19" arcade or 21" PC?

[neuromancer]

So I have a 20 year old cabinet with a 19" monitor (probably original) mounted vertical in it.

I also have a 21" fixed frequency 1024x768 trinitron monitor (by Radius).

I had a PC hooked up to the arcade monitor, and it works, but I had to adjust it for every different game I tried to run.

The 21" works just fine (as far as such things go).

I'd really like to be able to play both horizontal and vertical games. With some work, the 19" monitor could probably be made to rotate, but the 21" won't for sure.

If you were in my position, which would you use, and why?

Thanks.

Bob

[NoOne=NBA=]

Are you sure the 21 won't rotate with the case removed?

You might double check the inside dimensions of the cab, vs. the diagonal measurement on the monitor chassis.

Some of the monitor chassis are pretty tight to the tube, as compared to the case around them, so it might be doable.

I'd vote for the PC monitor anyway because I like vector games; but it would be nice to get it rotating, as well.

[telengard]

So I have a 20 year old cabinet with a 19" monitor (probably original) mounted vertical in it.

I also have a 21" fixed frequency 1024x768 trinitron monitor (by Radius).

I had a PC hooked up to the arcade monitor, and it works, but I had to adjust it for every different game I tried to run.

The 21" works just fine (as far as such things go).

I'd really like to be able to play both horizontal and vertical games. With some work, the 19" monitor could probably be made to rotate, but the 21" won't for sure.

If you were in my position, which would you use, and why?

Thanks.

Bob

That's a tough call.  I have done what you are looking to do with a 19" PC monitor.  It wasn't easy.  The plastic case is part of the monitor itself.  What I mean by that is you can't just take the case off and slap it in there.  If you keep the case on it would be easier.  The rotating will be a little easier w/ the PC one due to having the degaussing built into the controls although it seems some of the arcade ones now have it.

I *really* want a WG u3100 but I'm afraid it won't look good for vector games.  On the PC monitor at 1024x768 they look pretty dang good (although not nearly as good as the real thing).

The rotating is great because all games take up the full screen.  I take this a step further with advancemame and create my own video modes which take up the entire screen and also have scanlines and a nice blurring effect that somewhat looks like the arcade monitors.  If you need info on rotating PC monitors you can check out my page.

Good luck!

[neuromancer]

Thanks guys.

I'll look at the 21" chassis more carefully. So far, I haven't found a way to remove the tube from the fascia.

It's a monster. Weighs close to 100 pounds. The front of the tube appears to be 3/4 " thick.

I had forgot about vector games. I really like some of those, especially Major Havoc and I think that probably tips the scale to the PC monitor.

Bob

[whammoed]

I *really* want a WG u3100 but I'm afraid it won't look good for vector games.  On the PC monitor at 1024x768 they look pretty dang good (although not nearly as good as the real thing).

Remember mame outputs vector games at 800x600 so the u3100 can display it without any stretching.  The thing to worry about then is its dot pitch which isn't near as good as a pc monitor.  Just opinion but I owned a u3100 and thought the vector games looked fine on it and all other games looked excellent.  Most games are not vector so I prefer to compromise a little on the vector games as opposed to all others.  Don't know how they would look on a true arcade monitor that only does the 15Khz resolutions though.

[telengard]

I *really* want a WG u3100 but I'm afraid it won't look good for vector games.  On the PC monitor at 1024x768 they look pretty dang good (although not nearly as good as the real thing).

Remember mame outputs vector games at 800x600 so the u3100 can display it without any stretching.  The thing to worry about then is its dot pitch which isn't near as good as a pc monitor.  Just opinion but I owned a u3100 and thought the vector games looked fine on it and all other games looked excellent.  Most games are not vector so I prefer to compromise a little on the vector games as opposed to all others.  Don't know how they would look on a true arcade monitor that only does the 15Khz resolutions though.

Yeah I've read that it looks OK but I wish somehow I could see it myself before buying.  Can't the U3100 also do 1024x768 interlaced ( that would probably look awful )?

[whammoed]

Yes it will do 1024x768i but i didn't think it looked too hot and never used it.