Help with new computer monitor

[Jedi Master Matt]

Greetings all,

I just picked up a refurbished 21" VGA computer monitor to go in my Taito Arkanoid cab and I've noticed an unsual glitch with it.

The geometry (mainly height and width) don't stay "locked" when the monitor switches screen resolutions.  

I'll set it up for 800 x 600 and it will be o.k., but when I go to run a game like Tempest, it trys to scale the screen to a different resolution and when it goes back to 800 x 600 it stays "squished".

Is this a MAME config issue or is this an issue with the monitor?

Any ideas?  If it's an issue with the monitor, I've got seven days to take it back and exchange or refund it.

Thanks in advance.

[Jedi Master Matt]

Oops...

I forgot to provide info about the monitor.  It's a 21" Cornerstone VGA monitor.  Model 21/81.

Here's a link to the owners manual - http://www.bigmonitors.com/pdf/manuals/2181-man.pdf
(I'm reading it now)

[menace]

sounds like a monitor issue--the screen size presets are stored in the monitor not in mame so if its failing to go back to a previous scrensize /resolution, it may not be capable of doing so--did the manual shed any light?

[greywolf22]

I actually have a 19" cornerstone monitor that is exhibiting the same symptoms..Honestly I haven't had a chance to play with it enough to determine what can be done to address this....I have some ideas and if I get the chance I'll play with it tonight when I get home from work...I'll post any results I find here.  My 19" Viewsonic doesn't do this, so its just a matter of playing with the settings I think, but will hopefully know more later.  If you find anything out, I'd be really interested to hear the results...or if anyone else has had any experiences hat would be great too.  

[greywolf22]

One qucik thing I noticed just perusing the manual (haven't had the chance to try this yet), is to make sure you press the STORE button...it states you can store up to 26 settings and you need to store each setting you make (with resolution changes, etc.), because it doesnt' automatically save them when the power is turned off...Just something to try.  

[Jedi Master Matt]

Eureka!  It pays to read the manual.  

Like Greywolf said, you have to manually store each setting.  So pressing one button after setting up each resolution solved the problem.  I moved the monitor to the other room, so I wasn't able to test it last night.  Fired it up after work and it works like a charm.

I appreciate everyone offering their assistance.  

This monitor is pretty impressive for $140.00 local.  I wish I could get like a 23" VGA monitor, since it would be just about the max you can get in a small cab like mine.  

Thanks again for the help.  You guys rock.  Now to track down a couple of quarter coin mechs...

[greywolf22]

You know what...I won my 19" cornerstone on e-bay for 20.56...with shipping it came to 55.00 with a 3 month warranty...I think that's one of the best e-bay deals I've had in a LONG time.  Glad to hear that those settings worked and I'm glad you pointed out the manual..I hadn't had the chance to play with it, but was a little concerned when I came across that as well.