry: if you're getting that on all games, especially common standard res ones like 256x224 then I'd guess it's a monitor issue.

[Twin-X]

I am having some issues on 1024x768.

When i install soft15khz and do all modes my 1024x768 is on screen vertical double the size as normal.
My monitor can handle this with no 15khz but with it installed it is stretched vertically???

What can i do to change this?

[muzzakus]

For R-Type I think I've just used 384x288. Or you can calculate your own that is more specifically 384x256.

Yes, there are at least two different calculation formats or whatever. The answer I got from SS was that it was arbitrary which one you wanted to use.

For MK, unless you're really curious about it's workings, just use whichever one - stock or your own - that works best on your set-up.

Weird geometry: if you're getting that on all games, especially common standard res ones like 256x224 then I'd guess it's a monitor issue.

Thanks for the heads up.