Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum

Main => Monitor/Video Forum => Topic started by: elgug on October 28, 2011, 01:07:41 am

Title: Makvision 2929D headaches
Post by: elgug on October 28, 2011, 01:07:41 am
Allright, so I am finally building a cab, using the UAII kit from North Coast. I purchased the Makvision 2929D4G-TS from Happ, which is the monitor they (NC) recommended. It bolts in beautifully, but I *cannot* get the dang thing to work! I am using an old Dell 4700 desktop running WinXP, 1GB ram, 1.2Ghz (I think), on-board graphics only.

Hooked computer up to the regular SVGA port in the back. When I turn on the computer on, the BIOS/bootup displays perfectly. The "Windows XP" logo comes up (on standard black background), and looks great. Then it gets to the "Welcome" screen (blue background), and it is super-skinny (middle 1/3rd of the screen), then it goes all warped after a few seconds, then the monitor goes black and displays "Over Specification".

What I have tried:
1. Changing the resolution. I started at 1024x768. Then decreased it to 800x600 on another monitor, and restarted computer. Same result. Tried 640x480, and even tried shifting the colors (8 bit, 16 bit, 32 bit). Same result every time.  :banghead:

2. Tried booting computer on my normal monitor, then yanked video cable and plugged in the Makvision. The Mak went from displaying its default "Disconnect" message (what it displays when nothing is plugged in) to just complete blackness. Nuthin'.

3. My other monitor is an LCD, so it will not let me change the refresh rate (only setting is 60).

4. I have searched the internet and these forums extensively; I cannot find anything.

I figure it *must* be something with the OS video settings, given that the BIOS and bootup screens will display, and then it all goes haywire. But I am at a loss--I don't know what to do next. Any ideas? Appreciate any help you guys can offer.
Title: Re: Makvision 2929D headaches
Post by: lilshawn on October 28, 2011, 11:18:29 am
it should display 640x480 @ 60hz irrespective of color depth.

tested one not too long ago with a laptop. I had to go into the monitor options and clear the check box that said "hide resolutions this monitor can not display" then change to 640x480@60
Title: Re: Makvision 2929D headaches
Post by: newmanfamilyvlogs on October 28, 2011, 07:36:47 pm
i have this same monitor. i would highly highly recommend getting some kind of cheap ATI card and use Calamity's modified drivers (part of the groovymame project).

With the included tool vmmaker you can generate a large table of mode lines that are exactly 2X the original native resolutions of the games, resulting in pixel perfect 15khz-like images. if you pair that with groovymame, it will also dynamically re-calculate the modeline to run at the original native framerate as well.

it takes a bit of setting up, but it's really a fantastic to be able to play NeoGeo games with no stretching or scaling one instant, and fire up a Dreamcast game in high resolution the next.
Title: Re: Makvision 2929D headaches
Post by: elgug on October 29, 2011, 12:23:44 am
I figured it out!

When I right-clicked on the desktop to begin dinking with the monitor settings, I have been choosing the "Properties" option, and setting the monitor settings in there (as I have pretty much always done when using the on-board graphics). However, also in this menu are two options that say "Graphics Options" and "Display Options". Click on Gpahics Options --> Graphics Properties, and it brings you to the "Intel 8291G/GV/910GL Express Chipset Family Properties". The first thing I noticed was that for some reason, the refresh rate *here* was set at 75Hz (it was 60 Hz in the monitor control panel). I set it to 60 hz, and switched monitors, and guess what? Instant success. Maybe that will save someone else a headache in the future. I will definitely check out Calamity's drivers, though. It would be nice to switch resolutions.

So far I have played a few games (Pac-Man, Space Invaders, etc), and they all look pretty good. Now if I could just iron out the kinks in Maximus Arcade or Hyperspin.....
Title: Re: Makvision 2929D headaches
Post by: Junai on October 31, 2011, 10:09:18 am
intel onboard graphics always seem to like to have their own options menu that over rides windows settings. even more of a pain if you have 2 cards in your system and both are enabled.