Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum

Main => Monitor/Video Forum => Topic started by: rupedog on June 05, 2009, 08:57:59 am

Title: Is a 21" monitor big enough for vertical games?
Post by: rupedog on June 05, 2009, 08:57:59 am: I have been searching the forums and the web trying to find out what the "best" monitor size is for an all purpose MAME arcade and I have heard a couple of different things:

1. Too big of a screen (25"+) is not good for playability, but 21" "is perfect". (http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=14644.0)
2. You need at least a 25" screen for vertical games.

This makes me wonder - which size is best for an all purpose standard arcade where I want to play both horizontal and vertical games with a horizontally mounted monitor?

I was planning on using a TV and the cabinet has to fit between a 29.5" door frame if that makes a difference.

Thanks!
Title: Re: Is a 21" monitor big enough for vertical games?
Post by: HaRuMaN on June 05, 2009, 09:09:12 am: If you're going to play vert games on a horiz screen, I would say go with the 25".
Title: Re: Is a 21" monitor big enough for vertical games?
Post by: Jack Burton on June 05, 2009, 12:46:12 pm: I've been playing games on my cab with a 20" monitor for a while now. Vertical games look fine usually, about the same size as they would on a cocktail cab. But I do wish the monitor was larger.

I agree, go with a 25" monitor.
Title: Re: Is a 21" monitor big enough for vertical games?
Post by: rupedog on June 07, 2009, 08:47:15 am: Thanks guys! I'll go with the 25".
Title: Re: Is a 21" monitor big enough for vertical games?
Post by: Blanka on June 07, 2009, 10:06:20 am: Most vertical classics had a 19 inch screen. The 25 inch has the same heigth as a vertical mounted 19 inch. So it is perfect for a combination of modern horizontal with classic vertical games.
Title: Re: Is a 21" monitor big enough for vertical games?
Post by: IG-88 on June 07, 2009, 10:20:03 am: I got an old 25" Zenith in my vert cab, games look great. How are interfacing the PC to the TV?
Title: Re: Is a 21" monitor big enough for vertical games?
Post by: rupedog on June 08, 2009, 08:32:49 am: I was planning on using the TV-out of a video card (which I still have to pick up) using S-video, unless you've got a better idea :)
Title: Re: Is a 21" monitor big enough for vertical games?
Post by: HaRuMaN on June 08, 2009, 09:09:00 am: Quote from: rupedog on June 08, 2009, 08:32:49 am
I was planning on using the TV-out of a video card (which I still have to pick up) using S-video, unless you've got a better idea :)

That should work just fine.
Title: Re: Is a 21" monitor big enough for vertical games?
Post by: IG-88 on June 08, 2009, 04:53:15 pm: I agree, that should work. Tell us tho what you think of the quality when you get it running. Some don't like the whole S-Vid thing...
Title: Re: Is a 21" monitor big enough for vertical games?
Post by: rupedog on June 08, 2009, 05:08:55 pm: Quote from: IG-88 on June 08, 2009, 04:53:15 pm
I agree, that should work. Tell us tho what you think of the quality when you get it running. Some don't like the whole S-Vid thing...

Well I haven't bought the video card or TV yet (looking for them now). Is there a better alternative that isn't very expensive? TV's are real cheap now that everyone is going HD and so are basic video cards with S-video out, so it is an attractive option for me :)
Title: Re: Is a 21" monitor big enough for vertical games?
Post by: Ummon on June 08, 2009, 06:46:14 pm: I've seen some pictures of S-vid that SEEM to look pretty good. However, in my own experience, I haven't found anything that I could live with, and the pictures I've taken of those look pretty decent, too. ??