Need advice

[iamnaeth]

Hi all, its been 2 years since I built my first cabinet and of course i've got the itch to build version 2.0.  I want to change a few things.  My first cabinet is entirely too big.  One reason for this is I used a 27" TV complete with the plastic in it.  To hold this TV, the cabinet had to be wide and deep.  I haven't decided on all dimensions of the new cabinet partially because it will depend on the new monitor.  I think i've decided to go with a 25" TV or arcade monitor.  Also, this time, I wanted to "mount" it in my cabinet.  This leads my to my questions.  I'm a little confused as to what goes into this?  I see chasis referred to around here, but what does that refer to?  I've seen a few pictures with a metal frame around the monitor, how much space does this save and how much easier is it to mount?  As you can tell I'm really confused by this subject even though I have a fully working cabinet now!  haha.  Thanks in advance for your help and I guarantee I will have follow up questions!

I also forgot to ask, can someone recommend a good 25" TV or arcade monitor setup?

Nathan

[iamnaeth]

Okay, after a little more research around here, I think I've made a connection.  The chasis seems to refer to the electronics that control the tube itself.  It consists of other parts including the neckboard.  By the way, i still have no clue what these are  I guess before i start looking into that, I'll start with simpler questions.

1)  What is the metal frame around the tube called and does it make mounting easier?
2)  Does this method of mounting save space versus placing the entire (read: Plastic and all) TV into the cabinet?
3)  I think I read somewhere that most arcade monitor do not support 800x600.  I intend to use other emulators in this cabinet other than MAME.  Also, I will be hooking up a Dreamcast in the cabinet.  Does this in any way affect whether I should go with a TV or Arcade monitor?
4)  If I should go with an arcade monitor, what one or ones should I look for?

Thanks all again!  I hope this helps clarify my first post!

[Harry Potter]

Okay, after a little more research around here, I think I've made a connection.  The chasis seems to refer to the electronics that control the tube itself.  It consists of other parts including the neckboard.  By the way, i still have no clue what these are  I guess before i start looking into that, I'll start with simpler questions.

1)  What is the metal frame around the tube called and does it make mounting easier?
2)  Does this method of mounting save space versus placing the entire (read: Plastic and all) TV into the cabinet?
3)  I think I read somewhere that most arcade monitor do not support 800x600.  I intend to use other emulators in this cabinet other than MAME.  Also, I will be hooking up a Dreamcast in the cabinet.  Does this in any way affect whether I should go with a TV or Arcade monitor?
4)  If I should go with an arcade monitor, what one or ones should I look for?

Thanks all again!  I hope this helps clarify my first post!

1- I call it a mounting frame. Others probably have some fancy tech words.

2- Definitely save heaps of space.

3- Most Standard Res arcade monitors will support 800 x 600 in interlaced mode. I used to have an arcade monitor from 1988 which had no problems with 800 x 600 in interlace.

4- Best to ask Ken Layton.

Good luck dude.

[grantspain]

harry potter is pretty spot on,but you can always decase a tv and use angle iron as mounting points,lots of monitors around but depends if you are in the states or u.k for prices and availability-on this forum there are many threads of people that have purchased monitors and have given feedback on reliability,picture quality,price etc best to read some of those first but if you're in the states your laughing(much more choice)

[Harry Potter]

Damn yanks don't have to pay the astronomical shipping fees. 

[iamnaeth]

Yeah, I'm in the US so I'll give a look around the boards.  In the 25" range, is there much choice for monitors?  Most people either discuss 19" or 27".  Thanks!

[Harry Potter]

From what I hear, 25" monitors are pretty much on the way out as far as new is concerned.

You may have to go for a 27"

[iamnaeth]

Well I have a 27" in TV in my current cabinet.  (With all the plastic on it).  I'm afraid the cabinet it just a little too wide for me right now.  I figured I'd save a few inches going to a 25" TV or arcade monitor.  Or is that just unreasonable?  I figured a 25" Diagonal mean right around a 21" width so ~ 25" cabinet?  I haven't worked out all the dimensions on the new cabinet but my current cabinet is around 29.5" wide, its a beast.

[Harry Potter]

Apparently with arcade monitors 19inch means 19inch. The frames aren't included in the measurement since they don't got any.

The 21inch monitor in my cab would probably be a 23 or 25 with a frame.

[iamnaeth]

Oh okay. So with arcade monitors, the inch listed is the width not the diameter?  so a 21" monitor is a 23-25" diagonal?

[Harry Potter]

No. The measurement is still diagonal, but unlike CRTs with a case (TV, PC monitor), the measurements for arcade monitors don't have the extra measurement for the case.

Eg. Aracade monitor 21" with just the frame. If you stuck it into a case, It'd become a 23".

[iamnaeth]

Okay, I must be retarded or we're saying the same thing.  If You have a 21" Arcade monitor, this means the diagonal is 21".  Therefore, the width should be 21"*cos(36) = 17".  Right?  So when you add on the few inches for the frame you're right back around 21"   haha, am I missing something?  Wow, this is trivial but I wanted to figure it out for the width of my cab.

[grantspain]

the size of a monitor i.e 21" denotes the size of the actuall tube body measured diagonally across the front of the tube,nothing else-therefore mounting brackets and tube frame eyelets are extra to the size.buy the monitor first then build the cab around it,or that too easy

[iamnaeth]

Hey, looking around for the 25" monitor size.  I only know 1 site to find monitors so I looked there.  Are these good arcade monitors?  Is this a good price?  Should I look elsewhere?

http://www.happcontrols.com/monitors/49258000.htm

[tetsu96]

Hey, looking around for the 25" monitor size.  I only know 1 site to find monitors so I looked there.  Are these good arcade monitors?  Is this a good price?  Should I look elsewhere?

http://www.happcontrols.com/monitors/49258000.htm

Wow - looking at that price, I was offering a good deal on my 29" Impress monitor - Think it was a Hitachi or Nanao, can't remember.  15 / 24Khz.  Only issues with it is that it's mounted in a Betson frame (not a prob unless it's going in a japanese candy cab), and the monitor is flushed out with blue - probably needs a cap kit (not expensive).  PM me if you're interested so I con't come off pimping in this thread.   

[iamnaeth]

While I appreciate your offer, 29" is probably a little too big for me.  I'm trying to scale my cabinet down from my 27" TV now so going up probably isn't an option!     I guess I'll follow up again with a few questions.  What does the frequencies of the monitor matter?  I know computer monitors are usually 60Hz and up.  How does this effect hooking up an arcade monitor to a PC?  I plan on getting arcadeVGA as I've heard that this helps ease the process.  Also, I'm guessing that this is NOT a good price?  What other 25" monitors should I be looking at?  I would like to get the chassis and the frame all together for simplification while not going broke in the process!  Thanks all again!

[tetsu96]

While I appreciate your offer, 29" is probably a little too big for me.  I'm trying to scale my cabinet down from my 27" TV now so going up probably isn't an option!     I guess I'll follow up again with a few questions.  What does the frequencies of the monitor matter?  I know computer monitors are usually 60Hz and up.  How does this effect hooking up an arcade monitor to a PC?  I plan on getting arcadeVGA as I've heard that this helps ease the process.  Also, I'm guessing that this is NOT a good price?  What other 25" monitors should I be looking at?  I would like to get the chassis and the frame all together for simplification while not going broke in the process!  Thanks all again!

Well, it's 27" across, but they're always upscaled on the specs for the jap cabinets - The betson frame is for a 27" and that fits the tube fine (maybe the mean 29" with bezel and / or frame...  *shrugs*).

As to frequencies - 60Hz isn't the important one when talking about monitors - it's the 15 / 24 / 31KHz which makes the difference.  15 is standard resolution, 24 is medium resolution / EGA, and 31 is VGA (640x480).  If you have an AVGA, 15KHz is what it's really made for.  24 isn't compatible with too much PC related stuff though you could make it work.  31KHz and up is for the more computer oriented / high resolution stuff.

[iamnaeth]

Since I plan on playing some PC games in the cabinet and I run other emulators, I probably should be looking for a monitor that does 31KHz then?  Does this correspond to 800x600?

[Harry Potter]

Certainly does.

Apparently vector games look cool in that mode.