Do I need ArcadeVGA

[angeldriver]

I know its a basic question but all I could find were very indepth soulutions.

I have been searching around this forum for a while and I can only find bits and pieces of the answers im looking for. I cant find a solid answer.
More specifically, I'm wondering with the Vision Pro and W/G monitors that use the 15pin vga connection, do I need the ArcadeVGA card to drive them. Or can I just set 640x480 on a "normal" video card and let mame do the rest.

On a side note how much am I really missing out on if I get a 15khz only monitor?

Thank You for helping out a new enthusiast.

[AndyWarne]

The monitors which have VGA connections are usually either VGA or tri-sync. VGA  (31Khz only) monitors are limited because they will need hardware stretch enabled all the time, which cause picture degradation.
SVGA monitors which go up to 38Khz are better because you can set up many Advanced MAME modes using double-scan and get better quality than hardware stretch.
Tri-Sync monitors are simply the best. Get one if you can afford it but don't waste the monitors capabilities by running it in VGA mode all the time, either use Advanced MAME or an ArcadeVGA card to run 15Khz games at 15Khz.
15Khz-only monitors are just fine. They are cheaper and using the ArcadeVGA or Advanced MAME you can run most games at their real pixel-perfect resolutions. Games that use higher resolutions can also be played but need hardware stretch enabled. Fortunately hardware stretch gives a better result at higher resolutions than lower, so this option works well.
Andy Warne

[angeldriver]

Thank you Andy, a great brief explanation of options and methods of execution.
Perfect.

[Lilwolf]

Take a look over at Oscars site www.oscarcontrols.com and look at the monitor compare page.

ArcadeVGA + 15hz monitor will look like the trident+arcade monitor (but work well in windows and dos)... Notice what the same monitor with a standard video card running VGA mode looked like crap.

But its not a bad way to go in parts.  Get a ArcadeMonitor that handles both and use an existing video card... but later swap the card and you get MUCH better results! 

[wpcmame]

But its not a bad way to go in parts.

[Lilwolf]

cool!  I never had any luck with powerstrip.  I have a radeon 9500 and tried getting to work with my arcade monitor to no avail. 

Would you pm me your power strip settings?

[wpcmame]

cool!

[Tritoch84]

Wait a second guys, so if I wanted to fool around with it, I could bassicly make my card (9200se) do the same things a AVGA could do? I could make it interface well with a arcade monitor if I desided to get one? This would be to cool.

I just ordered a 9200se, just for a good video out, but if this were true, it would be a great added plus!

[wboy]

Wait a second guys, so if I wanted to fool around with it, I could bassicly make my card (9200se) do the same things a AVGA could do? I could make it interface well with a arcade monitor if I desided to get one? This would be to cool.

I just ordered a 9200se, just for a good video out, but if this were true, it would be a great added plus!

There's actually a better way to do this.  I've done it myself.

I'll try to post pics soon (as I am on holidays now), but basically I've bought the official AVGA 9200 card and interfaced it with a 15khz RGB-2-SVideo converter.  Works a treat.  All horizonal games display on the TV perfectly, with no need to change resolution settings when switching between an arcade monitor or tv.