Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum
Main => Monitor/Video Forum => Topic started by: durak on July 29, 2004, 07:54:35 am
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I might be getting an arcade monitor after all for my cab, so I have a few questions.
I've read about getting good results with radeon cards and powerstrip running windows at 15kHz, but the boot up sequence is a problem, no? It will output 31kHz no matter what?
Since I don't have a j-pac which to my understanding would protect the monitor from unsuitable frequencies, and there's no point in ordering one since I could then just order arcadevga card for a little more, is there any other solution to the problem?
I know I could just turn the monitor on a couple minutes later than the computer, but then again it wouldn't be very convenient and besides windows could go to blue screen, boot etc do whatever windows usually does and give frequencies other than 15kHz to the monitor.
I guess my question is is there any solution to this, or if there's not will the occasional wrong frequencies kill or damage the monitor? I plan on getting the arcadevga card later. Just want to get the cab first to working condition and can't really afford to order it right now.
I have to go with windows only, since I already ordered the usb only i-pac. :-\
I have all in wonder radeon 32mb and riva tnt2 64mb cards, I guess the ati is the one to go with?
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Yes, without an arcadeVGA the bootup sequence will be at 31khz, unless you have a jpac in the way to split it in half this could damage your arcade monitor/tube (more likley it will damage the monitor).
Most frontends can be set to play a sound or something when it is safe to turn the screen on, just have windoes boot straight into the frontend and get it to beep when you are good to go.
You can also build a thingie that attaches to your paralell port and switches the screen on when MAME(or some other emu) tells it to. There were plans for this, and special builds of themulators to power it floating around about 4 years back. But with the advent of the arcadevga/Jpac no-one really does this any more, one of the other old timers might be able to tell you more.
I have to be honest man, just buy the jpac/arcadevga. they are incredably cheap for what they are (a custom peice of electronics for a tiny niche market) and they really do work very well. They'll make all your problems go away.
Unfortunatly this is not a cheap hobby :-(
I also responded to your post about buying a second hand screen. Have been in this situation myself in the bast and I'm no expert but hopefuly you can learn from my mistakes.