Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum

Main => Monitor/Video Forum => Topic started by: MoonDog on September 17, 2004, 02:02:04 am

Title: best way to hook up this tv/monitor?
Post by: MoonDog on September 17, 2004, 02:02:04 am

I've been wondering about hooking up my TV to run MAME.  From what I've gathered it seems like the pecking order is PC monitor, TV, and then of course and actual arcade monitor.  What I'm wondering is what would be the best way to hook up my TV since it's not a normal television.

It as a Sony 25" PVM-2530 monitor (no tuner) which has the standard composite and s video inputs, but also has an RGB computer input.  It's not the normal HD-15, but a DP-25 and the manual I have shows the pinout.  In it's day (mid to late 1980's) it was a high end monitor.  It weighs 116 lbs!

I don't have a video card with TV out and I have't built a cable to test the RGB input, but what would you think would be the better way to hook this up as far as MAME is concerned?

Thanks.

Title: Re:best way to hook up this tv/monitor?
Post by: seibu on September 17, 2004, 04:11:47 am

Hmm. This monitor may be really cool!

Probably the easiest thing to do is check the monitor specs to see what frequency range it supports. It might be a 15khz fixed frequency monitor, or it might be a multisync and do 16.5khz, 25khz or even 31khz.

I'd definitely connect it up via RGB - nothing else comes close in terms of picture quality.

If it's a 15khz fixed frequency monitor you'll have to get your PC to output a 15Khz signal either using an AdvanceVGA card or AdvanceMAME. You may have to make your own cable too.

If you go the AdvanceMAME route and it's a multisync, you can effectively display any resolution at any frequency and play every game in MAME at it's correct resolution.

Title: Re:best way to hook up this tv/monitor?
Post by: dabone on September 17, 2004, 08:51:45 am

I looked up the manual for that beast, and you are in luck!
RGB in at 15k with .7 vP-P input.

This monitor will require either a Arcadevga card or advancemame for the correct 15k output (It's not a vga monitor, think of it as a Really fancy arcade monitor)



DB25 Connector.


3 - Composite Neg Sync.
4 - Blue Input
5 - Green Input
6 - Red Input

9 - Analog/Digital Select. Be Sure this pin is NOT grounded or your monitor will be in TTL mode. (8 colors)


I don't see a gnd listed on the manual for the db25 connector, so first I'd try the outer shield of the db25 connector.


I found the manual at the bottom of this page.

http://www.broadcaststore.com/store/model_detail.cfm?id=5062


You do not need a Amp with this monitor as it already takes VGA line level inputs.

Later,
dabone

Title: Re:best way to hook up this tv/monitor?
Post by: MoonDog on September 17, 2004, 04:39:21 pm

I looked at the monitor specs last night after posting and I noticed that it showed 640 x 200 and I realized that I might need ArcadeVGA to run it.  I'm not very familiar with AdvanceMAME, but it sounds like this might be a good solution.  Does that mean I can use a standard video card?  What are the disadvanges over spending the $ for an ArcadeVGA card?

The only problem is this is my primary television.  Maybe I'll make a BYO console system that runs MAME.

Title: Re: best way to hook up this tv/monitor?
Post by: wakeup on July 21, 2005, 10:30:03 am

Does anyone else have any experience with this monitor in an arcade?

Sony PVM-2530

It supports a maximum resolution of 640x200 which might be a problem.