Going LCD...

[rcub3]

So I'm close to starting to work on my first cabinet.  I have the pc ready, audio ready, and about to start working on building a cab from scratch.  The only reason I haven't started is because of having a hard time deciding what to go with in terms of monitors. 

I think last night I finally made up my mind to go with LCD.  So my question to you is, other than working with the scanline options MAME offers, are there any other 'tricks' I can use to get slightly closer to "the real thing" (ie arcade monitor look)? 

[clutch]

Put it next to a real monitor?

[jennifer]

          Use a smoked plexi..... and the right bezel.

[shanghaiguide]

slg3000
http://shoryuken.com/f177/scanline-generator-slg3000-264500/
http://shmups.system11.org/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=33454&start=540
http://forum.arcadeotaku.com/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=14441&start=30&hilit=slg3000


or a circuit to do the same thing for pennies here -
http://nfggames.com/forum2/index.php?topic=4422.0

[Blanka]

Just go blocky! Seriously, I just have all the games running 5x5 pixel pixels: 240 lines upscaled to 1200 vertical in total 5x5 cube awesomeness.
Smoked plexi: not needed with a good panel. LCD's are so black compared to tubes, they are as dark as the bezel by themselves. But you need a good panel. Backlight bleed or too high minimum brightness can make things worse than ideal. And grab a wide gamut if you can.

[rcub3]

Put it next to a real monitor?

Nice.  Good one.   

Just last night I ran into the SLG.... Looks pretty nice.  Thanks for the info. 

[rcub3]

Had a chance to play with MAMEUI's scanline settings.  It actually looks pretty decent.  I think I'll just stick with that for now. 

[Jack Burton]

I think the SLG is for use with PCB's and consoles.  A computer should be able to replicate the effect without the need for extra hardware.

I agree with Blanka though.  The nature of LCD is to be blocky, embrace it.  

The main thing is to be aware of is that you don't create false pixels in your image when scaling up to an LCD.  By false pixels, I mean extra pixels added into the image when it is upscaled at a non 1:1 ratio.  If you don't have that games that have pixel precise gameplay like shmups will be comprised.  

So always scale at an exact multiple of the original resolution.  However, this presents it's own problem in that the native res of your LCD monitor may not be an exact multiple, and you may have to choose one that doesn't completely fill the screen.  I would rather have a little black space than an inaccurate image though.  

[Gray_Area]

I think the SLG is for use with PCB's and consoles.   

Nothing the addition of Soft15khz can't remedy.