tv w/ component cables or arcade monitor

[infiniteomega]

I'm doing in the planning stages of a mame/ps2 cabinet for myself and am having trouble deciding what to do in the way of a monitor.  Currently, I'm trying to decide if I should go with a tv that has component inputs or an actual arcade monitor.  Now, a new 27" flat tube tv with component inputs (not HD) can be had for under 300 dollars whereas an arcade monitor of the same size, that can do the full sync range up to 640x480 (and beyond) seems to be somewhere between 300 and 600, not including shipping.  I know people say "don't try to save money", but I can't justify a 700 dollars to my house cost if the picture quality isn't that different. 

Obviously this cabinet will be used mainly for older games via mame as well as ps2 (and perhaps future consoles).  I'd like it to be as nearly futureproof as possible (for the console side of things). 

I suppose, what I really need is a side by side comparison of an arcade monitor running games in correct resolution vs them running on a tv with component inputs.  Currently I run things on a tv with s-video (both the ps2 and mame) and things don't look bad, but if I'm going to be spending money, might as well get something for it, if I can.

So can anyone help me out in that regard?

Thanks

[ArtMAME]

Hey, I got a JVC AV-27530 brand new for $190 at hhgregg that has component inputs.  I am very happy with this setup.
I was not really pleased with the S-Video that I was running on my Sharp TV, ...especially for the older games...but I was willing to settle. 

Anyway, I needed to get a new TV for my cabinet project and I said to my self "Go ahead and get the one with component video inputs, just to try them out.  If I can't get them to work, then at least I still got S-Video."  It was only $30 more than the non-component video TV. 

Let me tell you...That made all the difference, at least for me... . 
The older games look awesome!!!
The only thing is that Asteroids, and Asteroids Deluxe do not look good at all on the TV.

I did not have an unlimited budget either so I did not want to spend $700 on a large multisync arcade monitor.  Yeah, I hear some people say don't skimp on parts for your cab... , but if you are married, have kids, or have lots of bills, then you have to draw the line somewhere. 
Don't get me wrong, I would love to spend $$$ on the best components money can buy...
but that is sometimes just not possible with out consequences...

If I spent $700 on a monitor, do you know what my wife would do? I will tell you, she would cut off my......joystick!!!... ...did I mention that her name is Lorena???

Plus, I already have a 25" arcade monitor that needs repair.  I may get that fixed some day. 

I don't have any consoles, but I would imagine that using a TV would be the most hassle-free way to plug in your ps2 and future consoles.  I don't know how you would plug a console to an arcade monitor.

I have posted other threads about my setup:

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=51393.0

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=51752.0

Good luck on your cab...

[conkerkrusher]

Besides my PS2 issue, i recently purchased the billabs high end monitor, its only 550 but the shipping its stupidly expensive.
My friend and i have been making mame cabs for 3-4 years now, Motorfish that post on these boards.
I can say without hesitation that this monitor is the best for mame, and any console that you can get to put out a vga signal, x2vga is used for my xbox, and the 360 nativly supports vga output as will the ps3. Once i get the ps2 issue figured out i will post more info.
between motorfish and I we have tried high end tv, sony xbr, an eigo monitor , a wells garder d9200 and now the billabs. The cool little adapter that comes with the billabs allows you to even hook up a jamma video signal, so if you find a game you love but isnt emulated you can have that running also.
I am using a kvm swith to switch video and contorls all in one button press. The audio i still have to switch manually though.
The only real complaint i had about recieving this monitor is the cost of shipping and the total lack of customer support, though i was informed they where doing invintory that week. Took 4 days just to get the shipping info from them. They really need an online ordering system as they could sell so many of these if it was just simple to do.

[infiniteomega]

Some updates:

I test built my initial cabinet plans out of cardboard and it was WAY too large to fit anywhere in my house comfortably, so I went back to the drawing board so to speak design wise.  I'm thinking of using either a 20" tv or a 19" arcade monitor.  Chances are, it'll make more sense to go with an arcade monitor (depending on the pricing billabs gives me for their multisync model). 

Now, if I end up going the tv route, I think I'd be okay as far as my ps2 is concerned.  I bought some component video cables for my ps2 this weekend.  They definitely sharpen things up quite a bit.  Image quality is pretty nice.  Can't say it's arcade quality for sure, but it's pretty close.  Need to get a dvi to component video adapter to see what mame looks like though.  I'm expecting a decent increase in image clarity and sharpness.

Conkerkrusher:  Do you have any side by side pictures of games running on these different displays?

[conkerkrusher]

I could take a few shots this weekend of a wells next to a billabs next to a 15 khz redearth dedicated machine.
If you can go the route of using a real arcade monitor i recomend it. Though hooking up consoles is a chore, mame games looks infinately better at thier native resolutions.  I think billabs has a small 20 inch monitor that multisyncs also but am not sure.

[infiniteomega]

Pics would be nice, I'll look forward to seeing them.

My main concern is being able to futureproof my cab as much as possible.  The majority of what I play are 2D fighters which afaik are all standard res (except maybe guilty gear).  However, with the xbox360 being out, with ps3 and revolution to follow shortly, as well as the new arcade hardware out today being based on pc hardware, I wonder how long it'll be until the monitors everyone are using are not up to snuff for the latest arcade games.

 Right now SEGA has house of the dead 4 out there with either an hdtv or a 27" monitor.  Makes me wonder what res it's really using, and how that will effect future games.

Billabs has a 19" multisync monitor.  I'm waiting for a price quote on it.  I'd love a 27" but I have no room for a cabinet built around one.  So, I'm thinking of making 2 single player 19" based cabs.  Will probably cost more in the long run, but they'd be easier to find a space for.  At least, this is my current line of thinking.

[tetsu96]

Pics would be nice, I'll look forward to seeing them.

My main concern is being able to futureproof my cab as much as possible.  The majority of what I play are 2D fighters which afaik are all standard res (except maybe guilty gear).  However, with the xbox360 being out, with ps3 and revolution to follow shortly, as well as the new arcade hardware out today being based on pc hardware, I wonder how long it'll be until the monitors everyone are using are not up to snuff for the latest arcade games.

But that, as you already know, is drifting off the point.  If you want today's games, you need today's technology.  If you want yesterday's games, playing them on today's equipment is further from the experience.

Example - My cabs are using the Betson monitor - great stuff there, and though it's probably a bit too sharp running games natively, they can run @ double the res with rgb effects applied which make them look pretty damn good.  I've also got a dreamcast I hooked up to the betson and tried playing some of those fighters (this doesn't apply to 3D or GGX).  I HATED it.  They looked similar, but much too pixely and such to be worth playing on it.

And they'd probably look more accurate if I just used older (and cheaper) 15KHz monitors.

In short, if you're making your cab as "futureproof" as possible, you're making compromises you may or may not be happy with.

Closer to on topic:  I'll 2nd the notion that component video is much better than svideo.  It's still not pixel perfect (well, maybe if the game was the same video mode as a TV), but the color bleed and such are close to RGB quality.