ArcadeVGA, Windows, vsync

[seibu]

Hi,
I'm running an ArcadeVGA card in a P3 866Mhz PC, driving a Hantarex 15khz MTC monitor. I presently have a decent-ish setup using Linux, AdvanceMAME and svgalib. Unfortunately, I cannot use interlaced modes in this setup.

I was therefore thinking about defecting to Windows, since this is the environment for which the ArcadeVGA was designed. However, vsync is very important to me.

Since you are limited to the ArcadeVGA's built-in modes within Windows, how can you achieve vsync with games which have odd refresh rates? For example, pacland (60.606060Hz) and rtype (55.0000Hz)?

I am aware that the infamous mortal kombat (53.204948Hz) has a special mode included in the ArcadeVGA - but what about other odd refresh rate games? Are they destined to tear and chop forever?

So, a simple question. Can anybody who has an ArcadeVGA setup on windows XP using a fixed frequency 15Khz monitor, quickly check if, say, Pacland, R-Type and MK are properly vsynched? No tearing whatsoever?

If so, does anyone know how that's possible - if the ArcadeVGA modes are locked to 60Hz or other weird "unknown" refresh rates, how can regular Windows MAME vsync a 60.60Hz / 53Hz game?

[wpcmame]

Since you are limited to the ArcadeVGA's built-in modes within Windows, how can you achieve vsync with games which have odd refresh rates? For example, pacland (60.606060Hz) and rtype (55.0000Hz)?

With vsync the game will run at the same speed as the monitor regardless if it matches the correct refreshrate or not (within certain limits, advmame allows +/- 3% don't know about other versions).

e.g. with vsync on a 60Hz display, pacland will run at 60Hz which is approx 1% slower than the original but you get no tearing or chopping.

[Minwah]

e.g. with vsync on a 60Hz display, pacland will run at 60Hz which is approx 1% slower than the original but you get no tearing or chopping.

I disagree.  I don't have a problem with tearing on PacLand (triplebuffer sorts that out), but the scrolling has an occasional 'jerk'.  I have never been able to get rid of this jerkiness (I think I mentioned it in a previous similar thread seibu)...

I guess you would have to find an ArcadeVGA mode with 60.60606hz refresh rate for it to display flawlessly (I don't think such a mode exists?).  Or alter the driver to run at 60hz....

Not sure about R-Type (sorry I'm not at home this week), but MK runs perfectly for me.

[seibu]

With vsync the game will run at the same speed as the monitor regardless if it matches the correct refreshrate or not (within certain limits, advmame allows +/- 3% don't know about other versions).

Ah ha! That explains why AdvanceMAME on my Linux setup will vsync pacland even when running a 60Hz mode! Cheers!

I've just done a few experiments with the ArcadeVGA and windows by swapping out the hard drive. It does appear that true vsync is impossible on regular MAME without a 60.60Hz mode. Do you think powerstrip could help?

Anyway, I think I'll stick with the Linux setup for now. Maybe one day they'll fix the svgalib ATI driver? XFree86 is perfectly capable of getting interlace modes on the ArcadeVGA, so I don't see why the svgalib driver can't do the same some day.

[wboy]

I disagree.  I don't have a problem with tearing on PacLand (triplebuffer sorts that out), but the scrolling has an occasional 'jerk'.  I have never been able to get rid of this jerkiness (I think I mentioned it in a previous similar thread seibu)...
 about R-Type (sorry I'm not at home this week), but MK runs perfectly for me.

Of the games where I have noticed a jerky scroll, I usually enable sync to monitor refresh in addition to triple buffering which (to me) fixes the problem.

Tested Pac-Land (both ways, with and without) but couldn't really notice the "jerk" you are referring too.  Test it yourself and let us know the outcome.

[DYNAGOD]

i know using nonamemame and emuloader,
 i can use a sliiderunder my custom resolutions to define my refresh rate using small increments.
so  60.60 refresh rate would be obtainable.

[Minwah]

Of the games where I have noticed a jerky scroll, I usually enable sync to monitor refresh in addition to triple buffering which (to me) fixes the problem.

Tested Pac-Land (both ways, with and without) but couldn't really notice the "jerk" you are referring too.  Test it yourself and let us know the outcome.

OK, I'll give it another go - maybe I missed something before (hopefully!)...