Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum

Main => Monitor/Video Forum => Topic started by: DarkKobold on August 19, 2003, 11:03:41 pm

Title: Computer CRT as an Arcade Monitor
Post by: DarkKobold on August 19, 2003, 11:03:41 pm

I recently scalped a computer monitor of its CRT. I looked at 8liners page, and it is a typical looking 10 pin connector. The problemwith using the monitor as it was,  there were toooo many to boards (7!!!) to fit into the cabinet I am trying to mount it in. Is there a chance that the 8liners chassis would work for a computer CRT, as it does for a TV CRT? The monitor is from around 85-89.... Its a very old 21" monitor (19" viewable) that had RGB inputs to begin with.

Thanks for the help!

Title: Re:Computer CRT as an Arcade Monitor
Post by: JoeB on August 20, 2003, 01:33:01 pm

That's a hard one..

why not go with something bigger??  You can go to any TV repair shop, and they'll be more than happy to give you a 25 -> 29" CRT!! (it costs them $$$ to dispose of them!)

Title: Re:Computer CRT as an Arcade Monitor
Post by: Tailgunner on August 20, 2003, 08:37:21 pm

I don't believe so, the horizontal refresh rate on a computer monitor is typically higher than either a TV or arcade monitor.

Title: Re:Computer CRT as an Arcade Monitor
Post by: DarkKobold on August 23, 2003, 08:40:09 pm

THanks for the input. I was planning on using it as a computer monitor originally, in a mame style set up. Unfortunately, after taking it apart, I realized the stack of 7 boards would not fit in the cocktail cabinet I am redoing. I think that at this point, any 19" viewable system would work for me. It is just the space/mounting consideration. I was really hoping to save some $$$ by reusing the old CRT I had. I guess my biggest question is, is when it is nothing more than the yoke & CRT, what is the big difference?

Also, what more information can I supply to help this endever? Thanks

Title: Re:Computer CRT as an Arcade Monitor
Post by: tom61 on August 23, 2003, 11:09:32 pm

Quote

is when it is nothing more than the yoke & CRT, what is the big difference?

The dot-pitch and number of lines. You can actually use a CRT with more lines and higher dot pitch with a lower chassis, but it looks terible from what I understand (the electron beams don't line up properly with the dots, giving odd colors at best, to an undecernable picture or no picture at worst). That is if the monitor has the proper resistance in it's deflection coils (if it didn't, it'd probably damage the chassis).

Quote

Also, what more information can I supply to help this endever?

If you mean for use with 15kHz RGB (what most arcade games use), the information on what rates and signal types your monitor can handle would be great. If you have the manual for that monitor, it should be in there.