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Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: processedmeat on May 09, 2018, 05:46:00 pm

Title: Best way to use a CRT TV in a MAME cab
Post by: processedmeat on May 09, 2018, 05:46:00 pm
Hi, I have a 13" CRT TV that I want to use in a cabaret that I'm building that will be running mame off a PC or Pi.  The TV only has composite and coax inputs.  Considering effort and quality of resulting display, which of the following would you do?

1) Use a VGA to Composite converter
2) Try to mod the TV for RGB
3) Get an 13"" chassis and try to turn it into CGA monitor (I have a j-pac that I can use but otherwise is this possible?)
4) Something else I haven't considered?

Thanks for your replies.
Title: Re: Best way to use a CRT TV in a MAME cab
Post by: paigeoliver on May 09, 2018, 08:24:46 pm
#4. Ask around until you can find an old 15" PC crt monitor (the tube is only a fraction of an inch larger than a 13" tv), then you can hook it right up to the PC.

#5. Use a game console instead of a PC.
Title: Re: Best way to use a CRT TV in a MAME cab
Post by: nitrogen_widget on May 09, 2018, 08:55:54 pm
PI has native 240p out over composite with a software update and a line in the config file.
no flicker and real scan lines.
If you already have a pi and the TV this is the easiest way to do what you want.
Title: Re: Best way to use a CRT TV in a MAME cab
Post by: keilmillerjr on May 10, 2018, 06:02:37 am
PI has native 240p out over composite with a software update and a line in the config file.
no flicker and real scan lines.
If you already have a pi and the TV this is the easiest way to do what you want.

It works well. Ps I’m selling my rpi already working 15khz composite. I finished it and don’t have time to use it so I started a different project that I think my daughter would use. See for sale page.

Retrotink implanted a hat with many different outputs and automatic modeling switching I believe it, if your looking for more that just 240p with a fixed refresh rate.
Title: Re: Best way to use a CRT TV in a MAME cab
Post by: BadMouth on May 10, 2018, 02:24:17 pm
If using a PC I'd get an old graphics card with composite out and run the default at 640x480.
Introducing conversion devices just complicates things.

You'll probably have to tweak the front end to work with the low resolution (larger fonts for example).

I've used S-video at 1024x768 before and thought it looked good.

When it comes to old TVs: Component>S-Video>composite



Title: Re: Best way to use a CRT TV in a MAME cab
Post by: keilmillerjr on May 10, 2018, 09:28:20 pm
If using a PC I'd get an old graphics card with composite out and run the default at 640x480.
Introducing conversion devices just complicates things.

You'll probably have to tweak the front end to work with the low resolution (larger fonts for example).

I've used S-video at 1024x768 before and thought it looked good.

When it comes to old TVs: Component>S-Video>composite

Good advice. ^^^^

Don’t let people talk you out of composite. It’s not the best. But growing up in USA it was RF or composite for everything, and composite is still used today. So your experience might not be the best, but it would be true to what people where I live experienced. Honestly, as a kid, I didn’t care about connections. An upgrade to a color tv with vcr was awesome, and visiting my grandma who lived 600 miles away and had an nes (RF) was the best week of the year!week
Title: Re: Best way to use a CRT TV in a MAME cab
Post by: gurbzs on May 11, 2018, 09:37:47 am
Hi, I have a 13" CRT TV that I want to use in a cabaret that I'm building that will be running mame off a PC or Pi.  The TV only has composite and coax inputs.  Considering effort and quality of resulting display, which of the following would you do?

1) Use a VGA to Composite converter
2) Try to mod the TV for RGB
3) Get an 13"" chassis and try to turn it into CGA monitor (I have a j-pac that I can use but otherwise is this possible?)
4) Something else I haven't considered?

Thanks for your replies.
Google groovymame, check that out.


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Title: Re: Best way to use a CRT TV in a MAME cab
Post by: Malenko on May 11, 2018, 01:41:36 pm
get an original xbox, softmod it, use coinops.
Title: Re: Best way to use a CRT TV in a MAME cab
Post by: nitrogen_widget on May 11, 2018, 08:28:40 pm
get an original xbox, softmod it, use coinops.

A wii is cheaper and more plentiful and does 240p also.
forgot about this.