Makvision CRT SVGA 27/29 and Radeon HD7950

[alex_bb23]

Hello Calamity,

I have an 27/29 Inch Makvision CRT SVGA Arcade Monitor connected to a video card Sapphire Radeon HD7950 Boost Vapor-X HD 3GB DDR5 384-bit.

Yesterday I installed the GroovyMAME and the result is amazing - brightness, contrast and the colors are fantastic! In the end the image is gorgeous!

Somewhere in the drawer I have a video card ATI HD 4350 - should I use this instead of HD7950?

I have only one minus with GroovyMAME:
I think the result of the image is to square - this is normal? I can take few pictures to show you what exactly I try to describe.

Is it possible to force this monitor to run with 15Khz?

Thank you!

[Sledge]

Hello Calamity,

I have an 27/29 Inch Makvision CRT SVGA Arcade Monitor connected to a video card Sapphire Radeon HD7950 Boost Vapor-X HD 3GB DDR5 384-bit.

Yesterday I installed the GroovyMAME and the result is amazing - brightness, contrast and the colors are fantastic! In the end the image is gorgeous!

Somewhere in the drawer I have a video card ATI HD 4350 - should I use this instead of HD7950?

I have only one minus with GroovyMAME:
I think the result of the image is to square - this is normal? I can take few pictures to show you what exactly I try to describe.

Is it possible to force this monitor to run with 15Khz?

Thank you!

Groovymame really is meant to be used in conjunction with CRT_EMUDRIVERS, which do not support the HD7950 anyway. So yes the HD4350 would be better.. depending on the brand, as some of them are not real HD4350's
With this combo you would be able to get 15hz on your screen if it supports it, with the correct connection..

[alex_bb23]

Hey Sledge,

Is a ASUS ATI HD 4350. If I remember well, few days ago I tried with this ATI 4350 and "CRT_EMUDRIVERS" on my LCD screen and this is true, the horizontal frequency was 15Khz but when I tried on my Makvision SVGA monitor I got black screen - that’s why I ask Calamity and now you if is possible to run 15Khz with this Makvision CRT SVGA monitor.

Maybe there is additional settings… I don't know.

Thank you!

[Doozer]

The 27" Makvision cannot do 15kHz, here are the ranges:

CRT Size 27” (27V) Flat
Dot Pitch 0.79mm
Video Input Analog 0.7VPP (75Ω)/TTL 2.5-5.0VPP (2KΩ)
Sync Input TTL Level Positive/Negative/Separate or Composite
H-Frequency 30-40KHz
V-Frequency 47-90Hz
Bandwidth 90MHz
Resolution 800 x 600 native
Image Adjustment OSD
Power Supply 100-240VAC 50/60Hz
Power Consumption 70W
Signal Connector 15Pin D-Sub Male Connector
Safety TUV, S-Mark, UL
Weight 103 lbs


The 29" is tri-freq:

CRT Size    29" (27V) Flat
Dot Pitch    0.79mm
Video Input    Analog 0.7VPP (75Ω)/TTL 2.5-5.0VPP (2KΩ)
Sync Input    TTL Level Positive/Negative/Separate or Composite
H-Frequency    15/24/31KHz
V-Frequency    47-70Hz
Bandwidth    65MHz
Resolution    640 x 480 max
Power Supply    100-240VAC 50/60Hz
Power Consumption    120W
Signal Connector    15-pin D-sub male connector
Weight    47Kg
Approvals    TUV, S-Mark & UL

[alex_bb23]

That means that I have to change this monitor with M3129DS-72 (29" FLAT CGA / EGA / VGA MONITOR)

http://www.weiya.com.tw/products_detail.asp?le=english&fid=74&pid=84&tCatName=CGA%20/%20EGA%20/%20VGA%20MONITOR

What about this?

Thanks!

[Doozer]

The M3129DS-72 is 15kHz compatible. You need to check how good the picture quality is when used in low resolution mode (convergence, scanline/raster size, ...). More or less, if picture is sweet for your eyes.

I own a M3129D, you need to perform some fine tuning to get maximum potential from the wei-ya chassis. Talking only about 15kHz mode usage. Convergence issue in corner(s) has been seen on many units.  Picture is gradually compressed on the right of the screen. It is affected by horizontal centering pot and must be related to capacitor working good at 31kHz but being not optimal for low resolution. An easy fix is to play with the frontporch/backporch values to move the picture at extreme left position to minimize the effect. 

[cools]

http://wiki.arcadeotaku.com/w/Rodotron_666

[Calamity]

Hi alex_bb23,

I wouldn't change the monitor you have for a multi-sync one. Either keep it, or if you really want to try the 15 kHz route and even consider purchasing a different monitor, my advice is to stay away of multi-sync ones and get a good 15 kHz fixed-sync monitor. Keep in mind that a monitor that's capable of VGA resolutions will have scanlines that are thin enough to accommodate those "high" resolutions. Even if the chassis can synchronize at lower frequencies/resolutions, the scanline thickness won't vary. This means that the scanlines will look way more separated than when compared with a native 15 kHz monitor. It won't look bad, it'll simply be a bit too sharp to the eye. The fact is you can get the exact same picture by keeping a multi-sync monitor running confortably at its 31 kHz range plus software scanlines instead of using its 15 kHz range. Of course the 15 kHz range makes sense if you're planning to plug a pcb. But if you just intend to use emulation then it see little need for the complex, noisy and prone-to-fail frequency switch board that multi-sync monitors require. Maybe I'm a little bit biased since my Polostar died two months ago and the repair service has been unable to fix it.

[alex_bb23]

The M3129DS-72 is 15kHz compatible. You need to check how good the picture quality is when used in low resolution mode (convergence, scanline/raster size, ...). More or less, if picture is sweet for your eyes.

I own a M3129D, you need to perform some fine tuning to get maximum potential from the wei-ya chassis. Talking only about 15kHz mode usage. Convergence issue in corner(s) has been seen on many units.  Picture is gradually compressed on the right of the screen. It is affected by horizontal centering pot and must be related to capacitor working good at 31kHz but being not optimal for low resolution. An easy fix is to play with the frontporch/backporch values to move the picture at extreme left position to minimize the effect.

Hi Doozer,

Unfortunately, I cannot check the picture quality because first I must to buy this monitor but this is good to know.
What I understand from you about this monitor - is not a good choice, right?

Thank you!

http://wiki.arcadeotaku.com/w/Rodotron_666

Hi cools,

Your suggestion is to change the chassis?

Hi alex_bb23,

I wouldn't change the monitor you have for a multi-sync one. Either keep it, or if you really want to try the 15 kHz route and even consider purchasing a different monitor, my advice is to stay away of multi-sync ones and get a good 15 kHz fixed-sync monitor. Keep in mind that a monitor that's capable of VGA resolutions will have scanlines that are thin enough to accommodate those "high" resolutions. Even if the chassis can synchronize at lower frequencies/resolutions, the scanline thickness won't vary. This means that the scanlines will look way more separated than when compared with a native 15 kHz monitor. It won't look bad, it'll simply be a bit too sharp to the eye. The fact is you can get the exact same picture by keeping a multi-sync monitor running confortably at its 31 kHz range plus software scanlines instead of using its 15 kHz range. Of course the 15 kHz range makes sense if you're planning to plug a pcb. But if you just intend to use emulation then it see little need for the complex, noisy and prone-to-fail frequency switch board that multi-sync monitors require. Maybe I'm a little bit biased since my Polostar died two months ago and the repair service has been unable to fix it.

Hi Calamity,

First, I wanna thank you for this detailed answer and the advice that you gave me.
So, is not a good idea to buy a M3129D monitor, right? Maybe you can recommend me something with a native 15kHz - maybe one from here: http://www.weiya.com.tw/products.asp?le=english&fid=70

Thanks!

[Doozer]

http://wiki.arcadeotaku.com/w/Rodotron_666

Thanks @Cools I was looking for this page for months. Now I need to make my hands on an 1uF 400V MKT capacitor. :-) [edit: I managed to get one]

[alex_bb23]

Hi Calamity,

What about Scanline Generator SLG3000?
Can I use this scanline generator with my Makvision?

Thanks!

[cools]

You need to put "effect scanlines" in your mame.ini. There's absolutely no point to using the SLG with an emulator setup

[alex_bb23]

You need to put "effect scanlines" in your mame.ini. There's absolutely no point to using the SLG with an emulator setup

Hi Cools,

I've tried to activate the HLSL on mame.ini but I got black screen - I have sound but no picture on my screen! Anyway, I want to buy one of SLG3000 to make some tests and see which is the difference between mame scanlines and this generator.
In the end, if I will not be happy, I'll consider that I must change my Makvision with another 15Khz monitor.

Thanks!

[cools]

Not HLSL, I said "effect scanlines".

If you're using Groovy then you just need to treat the monitor as 31khz only and just use that single line in the ini file.

The ONLY difference between SLG and the software scanlines is that the SLG is in-game adjustable whereas the software ones require the PNG file to be darkened/lightened before running the game.

It's of course your money to waste

[alex_bb23]

I just activated the "effect scanlines" like you said and the result is amazing ! ! !
Now I can say that "I have a real arcade feeling thanks to your help"! 

About SLG - I've already ordered this scanline generator and I believe is not money to waste.
Maybe I can get a better picture with this generator, who knows... 

Anyway, in the end (thanks to your help) I have a nice and clear picture on my Cabinet - nice brightness, contrast, colours, and of course, lovely scanlines! 

I'll take some pictures from different arcade games, and of course, I'll post here very soon.
So, I'll be back with some pictures made with SLG3000 generator scanlines and effect from GM.

Thanks guys ! ! ! 

[alex_bb23]

As I promise, I'm back with few pictures which show the result with scanlines - I'm really sorry for the bad quality of the images. Is made it with a iPhone 4

















I'll be back next week with the result from SLG generator.

[alex_bb23]

I own an 27/29 Inch Makvision CRT SVGA Arcade Monitor - when I set in mame.ini arcade_15 the image in games is more clear than arcade_31 which is quite blurry. The question is: where I should look to get the image more clear with arcade_31 setup in mame.ini?

Thanks!

[alex_bb23]

Here is a with the SGL3000 scanlines generator in action... enjoy!

[Calamity]

I own an 27/29 Inch Makvision CRT SVGA Arcade Monitor - when I set in mame.ini arcade_15 the image in games is more clear than arcade_31 which is quite blurry. The question is: where I should look to get the image more clear with arcade_31 setup in mame.ini?

Do you mean while using the SLG?

Check which resolution is being picked in either case. Consider getting logs.

[alex_bb23]

Hi Calamity,

Thanks to this thread but especially many thanks to you and cools - I got a best image now. I'm sure that, I can get more...