Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum
Main => Monitor/Video Forum => Topic started by: boodroe on October 20, 2006, 04:07:11 pm
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I am looking into getting a betson arcade monitor. If it is a hybrid monitor and has a vga cable that will plug directly into a regular video card why are people using the ArcadeVGA video card? Does the monitor's regualr vga input not work as well, is there a disadvantage to using it. I read the review on retroblast and he doesnt specify which is better. Any answers? Thanks.
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It does work great direct from a normal VGA card! I've had mine connected to an old 3DFX a Radeon 9700 Pro, and 2 Ge-Force cards. The reason people use the Arcade VGA is to obtain all classic video perfection. Specifically 15hz.. Which many older arcade boards used. Standard PC is like 31.5hz or something to that effect. WHich works fine, but games are more crisp than their suppose to be.
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Using a multi-frequency monitor with a regular card is rather like buying a Ferrari and never driving it above 30 MPH. Why spend the extra money than not use it in arcade monitor mode? These monitors can run as standard res arcade monitors, medium res, or VGA monitors. Using a regular card means no arcade monitor modes and it will run VGA only.
In fact can I take the opportunity to quote from a customer's email which I received today. Rich from Orlando wrote:
"Just wanted to drop you a line to let you know the Arcade VGA came on Friday and I have it up and running with the Billabs 27" monitor....
The card is incredible... it makes it so much easier in Mame32 to configure all the resolutions!
I'm in love with the 352X288 resolution for vertical games! Galaga looks incredible..."
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I think the operative word is "easier".
A good number of modern graphics cards (pretty much any Radeon) do the true arcade resolutions, but require a utility like PowerStrip. There is a very good write-up (http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=43728.0) in this section about how to go about it.
The Multi-mode monitors make the PowerStrip approach even easier than the fixed 15khz models, as they are able to sync to standard PC resolutions until the true arcade res is required (IE. boot screens, non-interlaced desktops, etc.)
In short, your choice will depend on how much effort you want to put into it, but you don't need a non-standard card to get true arcade resolutions.
RandyT