Multi-Monitor MAME

[FrizzleFried]

What would it take to MAME Punch Out or PC10 properly in MAME (top monitor and bottom monitor working as they are supposed to)?

[Turnarcades]

MAME supports multiple monitors now anyway doesn't it? If not, you could set the PC desktop to 'span' and have MAME setup to display both game Windows in one, as is default on games like Outrunners.

[FrizzleFried]

I picked up a JAMMAtized Punch Out cabinet.  I was going to restore it but I am contemplating MAMEing it.  If I MAME it,  I could set it up to run Punch Out, Super Punch Out,  Arm Wrestling and all the PC-10 titles.   I think that would be pretty freakin' sweet since they're all emulated pretty much dead on.  I am just wondering exactly how I'd do it.  Would I need two Arcade VGA cards or just one and span it (as you suggested).  Can you span VERTICALLY?   This would be some uncharted territory for me.

Also,  what speed PC would I need to get to span like that for PO/SPO/PC10?   Surely spanning takes up more processor power, no?

Opinions?

[brock.sampson]

Should just need to change numscreens line in the mame.ini to

numscreens                2

Did a quick test with punchout on my dual screen rig at work and split the video as expected.  Shouldn't need a monster pc to run both screens.  In my quick test I didn't see a difference in cpu usage when running on a single or double screen.  I'm not sure how you could connect two monitors to a single arcadevga and I'm not sure how the dual arcadevga cards would work together.  Maybe Andy could shed some light on that.

[Turnarcades]

Forgot to consider that. You may have to swap both monitors to be able to use dual connection (ie. two CRT PC monitors, or one CRT, one TV connected by S-video).

[FrizzleFried]

Forgot to consider that. You may have to swap both monitors to be able to use dual connection (ie. two CRT PC monitors, or one CRT, one TV connected by S-video).

If I use soft15khz,  does anyone know if that affects BOTH headers on a dual header video card?  From tinkering with my ArcadeVGA I do believe that it will only show 15khz through the VGA header or 31khz through the DVI header... but it won't show BOTH (one at 15 the other at 31) at the same time... I seem to recall when I had both a PC monitor and arcade monitor hooked up to it,  it would show only one or the other.  Anyone else have any different experience?