Connecting PC to new arcade monitor - don't want to break it!

[jmcginley]

I have a new Sanwa 29PF31 arcade monitor and I'm trying to understand exactly what I need to buy in order to properly connect it to my PC without damaging the monitor. This monitor does not have a VGA port in the back.

I have a Radeon HD 4350 graphics card and plan to use GroovyMAME and CRT Emudriver.

I've asked a somewhat similar question in the past, but at that point I was going to use a monitor that DID have a VGA port in the back. Since this monitor does NOT, I just want to make sure I'm thinking about this correctly.

Would I need to purchase a DVI to VGA converter for my graphics card, and then run a VGA cable to a j-pac, and then connect the jamma harness to my monitor?

If this is correct, am I just strictly using the j-pac for the purposes of connecting video input and not for any input controls because I'm going to be using a computer and I'll need an i-pac or similar? Also, are there any settings I'll need to be sure to change on the resolution/refresh rate on the PC prior to connecting it to the monitor?

I've seen a lot about VGA breakout cables, is that something I can use?

Sorry if this sounds stupid, I'm just trying to understand and get a visualization in my head of what needs to happen.

Thanks for any help!

[Thenasty]

According to this thread

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=144323.0


that monitor is a 31khz. You DON"T NEED a Breakout CABLE. The breakout cable is for 15khz ARCADE MONITORS.

If that monitor is 31khz, it should have a VGA connector on it.

[jmcginley]

Hmm, I thought for sure it did not have a VGA port on it. I just picked it up last night. I'm at work so I'm having my wife take a look at it and send me some pics.

[grantspain]

there are two versions of the sanwa pm1755
pfx and pf
pfx is trisync
pf is 31khz only
both have a vga port

[jmcginley]

Sorry for being so dense, but I'm just not seeing VGA anywhere.

[jmcginley]

There is another box of parts that came with it now that I think about it. I'll check in there when I get home. Maybe there's something in there with VGA on it.

[jmcginley]

Took a look and I've got an extra chassis. Both chassis are 29E31S and neither have a VGA. So jpac?

[jtslade]

What is screen printed on the bottom of the chassis


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[jtslade]

What's is that 12 pin molex connector on the right side of the chassis running to? Looks like AC is two of them. Is RGB  C-Sync and Neg Sync

I can see some grounds as well

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[jtslade]

Sanwa Model 29PF31-Dem is demagnetize switch (degauss) FGnd is AC Ground
N.C. is no connection


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[jtslade]

Found this


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[jmcginley]

Yeah that's listed on the side next to the molex. So what monitor do I actually have then?

[jtslade]

What is screen printed on the bottom


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[jmcginley]

The bottom of the chassis says 29E31S. Is it possible to have a chassis for a different monitor? Like a 29E31S chassis and a 29PF31 monitor? Sorry this is my first time even seeing arcade monitors inner workings so I'm trying to learn as I go.

[grantspain]

29pf31 are pure flat tubes
29es31 are a semi curved tube

you have a 29es31 chassis there

the vga cable should come from the neck board,yours looks like it has been modified with a molex connector,i expect there would have been a lead that goes from that molex and splits to a vga d-sub and power
the actual cable for video is on the neck card,its the grey coloured cable and will have 6 wires

this will be 31khz only chassis

[jmcginley]

Thank you for the additional info. So with it not having a VGA on it, and with it being a 31Khz only monitor, am I still going to be able to use GroovyMAME and CRT Emudriver to get proper resolution/refresh rate specific to each game? Also, does this mean I'll need to go the route of using a j-pac in order to connect my PC to the monitor?

[jtslade]

It's basically a VGA monitor I would sell it to somebody that has a candy cab or needs it for a newer arcade game or something and g yourself a big 25 or 27 or whatever 15 kHz Arcade monitor go that route so that when you run the games run them native


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[jtslade]

Not to mention it when it's an arcade monitor the people on Klov here and elsewhere are going to know more about it and be able to help more because it's a 15khz arcade monitor


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[grantspain]

that monitor will only display 31khz so you can't run any older games at native res
you could connect that monitor direct to a graphic card and set your res at 640 x 480 (xp or older as win 7 etc boot at 800x600)-all you need to do is adapt the wiring to rgb,just cut the rgb sync and video ground and solder to a vga d-sub connector or adapt a vga cable to the molex

the monitor you have would have come from something like a naomi cab btw

you have a few options,
you can either run it as it is and have all your games set to 31khz
you could replace the chassis with a wei ya 3129a or rodotron 666a-these are trisync chassis and then you can run at native res
you could look for a 15khz monitor

i don't know alot about mame but i do know alot about monitors

[jtslade]

Somebody will pay good money for that monitor and your extra chassis, sell it and UrpGrade!! Treat yo' self !


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[jtslade]

When you play robotron and Tmnt native you will cry a little with joy so it's all worth it


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[jmcginley]

This is disappointing news.

[jmcginley]

that monitor will only display 31khz so you can't run any older games at native res
you could connect that monitor direct to a graphic card and set your res at 640 x 480 (xp or older as win 7 etc boot at 800x600)-all you need to do is adapt the wiring to rgb,just cut the rgb sync and video ground and solder to a vga d-sub connector or adapt a vga cable to the molex

the monitor you have would have come from something like a naomi cab btw

you have a few options,
you can either run it as it is and have all your games set to 31khz
you could replace the chassis with a wei ya 3129a or rodotron 666a-these are trisync chassis and then you can run at native res
you could look for a 15khz monitor

i don't know alot about mame but i do know alot about monitors

Thank you for taking the time to provide me with all that information. I guess I should have done more research prior to buying this thing.

So I can buy one of the chassis you mentioned and they will be compatible with the monitor I have? Are all chassis compatible with all monitors? Sorry I'm just trying to understand.

[Thenasty]

"Are all chassis compatible with all monitors?"


This is what I think everyone wants/wish.

I wish there is a chassis that will do ALL MONITORS. 

[jmcginley]

"Are all chassis compatible with all monitors?"


This is what I think everyone wants/wish.

I wish there is a chassis that will do ALL MONITORS. 

So the chassis grantspain mentioned are ones that are compatible with the Sanwa 29E31S I'm guessing?

[grantspain]

"Are all chassis compatible with all monitors?"


This is what I think everyone wants/wish.

I wish there is a chassis that will do ALL MONITORS. 

So the chassis grantspain mentioned are ones that are compatible with the Sanwa 29E31S I'm guessing?

i sure did,actually there are an awful lot of chassis that are compatible with an awful lot of tubes.

[jmcginley]

"Are all chassis compatible with all monitors?"


This is what I think everyone wants/wish.

I wish there is a chassis that will do ALL MONITORS. 

So the chassis grantspain mentioned are ones that are compatible with the Sanwa 29E31S I'm guessing?

i sure did,actually there are an awful lot of chassis that are compatible with an awful lot of tubes.

I'm feeling a little better about that I guess (still kicking myself for buying a 31khz monitor).

So I can buy a chassis and muddle my way through connecting it to the tube and then I will have a tri-sync monitor that is capable of playing all MAME games at native resolution/refresh rates?

[grantspain]

like i said i no nothing of mame,i am an arcade tech with 30 years experience but imo if you have a tri sync then every game will display at its native res-as long as the tri sync is auto switching(which the ones i mentioned are)
there is only one minor problem with trisync chassis,you will never get perfect geometry on the ones i mentioned-if you were to get hold of a sanwa pfx chassis then you will get almost perfect geometry-the geometry issue with the wei ya etc is side compression on 15khz
many people do not really get the fact that arcade monitors were built for arcades and not home use

[jmcginley]

like i said i no nothing of mame,i am an arcade tech with 30 years experience but imo if you have a tri sync then every game will display at its native res-as long as the tri sync is auto switching(which the ones i mentioned are)
there is only one minor problem with trisync chassis,you will never get perfect geometry on the ones i mentioned-if you were to get hold of a sanwa pfx chassis then you will get almost perfect geometry-the geometry issue with the wei ya etc is side compression on 15khz
many people do not really get the fact that arcade monitors were built for arcades and not home use

Thanks for all the information. You're a wealth of knowledge in this area. I'm about to pull my hair out with this arcade monitor stuff. I'm starting from square one - I know nothing about any of this, but I'm willing to learn so I can have an authentic arcade monitor as opposed to an LCD in my cabinet.

One more question for you (for now)... would the Rodotron 666 have a geometry issue as well?

[grantspain]

yes all the rodotron and wei ya have minor side compression issues on 15khz,it can be rectified by changing a high voltage capacitor in the horizontal deflection circuit but you will then get compression at 31khz-unless you install a switch and two caps in that circuit,then you switch to either cap depending on resolution

i imagine you are in the u.s and in that case maybe worth looking for a wells gradner d9200 or d9400 complete monitor as they are quad sync and i am not aware of any geometry issues with these-same with a sanwa pfx,which will fit direct to your present tube btw

all depends on how loony you are with geometry and games in native res

the side compression would be classed as acceptable in an arcade but many enthusiasts and collectors would almost certainly notice and find it annoying

i

[jmcginley]

yes all the rodotron and wei ya have minor side compression issues on 15khz,it can be rectified by changing a high voltage capacitor in the horizontal deflection circuit but you will then get compression at 31khz-unless you install a switch and two caps in that circuit,then you switch to either cap depending on resolution

i imagine you are in the u.s and in that case maybe worth looking for a wells gradner d9200 or d9400 complete monitor as they are quad sync and i am not aware of any geometry issues with these-same with a sanwa pfx,which will fit direct to your present tube btw

all depends on how loony you are with geometry and games in native res

the side compression would be classed as acceptable in an arcade but many enthusiasts and collectors would almost certainly notice and find it annoying

i

Ok got it. Well I do have a D9200 that came in an empty cab I bought. I'm not able to get it working though. Since I have no knowledge on the subject, I just saw a good deal on the Sanwa 29E31S and figured it would be a simple plug and play. Maybe I need to sell the 29E31S and try to find someone who can repair the D9200 for me.

[grantspain]

chad at arcadecup is very good and there are a couple of other forum members that do chassis repairs in the U.S

[jmcginley]

chad at arcadecup is very good and there are a couple of other forum members that do chassis repairs in the U.S

Awesome, thank you for the tip grantspain!

[Tithis]

"Are all chassis compatible with all monitors?"


This is what I think everyone wants/wish.

I wish there is a chassis that will do ALL MONITORS. 

If only somebody would build something like this to work with vector arcade monitors