Author Topic: Monitor Signal (Read 2938 times)

Avinitlarge · « **on:** August 10, 2009, 06:03:25 pm »

Hi
I am wanting to built a Mame arcade. I am going to look at some cabinets tomorrow. My question is,
What signal is usually used with a std cabinet monitor, Composite, S Video, RGB etc??

speedklz · « **Reply #1 on:** August 10, 2009, 07:09:55 pm »

It is an RGB signal with a 15khz rate... Some newer CRT`s may have other connections such as a DB15 connections also with an adjusted refresh rate.

Beretta · « **Reply #2 on:** August 10, 2009, 07:10:49 pm »

RGB, there is no svideo or composite on them.

you can't just hook up your computers VGA either, the refresh is to high for the monitor ot handle.

there are solutions though.. there 1. converter boards, 2. specialize video cards (arcadeVGA), and 3. software solutions (that work with most but not all video cards) a popluar one would be soft 15khz

protokatie · « **Reply #3 on:** August 10, 2009, 07:45:09 pm »

Just to throw in a small reminder, do not forget about vector screens. If you see an old asteroids cab and think "wow, I would love to MAME that!", be careful. Vector screens will not hook up to any modern hardware I have seen as they work in a very different way from Raster based displays.

Just a reminder.

Ginsu Victim · « **Reply #4 on:** August 10, 2009, 07:48:11 pm »

Quote from: protokatie on August 10, 2009, 07:45:09 pm

Vector screens will not hook up to any modern hardware I have seen as they work in a very different way from Raster based displays.

Never heard of VectorMame? It outputs the signal from the parallel port (I do believe).

Avinitlarge · « **Reply #5 on:** August 10, 2009, 08:02:38 pm »

Ah, Right. Hmmm. What is the best way round this problem then??

protokatie · « **Reply #6 on:** August 10, 2009, 08:13:45 pm »

If you intend to play raster games, make sure not to get a vector cab. No matter what you do, you cannot play raster games on a vector monitor. If you liked the old vector games, then do what the guy above said, with vectormame.

If you can't tell which games are vector or raster by the name, some tips: If it has a B&W monitor, it is a good bet it is vector (though not always). Also some color screens were vector as well. Another good point is if it is from the 80's or before and has analogue controls, it may also be a vector cab (as before, not always). One almost sure fire way to tell just by looking at the screen would be to look at the burn in pattern. If you see nice diagonal lines in the burn in, or the text/numbers in the burn in look "liney" then it is most likely vector, on the other hand, if the burn in is of distinct area patterns (whole blocks of the screen) and the text/number burn in looks blocky, it is prolly a raster display.

Avinitlarge · « **Reply #7 on:** August 10, 2009, 08:28:21 pm »

Can the ATI Radeon 7000 graphics card be used to produce a 15hz signal??

Beretta · « **Reply #8 on:** August 10, 2009, 09:25:45 pm »

pretty sure, infact i think thats what arcadevga is currently based on.

Avinitlarge · « **Reply #9 on:** August 11, 2009, 05:57:54 am »

Or could it be the ATI Radeon 9250? I sent an email to ultimarc

"Hi
What is the difference between the ArcadeVGA and the ATI Radeon 9250? They both look identical

Thanks
Paul"

I didnt get a reply, Do they have something to hide, Are the cards identical??

Beretta · « **Reply #10 on:** August 11, 2009, 06:11:12 am »

oh you know what, you might be right, maybe it's the original arcadevga im thinking of.. they update it from time to time to keep up.. although it's still considered pretty weak sauce for 3d games.. mame this is'nt a issue though.

far as i know the card is same they just have a reprogrammed bios to output 15khz, where as using something like soft 15khz has same effect but it works with the drivers.. so it's only useful AFTER windows has already loaded..

arcadevga since it is a modified bios will output the correct freq as soon as it's initialized, so you can even enter the PC's bios.

it's more plug and play friendly then using soft 15khz, but it's also one of the more expensive routes to go.. not to mention if you want to use the card for 3d games you're tied to a weak GPU.

Avinitlarge · « **Reply #11 on:** August 14, 2009, 03:07:19 pm »

After a bit of research I found something good. You can alter the bios on a Radeon 9250 so it runs at 15khz. I think thats what I will be doing. The card is on its way and ive got the software and instructions to do it.

Beretta · « **Reply #12 on:** August 14, 2009, 03:16:35 pm »

really? please share, linky?

Avinitlarge · « **Reply #13 on:** August 14, 2009, 04:26:07 pm »

Quote from: Beretta on August 14, 2009, 03:16:35 pm

really? please share, linky?

Links removed by saint. These are links to a method used to pirate the Ultimarac ArcadeVGA BIOS. Aside from the copyright issues, Andy from Ultimarc is one of us and deserves better than this.
--- saint

Beretta · « **Reply #14 on:** August 14, 2009, 11:13:51 pm »

awesome thanks, i might go this route as well then, save money over a arcade vga and i wont have to worry about the monitor getting bad signals before windows with soft 15khz

Avinitlarge · « **Reply #15 on:** August 15, 2009, 05:06:08 am »

One of my My Radeon 9250 cars came today. I will be giving it a go later on today, I will let you know how I went on

Avinitlarge · « **Reply #16 on:** August 15, 2009, 09:22:30 pm »

It works. Ive just flashed a card and had windows on my cab!!!

Beretta · « **Reply #17 on:** August 16, 2009, 03:57:16 am »

wow, thats awesome, im gonna have to take a hard look at this solution, it sounds great, avga for a lot less and i wont have to worry about bad signals befor ewindows..

you could see bios and everything correct?

Avinitlarge · « **Reply #18 on:** August 16, 2009, 07:15:49 am »

Its works perfect, Just as is the computer was connected to a VGA monitor

Avinitlarge · « **Reply #19 on:** August 17, 2009, 04:54:04 pm »

Quote from: Avinitlarge on August 14, 2009, 04:26:07 pm

Quote from: Beretta on August 14, 2009, 03:16:35 pm
really? please share, linky?

Links removed by saint. These are links to a method used to pirate the Ultimarac ArcadeVGA BIOS. Aside from the copyright issues, Andy from Ultimarc is one of us and deserves better than this.
--- saint

DOH!! Sorry Saint

Beretta · « **Reply #20 on:** August 17, 2009, 05:21:06 pm »

i could be wrong since i did'nt study the links but form what i read it was talking about how to hack your own bios.. not a bios lifted directly from AVGA.

IE: andy is selling ready to go cards, i dont know what all he changed on their bios but he does'nt have any claim on the "method" of hacking the bios, if someone on those links had directly dumped the bios and posted i could see, but someone telling you to break out your hex editors and do step 1, 2, 3, 4 andy has no claim to that.

like saying who ever wired up the first hacked vga cable OWNS the rights to make those cables and only them, no dice.

again i could be wrong since i did'nt study those links in detail but i dont think they was posting AGA bios dumps correct me if im wrong.

CheffoJeffo · « **Reply #21 on:** August 17, 2009, 05:36:11 pm »

Really ?

The link that I read states SPECIFICALLY that it uses the AVGA bios and indicates that the Italian page is a direct translation.

Avinitlarge · « **Reply #22 on:** August 17, 2009, 06:08:41 pm »

It does use the AVGA bios. The 1st link only gave the instructions on how to flash the Bios. I think the main problem was on the italian site. It gave instructions on how to flash the bios but It also gave a link on where to get the bios from. Saying that, How many people use mame with ROM's they are not supposed to?

CheffoJeffo · « **Reply #23 on:** August 17, 2009, 06:49:58 pm »

Quote from: Avinitlarge on August 17, 2009, 06:08:41 pm

Saying that, How many people use mame with ROM's they are not supposed to?

Lots ... and the rules say that you don't ask for them here.

And, as saint points out, Andy is one of us and to promote piracy of his work here is just bad form.

Avinitlarge · « **Reply #24 on:** August 17, 2009, 07:45:41 pm »

Fair Enough. Nuff said. My original post has been replied to, I know all I need to know.

Beretta · « **Reply #25 on:** August 17, 2009, 10:20:32 pm »

Quote from: CheffoJeffo on August 17, 2009, 05:36:11 pm

Really ?

The link that I read states SPECIFICALLY that it uses the AVGA bios and indicates that the Italian page is a direct translation.

well the links are gone so i'd have to go check my history to dig them up and look at them.

i only glanced at them i thought one of them mentioned different address to change with a hex editor after you dumped the bios, so i thought they was telling how to do it from scratch.

but ok ya if they had AVGA bios dumps then i totally agree with the removal.

dtechlogic · « **Reply #26 on:** August 18, 2009, 02:10:55 pm »

What about an Ati Radeon 9700 Pro with 128MB or Nvidia 7900GT. I am planning to use of these two video cards. The only difference between them is AGP and PCI express


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