ArcadeVGA + JPAC + GroovyArcade-Arch2015 Video Too Big?

[SunDevilDog]

Hello all. I am new to the forum, so first let me say hello and thank you for looking at my post.

I am running an ArcadeVGA 5000, JPAC set at 15Khz, and the latest Groovy Arcade build. I am connected to a 19'' WeiYa 15Khz CRT arcade monitor.

I can see my Dell boot screen fine and the Groovy Arcade video select screen good. However, when I get to the gasetup menu, I cannot get very far because my screen looks like this:



I hit tab to get to the setup options, but I cannot find any documentation on what the options mean, for example, 640x480ec. What does the ec denote? If anyone could help suggest where to start with correcting this, I would be really grateful. Thank you for your time!

[SunDevilDog]

I set the initial resolution to 320x240 and now I can maneuver around! Not ideal, but I am back in business!

[SunDevilDog]

So what is going on is gasetup, the LXDE desktop and Attract-Mode front end are not switching to the correct resolution. When you launch a game in MAME, and exit and go back, then the correct resolution is displayed. I am going to try playing around with this on my other arcade monitor.

Any suggestions on why the 640x480 resolution only takes hold after you launch a game and exit back?

[Calamity]

That happens because the video drivers are not properly activating the interleave. This is a feature of the graphics card that allows the lines to be ordered properly for interlaced modes to work. If it's not activated along with interlace, what happens is the picture is twice taller than supposed so you can only see the first half of it.

A possible reason could be that the kernel drivers are not targeting the same video ouput than X. This might happen if the ArcadeVGA outputs are labelled in a non-standard way (just a theory). So the interleave feature might be being applied to the wrong output.

What I'd try is to change the video output in the boot kernel line to something else. Check this: http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,131544.msg1349321.html#msg1349321

[yotsuya]

Matt, how are you, brother?!

[DoogyRev]

Have you got a second monitor connected to the DVI? If I leave my LCD plugged in it mucks things up.

Also, have you got 100ohm resistors connected between the video amp outputs and ground so the AVGA detects the monitor's presence on VGA-0?

[SunDevilDog]

That happens because the video drivers are not properly activating the interleave. This is a feature of the graphics card that allows the lines to be ordered properly for interlaced modes to work. If it's not activated along with interlace, what happens is the picture is twice taller than supposed so you can only see the first half of it.

A possible reason could be that the kernel drivers are not targeting the same video ouput than X. This might happen if the ArcadeVGA outputs are labelled in a non-standard way (just a theory). So the interleave feature might be being applied to the wrong output.

What I'd try is to change the video output in the boot kernel line to something else. Check this: http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,131544.msg1349321.html#msg1349321

I tried playing around with different resolutions from the boot screen. Did not help much. It is interesting that the VGA connector is actually a DVI connector! Also, I am not the most familiar with Linux, so I could not find a way to edit the grub file to try some of the solutions from the other thread. I tried nano and browsing to it from LXDE, nada! Even though I am still not in business, it is fun to try and I appreciate the help!

[SunDevilDog]

Matt, how are you, brother?!

Brother Paul! Hey I am doing fine! I am looking forward to seeing everyone at Zapcon man!

[SunDevilDog]

Have you got a second monitor connected to the DVI? If I leave my LCD plugged in it mucks things up.

Also, have you got 100ohm resistors connected between the video amp outputs and ground so the AVGA detects the monitor's presence on VGA-0?

No, I only have the arcade monitor hooked up to the VGA port.

The second part, about the 100ohm resistors, tells me that I am wayyyyyy out of my league here, LOL!

[DoogyRev]

It's nothing complicated. Simply three resistors with one end connected to each of the pins 1, 2 and 3 on the VGA connector (one resistor on each) and the other ends all to ground. You can do it anywhere along the cable. I haven't even soldered mine, I just stuffed them securely into the connector at the monitor end of the cable. I don't know if it will make a difference but it helped me setting up some stuff generally.