Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum

Software Support => GroovyMAME => Topic started by: dre2000 on September 02, 2020, 12:14:56 pm

Title: GroovyArcade 2020 will display on LCD but not CRT
Post by: dre2000 on September 02, 2020, 12:14:56 pm
Hi new user here,
I have been going crazy trying to fix this issue. I just installed GroovyArcade using a Phiilips 20PT6245/37 CRT and an LCD. It is connected with a VGACTV2 and a Sapphire R7 260X. I selected NTSC TV for video option. The boot screen/setup shows fine on the CRT and LCD but as soon as I go into Attractmode the CRT screen gets scrambled. The LCD will display Attractmode fine. The strange thing is that I was able to get a game to display on the crt but not the LCD. This seems like a resolution issue with Attractmode but I don't know how to fix it. Please help! I want to have this set up on the CRT only. Thanks so much
Title: Re: GroovyArcade 2020 will display on LCD but not CRT
Post by: Substring on September 02, 2020, 03:37:46 pm
Hi,

Which groovyarcade version are you using ? the pinned one, or the collaborative one (that I'm maintaining) ?
Title: Re: GroovyArcade 2020 will display on LCD but not CRT
Post by: dre2000 on September 02, 2020, 03:58:53 pm
Hey I'm using the one that is pinned(GroovyArcade-Arch2020.04.08-x86_64.iso). Should I use yours?
Title: Re: GroovyArcade 2020 will display on LCD but not CRT
Post by: dre2000 on September 02, 2020, 07:29:48 pm
I tested both versions and I got the same result. The issue is that the CRT won't sync with Attractmode. A game will launch fine on the CRT but I can't see what game is being selected since the screen is scrambled. The setup menu is also scrambled when I use the CRT only. Is there anyway to fix resolution issues with Attractmode?
Title: Re: GroovyArcade 2020 will display on LCD but not CRT
Post by: buttersoft on September 02, 2020, 07:53:57 pm
I tested both versions and I got the same result. The issue is that the CRT won't sync with Attractmode. A game will launch fine on the CRT but I can't see what game is being selected since the screen is scrambled. The setup menu is also scrambled when I use the CRT only. Is there anyway to fix resolution issues with Attractmode?

I don't know if this is in any way relevant, but on Windows there's the service called AMD External Events Utility. AM was a particular problem for me until i turned that off, it kept grabbing old video modes that weren't supposed to be in the registry anymore.

Obviously you're on Linux, so IDK if anything similar exists. Could you try setting the res in the AM config file? Or jumping between fullscreen, unbordered and windowed modes? Or even reinstalling AM while using the CRT...
Title: Re: GroovyArcade 2020 will display on LCD but not CRT
Post by: dre2000 on September 02, 2020, 09:02:05 pm
Thanks for the response, I figured it out. I did a reinstall without using the LCD and it worked! Now I just have to figure out how to get sound from my usb dac and get linux to see my xbox one controller. Any tips for the xbox controller?
Title: Re: GroovyArcade 2020 will display on LCD but not CRT
Post by: Substring on September 03, 2020, 03:00:45 am
Hey I'm using the one that is pinned(GroovyArcade-Arch2020.04.08-x86_64.iso). Should I use yours?

should ... that's not how I'd say it. Let's say my fork has its core elements (linux kernel, groovymame, scripts that configure things here and there) constantly updated using the native Arch Linux tools. So far, I've never broken GroovyArcade with a full system upgrade. And it has a few nice features that the "old" groovyarcade doesn't have ;) You can give it a try by simpling burning the iso to a USB stick and try it as a liveCD.

Regarding your screens problems : most chances are that groovymame will output on the first display (got the same on my side). I'm not aware of an option to force the output number.

For xbox controllers : depends if you have a wireless or USB pad. You'd anyway need to reconfigure MAME inputs.
Title: Re: GroovyArcade 2020 will display on LCD but not CRT
Post by: dre2000 on September 03, 2020, 09:28:49 am
The version that I was able to get to work was your version. I tried to install the other version again using just the CRT and it didn't work. Your's will scan for screens at the beginning which I believe solves the issue. The only thing about your version is I have no idea how to add roms. The other version had a way to add roms in the menu. Also I was unable to get my xbox controller to work through usb. I noticed I was able to move up and down in Attractmode with the controller, but I could not make any changes in Mame with it. I also could not get any sound with my usb dac (Burson 160D). I am not familiar with linux at all as you can see lol. I like Groovyarcade and prefer to use it, but I am having issues getting everything working. I may have to just use windows 10 as most things are plug and play.
Title: Re: GroovyArcade 2020 will display on LCD but not CRT
Post by: Substring on September 03, 2020, 11:09:42 am
Ok, so let's discuss each point :
- to add roms, browse your network neighbourhood, find GROOVYARCADE, then login using arcade/arcade. Then just drop files in the roms/mame folder
- MAME and Attract don't share the control configuration (that's something I plan to solve in the future). Things work out of the box for a keyboard based rig. So to configure in MAME, you need to plug a keyboard, press tab, then configure inputs for each player (use the general inputs, not the machine inputs)
- regarding the sound, several ways to handle that. One of them would be to disable your mobo sound in the BIOS, I think it would fix things. Otherwise, I need you to login into groovyarcade and do some commands

I can't agree with you for the plug'n'play side of Windows in that case. MAME will work the exact same way : you need to configure inputs inside MAME. Same case with most of emulators to be honnest. And setting up Windows for CRT gaming is a little more tricky than installing GroovyArcade ;) But hey, no trolling ! OK the soudnd would be easier to handle in Windows I agree (Linux is a pain for that)
Title: Re: GroovyArcade 2020 will display on LCD but not CRT
Post by: dre2000 on September 03, 2020, 01:15:54 pm
I disabled the onboard sound and I was able to hear talking during the groovyarcade setup. I loaded a game and there was no sound. Also I was unable to configure the xbox controller in groovymame. I can set the controls with a keyboard, but I get no response from the controller in the tab menu.
Title: Re: GroovyArcade 2020 will display on LCD but not CRT
Post by: Substring on September 03, 2020, 03:29:18 pm
I will need you to go through a few commands to help me diagnose what's happening. Feeling up for that ?
Title: Re: GroovyArcade 2020 will display on LCD but not CRT
Post by: dre2000 on September 03, 2020, 04:56:28 pm
Sure! Or you could use something like team viewer if that works. Thanks
Title: Re: GroovyArcade 2020 will display on LCD but not CRT
Post by: dre2000 on September 04, 2020, 02:03:19 am
I'm using an xbox elite series 2 controller by the way, which is usb-c. Maybe Linux doesn't work with usb-c controllers.
Title: Re: GroovyArcade 2020 will display on LCD but not CRT
Post by: Substring on September 04, 2020, 02:44:43 am
The controller is supposed to be supported by linux for  year or more.
Teamviewer : depends on your timezone, when we both have free time ... Anyway i need to gather the commands first
Title: Re: GroovyArcade 2020 will display on LCD but not CRT
Post by: dre2000 on September 04, 2020, 08:10:36 pm
Sounds good. I'm the United States on Eastern Time. Thanks!
Title: Re: GroovyArcade 2020 will display on LCD but not CRT
Post by: Substring on September 06, 2020, 06:08:29 am
Europe CET ... gonna be challenging ! Can you join the discord server in my signature ? easier for real time chat.
Title: Re: GroovyArcade 2020 will display on LCD but not CRT
Post by: dre2000 on September 06, 2020, 09:22:29 pm
Sure I will join. I will be on later today, early morning for you.