Arcade Monitor Comparable to WG D9200?

[javeryh]

I am in the planning stages of a cocktail cab and I want to put an arcade monitor inside.  The WG D9200 gets raves around here but I think at 27" it is a little big for what I want to do.  I was hoping to find a comparable monitor in the 19" to 25" range.  I won't have a lot of space where the cabinet will go so this is why I want a smaller monitor otherwise I'd cram a 35 incher in there and use it as my poker table when we're not playing games.

I know Wells Gardner (and other companies) makes different sized monitors but I want to be sure that the one I select will work with the games I want to play.  I plan on using it to play most mame games and maybe daphne down the road.  I want it to be able to display pacman in all it's glory but also something newer like MKII or 3 (with a 3rd CP on the side).  Basically, I'm not sure about the different resolutions that the various monitors come in and what games require.  I'd hate to spend $400 on something I can't use to play what I want.  Any help would be great if any of this made sense...  Thanks!

[whammoed]

sounds like you would like a multi sync auto switching monitor and the only ones we know for sure to do this so far are the d9200 and the kortek.  The smallest d9200 is 27" and it appears the kortek is made in smaller sizes but you can't seem to find a supplier for them.  If you are not looking for arcade perfect resolutions you could go with a computer monitor.  A regular arcade cga monitor will display most of the arcade resolutions...not sure what daphne requires.
Don't rule out a 27" right away for size though.  My most recent cocktail uses a 27" and is only 5 inches bigger for width and length than a standard Midway cabinet: 37x27 compared to 32x22.
http://web.tampabay.rr.com/whammoed/whammocade/whammocade.htm

[javeryh]

The Whammocade is the sweetest cocktail cabinet I've seen so far.  Nice work!  It has inspired me to attempt my own.  I will probably have a lot more questions once I actually begin construction.  If I do go with the WG D9200, do you think it is OK to get a refurb?  It's almost $100 cheaper than the new ones...

Would a 19" regular old computer monitor be able to display games like MKII and Killer Instinct nicely?  I'm not a perfectionist when it comes to the visuals but I don't like the blocky look that a monitor produces.  I was running sf2 and mspacman on my old computer and they didn't look so hot...

Also, how hard was cramming everything else in your cab with the large monitor?  Did the coin box get in the way or anything?  Thanks!

[whammoed]

like you said, lower res games look very blocky on a computer monitor.  The more simple the graphics , like pac man, the more you notice it.  Games like MKII I don't tend to really notice.  Personally I don't like any of the various scan lines and such that are supposed to make it look like an arcade monitor.  Sounds like you would be better of with an arcade CGA monitor than a computer monitor.

Of course everything is a tight fit but it does all fit.  Maybe a couple inches to spare between the coin mechs and the monitor chassis as well as the coin box.  You will need to set the coin door as close to the bottom as you can.  It does, however, provide more real estate for mounting the computer components, ipac, optipac, etc becaus it is a larger cabinet.

Let me know if you need a metal 3rd control panel...I still have 4 left I am selling at cost.  (Exactly like the one I used, blank so you can set up controls the way you want)

I have not heard of anyone getting a refurb d9200 but the people i have seen get a refurb u3100 have had good luck.  Sometimes refurb just means an un-used buy back that they technically can't label as new.  Don't rule out the Kortek either.  Kevin Steele at retroblast seems to prefer it and I believe they are on sale right now.

[javeryh]

Thanks for the info.  Any ideas on where to actually buy the Kortek (or at least compare prices with the WG)?  

I might be interested in buying the long CP from you but I am not sure that I am going to use metal for my CPs yet - I don't feel comfortable working with metal like I do with wood - also I'm not sure how the buttons and everything will fit such a thin CP - I'll have to research the process more before I decide...  

Also, what type for front end do you recommend for a cab like this?  The menu orientation will always be off either vertically or horizontally depending on how you set it up.  Any solutions?  One last thing - are you happy with the WG monitor?  I'd love to hear your opinion.  It might be the easiest route at this point for me...  Thanks again!

[whammoed]

I use advmenu and just leave it facing the long panel.  I like it best this way, it is where I have my two admin buttons (exit and pause) and that way it is facing you as you approach the cab.  With my cab you could be sitting in three different positions when a game ends and the menu comes up.  I don't know of a frontend that would be facing you depending on which way the last game played was facing.
I am happy with the d9200 and haven't had any trouble with it.  There was a time when there seemed to be a lot of posts with people having trouble with them though.
Controls fit perfectly in metal panels...no need for trackball mounting plates, and the joysticks sit at a good height without having to route out wood.
You can get the kortek from betson.  here is a link to their online catalog...page 84
http://www.betson.com/betson%20parts%20catalog.pdf

[daeven]

I bought my WG D9200 as a refurb over a year ago.  I've had no trouble with it.

Your other option might be to use a U3100 and just let MAME scale the games to fit.  It does 640x480 with a high dot pitch.  Someone using this monitor should pipe up and let us know how it looks with the CGA resolution games.

[whammoed]

I bought my WG D9200 as a refurb over a year ago.  I've had no trouble with it.

Your other option might be to use a U3100 and just let MAME scale the games to fit.  It does 640x480 with a high dot pitch.  Someone using this monitor should pipe up and let us know how it looks with the CGA resolution games.

I used this monitor on my first cocktail.  The CGA games look good on it but some games look a little blurry with the stretching.  Of course if you use advmame or powerstrip you could use resolutions that maybe are 2x the original and wouldn't need any stretching.  They wouldn't be arcade perfect but you probably would never even notice.  Very good suggestion.