Pointers for using a flatscreen

[shorton]

I'd like to take what I think will the the physically less demanding route of using a flat screen monitor for a cabinet build.  can someone point me to the best practices to do it as well as it can be done without going CRT?  I've got a couple of 20" 4:3 monitors that might work, albeit small.  I am definitely not against masking a 16:9.

I saw in the FAQ something about scanline software but I don't know what it's called or what to watch for.  I was hoping there would be a thread or threads for using flatscreens as well as they can be used.

Thanks, Scott

[keilmillerjr]

First and foremost, flat screens can be available in many different types of monitors, including crt. I used to have a flatscreeen Ching fu or whatever brand crt.

For LCD:

You can get a scan line generator. It's a piece of hardware you plug inline with vga that adds scan lines. The good is that everything from the computer has scan lines. The bad is that it only adds scanlines and doesn't simulate any other features of crt. I probably have an extra I'd sell if you messaged me.

There is software shaders. These do a decent job of simulating scan lines, bloom, etc of a crt. The bad is that it only works with mame and some front ends.

[shorton]

Thanks.  I did mean LCD type flatscreen.   I'm trying to understand what the scan line generator does, vs. not using one.  Is this just a purist thing trying to make it look like a CRT and thus the original "feel", or is it a functional necessity?  Do you know anyplace where a photo is posted that captures the visual effect?

[keilmillerjr]

Thanks.  I did mean LCD type flatscreen.   I'm trying to understand what the scan line generator does, vs. not using one.  Is this just a purist thing trying to make it look like a CRT and thus the original "feel", or is it a functional necessity?  Do you know anyplace where a photo is posted that captures the visual effect?

None of it is a necessity. But lcds and crts look so different. If your dead set on an LCD, try an slg first. They are cheap and all you do is plug them in.

[Titchgamer]

I recently fitted my cab with a SLG.
This is how it looks now with my 20" 4:3 LCD.

[shorton]

Check.   Thanks very much for the photo.