Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum
Main => Monitor/Video Forum => Topic started by: JAdamz01 on July 21, 2003, 03:22:01 pm
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Hey all. I've been looking around for a place to ask this question, and I think this is the place :)
I just bought an ArcadeVGA video card, and I was planning on buying a new Wells-Gardner 19" CGA monitor to replace the burnt-in one that came in the cabinet I am using. It is just now that I am reading about the U3100 series VGA monitors, and I am wondering if this is the way I should go. Do these VGA monitors look as arcade-authentic as the CGA monitors? Or is the CGA monitor the way to go as far as "authenticity" goes? All I will be playing is arcade games on it (except for MAYBE Golden Tee Golf for the PC, but that's it). Thanks :)
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Okay, I don't have a U3100, so take this with a grain of salt. :)
Looking at the specs on the Wells Gardner site, the U3100 is a straight VGA monitor. (Unlike the D9200, which can do 15.7 khZ(CGA), 25.5 khZ(EGA) and 31.5(VGA) modes.) The U3100 doesn't support the 15.7 khZ horizontal sync modes of the CGA monitors, so if you bought one you'd lose most of the functionality of your ArcadeVGA card.
On the other hand, you could sell the ArcadeVGA, (or save it for a dedicated vertical cabinet with a CGA monitor) and use a normal video card with the U3100 in your current project.
As far as what looks more authentic, I'd tend to favor the 19" CGA monitor as 90% of the arcade games out there use them.
HTH,
Butch...
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Well what ended up happening was I got non-working cabinet for free after purchasing a pinball machine. Surprisingly the cabinet had everything in it, right down to the PCB -- I think the only problem was a broken power supply or something. Anyway, I was planning on using the monitor that was in there, which was an old Wells-Gardner. I wanted to have the simplicity of the ArcadeVGA card to use with it, so I bought it right when I got the machine. However, after dismantling the machine and removing the smoked glass I discovered just how bad the burn-in was.
So, that leaves me with an ArcadeVGA card on its way and the need to buy a new monitor. I do not want the games to look like they're on a PC monitor, since that's the main reason I'm going with an arcade monitor. I'm assuming I will still go with a CGA monitor (in particular the K7200A model), but I was just curious what this U3100 is all about and if it still retains that arcade-like feel.
Thanks for the reply Tail. If anybody else has anything I'm still open for comments/suggestions :)
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I agree with Tailgunner's conclusions... If the U3100 does not support 15kHz horizontal frequency, as the specs suggest, then it may not even display a picture (or just garbage) with the ArcadeVGA.
I am more impressed every day with the ArcadeVGA/W-G 7xxx combo I'm running in my cocktail. So much that I'm right on the verge of ditching the D9100 in my upright and getting another CGA arcade monitor and ArcadeVGA for it. Running the Windows desktop in an interlaced mode is completely a non-issue to me since I primarily just run MAME anyway, but even the few Windows-based games I've run on it look just fine to me. I would much rather that Galaga, Pac-Man, Time Pilot, etc. look as perfect as they can be since the reason I built my cabinet was to play arcade games. Running a couple other PC games is a bonus, and I would rather sacrifice the appearance of those games (if there is a sacrifice) than the real arcade games.
In short, I feel that the extra $100 or so the U3100 costs over a K7200 would be better spent elsewhere, assuming that the U3100 would even work properly with the ArcadeVGA.
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Ok, sounds good. I wouldn't have used the ArcadeVGA with the U3100 since it's not necessary. But it looks like the card will come in good use now since I think I'll go with the CGA monitor. Thanks for the replies :)
I just have one more question for those who can answer it -- on the WG website under the CGA 2700 series monitors, they list a 19" Horizontal monitor, and a 19" CLR Universal monitor. What's the difference between the two? My cabinet is a Track & Field cabinet, and the monitor is on a pretty extreme angle. Will the horizontal work fine in this angle? Thanks!