Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum

Main => Monitor/Video Forum => Topic started by: bluevolume on July 27, 2007, 09:42:04 am

Title: Use arcade monitor or switch to PC monitor?
Post by: bluevolume on July 27, 2007, 09:42:04 am
This is my first post, please excuse me in advance  ;)

I picked up a working "Bad Dudes" machine with the intention of turning it into a Mame box.  I'm trying to decide what to do with the video -- there is a 19" Philips (pretty sure) arcade monitor in there that seems to be in good shape.  Any advice on whether I should keep that one and drive it with ArcadeVGA, or if it would make more sense to just put a 21" PC monitor in its place?  How difficult/dangerous would it be to re-wire the existing monitor with a compatible VGA interface?

Here's the machine:
http://www.klov.com/game_detail.php?game_id=6991

Thanks!
Title: Re: Use arcade monitor or switch to PC monitor?
Post by: SirPeale on July 27, 2007, 10:28:31 am
Keep the arcade monitor.

And Phillips doesn't make monitors.  Only tubes.
Title: Re: Use arcade monitor or switch to PC monitor?
Post by: bluevolume on July 27, 2007, 10:50:40 am
Good to know -- I'll take a second look at the monitor and find out exactly what it is.  I'm thinking it may have been replaced, the copywright on the game is 1988 yet the manufacture date of the monitor is 1990.
Title: Re: Use arcade monitor or switch to PC monitor?
Post by: ahofle on July 27, 2007, 11:19:20 am
Definitely keep the monitor.  An arcade monitor is usually the most expensive part of making a MAME cab.  Also you won't be sorry with the authentic look of the games with the ArcadeVGA.
Title: Re: Use arcade monitor or switch to PC monitor?
Post by: siastbill1 on July 27, 2007, 01:22:17 pm
Yah, it is pretty easy (relatively speaking), to get an arcade monitor working with a PC. Either buy an ArcadeVGA or use Advancemame with a Trident or Nvidia TNT2 video card.

But, on another topic, do you really want to gut a working Bad Dudes machine? If it's an original cab with artwork and the whole lot (and not just a hacked up conversion cab), then hacking it to bits might be kinda sad :(

But, if it is just some generic cab that has already been hacked up a few times, then I wouldn't feel as bad converting it to a Mame box.
Title: Re: Use arcade monitor or switch to PC monitor?
Post by: SirPeale on July 27, 2007, 01:36:47 pm
He could always just stick a JPAC in there and use the JAMMA wiring as-is.
Title: Re: Use arcade monitor or switch to PC monitor?
Post by: bluevolume on July 27, 2007, 02:52:45 pm
Yah, it is pretty easy (relatively speaking), to get an arcade monitor working with a PC. Either buy an ArcadeVGA or use Advancemame with a Trident or Nvidia TNT2 video card.

But, on another topic, do you really want to gut a working Bad Dudes machine? If it's an original cab with artwork and the whole lot (and not just a hacked up conversion cab), then hacking it to bits might be kinda sad :(

But, if it is just some generic cab that has already been hacked up a few times, then I wouldn't feel as bad converting it to a Mame box.

You know, that's EXACTLY what I have been thinking since I picked it up.  It is in really good shape, only took an hour or so of cleaning contacts and fixing some bent parts in the coin validater.  There's a little bit of wear on the side decals.  The control panel is beautiful, bezel and marquee both in almost new condition.

I've been trying to decide if I should go ahead with it or just unload it and try and find a non-working case.  What does everyone else think?  Is sacrificing a good arcade a sin????