Arcade monitor with Mame Win32?

[Knievel]

Hey all,
First post for this long time arcade game collector new to the whole Mame thing...

I'm trying to hook my CPU (running the windows version of Mame with the MameWah front-end) up to a Dynamo arcade cabinet with a 19" WG arcade monitor in it to see how it looks before I do a full Mame conversion.
I've read a lot of posts over the weekend and I stripped the end off a vga cable and connected it to the monitor as directed.

My question is what do I have to do to the computer to get the proper *SAFE* signal going to the monitor(15Mzh?) before I flip this thing on?

I read in the DOS version of Mame that you have to add "-monitor arcade" but I see no option like this in the win32 version.

Can anyone who's been through this give me a hand

Thanks, LOVING this site and this board

[bloodyviking77]

windows at 15khz is possible, but depends mightily on what video card you are using, as you need the appropriate drivers for your card to drive it in "15khz mode".

However, AFAIK it's pretty tough to get windows running in 15khz (Trident Blade T64 with monarc plus used to be the best bet: check out the easymamecab site at easymamecab.mameworld.net/ for some helpful info. However I've not managed to get it working satisfactorily myself).

It's much easier to boot to DOS then (like I do) use a frontend like Arcadeos www.mameworld.net/pc2jamma or advancemenu to run advancemame (advancemame.sourceforge.net)

There's heaps of info around to help (google is your friend), but be warned advancemame takes quite some setting up - though the easymamecab .iso makes it a bit easier!!

People round here will waste no time in pointing you to an Ultimarc ArcadeVGA from www.ultimarc.com but IMO its an expensive solution when advmame (once set up) does such a good job for free.

Anyways, poke around the boards here for a bit and experiment. You'll soon figure out all sorts of stuff!! Good luck.

[Knievel]

Thanks for the response Vik,
Didn't realize the windows version was not a good choice for an arcade monitor. This is not good news as I left DOS behind a long time ago, and I was never very good at it then.

I will give the ArcadeOS a try, hope it looks as good as MameWAh...I've got it all set up nice with the marquees and screenshots

I saw the ArcadeVGA card but from what I read it wasn't really a must have for a WG monitor. So if I run the DOS version and use the -monitor arcade attribute I should be in business minus some screen adjusment problems?

[menace]

once you get advancemame setup your mamewah setup can just be tweaked and you'll be good to go.  No need to learn a new front end unless you are unhappy with the one you are using.

[StephenH]

ArcadeVGA is the best way to go, actually.   The advantages are as follows over AdvanceMAME and MAMEwah:

1) Can Safely Load Windows at 15Khz

2) Can Display Readable DOS And BIOS Screens so they are easily readable and non-interlaced.

3) Pre-Configured for many common MAME Resolutions, so that AdvanceMAME and ArcadeOS do not have to be custom configured to run at 15Khz.

4) Prevents 31Khz signal from reaching your monitor, so you don't accidently damage your monitor by something as simple as loading Windows or a VGA Res app.

5) Can Display 640x480 and 800x600 in interlace mode, allowing PC applications to run with some flicker and blurrieness.  

[Knievel]

Hey Stephen,
I actually downloaded AdvanceMAME after reading Menace's post last night but I was definately in over my head. Think the ArcadeVGA is this newbie's only option.

I assume you are using it...did your games all look good from the start or is there alot of tweaking involved? I'm worried about these problems I've read about part of the screen being cut off. I play mostly classic games like Pacman and Galaxian.

Thanks for the input!