The Very Definition of Disappointment

[FrizzleFried]

OK...so I have been waiting with bated breath for my new Core2Duo setup to arrive from Newegg.  It is set to arrive today via UPS.  I already cleared room on the schedule to drop it in the horizontal MAME.  Life was good...


...until I remembered that both my MAME rigs currently are AGP and I don't have a PCI Express version of the ArcadeVGA card at hand!!!  Screwed...

Options:

(A) Order an ArcadeVGA from Andy and wait.

(B) Go to Best Buy and get a video card.  If I go with this option,  what cards work best with SoftKhz?  How well does that program work?  Should I bother or just chill out and go with the AVGA?  Help!  I'd love to get this going today,  but if it means having to dick around constantly to keep the KHZ rate going,  I'm not interested.  If it's even semi-easy to set-up,  but once set-up its gold...GREAT.  Any opinions?

[FrizzleFried]

33 views and none of you use SoftKHZ?   

[SirPeale]

Just about any recent (and some not-so-recent) ATI or nVidia card will work, IIRC.  You don't have any of those lying around?

[FrizzleFried]

I am going to have to buy a card... but I am wondering about the effectiveness of SoftVGA,  compatibility,  and a general feel as to how well it works.

[ahofle]

Have you looked at the Soft15khz thread?  There is a list of supported cards in it. 

I picked up an ATI 9800 Pro for Soft15khz based on that thread.  I actually sold my AVGA after getting it up and running.  It adds some things that the AVGA doesn't have like some useful custom resolutions for vertical games.  But they are really only useful if you have a multisync monitor.  If you just have a CGA monitor, I'd personally just stick with an AVGA as it's much easier.

[FrizzleFried]

Anyone know what is done to a standard VGA card to make it run CGA?   I am just trying to avoid another $111.00 purchase AND 3-4 days delivery time.  I found a PCIe card at Staples for $59.95...with a $30.00 rebate... but it's a little older,  a GeForce FX5200.

[ahofle]

Have you looked at the Soft15khz thread?  There is a list of supported cards in it.

[pinballwizard79]

I have 2 AVGA PCIE's if you are interested

[FrizzleFried]

Thanks,  but I doubt you're near Nampa Idaho and this whole exercise is because I am anxious and wanna get this C2D rig going (it's being delivered RIGHT NOW - THEY JUST PULLED UP!)...argh.

How much,  just to know,  shipped to 83686 for one?

[SirPeale]

Crap, didn't realize you needed PCI-E.  Get that card with the rebate.  It should be just fine for Mame.

[HaRuMaN]

near Nampa Idaho

Hmm, I have a friend who lives in Nampa...

[DeLuSioNal29]

Just curious... what model motherboard did you get?  Does it have onboard video that you could use?

[pinballwizard79]

Both AVGA's are new, they were left over from my last 2 builds since I went with the UVC instead but not until after I bought the AVGA's.

I figure $60 would be fair for the card plus actual shipping costs, let me know if interested.

Just thought I would offer, no worries.

[Paul Olson]

The program works great, but it doesn't work with Vista64. I had to use XP64 to make it work. I am assuming you are planning to use 64-bit to get a little boost out of the C2D. If you are not using a JPAC, you should do a little research. The program can't sync until Windows is loaded. I think it can damage the monitor if the signal is sent during that time. The JPAC doesn't let the wrong sync get to the monitor.

[Luigi]

Go and get the FX5200....Soft15kHz should work fine with it. If it does not, bring the card back. It's a great piece of software anyway...you'll love it You can run Windows in 640x480 (interlace) or in lower resolutions (use QuickRES to get those resolutions).

But there's one problem: the 15kHz are produces when Soft15kHz is loaded in Windows.....so there are 31kHz going to the monitor when the PC boots. Make sure you block the 31kHz-signal with a J-Pac or that kind of stuff!!!

[FrizzleFried]

I got a JPAC so that isn't an issue...

...and I got the card.

Now to build it...as for Windows XP64.  I am not sure if I >cough< have that... Is it really worth the effort for the boost?

[blynkj]

Now to build it...as for Windows XP64.  I am not sure if I >cough< have that... Is it really worth the effort for the boost?

Seeing as how you have been running it for a while now- has it been worth the boost?