Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum
Main => Monitor/Video Forum => Topic started by: KITTinKC on August 24, 2011, 10:14:57 am
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Hey, everyone. I know I'm losing that "authentic" arcade look by not using a CRT, but I'm going to be using my cab for more than just MAME (for example, it will also run my PS3). Anyway, I was at Best Buy last night checking out TV's and came across this LG 26" LED HDTV - Model 26LV2500. The overall width of the TV (end to end of the casing) measures exactly 25" which would fit perfectly into my MK2 cab (I've measured the side-to-side opening at 25_1/8" tight).
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/LG+-+26%22+Class/+LED+/+720p+/+60Hz+/+HDTV/2137052.p?id=1218310759402&skuId=2137052&st=lg (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/LG+-+26%22+Class/+LED+/+720p+/+60Hz+/+HDTV/2137052.p?id=1218310759402&skuId=2137052&st=lg) 26&cp=1&lp=1
Anyway, I'm just curious if I'd be losing "too much" as far as running MAME on this TV. I currently just have my computer hooked up to a 32" LCD and, while it's definitely not perfect compared to a CRT, it still does the job good enough for me when I switch the AR to 4:3. Would an LED be much different from an LCD as far as running MAME is concerned?
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So did you buy the TV? I was wondering how well it worked. I have had it with this arcade monitor and the half answers I am getting about using it. I will test out MAME on my new Westinghouse 1080p 42" LED TV via its VGA inputs prior to buying anything at this point. Otherwise it is looking like I might have to buy a $450 or so LCD from the local Arcade supply house.
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Yes, I did end up buying it, but haven't had a chance yet to test it with MAME. It does have a VGA input, though. Honestly, I'm not very picky so what may be acceptable to me may not be to someone looking for the authentic arcade look. Also, I'll be playing my PS3 and even watching TV with this thing, so this LED is pretty much perfect for what I'll be using it for.
But, this TV fits my MK2 cab perfectly. The actual length (outside dimension) is 25" when measuring this TV across. I also got lucky in that Happ's bezel for their 26" LCD monitor fit perfectly around this TV. I just needed to cut it down to 25" x 25" (inches) as it came 28" x 25".
(http://i1110.photobucket.com/albums/h457/KITTinKC/ArcadeCab2.jpg)
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Nice clean looking install. If you are happy with it don't worry that it is not authentic. Authentic will soon be gone the way CRTs are disappearing from the arcade scene.
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I am not going to deal with authentic any more, it is over rated unless you have some electronics/arcade tech come over and help adjust things with caps and circuit board mods. Honestly I just want something that works, and works well. Almost any HD TV will work perfectly with a PS3 and its sweet HDMI connection. The trick is will the TV like the VGA connection to the PC well enough that it is not going to freak out in different video modes. Otherwise it is time for a 26 or 27 inch monitor which will work right and can also save adjustments digitally.
If you can please check out how well the LG TV works with MAME on different games, and see if the picture shifts oddly off screen without being able to be adjusted back to center or corrected so it is acceptable I would greatly appreciate it. It looks fantastic mounted into your cab.
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Sure thing! Any specific games you want me to try?
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Marvel vs Capcom gave me a weird shift on my HD TV, but I was also using the extend desktop option. Mortal Kombat, Pacman, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Between those 4 it should be a decent spread. :) Anyone else have better ideas?
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2 things:
<32 inch LCD tv's (LED is also LCD with LED backlight instead of CCFL) are ALWAYS using TN panels: crap viewing angles. Only older LCD TV's from the 1366x768 resolution era were IPS/VA at 26 inch too.
LCD TV's, especially the TN types, need a lot of preprocessing time to deliver a nice picture. They are 262k colour screens by default, so that needs some PWM modulation and field interpolation to simulate 16m colours. Expect to have some serious input lag up to 0.2-0.3 seconds!
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Thanks for the input, Blanka. You really know your stuff!
I haven't noticed anything really different from the 32" LCD I've been currently playing on. This TV is working fine by my standards - nothing that sticks out to me as "alarming". BUT, I'm not being picky whatsoever and I doubt I have the eye for detail like most of you guys have. There are the obvious differences with the "quality" you see in games like MK when going from CRT to LCD (things look a little more "pixelated" than smooth). I just want it to play! 8) I'll try to get a few video's up here later of a few different games playing just to see what you guys think.