TV Overscan - arrggghh!

[ras2a]

I found how to access the service menu for my TV, only to discover the "VOL -" button missing off my set (needed to access).  So no go on changing overscan by that method.  Anyway, I've changed my desktop res (I have AVGA card) to 640x288 (non interlaced) and run minwah's res tool.  All games seem to play great now with hardly anything missing off screen (top/bottom).  Well, there is a little bit but it's certainly better than when I was running in 640x480.  But when it comes time to swapping the TV out I think I'll just get a 24" PC Monitor.  I can't be doing with all this fannying about in future (lol, lazy I know).  Also I suppose with a PC monitor you don't get those bloody tearing/sound jittering issues?  I guess that means they are something to do with refresh rate of a TV?.  Incidentally, I still get the tearing/sound stuttering probs now and again (annoying).

Craig

[TalkingOctopus]

What are the specs of the computer you are using?  Turn on triple buffering in mame.ini to get rid of the graphical tearing. 

[ras2a]

I'm using a PIII 800 with 512MB RAM.  Pretty naff I know but it's all I had lying around at the time.  I know the issues aren't to do with the spec of the PC though.  Must be some ini setting.  I have triplebuffer turned on already.  What could be causing the sound stuttering issues?

Cheers

Craig

[TalkingOctopus]

Does every game stutter or just a few?  I actaully have very similar specs for the pc in my cab. PIII 733 w/ 512 MB.  I use MAME .66 and a few games stutter every once and a while.  They stutter b/c they need more horsepower to be emulated. 

[ras2a]

Nah just a few.  I'll be upgrading the PC later in the year, it's good enough to play on for now.  Although I am using the latest version of MAME (0.89)...maybe it's that much more resource intensive.

Cheers, Craig