Need help with Groovymame, as not detecting the monitor type.

[KurtMc76]

Hi guys,
could really do with some help with this issue.
Have installed crt emu drivers crt_emudriver_6.5_1.2_xp32_multisync on my system, but when starting up, Groovymame states on start-up
 
- Monitor type unknown: monitor arcade_15 -

This shows up after a game is selected as well. It's basically not working through VMmaker to change the res to 15hz, and seems my
pvm crt is stuck in 640 480i mode.
What kills me is, that ive installed this not long ago and everything worked great and the full 15hz scan experience blew me away.
I had to reinstall windows xp recently, so I could install a bigger harddrive for mame and other things, but did not change my trusty old
Radeon 9800pro agp card which ran perfectly before. I don't believe I've done anything different this time, but 15hz is just not kicking in!
 and have edited the ini files for both VMmaker and
Groovymame as listed below:

VideoModeMaker - Options

Code: [Select]

; ------------------------
   
; 1. MAME
; -------

; Path for Mame executable, in case we want to extract xml information from it.

MameExe = "C:\mame\groovymame.exe"

; Path for Mame ini folder, in case we want to create an ini file for each game.
; Important: existing ini files will be overwritten.

IniPath = "C:\Mame\ini\"

; Mame options.

ListFromXML = 1 ; Processes Mame XML and get video mode list from it
GenerateXML = 1 ; Extracts XML from Mame (only needed once)
GenerateInis = 0 ; Creates an ini file for each Mame game, in the IniPath folder
SDLMame = 0 ; Use SDLMame specific options

; Monitor orientation

MonitorHorizontal = 1 ; 0 = Rotating monitor: horizontal and vertical games at their native resolution
;     Suitable for users that physically rotate their CRTs
; 1 = Horizontal monitor: horizontal games run at their native resolution and
;     vertical games are rotated to fit in horizontal monitor

RotatingDesktop = 0 ; Specifies if both desktop and monitor are rotated

; Aspect ratio for vertical games on horizontal monitor
; 4:3 (keeps original aspect ratio)
; 3:3 (stretches to square format)
; 3:4 (stretches to full screen)
; h:v (custom aspect ratio)

VerticalAspect = "4:3"


; 2. MONITOR
; ----------

; Monitor Type. Valid types: D9800, D9400, D9200, EGA, VGA, MULTI, H9110, PAL, NTSC, GENERIC, CUSTOM

MonitorType = "CGA"

(I've also tried NTSC instead of CGA)

Mame ini as created through groovymame.exe

Code: [Select]

#
# CORE CONFIGURATION OPTIONS
#
readconfig                1
writeconfig               0

#
# CORE SEARCH PATH OPTIONS
#
rompath                   roms
hashpath                  hash
samplepath                samples
artpath                   artwork
ctrlrpath                 ctrlr
inipath                   ini
fontpath                  .
cheatpath                 cheat
crosshairpath             crosshair

#
# CORE OUTPUT DIRECTORY OPTIONS
#
cfg_directory             cfg
nvram_directory           nvram
memcard_directory         memcard
input_directory           inp
state_directory           sta
snapshot_directory        snap
diff_directory            diff
comment_directory         comments

#
# CORE OUTPUT DIRECTORY OPTIONS
#
hiscore_directory         hi

#
# CORE STATE/PLAYBACK OPTIONS
#
state                     
autosave                  0
playback                 
record                   
mngwrite                 
aviwrite                 
wavwrite                 
snapname                  %g/%i
snapsize                  auto
snapview                  internal
statename                 %g
burnin                    0

#
# CORE PERFORMANCE OPTIONS
#
autoframeskip             0
frameskip                 0
seconds_to_run            0
throttle                  1
syncrefresh               0
sleep                     1
speed                     1.0
refreshspeed              0

#
# CORE ROTATION OPTIONS
#
rotate                    1
ror                       0
rol                       0
autoror                   0
autorol                   0
flipx                     0
flipy                     0

#
# CORE ARTWORK OPTIONS
#
artwork_crop              0
use_backdrops             0
use_overlays              0
use_bezels                0
use_cpanels               0
use_marquees              0

#
# CORE SCREEN OPTIONS
#
brightness                1.0
contrast                  1.0
gamma                     1.0
pause_brightness          0.65
effect                    none

#
# CORE VECTOR OPTIONS
#
antialias                 1
beam                      1.0
flicker                   0

#
# CORE SOUND OPTIONS
#
sound                     1
samplerate                48000
samples                   1
volume                    0

#
# CORE INPUT OPTIONS
#
coin_lockout              0
ctrlr                     
mouse                     0
joystick                  1
lightgun                  0
multikeyboard             0
multimouse                0
steadykey                 0
ui_active                 0
offscreen_reload          0
joystick_map              auto
joystick_deadzone         0.3
joystick_saturation       0.85
natural                   0
joystick_contradictory    0
coin_impulse              0

#
# CORE INPUT AUTOMATIC ENABLE OPTIONS
#
paddle_device             keyboard
adstick_device            keyboard
pedal_device              keyboard
dial_device               keyboard
trackball_device          keyboard
lightgun_device           keyboard
positional_device         keyboard
mouse_device              mouse

#
# CORE DEBUGGING OPTIONS
#
log                       0
verbose                   0
update_in_pause           0
debug                     0
debugscript               
debug_internal            0

#
# CORE MISC OPTIONS
#
bios                     
cheat                     0
skip_gameinfo             0
uifont                    default
ramsize                   
confirm_quit              1
ui_mouse                  0
autoboot_command         
autoboot_delay            2
autoboot_script           

#
# CORE MKChamp OPTIONS
#
disable_hiscore_patch     0
disable_nagscreen_patch   1
disable_loading_patch     1

#
# CORE SWITCHRES OPTIONS
#
modeline                  1
monitor                   monitor arcade_15
orientation               horizontal
connector                 auto
interlace                 1
doublescan                1
cleanstretch              0
changeres                 1
powerstrip                0
lock_system_modes         1
lock_unsupported_modes    1
refresh_dont_care         0
dotclock_min              0
sync_refresh_tolerance    2.0
frame_delay               1
lcd_range                 auto
crt_range0                auto
crt_range1                auto
crt_range2                auto
crt_range3                auto
crt_range4                auto
crt_range5                auto
crt_range6                auto
crt_range7                auto
crt_range8                auto
crt_range9                auto

#
# WINDOWS DEBUGGING OPTIONS
#
oslog                     0
watchdog                  0
debugger_font             "Lucida Console"
debugger_font_size        9

#
# WINDOWS PERFORMANCE OPTIONS
#
priority                  0
multithreading            1
numprocessors             auto
profile                   0
bench                     0

#
# WINDOWS VIDEO OPTIONS
#
video                     ddraw
numscreens                1
window                    0
maximize                  0
keepaspect                1
prescale                  1
waitvsync                 0
menu                      0

#
# DIRECTDRAW-SPECIFIC OPTIONS
#
hwstretch                 0

#
# DIRECT3D-SPECIFIC OPTIONS
#
filter                    0

#
# DIRECT3D POST-PROCESSING OPTIONS
#
hlsl_enable               0
hlslpath                  hlsl
hlsl_ini_read             0
hlsl_ini_write            0
hlslini                   %g
hlsl_prescale_x           0
hlsl_prescale_y           0
hlsl_preset               -1
hlsl_write               
hlsl_snap_width           2048
hlsl_snap_height          1536
shadow_mask_alpha         0.0
shadow_mask_texture       aperture.png
shadow_mask_x_count       320
shadow_mask_y_count       240
shadow_mask_usize         0.09375
shadow_mask_vsize         0.109375
curvature                 0.0
pincushion                0.0
scanline_alpha            0.0
scanline_size             1.0
scanline_height           0.7
scanline_bright_scale     1.0
scanline_bright_offset    0.0
scanline_jitter           0.0
defocus                   0.0,0.0
converge_x                0.0,0.0,0.0
converge_y                0.0,0.0,0.0
radial_converge_x         0.0,0.0,0.0
radial_converge_y         0.0,0.0,0.0
red_ratio                 1.0,0.0,0.0
grn_ratio                 0.0,1.0,0.0
blu_ratio                 0.0,0.0,1.0
saturation                1.0
offset                    0.0,0.0,0.0
scale                     1.0,1.0,1.0
power                     1.0,1.0,1.0
floor                     0.0,0.0,0.0
phosphor_life             0.0,0.0,0.0

#
# NTSC POST-PROCESSING OPTIONS
#
yiq_enable                0
yiq_cc                    3.59754545
yiq_a                     0.5
yiq_b                     0.5
yiq_o                     0.0
yiq_p                     1.0
yiq_n                     1.0
yiq_y                     6.0
yiq_i                     1.2
yiq_q                     0.6
yiq_scan_time             52.6
yiq_phase_count           2

#
# VECTOR POST-PROCESSING OPTIONS
#
vector_length_scale       0.8
vector_length_ratio       500.0

#
# BLOOM POST-PROCESSING OPTIONS
#
vector_bloom_scale        0.3
raster_bloom_scale        0.225
bloom_lvl0_weight         1.0
bloom_lvl1_weight         0.21
bloom_lvl2_weight         0.19
bloom_lvl3_weight         0.17
bloom_lvl4_weight         0.15
bloom_lvl5_weight         0.14
bloom_lvl6_weight         0.13
bloom_lvl7_weight         0.12
bloom_lvl8_weight         0.11
bloom_lvl9_weight         0.10
bloom_lvl10_weight        0.09

#
# PER-WINDOW VIDEO OPTIONS
#
screen                    auto
aspect                    auto
resolution                auto
view                      auto
screen0                   auto
aspect0                   auto
resolution0               auto
view0                     auto
screen1                   auto
aspect1                   auto
resolution1               auto
view1                     auto
screen2                   auto
aspect2                   auto
resolution2               auto
view2                     auto
screen3                   auto
aspect3                   auto
resolution3               auto
view3                     auto

#
# FULL SCREEN OPTIONS
#
triplebuffer              0
switchres                 0
full_screen_brightness    1.0
full_screen_contrast      1.0
full_screen_gamma         1.0

#
# WINDOWS SOUND OPTIONS
#
audio_latency             2

#
# INPUT DEVICE OPTIONS
#
dual_lightgun             0

Any help would be much appreciated 

[Sledge]

change:
monitor                   monitor arcade_15
to
monitor                   arcade_15

[KurtMc76]

Thanks Sledge That has fixed that issue, but I still can't get the same arcade quality reproduction of the image, that I was getting before. The games load up fine and look good, but I'm not getting the wow factor from the image on screen. There was a certain intensity and sharpness to the image before. 
   Guess I'll have to play around a bit more in the mame ini file, not sure what I changed previously, but will have to play around and see.
 Thanks again though for your response, it's much appreciated.

[Calamity]

Hi KurtMc76,

Apart from the monitor type, there's usually no need to change the default settings you get when run: groovymame.exe -cc

Post a log of a game to see what it's doing.

[KurtMc76]

Hi calamity,
   I think I know why there's a big difference now. Previously I had soft 15hz installed as well, which I know now gave quickres more options to pick from when selecting a screen (Not all safe I know lol) resolution to go with a chosen game.
   
Now the game I used to select first was WWF Wrestlemania, this at the time, chose a screen mode which outputed this ultra sharp screen mode, and then this mode would stay in place for nearly all the other games I booted afterwards. Now the look this mode gave, mimicked     
the look from an arcade monitor exactly, basically everything on screen was pin sharp and the screen kinda just (very vibrant image) glowed, it's difficult to explain.
  The worse part is, I never made a note on what screen mode switch res had selected, being the complete noob that I'am.
I've only started to learn and compile notes on which screen mode, switch res now selects. These modes differ vastly to which monitor option you've selected through Vm maker to begin with. Also, these modes differ again if soft 15hz is installed. 
 
  I belive the mode it chose was an interlaced mode, as there was on screen flicker. I know a lot of people hate any on screen flicker, but my take though, is the slight on screen flicker just matches what you used to get in the arcades.
   I've now played around with various different combinations, but the screen has never switched back to this mode    
The one weird thing I remember though, is if I loaded up groovymame and say chose to boot Mk2 first, the screen mode it selected was more plain. If I then booted up wrestlemania, the screen mode I loved would kick in, and then stay in place if I came out and rebooted Mk2.
This I found weird though, as these games original resolutions are the same, so you'd think it would have selected the same mode.
 Since my re-install, they do now share the same screen mode, but not the mode from before
Oh!! I've not played around in the mame (apart from monitor type) ini file, just the different options in Vm maker and with soft 15 on or off.
 

[Calamity]

I know a lot of people hate any on screen flicker, but my take though, is the slight on screen flicker just matches what you used to get in the arcades.

Your memory betrayes you. 99% of arcade games used progressive modes (non-interlaced).

Change your monitor settings in VMMaker to CUSTOM, and run VMMaker to create the modes again. If you're unsure, download the latest version (1.3c) and just leave the default settings.

Then run GroovyMAME. Post one log here and I'll tell you if what you're seeing is normal or not.

[KurtMc76]

Sorry about this delayed response Calamity..
Here's a a game log, have also messed around with another ATI card, but could only use CRT emu driver 9.3 with this one.