ArcadeVGA 3000 and GroovyMAME? CRTEmudriver with two monitors?

[K-rnivoro]

Hi. Actually there are two different questions.

1. Does it worth using a ArcadeVGA 3000 with GM instead of regular MAME? What if i ATOM-ize the board and use CRT Emudriver instead?

2. I'm planning to use a CRT monitor and a regular one for marquees and flyers. Both VGA connected. (I've been reading about the HyperMarquee project from Hyperspin). With Windows 7 seems possible to use one VGA output for 15 KHz, and the other (via DVI to VGA adaptor), for a regular monitor. Am I right?
Also, Can I use CRTEmudriver the other way around? So the computer boots over the VGA monitor and enables the second (CRT) screen after booting? (Not related to the ArcadeVGA question).

I'd love to attach a second monitor on top of my arcade rig.

Thanks.

[buttersoft]

The ArcadeVGA should work perfectly with GM, and will eliminate the need for thousands of ini files for game resolution. I also think the AVGA has a bios that can't output video modes above 15kHz, making Atom-15 redundant, but you could check that. In short, if you have a modern monitor that doesn't handle 15kHz (check in windows), and if you can see the PC boot bios, the card might benefit from Atom-15. It should work, but make sure to save your original bios and work out how you'd re-flash it if you brick it.

I'm not sure about crt-emudriver, but it's just a driver, so you could try it and see. I think you'd be able to use VMM either way, to get the modelines the AVGA driver doesn't give you.

You can certainly use a second monitor, and have it running at a higher resolution as you want. You'll need to send MAME to the right screen, and if you're using a front end you'll need to send the main screen and the art to the right places. for normal use, once set up, it should just work. The only thing to be careful of is when you unplug things, or change resolutions, if you do things the wrong way round the resolutions can jump weirdly - like if you unplug the newer, higher res monitor, windows might decide that the remaining, CRT monitor should now be run at the higher res as it's the only monitor left. Can also happen when you install video modes, or do other things. Just have a keyboard plugged in and be prepared to unplug things fast when playing around or testing.

[haynor666]

At least 5xxx series does 25 kHz and 31kHz - http://www.ultimarc.com/avgainf.html so probably 3000 also should output 31 kHz modes but by default if I remember correctly outputs 15 kHz mode. Note that BIOS output 15kHz always. There is no need to use Atom on those cards as BIOS is already prepared.

On standard 4350 (as I didn't flashed my card so far) I was able to output 15 kHz modes on TV and 31 kHz modes on LCD without problem.

[K-rnivoro]

Thanks folks.

Just for claryfing. ArcadeVGA does output 31KHz by default like a regular VGA card. You need to install the Ultimarc drivers to get 15KHz, in a similar way than CRT-Emudriver.

However, ArcadeVGA (and its driver) works OK with regular MAME build, although it hasn't the same flexibility than GroovyMAME with the SwitchRes module. As Buttersoft says, ArcadeVGA/GroovyMAME(SwitchRes) will do better than ArcadeVGA/MAME

Going back to my questions: Will be a much better idea to sell the ArcadeVGA knowing that a regular ATI card and CRT-Emudriver/GroovyMAME/ATOM work better than ArcadeVGA/MAME. 
Besides I can use a more powerful and newer card.

Regarding two monitors at 15K and 31K each, I'll try and see...and come back here after.

Thanks

[haynor666]

After some conversation at http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,151781.0.html looks like it's better to use generic Radeon rather ArcadeVGA when You are going to use groovymame.

[haynor666]

I've finally flashed my Asus 4350 and works fine so far, I can see UEFI boot screen and even enter UEFI setup without problems.

I will look tomorrow on dual screen display under Windows 7 x64.

[haynor666]

I did some tests and duplicating desktop on TV and monitor works, even with BIOS patched.

But there are some problems with groovymame 171. When I set numscreens 2 mame crash. When I set numscreens 1 mame runs but outputs picture only on primary monitor (TV) and disables output on second (LCD).

When set extended desktop to both TV and monitor mame works with numscreens 2 and correctly sets Warrior Blade across TV and LCD. Please note that my LCD accepts 15 kHz modes at least 60 Hz modes.

EDIT. Managed to clone display on LCD and TV by simply using extended desktop and numscreens 2 in mame but some games runs at half speed. Both LCD and TV have desktop resolution set 640x480@60i.
Setting screen0 \\.\DISPLAY1 solves problem with speed but still game has picture on both screens. Setting screen0 \\.\DISPLAY2 crash mame.

[K-rnivoro]

I did some tests and duplicating desktop on TV and monitor works, even with BIOS patched.

But there are some problems with groovymame 171. When I set numscreens 2 mame crash. When I set numscreens 1 mame runs but outputs picture only on primary monitor (TV) and disables output on second (LCD).

When set extended desktop to both TV and monitor mame works with numscreens 2 and correctly sets Warrior Blade across TV and LCD. Please note that my LCD accepts 15 kHz modes at least 60 Hz modes.

EDIT. Managed to clone display on LCD and TV by simply using extended desktop and numscreens 2 in mame but some games runs at half speed. Both LCD and TV have desktop resolution set 640x480@60i.
Setting screen0 \\.\DISPLAY1 solves problem with speed but still game has picture on both screens. Setting screen0 \\.\DISPLAY2 crash mame.

Odd... I'm still building the rig. But I'll try with MAME 176 with both VGA outputs from the same card, and one output from the card and another output from the on-board chip.

Also, I'm planning to use HyperMarquee. I'm not really interested in MAME managing both screens, (although Games like Punch Out won't be properly displayed).

[haynor666]

Long time ago Calamity mentioned that switchres is not working on second display. I don't know is this changed however.

Situation might be different on radeons from 5xxx, 6xxx, 7xxxx serie because You need EDID emulation and instead of legacy timings driver is using new method.

[K-rnivoro]

Long time ago Calamity mentioned that switchres is not working on second display. I don't know is this changed however.

Situation might be different on radeons from 5xxx, 6xxx, 7xxxx serie because You need EDID emulation and instead of legacy timings driver is using new method.

That's the thing, switchres should work over the CRT display ONLY. The other (marquee display) should be always at it's natural resolution (1366x768 in my case).

[haynor666]

Problem is second display, no mater if it's LCD, CRT monitor or TV.

[buttersoft]

I was having problems with cloning a display, but you're saying you can't get a second display up at all?

[haynor666]

Cloning of desktop works, cloning of mame works with numscreens 2 but I cannot force groovymame to display game only on one desired screen.

[haynor666]

Yesterday I've tested two CRT TV and both works. I had pictures on both TVs when I set numscreens 2.

What is strange I have picture on both TVs even on BIOS/UEFI. Windows 7 however does output non standard loading screen (Vista old style) instead of standard flag. My guess it does not see 1024x768 on list so it switch to 640x480 and loads old loading screen from Vista.

What's left is to test forcing display on one display especially on second and test how multi monitors games behave.

[K-rnivoro]

I'm testing with a 6570 XFX card and the intel integrated graphics (i3 with B85 motherboard). Fortunately, this motherboard allows me to use an external graphic card AND the integrated GPU at the same time, so 6570 goes to the CRT and Intel GPU goes to the 1280x720 14" VGA LCD.

I have to test Calamity's CRT-Emudriver and Intel drivers at the same time, also Hypermarquee should work OK on the LCD regardless CRT-Emudriver ont the other display. I'll let you know.

 

[K-rnivoro]

Well, this look promising.

Two different Graphics card (actually one integrated) and CRT-Emudriver 2.0. I haven't tested GroovyMAME yet, only EMudriver 2.0, but so far so good.

The ony annoying thing is Windows keep saying "Modo de Prueba" on the right-bottom ("Test Mode"), in the same way shown by Calamity in his tutorial: http://geedorah.com/eiusdemmodi/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=1052#p1052.


I tried with these commands:
BCDEDIT -SET LOADOPTIONS ENABLE_INTEGRITY_CHECKS
BCDEDIT -SET TESTSIGNING OFF

But I have to BCDEDIT -SET TESTSIGNING ON, for the Emudrivers to get back working.

Does anyone know how to safely get rid of the "Modo de Prueba"?

[haynor666]

I use Remove Watermark v0.8

[Calamity]

The watermark is something you have to live with. You can't use modified drivers unless you TESTSIGNING is OFF.

There are tools to remove that watermark by patching Windows system files as haynor666 pointed.

[K-rnivoro]

The watermark is something you have to live with. You can't use modified drivers unless you TESTSIGNING is OFF.

There are tools to remove that watermark by patching Windows system files as haynor666 pointed.

Thanks haynor666 and Calamity. I've tried this () and worked!!

Calamity, I have a question: Why you developed CRT Emudriver 2.0 based on Catalyst 12.6 but previous Emudriver are based on Catalyst 13.1 ?

I mean, Catalyst 13.1 supposed to be "newer" than 12.6. Then why CRT-Emudriver 2.0 are "better" than previous CRT Emudriver? Am I explaining myself?

Thanks.