Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum
Main => Monitor/Video Forum => Topic started by: Snakesnsparklers on March 22, 2014, 06:38:28 pm
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I have mostly everything needed for my MAME setup except for the computer itself. I will be using a 25" k7000 monitor and see that some video cards support 15 kHz modes when using either special programs or registry hacks to enable them. I found this link showing compatible cards:
http://www.jammaplus.co.uk/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=26693&title=gfx-cards-for-15khz-arcade-vga (http://www.jammaplus.co.uk/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=26693&title=gfx-cards-for-15khz-arcade-vga)
I want to keep the computer small and would rather not use a separate video card at all. I know that most would not support 15 kHz right out of the box, but what motherboards integrated graphics can support 15 kHz mode with programs like Powerstrip, soft15khz or registry hacks?
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I don't know of any motherboards that will work for 15kHz custom resolutions. Also, the info in that thread is outdated.
Soft15kHz is really not the best option anymore.
First of all, it's silly to use a real CRT and not use GroovyMAME, and that works hand in hand with CRT_Emudriver. GM can generate resolutions on the fly to keep everything native res (and native refresh, very important), saving you a lot of work; and it has a lot of other important features for native res even if you don't use the auto-generation.
Even if not using GM, tweaking your resolutions in Soft15kHz requires editing the text modelines by hand (super tedious), or using Powerstrip. Powerstrip was not really designed for this application, it's very cumbersome, and does not even fit on the screen in lower resolutions. CRT_Emudriver includes ArcadeOSD, which was purposely designed for this, is just as powerful if not more so, more flexible, and much easier to use.
Making the change only takes a couple of minutes once you have the right graphics card (which can be dirt cheap). I started with Soft15kHz, and resisted making the change because I had some GeForce cards on hand (only compatible with Soft15kHz). When I finally switched over to CRT_Emudriver, I was really kicking myself for not doing it sooner.
I'd recommend a Radeon card in the HD4XXX series. I use an ASUS HD4350. See the link my signature and the GroovyMAME section for more info.
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Thanks for the help. If my link is outdated is there a new compatibility list? Otherwise I would have no problem going with an HD4350 since they are cheap.
Looks like I will have to read abotu GroovyMAME. So CRT_Emudriver is more up to date and better than Soft15kHz?
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Yup, much better, and it goes hand in hand with GroovyMAME (although it can be used with other builds just as well as Soft15kHz, I highly recommend GroovyMAME).
Compatibility List:
http://mame.3feetunder.com/windows-ati-crt-emudriver/ (http://mame.3feetunder.com/windows-ati-crt-emudriver/)
Notice the note at the bottom:
Some cards listed above have known problems with low dot clocks.
For best results, a Radeon 9250 (AGP), Radeon X300-X600 (PCIe),
or Radeon HD 4xxx (PCIe) card is recommended.
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Thanks Rob! I think you have me headed down the right path now so I'm not trying to research and learn about how to set up an old program.