ArcadeVGA Questions-using arcade monitor

[Demon-Seed]

Hi,
I am building a new cabinet and just bought a great cabinet to convert. I was going to put in a pc monitor but have been reading about using an arcade monitor and ArcadeVGA to simplifiy things. I know mame runs on it, and they say windows. Will other emulators run fine with it? ie) Genesis, snes, GBA, N64? what about PC games.... and I am newbie when it comes to this.. they say its easy to use/connect is it???

thanks
JIM

[FractalWalk]

they say its easy to use/connect is it???

Yes. It's just a standard video card that ouputs custom resolutions at aracde monitor frequency.

Check out Andy's site to answer your questions http://www.ultimarc.com/avgafaq.html

[Demon-Seed]

Hello
And they say its easy to connect is it? like arcade monitors have a vga plug that plugs in or something into the ArcadeVGA?

Can I still run Dreamcast, PS2 etc on it?

[jerryjanis]

Genesis, SNES, GBA, and n64 emulators work fine with the ArcadeVGA.  PC games should work fine as long as they are not limited by the 3d graphics power on the card.

As far as connecting the monitor to VGA I hacked my own cable.  It's a simple matter of getting a VGA cable and matching the wires to the right connectors on the arcade monitor.

Here are the websites that showed me how to make my cable:

http://dragonsden.emuunlim.com/ddvgatutl.htm

http://www.mrsalty.net/arcade/monitor/monitor.shtml

[grudgnor]

I just placed my order for an ArcadeVGA card for my new cab, so I don't have any real world testing with it yet.  From what I've heard, ArcadeVGA has the 3D capabilities to run PC games like quake.  MAMEWAH's site has some pics of ArcadeVGA running ZSNES and GENS running at native resolutions with no problem.

Because ArcadeVGA outputs 15kHz, you don't have to worry about damaging your arcade monitor.  All you'll need is an AGP slot on your computer and a breakout cable to go to the monitor (unless you're using a JPAC).  Forgive me if I'm forgetting anything, I'm pretty new at this stuff and my ArcadeVGA should arrive next week

Good Luck,
Jeremy

[Demon-Seed]

Hey
I am brand new too this too. What type of connector does an arcade monitor have? can I buy this hacked cable I need?

can a dreamcast, xbox and other consoles be connected to arcade monitor as well?

[Luxury]

Hey
I am brand new too this too. What type of connector does an arcade monitor have? can I buy this hacked cable I need?

can a dreamcast, xbox and other consoles be connected to arcade monitor as well?

you can connect a DC with ease.  all you need is vga adapter for the DC, cut one wire so that it outputs at 15khz, and thats all there is too it.  As for the other consoles, i couldnt tell you for sure, but I do think that it is possible.  

[Apollo]

Just buy the video amp along with your ArcadeVGA i'ts the easiest way to hook up.

[jerryjanis]

Just buy the video amp along with your ArcadeVGA i'ts the easiest way to hook up.

I'm under the impression that for the most part, only really old monitors would require the video amp.  In fact, I purchased a video amp after hearing a similar suggestion to yours, and I never needed it.

[glitch77]

My brand-new 19" monitor needed an amp just like my old dinosaur did. I was under the impression that any standard res. monitor needed a higher input than a vga card produces. Weird.

[jerryjanis]

Ok, I stand corrected.  My monitor is a Wells Gardner.  Looking at the spec sheet for my monitor, it says, "Video Level: 1 to 5 volts peak-to-peak" which I think is where the video amp comes into play.  Since mine can handle 1 or 5 volts, it doesn't need to video amp.  What did the video amp do?  Make the picture brighter?

Ahhh here it is (from the ultimarc website):

Some monitors (not Hantarex or Wells-Gardner) need a 5 volt video RGB signal and the ArcadeVGA card supplies 1 volt. To boost the signal level you can use our Video Amplifier. This now comes with a VGA cable.

Here are some more details about the video amp:

http://ultimarc.com/vidamp.html

[AMIGrAve]

Note that the Ultimarc's J-Pac has a video amplifier onboard. J-Pac will really make things easier for you if your cab is jamma.