NEC XV29+ 29" Multisync Professional Monitor

[MrBond]

Has anyone had experience using NEC XV29+ multisync monitor in an arcade cabinet setup?  I recently purchased one and would like to know if there is anything I should know about using it in a MAME cab.  I also have the remote.

What is the best resolution to run it at for MAME, or how do I set it up to use actual arcade resolutions?  I am currently running the Hyperspin FE.

Currently I can get it to do 800x600 @ 60Hz.  I am using two ATI Radeon HD 3870s in crossfire.  The horizontal scan rate cannot exceed 40KHz or it doesn't work correctly.  I briefly tried powerstrip and couldn't find options for either increasing the screen resolution while decreasing the scan rate (for higher res computer games), or setting up lower res arcade resolutions.

Thanks!

[Jack Burton]

Well, this monitor is going to be able to do 240 line resolutions.  I'm not sure if it's going to be able to do that at 15 or 31khz.  From googling about it looks like it is a variation on the XM29 series, and should be able to support 15khz.


Easiest way to test is to install either soft15hz or groovymame.  Groovymame is designed for work with ATI cards, so that is where you should start. 

[MrBond]

Thanks for your reply!  I'll have to do a little research on what soft15hz or groovymame are.  I am a bit rusty at MAME/arcade control building, as I haven't done much in around 5 years.  I recently reacquired my cab from storage and the monitor needed replaced- thus the xv29+ purchase. 

[Gray_Area]

15.7, 31-50 khz |  55-90hz

Read the monitor section of the wiki.

[MrBond]

15.7, 31-50 khz |  55-90hz

Read the monitor section of the wiki.

You mean this one? http://wiki.arcadecontrols.com/wiki/Video

Is this the best link to learn about Soft-15khz?: http://wiki.arcadecontrols.com/wiki/Custom_display_modes_%28Windows%29_-_Soft-15khz
And is this this the best link to learn about groovymame?: http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=110905.0

Is it worth learning about 15khz and native resolutions?  Does it look a lot better than running at 800x600 stretched or whatever the default is?  I imagine there are a lot of new video options in MAME since I last downloaded it.  Sorry, it's literally been 5 years since I've worked on my cab.  I think I might have a lot of catching up to do.

[Jack Burton]

It will look a lot better than 800x600.  

However, the specs of your monitor concern me a bit.  Some monitors list their range like this:

15-31khz

and some list like this:

15.7;31-38khz

notice the semi-colon?

On some monitors 15 khz is supported a displayable signal, but the monitor will perform an internal line doubling.  Let's hope that yours isn't one of these.  

It's pretty easy to try out Soft 15khz.  Just download the program, run it and click "install 15khz", make sure you are in some res like 800x600 or below and then restart your computer.  

After that start up an emulator like mameUI and try to change the resolution that your games will display at.  You will notice that you have many more options. Try playing a game like Street Fighter II in 392x240.  Make sure you have all stretching and filters off.  Also turn off any aspect ratio corretion.  After than, once you're in the game you'll probably have to use your monitors horizontal and vertical size controls to resize the picture since you changed resolutions.

You'll notice a huge difference in sharpness compared to a scaled and blurry 800x600.

[Gray_Area]

15.7, 31-50 khz |  55-90hz

Read the monitor section of the wiki.

You mean this one? http://wiki.arcadecontrols.com/wiki/Video

Is this the best link to learn about Soft-15khz?: http://wiki.arcadecontrols.com/wiki/Custom_display_modes_%28Windows%29_-_Soft-15khz
And is this this the best link to learn about groovymame?: http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=110905.0

Is it worth learning about 15khz and native resolutions?  Does it look a lot better than running at 800x600 stretched or whatever the default is?

Yes. Yes. That forum, at least, yes. And YES.