Graphics Card

[deano728]

I am currently using an arcadeVGA graphics card, but since I got a new monitor with a vga adapter, I am guessing I can use any video card for my MAME setup.  If I bought an nvdia or ati AGP graphics card, will it be able to produce all of the different resolutions that I would need?  Is there anything I should be aware of prior to buying a new graphics card? 

Is there any performance gain to be had or can I just get the cheaper graphics cards since I am not running any CHD games.

[clok]

as far as I know (correct me if I'm worng) MAME doesnt need anything special, it doenst use any hardware to speed things up... BUT! If you play other emu's, maybe run a PC game, etc on your setup.. you may want a card that can do some of that. But as far as I know, for MAME... almost any card will do that has been made in the last 5 years. ATI 2400 are dirt cheap and can do HD stuff..I'm sure there is a Nvdia version too.

Clok

[ahofle]

I am currently using an arcadeVGA graphics card, but since I got a new monitor with a vga adapter, I am guessing I can use any video card for my MAME setup.  If I bought an nvdia or ati AGP graphics card, will it be able to produce all of the different resolutions that I would need?  Is there anything I should be aware of prior to buying a new graphics card? 

Is there any performance gain to be had or can I just get the cheaper graphics cards since I am not running any CHD games.

You'll need to be more specific.  What kind of monitor is it?  A CGA arcade monitor?  Multisync?  Regular PC CRT/LCD monitor?  If you are wanting arcade resolutions, you can use a more recent card but don't expect any performance improvements in MAME.  Look up the Soft15khz sticky thread in the monitor forum for more information on that tool, and there is a list of supported video cards in there as well.  The reason I prefer Soft15khz over the AVGA is that you can add some additional very useful custom resolutions.

[deano728]

Sorry, I have a 25" Neiman Display monitor.  I think CGA/EGA?  I am not sure what that is classified as, but like I said it does have a VGA connector. 

Am I correct that CHD games like Blitz need the best card that money can buy or is that over doing it as well?

I will check out the thread you suggest, thanks for the heads up.

[Jdurg]

That is overdoing it as well.  Blitz is slow to emulate due to it's CPU speed and power which requires quite a bit of computer CPU power to process.  A high end graphics card won't give you any advantage over a run of the mill, $50 videocard.  However, as already pointed out, if you are planning on playing regular PC games on the setup the graphics card may help you.  In MAME, however, it's not doing much.

[paulscade]

I'm running MAMEUIFX on 3 different PC's.  2 out of 3 have add-on graphics cards.  One is a All-In-Wonder 9800 and the other is a an older ATI based card (name escapes me).  All are XP machines.  All have the same version of Direct-X installed (9 I think).

The two computers with the add-on cards display MAME games MUCH better than the one with the embedded graphics controller.

I've also noticed that, on the PC with embedded graphics, MAMEUIFX won't let me use the Direct-3D option.... while the other two do.

It's most noticeable on the bezel graphics (MAMEUIFX supports displaying bezel graphics on the monitor as an option)... where, without Direct-3D checked, the graphics are very blurred.  The two computers with the add-on graphics cards display these same graphics sharply and legably.

The game speed is no different any of the PC's.

My .02... (I don't really care about authentic 15Hz support)... be sure that whatever graphics card you choose, it supports Direct-3D (and I'll bet that even the cheapest cards do).  You'll be happier in the end.

[ahofle]

He's using an arcade monitor, so he won't have much use for D3D rendering.

[u_rebelscum]

He's using an arcade monitor, so he won't have much use for D3D rendering.

And sounds like he wants to run at original res, which means the bezels won't work anyway.

IOW, "better end" graphic chips are used for effects (scanlines), bezels/overlays, and converting from original res to PC higher res.  Otherwise (ie: run at original res without bezels or effects), a "decent low end" graphic chip will be fine.

[Ummon]

I'm running MAMEUIFX on 3 different PC's.  2 out of 3 have add-on graphics cards.  One is a All-In-Wonder 9800 and the other is a an older ATI based card (name escapes me).  All are XP machines.  All have the same version of Direct-X installed (9 I think).

The two computers with the add-on cards display MAME games MUCH better than the one with the embedded graphics controller.

I've also noticed that, on the PC with embedded graphics, MAMEUIFX won't let me use the Direct-3D option.... while the other two do.

It's most noticeable on the bezel graphics (MAMEUIFX supports displaying bezel graphics on the monitor as an option)... where, without Direct-3D checked, the graphics are very blurred.  The two computers with the add-on graphics cards display these same graphics sharply and legably.

The game speed is no different any of the PC's.

My .02... (I don't really care about authentic 15Hz support)... be sure that whatever graphics card you choose, it supports Direct-3D (and I'll bet that even the cheapest cards do).  You'll be happier in the end.

You mean 15khz support? A telling thing is when one doesn't know what they're talking about is called. I would also bet your integrated video computer is pretty old, if it won't support version 9 bilinear filtering. My '02 1.8ghz P4 doesn't either. It's pretty slow with even simpler games after the video re-write, though. Anyways, like mentioned above, he's obviously interested in native display.

deano: following what ahofle said, look thoroughly through the wiki on monitors as well as through the soft15 thread. You'll find a lot of answers, and probably some new questions, in doing so.

[paulscade]

Yea... I reread... and that's probably correct..

I've been reading the board here for a while... and I see lots of talk about ArcadeVGA cards and 15Khz Horizontal refresh.  At first, I wondered what it was all about... because I've never had any problems running any of the MAME games (always on a decent PC w/LCD monitors).  Then I realized that it's not a requirement... it's all about authenticity.

I bought a Makvision monitor from Happ for my first build... it's not hooked up yet but I plan on running it in the highest res and fastest refresh that it supports.

Based on my discovery (above)... I picked up a cheap video card on e-bay (Nvidia FX5200 for $20) for that PC with the embedded graphics.

I suppose it's all about being as authentic as possible (for some)...

[paulscade]

Hi ummon... no... I meant 15kHz (with a capital H) 
... sorry... I missed a K.

[Ummon]

I suppose it's all about being as authentic as possible (for some)...

It's not a matter of running native for authenticity's sake, but because that's what one prefers the look of. And there's some to know in understanding why and how it looks that way.

[lettuce]

So a better gfx card doesnt help performance on the newer mame roms, for instance Tekken2, tekken 3, virtual fighter etc, bascially polygon based games?

You'll need to be more specific.  What kind of monitor is it?  A CGA arcade monitor?  Multisync?  Regular PC CRT/LCD monitor?  If you are wanting arcade resolutions, you can use a more recent card but don't expect any performance improvements in MAME.  Look up the Soft15khz sticky thread in the monitor forum for more information on that tool, and there is a list of supported video cards in there as well.  The reason I prefer Soft15khz over the AVGA is that you can add some additional very useful custom resolutions.

ahofle what custom resolutions do you add and why? As im looking to used soft15khz in my next cab over a AVGA card

[ahofle]

ahofle what custom resolutions do you add and why? As im looking to used soft15khz in my next cab over a AVGA card

I added a couple 25khz resolutions for vertical shooters like DonPachi (432x324 and 416x312), so those fill up the screen perfectly now.
I also added an interlaced 1024x768 mode for certain PC games since my Betson only goes up to 800x600.

[Ummon]

So a better gfx card doesnt help performance on the newer mame roms, for instance Tekken2, tekken 3, virtual fighter etc, bascially polygon based games?

Echoing what devs have said at MW, Mame performance is almost strictly determined by processor speed, though of course OS and optimization of such plays a part too. For later, CHD type, games there has been a request for and discussion on allowing the graphics adapter to handle some load, specifically with 3D modeling - but at this point the dev decision is firmly not to do such. I'm sure it'll come about in the (perhaps not so near) future.

I added a couple 25khz resolutions for vertical shooters like DonPachi (432x324 and 416x312), so those fill up the screen perfectly now.
I also added an interlaced 1024x768 mode for certain PC games since my Betson only goes up to 800x600.

How about 224x288 games?...and for the recent changes in Frogger and Galaga too, right?

[ahofle]

How about 224x288 games?...and for the recent changes in Frogger and Galaga too, right?

Hehe I just use an older MAME for those 'recently improved' games.  Having to play Galaxian at 1024x768 sucks.