Sony PVM 1910 19" Pro Trinitron Video Monitor ***UPDATED***

[savj14]

I have the chance to pick this monitor up for about $150 just wondering if it can do what I need it to do.

I want to use it as a MAME monitor in hopes that it will display native Arcade resoultions. I would like connect it directly to my PC video card either through S-Video or VGA. I would also like to use Windows and MAME32 if possible. I'm sure some kind of hacked cable is necessary but I'd be up for the challange if it will produce an image as good as a true arcade monitor.

Im still looking for some specs on this to see if it has a horizontal scan of 15-30khz.


Any input would be appreciated greatly........Thanks

[StephenH]

I would doubt it would be 15-31Khz.  It shows a copyright date of the manual of 1984.  I would think CGA or EGA may be a better guess. 

[ArtMAME]

I just got 3 of these from my buddy who was storing them for me.  I am experimenting right now with them.  Here is what I have so far:

Using an old Sony Vaio with a Radeon 9250 and Powerstrip (which I currently use to run Robotron at native resolution through an arcade monitor) I took the 15KHz signal from the VGA port on the sound card and hooked up the RGB and H-sync lines to the RGB and External Sync BNC ports on the back of the monitor (only one Sync port available)... Displays 15KHz alright, and looks awesome.

I had to adjust the V-hold in the front of the monitor to get the image still.  However, when the Robotron changes screen in the attract mode, the image starts to creep up or down and I end up having to re-tweak the V-hold knob, then it changes screens again and then it starts to creep again.  Messing with the brightness and Picture knobs also make the image creep vertically.   I will even pause the game, adjust the V-hold, then when I unpause, it continues to scroll.

The image looks amazing, it just won't stand still when the screen changes. 

Also, the image is off-center, towards the left as seen in the pics.  There is no H-position adjustment on the monitor, at least on the outside.   It may be an issue with my PC setup, since the image is not exactly centered on some other arcade monitor I have  tried.

I may try to route the video signal through the 25-pin D-sub connector labeled "CMPTR".  I would have to make a VGA to 25-pin D-sub cable, and also need to find out the pinouts on that CMPTR port.  If that CMPTR has RGBHV, I may have a better chance at getting the image to quit rolling, and may get the image centered better.

Anybody have any ideas on what else to try to get it to stop creeping? 

I tried this on 2 of the 3 monitors and they both behaved the same way.  I have not looked inside the monitors yet, it should be very interesting to see what's inside...

[segasonicfan]

Do NOT pick that up.  $150 is a horrible price for a 19" PVM and I recommend against PVM's in general.  While they are nice for S-Vid/composite/component inputs and have the convenient casing and amps, their picture quality is just not as good as arcade monitors.  I have compared my finest PVM (2950Q) along side my 25" wells and the image on the wells is SIGNIFICANTLY better.  That said, if you still want a PVM you can get 25"ers shipped off ebay for that $150 price.

-Segasonicfan