AdvanceMame needed if booting straight to dos on an arcade monitor?

[eggedd2k]

Anyone know if AdvanceMame is necessary if booting straight into DOS on via the mame command line on an arcade monitor? will the screen output ok to the arcade monitor?

[MonitorGuru]

Don't know for sure what your asking but...

Regular DOS mame will not output correct signals for an arcade monitor to sync to it.

AdvanceMame for DOS is required to see any games on an arcade monitor from DOS using a generic video card--UNLESS you purchase the AdvanceVGA card.

Without an AdvanceVGA card, the computer (BIOS boot up/etc..) will output too high of a sync signal to an arcade monitor prior to it booting into AdvanceMame and could potentially ruin it.

So in essense, if you want to play games on a real arcade monitor you need one of these options:

- DOS or Windows Mame/Mame 32+AdvanceVGA video card.

- DOS or Linux AdvanceMame and a standard video card + a circuit to disable video output if the sync is higher than 15.75 KHz OR a separate power switch to allow you to turn the monitor on AFTER AdvanceMame has started.

[SirPeale]

Regular DOS mame will not output correct signals for an arcade monitor to sync to it.

Um...yes it will!  I've got three cabs downstairs, and they all have DOS Mame on them.

Trick is you have to get the right video card.  They all have ATI Rage 3D cards, or on with that chipset onboard.

[OldSchool79]

Peale you dont run AdvanceMAME on an arcade monitor in DOS?

I guess it's possible but don't you at least have to run a TSR to modify the frequencies when you try and run standard VGA resolutions?

I run a TSR so I can get a DOS prompt, and I also run AdvanceMAME and AdvanceMenu to play games. Most 320x200, 320x240 DOS games/emulators will run with the TSR that comes with AdvanceMAME too.

BTW egged2k I played with the setup for days until I got it working. Welcome to the world of arcade monitors! Keep a soldering iron hot!

EDIT: the results of going arcade monitor make it all worthwhile, but that's only if you are going for authenticity. To me it just doesn't feel like an arcade game if it's on a PAL TV or on a PC monitor.