Newbie question on TVs and cards

[bffoley]

Im looking to build my first MAME cabinet, and I was hoping you guys could help me find what I need for video.  From the reading Ive done, I see that S-Video is the way to go, and Im going to use a TV since arcade monitors are probably a little too expensive for me right now.  Could you guys suggest a good video card for this?  Also, Ill be buying a TV from a retail store around here.  Any tips on what I should be looking for in a TV for this kind of usage?

BTW, how much do arcade monitors typically cost? (Im in the USA)

[rhoelsch]

Go with an ATI (Built by ATI, not Powered by ATI), concensus is they have the best s-vid out.   As for TV's, Circuit City has 20" flat-screen Apex's on for $150 (reg. $200), and they look darn fine in the store if you're on a budget.  If not, I've heard good things about JVC, Toshiba's and Sony's...do a search in the forum...lots of opinions...and you can always exchange a TV!  Shop around for the arcade monitor...prices vary...

[Jungle]

The standard answers (and what I have in my setup) are:

Video Card:  Get an ATI card with s-vid out.  You want a genuine ATI card and not a card labeled "Powered by ATI".  It need not be the latest and greatest card since MAME doesn't use the 3D processing.  I have an old ATI Xpert98 PCI in my machine and it works great with MAME.  A lot of people pick up a cheap Radeon for about $40.

TV:  Make sure you get a TV that has s-vid in (obviously), that powers up automatically when unplugged and then pluged in (a lot go into standby so you have to hit the power switch to get them started), and one that remembers your input setting (i.e. stays on S-video) when unplugged and then plugged in.  The last two things will make it much easier to turn the cab on and off and will allow for a one button on and off.  I know that the 27" JVC at Sam's Club has these features, and I have heard that Toshibas do as well.  I also know that the cheap $199 27" Apex will not have these features.  The only way to find out for sure is to test the TV you are interested in.

[Tritoch84]

That "ONLY GET A BUILT BY ATI CARD" is highly misleading. It's harder to find a true ATI card, and much more pricy when sometimes all these people want is a good TV-out.

Any good maker like sapphire (ATI's biggest 3rd party maker) or even hercules will be just fine as far as TV-out goes.

I understand the warning, and your right, alot of 3rd party makers make VERY subpar cards.

[Trenchbroom]

Sapphire is very good and dirt cheap.  Two cards from them so far and I'm very happy with the S-Video results.