24-26" digital trisync monitor for arcade cabinet

[dekar24k]

Heya guys! I haven't been active in ages, as I've had way too much work lately.

So, I have finally bought a house and I finally have room for a dedicated bar/pool/arcade room in the basement. So, I guess it's time to start planning my next arcade build!

This time I will go for a cabinet that can house a 26" (max) monitor, but the problem is that I simply can't decide what to go for. Are there any good digital tri-sync arcade monitors around this size, or do I need to de-case a TV?

I used a WG D9800 for my last project, which was an amazing monitor and I don't think I want to settle for less this time.

Any input is highly appreciated. I'm open for all suggestions. Thanks!

[lilshawn]

sorry  there's nothin'

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=110025.0

[dekar24k]

sorry  there's nothin'

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=110025.0

Thanks for informing me. The Makvision looks decent, but it's apparently not digital, so it's "useless" for me.

Oh well.. This looks bad.. Guess I will have to get a decent TV and de-case it...

[Jexter]

I'm also trying to figure out what monitor to stick in my cab and was looking at the Makvision.  Maybe I missed something obvious but why do you want a digital tri-sync and or why is the Makvision "useless" for you?

[dekar24k]

Well, correct me if I'm wrong, but the Makvision is analog which means that it will not remember its monitor settings when it switches modes. E.g. you adjust a game running in VGA so it fits the screen perfectly, then switch to an EGA game and back to a VGA game again, which will then need to be adjusted all over again because the monitor doesn't remember the settings you adjusted earlier.

[Jexter]

Ah, well that would suck then, somehow missed that little point amongst all my reading recently. 

I guess TV may have to be the way, or lose some realism and go LCD.  I picked up a good TV a while back before I acquired more funds for the project. 

Reaaalllly did not want to have to de-case it though 

[lilshawn]

Well, correct me if I'm wrong, but the Makvision is analog which means that it will not remember its monitor settings when it switches modes. E.g. you adjust a game running in VGA so it fits the screen perfectly, then switch to an EGA game and back to a VGA game again, which will then need to be adjusted all over again because the monitor doesn't remember the settings you adjusted earlier.

correct. the makvision is multFREQUENCY

meaning yes it will sync to just about any of the standard resolutions, but once set for it, that's what it's set for. all sorts of tweaks need to be applied to change resolutions.

[therizzle]

correct. the makvision is multFREQUENCY

meaning yes it will sync to just about any of the standard resolutions, but once set for it, that's what it's set for. all sorts of tweaks need to be applied to change resolutions.

Do you know of a thread on here or somewhere on the Wiki that I can see how much work this entails? I was looking at that Makvision monitor from Happ for my cab, but if it is going to be a huge hassle to get games running properly, I might have to explore other options.

[newmanfamilyvlogs]

If it will fit your cabinet, I have this monitor:
http://www.xgaming.com/store/arcade-parts-and-accessories/product/weiya-29-flat-screen-crt-arcade-monitor/

It runs in the 31kHz mode, but you can run 15kHz games at exactly 2X scaled resolutions, and they look otherwise pixel perfect.

[Jexter]

If it will fit your cabinet, I have this monitor:
http://www.xgaming.com/store/arcade-parts-and-accessories/product/weiya-29-flat-screen-crt-arcade-monitor/

It runs in the 31kHz mode, but you can run 15kHz games at exactly 2X scaled resolutions, and they look otherwise pixel perfect.

I was just catching up on the other thread where this was being talked about (http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=110025.msg1165071#msg1165071) and it sounded like this is sort of the agreed upon "best option" at this point.  That is, get the higher rez CRT and double the old game resolutions.

Couple questions about your setup if you dont mind.
What option are you using to 2x the 15kHz games?
What video card you are using?
When doubling the resolutions does it still fill the screen perfectly?

[newmanfamilyvlogs]

I am using Groovymame and modified Ati drivers that compliment it. they are both available on the groovymame subforum. I'm running them on an HD4250 on XP64.  So far all games fill perfectly after adjusting monitor settings. The monitor I linked to stores multimode settings.

[Jexter]

I am using Groovymame and modified Ati drivers that compliment it. they are both available on the groovymame subforum. I'm running them on an HD4250 on XP64.  So far all games fill perfectly after adjusting monitor settings. The monitor I linked to stores multimode settings.

Thx for the info.  I had not checked out Groovymame yet, looks like it may do a lot for you.

I'm considering ordering that same monitor.  I'm in a similar boat to the original poster, accept I've just put off building my cab  for years an now all the options for decent realism are drying up 

Did you have to adjust the screen for each of the games you wanted or just specific resolution sets that most games play at?
When you say it will store multimode settings, can you give an example?  Do you mean something like you load up game X and get it looking just right on the monitor and based off of the given resolution/frequency it will remember those tweaks next time it loads up?  Or something else completely?  Does it ever forget them?
Thanks again for the info, trying to make sure I understand what i'm getting myself into if I spend the money on the monitor

[newmanfamilyvlogs]

I am using Groovymame and modified Ati drivers that compliment it. they are both available on the groovymame subforum. I'm running them on an HD4250 on XP64.  So far all games fill perfectly after adjusting monitor settings. The monitor I linked to stores multimode settings.

Thx for the info.  I had not checked out Groovymame yet, looks like it may do a lot for you.

I'm considering ordering that same monitor.  I'm in a similar boat to the original poster, accept I've just put off building my cab  for years an now all the options for decent realism are drying up 

Did you have to adjust the screen for each of the games you wanted or just specific resolution sets that most games play at?
When you say it will store multimode settings, can you give an example?  Do you mean something like you load up game X and get it looking just right on the monitor and based off of the given resolution/frequency it will remember those tweaks next time it loads up?  Or something else completely?  Does it ever forget them?
Thanks again for the info, trying to make sure I understand what i'm getting myself into if I spend the money on the monitor

There will be some sort of limit on the number of modes the monitor will remember the settings for, but I don't seem to have found it yet. I have a little over 100 games in my 'favorites' list (horizontal and vertical, ranging from low-res games like Missile Command up to Dreamcast games running at 800x600), and after adjusting display settings once, it has remembered them.

It seems to remember settings based on the number of lines displayed. There's less variation in that number than in the number of pixels across. For example the h-stretch and v-stretch settings for 640x480 and 600x480 would be the same.


Prior to this monitor I used a 25" Wells-Gardner Std. Res monitor, using Soft15kHz. This new configuration using doubled resolutions is much more serviceable. When doing maintanence on the computer, almost all the modes are big enough to actually use the pc without buttons being forced off screen, and if I take the PC out of the cab, it even worked properly on an LCD monitor (though the monitor did display an "unsupported resolution" message on a few of the oddball modes, even as it continued to display it).

[Jexter]

Sweet, that sounds doable.  Many thanks for the info