what monitor should I use?

[rob1234]

I have a pacman cabinet that I am running mame on. I want to ad a vertical monitor, what is the cheapest route for me to go? Is there any way to make tv's display vertically? I have a tv mounted in there already. Otherwise if I went with a Wells Gardner 4600, and a vga card, would I have to power the monitor with a powersupply? What else would I need. Thanks for any help, I have only worked on one monitor, so I am not very experienced.

[MonitorGuru]

1a) Cheapest (best picture): Convert a used/dead 19" TV into an arcade monitor by adding an arcade chassis. (Requires electronics knowledge and is not safe for novices)
1b) Cheapest (poor picture): Use a 19" TV with Svideo inputs and a video card that outputs SVideo
1c) Cheapest (too sharp picture): Use a computer monitor

1d) Easiest: Buy a ready made arcade monitor.


2) Vertical/Horizontal does NOT matter. A vertical game draws sideways on a horizontal monitor/TV. All monitors are "horizontal"...you just mount them vertical to display a vertical game correctly.

3) Yes, you ALWAYS (with only < 1% exception, so assume ALWAYS) must use an isolation transformer to power any arcade monitor. They cost about $20 shipped, and make sure you get one that can handle the power requirements of your model (there are people selling marginal ones to make a quick buck but you could end up burning it out (transformer and/or monitor) and/or starting a fire.