Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum
Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: Stormdemon on May 19, 2003, 03:25:53 pm
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Hello. Up to now I've been using MAME with hardware stretch, filtering and scan50 at very high res modes in my 19' PC monitor. I'm happy with this, but I've read I could get a very more authentic display if I use a real arcade monitor. I could buy a 25' used monitor and it wouldn't be too expensive. The problem is that I have no idea what's the best way to use it with my PC. I could also get a TV and use a VGA-SCART cable (I'm european). They say it offers very good quality, but I don't know if it's comparable to an arcade monitor. I don't know if I could buy this cable or I'd have to build it myself, as well as the results getting full display in my tv (no margins), and if I need special software such as advance mame or not. I look for the easiest solution, no matter if it's the most expensive. So, I've thought I could buy an arcade monitor and that graphic card called arcadevga, which claims to be perfect for this. I've also read about the ipac and jpack, but I don't understand if I would need these also, or they are alternatives to buyin the arcadevga. I already have my arcade controls (psx pad hack with usb adapter), but the monitor issues are totally new for me. Sorry if this has been asked before thousands of times, but I'd like to know what's the best solution. I don't want to ge crazy trying to configure hardware and software, or building cables etc, so please tell me what hardware and what software do I need to make this easy. My goal is to have full display at 60hz non-stretched from my vga to an arcade monitor, under dos or under windows, altough I would prefer to use mame32 and my usb sticks. At least I'd like to get this for the most usual res modes such as 304x224, 320x224, 384x224, 256x224, 240x224 etc. Thank you very much.
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I think your best bet would be an ArcadeVGA coupled with a J-Pac.
The ArcadeVGA gives you all the proper screen resolutions and the J-Pac prevents any accidental frequencies from screwing up your monitor. In addition, the J-Pac has a built-in video amp that boosts the signal and gives a much brighter image. Otherwise I hear the image can be very dark and hard to see.
Do keep in mind, though, that J-Pac is primarily a keyboard encoder. It's primary purpose is to use arcade controls such as joysticks and buttons.
The I-Pac is ONLY a keyboard encoder and offers no benefits for video.
The ultimate easy set up would be:
PC with ArcadeVGA video card
JAMMA standard arcade cabinet
J-Pac
You just put the computer inside the arcade machine, plug the J-Pac into the PC (keyboard and video), plug the control panel into the J-Pac, and BOOM... (at least in theory)
After that, the hardest thing to work out is the sound (which is probably far easier by comparison)