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Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: edge10 on January 26, 2010, 03:49:36 pm

Title: Is 800x600 a good resolution for Tempest on a CRT?
Post by: edge10 on January 26, 2010, 03:49:36 pm

Maybe a stoopid question, but I am looking at one of the Gateway 27" monitors that has 8x6 max resolution at 60hz.  :dizzy:

Thanks

Title: Re: Is 800x600 a good resolution for Tempest on a CRT?
Post by: Necro on January 26, 2010, 04:13:26 pm

It should be.

See these:
- http://www.ultrathegame.com/tempest.html (http://www.ultrathegame.com/tempest.html)
- http://www.vectorvga.com/Download/VectorVGA%20Tempest/VectorVGA%20Tempest%20Manual%20v1.1.pdf (http://www.vectorvga.com/Download/VectorVGA%20Tempest/VectorVGA%20Tempest%20Manual%20v1.1.pdf)
- http://www.ultrathegame.com/tempest/6100_faq.pdf (http://www.ultrathegame.com/tempest/6100_faq.pdf)

The second is for a adapter card to use tempest boards with a VGA out...and it puts out an 800x600 signal it seems.

Title: Re: Is 800x600 a good resolution for Tempest on a CRT?
Post by: ahofle on January 27, 2010, 01:07:18 am

That's not a stupid question.  Generally speaking, go as high as your monitor supports for vector games on non-vector monitors.  I usually bump up the gamma and beam width a bit too.

Title: Re: Is 800x600 a good resolution for Tempest on a CRT?
Post by: scr33n on January 27, 2010, 11:13:46 am

Take a look at my Tempest project:

http://www.dragonslairfans.com/smfor/index.php?topic=1055.0 (http://www.dragonslairfans.com/smfor/index.php?topic=1055.0)

I use a 21" crt monitor 1600x1200 with misfitmame ... nice result.

here a video:

ATARI TEMPEST Video Test (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MO1fid9sD8U#)

Title: Re: Is 800x600 a good resolution for Tempest on a CRT?
Post by: edge10 on January 27, 2010, 11:21:35 am

Thanks for the replies.

I should have been clear, I do intend to run under MAME and am primarily interested in the Vector games from Atari, Cinematronics, Sega, etc. (and any other early 80s game).

My current choices are the 27" Gateway (800x600) or a 20" Micron (supposedly with a Trinitron tube).  Information on both is hard to come by.

Title: Re: Is 800x600 a good resolution for Tempest on a CRT?
Post by: Necro on January 28, 2010, 09:13:54 am

This is for a cabinet?  Go with the bigger one if it fits.  That's a HUGE size difference in actual area - remember those numbers are diagonals.

Title: Re: Is 800x600 a good resolution for Tempest on a CRT?
Post by: RandyT on January 30, 2010, 06:27:14 pm

800x600 will be ok, but not great.  Tempest was a vector title, so no pixels per se.  However, it was a color vector title, so the crt still had a resolution of its own.  With modern, small dot pitch crts and high res graphics cards driving them, you can actually have a sharper looking display than the original, albeit without the "pop" the vector monitor provides.

I think the original dot pitch of the display calculated out to something equal to 1280x1024.  It's usually best to aim a little high on the side of resolution, and then use a higher "beam width" setting to get it bright and colorful. 

It will still be plenty playable and not look too bad at 800x600, but you would likely see some "jaggy" lines.

RandyT

Title: Re: Is 800x600 a good resolution for Tempest on a CRT?
Post by: edge10 on January 31, 2010, 01:56:05 pm

Thanks guys.  The big monitor slipped away, so I'll be looking for something probably in the 20"-22" territory.

Yes this is for a MAME cab I am building, with a width of approx 26". Pics to follow once I figure out the hosting therein.