Monitor neophyte needs recommendations.

[Sir Auros]

Having just finished my CP, I was getting ready to mount an older TV I have in my cabinet this weekend. Turns out the 27" TV is just too big for my NFL Blitz cab (about 25" wide in the interior), so I bought the only 24" TV I could find in town (even after scouring two pawnshops).

The 24" TV won't fit through the lip in the front and I'd still have to build a shelf for it AND it didn't have S-video like the exact same model listed at Walmart's website said it had. Now I'm considering an arcade monitor, but I have reservations.

Re-reading saint's chapter on monitors, it appears that I can get an arcade monitor that's also designed for use as a computer monitor. I think I may go this route now, but I have a few questions that I'm hoping you guys can answer.

1 - What are some good vendors and brands?
2 - Do they require the kind of maintenance traditional arcade monitors seem to need? Ie - cap kits, soldering, etc. One of the biggest reservations I have about a real arcade monitor is the maintenance they have vs. what a computer monitor or TV require.
3 - Is powering them as simple as plugging a cord into a power strip, or do I need a power supply or transformer?
4 - Do monitors that work with VGA need something like Ultimarc's VGA card, or will they use a standard VGA cable? I'm hoping they do as that would greatly add to the convenience.
5 - The monitor mounts that are in my cabinet will work with a monitor with universal mounts, right? I know, this is the stupidest question.
6 - Well, this question might be stupider, but the book didn't really specify this. Are the monitors I'm looking for the ones that are labelled "multi-res?"

I hate to ask questions since they're usually so easily found by searching, but I couldn't really find a thread that had questions like these.

EDIT - Is something like this what I should be looking for?

[rockin_rick]

1 - For arcade monitors, you basically have five decisions.

First - size
Second - resolution (or multi-res)
Third - analog or digital
Fourth - flat screen or curved 'traditional' screen
Fifth - brand and model

The analog or digital choice is really only needed with the multi-res.  For a mame enviroment, I suggest only getting a digital.  See - http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=64850.0

I'd go with a Betson multi-res, namely the http://www.betson.com/products/IMP-44-4070-RT http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=65451.0.  Avoid the Wells Gardner - http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=64564.0.

2 - I wouldn't think that this would need any more than a TV.  I think that the cap kits and such that 'arcade monitors' 'need' is due to them being used in an arcade environment, meaning constantly on 24/7 (or a lot anyway), and in those conditions for years and years now.  I'd bet a TV used like that would need caps and such, too.  I highly doubt that a new monitor used in a mame cab wouldn't need (or benefit from) a cap kit for years and years.  Not a consideration unless you are using a used arcade monitor.

3 - Some need transformers, but most new ones don't.  Some plug right in (these don't need transformers), some have wires that you will need to provide voltage to (either with a transformer or not).

4 - These questions are not necessarily directly related.

First, the video cable - some have the 'typical' PC monitor plug (HDsub15) and will plug right in, others have pins on their circuit board that you will need to plug into.  The betson I linked to has a typical monitor plug and will plug right into a PC video card. 

Second, the video card  - none NEED the ArcadeVGA, but it makes it SO MUCH easier and nicer.  Without it, you will need extra software, configuring, and hassle.  (FWIW - I'm using an ArcadeVGA.) 

Third, it sounds as if you are confused about this - the resolution of the monitor (if it's 15kHz (CGA), 25 kHz (EGA), or 31kHz (VGA), or multi-res (15-31kHz auto detect), the cable it uses, and the video card are all interchangeable (assuming your video card can output the resolution (CGA, EGA, VGA) and you have configured it to do so). 

5 - I THINK so.  Not sure.

6 - What you mean is multi-sync.  This is not mandatory, but will allow more games to be played, and a better looking FE/windows enviroment.  Essentially, you want a monitor that will at least sync to 15kHz.  This is what most arcade games used, and will give the authentic arcade picture.  A multi-sync will run at 15kHz, along with other speeds, to give authentic arcade pictures for all games and will also give a higher resolution for windows.  (It can be rather blocky... but is doable on a 15kHz only monitor).  So IMO, either use a 15kHz (CGA) only monitor, or use a multi-res. 

That Happ monitor linked - not sure about it.

Rick

[Sir Auros]

Thanks man, you really helped a lot. That Betson  looks good, but I still wonder if it would work with the original mounts in the Blitz cab. I'm pretty sure the original monitor was 25", but the dimensions for that Betson would fit in the cabinet, I just don't know how universal the "universal mounts" are.

EDIT - I'm not sure now if the original monitor for this cabinet was 25" or 27", because the bezel's diagonal measurement is closer to 26" than 25. Could someone with the above mentioned Betson fill me in on what exactly their measurements mean? Does width refer to the width of the screen as you're facing it, or is that the measurement given as length? The interior of my cabinet is 25" wide, but the opening is slightly less than that, so a screen that's 25" wide I could have problems with.

[rockin_rick]

I believe that your original monitor was a 25".  I don't think that it will matter much that this one is a bit bigger.  I am not 100% positive that the Betson will drop right in (bolt holes line up), but I think so.  I've never seen posted what the bolt hole to bolt hole distance of either the monitor or what your cab is.

I bought one of those Betsons, but it is still sitting here unopened.  Mainly due to my not being ready for it (I jumped on it while it was on sale), but I am resisting opening it in case I want to sell it for some reason.  (I may just use the older 25" CGA and save myself some $$$)  I don't want to open the box so I can sell it as brand new if need be.

Someone here posted that the width of the monitor is 23.5" and that is a horz measurement across the screen.  I just measured the box and it measures 25 3/4" to the outside of the carboard.  So it can't be more than 25 1/2" (subtracting off the thickness of the cardboard), and that's only if they packaged it so it was right up against the box, and I'm sure they didn't do that.  So if there is at least 1/4" of clearance between the monitor and each of the inside sides of the box, then it would be 25" or less and fit.  Looking at this site -http://www.retroblast.com/reviews/betson.html shows the packaging and also states that it uses a 'standard arcade mounting frame' and that he swapped with a WG D9200.  I imagine that there is someone on here that has put one into a midway type cab (blitz, nba, MK, KI, etc) can can say for sure, but I've never researched that.  Maybe a specific post regarding that?

Rick

[Sir Auros]

Hopefully someone around here has experience with this cab, so I'll see if I get a response in a thread dedicated to that.

I'm still wondering if anyone knows anything about this 24.8" Makvision monitor. It says it supports the three modes, but I can't figure out if it uses a regular VGA cable, if it will save settings so I don't have to recalibrate things every time I switch resolutions, etc.

It looks like the best solution I've been able to find that supports VGA resolution AND is comparable size to the monitor that was originally in my cabinet.

[ahofle]

Billabs also has a 24.8" multisync (digital).  I haven't been able to find any reviews of it either though.
http://www.billabs.com/crts.htm

[Malenko]

your cab came with a 25" monitor, its the same cab as Mortal Kombat 1, 2,3,Killer Instinct 1&2, etc with a different CP

[Sir Auros]

I just feel so over my head with arcade monitors that I almost would really prefer a TV. Thanks for the confirmation on the cab. and the suggestion on the Billabs monitor, guys.

[ahofle]

If you already have a TV you should just go with that for now just to get it all going.  You can always upgrade to an arcade monitor later even if you build a monitor shelf (that's what I did).  It really is worth it IMO.

[Sir Auros]

Found a TV at a pawnshop today that I'm almost certain will work. I had measured it yesterday and made a cardboard 2D footprint for it and I was able to fit that into the cabinet. The footprint was actually even larger than the TV was in some places.

It remembers to stay on the video input AND will power on automatically if unplugged and plugged back in AND the original bezel for the cabinet fits it almost perfectly. The only downside is that it has composite input instead of S-video; however, after testing it out, it doesn't look worse than the 27" I was originally going to use that did have S-video.

[Joystick Jerk]

I believe that your original monitor was a 25".  I don't think that it will matter much that this one is a bit bigger.  I am not 100% positive that the Betson will drop right in (bolt holes line up), but I think so.  I've never seen posted what the bolt hole to bolt hole distance of either the monitor or what your cab is.

I bought one of those Betsons, but it is still sitting here unopened.  Mainly due to my not being ready for it (I jumped on it while it was on sale), but I am resisting opening it in case I want to sell it for some reason.  (I may just use the older 25" CGA and save myself some $$$)  I don't want to open the box so I can sell it as brand new if need be.

Someone here posted that the width of the monitor is 23.5" and that is a horz measurement across the screen.  I just measured the box and it measures 25 3/4" to the outside of the carboard.  So it can't be more than 25 1/2" (subtracting off the thickness of the cardboard), and that's only if they packaged it so it was right up against the box, and I'm sure they didn't do that.  So if there is at least 1/4" of clearance between the monitor and each of the inside sides of the box, then it would be 25" or less and fit.  Looking at this site -http://www.retroblast.com/reviews/betson.html shows the packaging and also states that it uses a 'standard arcade mounting frame' and that he swapped with a WG D9200.  I imagine that there is someone on here that has put one into a midway type cab (blitz, nba, MK, KI, etc) can can say for sure, but I've never researched that.  Maybe a specific post regarding that?

Rick

What size was the Betson you bought? And any chance wou might want to sell to a fellow BYOAC'er? I'm looking to either acquire a Betson or a Billabs, but I'm in Canada, so I'm trying to avoid the crazy shipping charges that most companies charge by default. Not to mention trying to find a digital tri-sync locally in Canada is like trying to find quality in an Uwe Boll film.

[Sir Auros]

I'm pretty sure it was the 27" that was on sale in the Spring that he bought. I'd shoot him a PM if you want to see if he's interested in selling.

[rockin_rick]

What size was the Betson you bought? And any chance wou might want to sell to a fellow BYOAC'er? I'm looking to either acquire a Betson or a Billabs, but I'm in Canada, so I'm trying to avoid the crazy shipping charges that most companies charge by default. Not to mention trying to find a digital tri-sync locally in Canada is like trying to find quality in an Uwe Boll film.

27"  It's the one that I linked to in reply #1.  I'm not sure yet if I'm going to sell it, I'm leaning towards keeping/using it right now...  I'll keep you in mind though.

Rick