Need opinions on Mitsubishi Megaview monitors

[Jack Burton]

Hi, I'm thinking of buying a Mitsubishi Megaview 2930C, 3715C, or 4201R.

What are the general opinions about these monitors for use in MAME?

Additionally, I would like to be able to output NES, SNES, and Turbografx16 games in their native resolutions and refresh rates.  I believe these monitors can handle that.

Do they support interlaced video?  Do they support sync on green? If so, could I watch television on them?

Also, since the 2930C has a max resolution of 1600 by 1200, how do hi-res clips look on it?  As good as HDTV's?  I know it would have to be letterboxed. 

For the 200$ or so I can get one of these for it seems like a great deal, not just for MAME but for media use in general.
 

[Justin Z]

There are a few basic specs on the XC-2930C at this site

http://www.monitorworld.com/Monitors/mitsubishi/megaviewpro29xc2930c.html

The horizontal frequency range is encouraging.

--Edit: Not to mention, the site below rents these monitors for $200-$300 PER DAY!   

http://www.presmedia.com/presmedia-cgi-bin/show/DMO

[dmckean]

--Edit: Not to mention, the site below rents these monitors for $200-$300 PER DAY!   

http://www.presmedia.com/presmedia-cgi-bin/show/DMO

I would guess that site is a number of years old. They're also renting 20" LCDs for $250 a day and you can buy them new for that.

[TacoTownCharlie]

I have the XC-3725C.  I love it.  It has S-Video, composite and VGA connections.  I currently have a DVD player, an N64 and my computer hooked up.  The DVD is on the S-Video and the monitor automatically doubles the resolution - the picture is great.  I have a HDTV card on the PC to pick up Over The Air (OTA) signals, Lost looks fantastic (of course it is letterboxed).  The monitor will also output audio (stereo) so I have a small amp and speakers.

I had this in my arcade cabinet for a while, right now it is in between cabinets.  The biggest issue I've had to contend with is the weight, it is almost 250 lbs.

If the price is right and you can move it I'd say buy it.  Make sure you get the remote control, mine didn't have one so i had to program my old Palm IIIc to do the job.

Let me know if you have any other questions.

[Jack Burton]

thanks for the info.

Is there any lag noticable when playing N64 games?

What method did you use for connecting you N64?

Is the remote absolutely necessary for functionality?

again, thanks.

[TacoTownCharlie]

I haven't noticed and lag.  I use the standard, composite video connector.  The monitor treats the N64 like a regular TV signal.  We've been playing The Legend of Zelda a lot, everything look great.

I've had the monitor for almost 4 years now, it wasn't until a couple of months ago that I programmed the Palm as the remote control.  Every function is accessible from the from panel, I usually use the remote to switch inputs.

Good luck

[Jack Burton]

Does anyone know what the LOWEST resolution is for this monitor.  I would like to be able to run 256 by 224 for NES games and 336 by 240 for MAME.

[Akuma]

Hello everyone.

I got a Mitsubishi XC-2930C used on Ebay for € 40,- (about $ 50,-)

One thing to ask the folks who also got this monitor - does anyone got any (Win98SE) drivers for it? Couldn't find any on google : /

Second thing to ask - what are those little switches on the back for saying "75 Ohm" and "High" - and which row of BNC connectors is to be used? Top or bottom?

Regards,
Alex

[TacoTownCharlie]

I have the XC-3725 but it sounds like they have the same back panel.

I think you should be able to find drivers here:

http://www.nodevice.com/driver/29_XC2930/get33521.html

Let me know if that won't work for you, I think I have an .inf for a variety of mitsubishi monitors.  As far as the BNC connectors go, I've only used the top row, if I can find the manual I'll try to see if it says anything.

I think the 75 Ohm and High settings are for the different connectors you can use, S-Video v Composite.  Not sure if there is any difference...

Hope this helps

[MonMotha]

For PC sources and conventional A/V gear (composite, s-video, component), you want 75 ohm input termination.  For arcade boards, you'd want the high impedance option.

[Akuma]

Hey, thanks for the answers. Well, I tried those drivers and they basically work. Just am a bit irritated since they refer to a model called XC-2930 and mine says XC-2930c. Also it doesn't support the 1600 x 1200 resolution (not that I would miss it). I presume that the XC-2930 and XC-2930c are basically the same monitors only that the "c" has a higher resolution. On the other side, I googled ---my bottom--- off trying to find drivers for the "2930c" without any success while there are enough drivers for the 2930. However, it works.

About the 75 ohm and high terminals, I already suspected that I should use the 75 ohm connectors. So they are also needed for hooking up game consoles I figure. I am just curious what the meaning of "high" is. So some other sources like arcade boards have an higher impendance?

A thing for Charlie to ask: I used the lower row of connectors, basically because the 75 ohm is on the lower side, I presumed that the lower row is for 75 ohm and the upper side for high ohm. You say that you use the top row with settings on 75 ohm? This means you can hook up a source to both BNC connectors that both run on 75 ohm? Then I can plug in my pc to one and a game console to the other without having to unplug and replug all the time.

I'll add a shot of the backside, just for comparism.

Thanks for the answers!

[TacoTownCharlie]

That is a good question.  I'm not sure that you can hook up two BNC connectors to the RGB1 input.  My monitor has four inputs, RGB1, RGB2, Video1 and Video2.  I'm able to hook the computer to RGB1, a VCR to Video1 and the Nintendo64 to Video2.  Sorry I can't be more help.

[Akuma]

Erm, if you can't - then why are there 2 pairs of bnc connectors? Well, just a thought : )

Anyway - I guess you might have the same remote control as I do, since mine reads XC-2030C/ XC3725C on the bottom right. Since I have no manual or any other form of instructions, I just wonder what the button CAL/CLR might do. I am asking because I have some sort of bleeding edges on the lower half of the screen - only notable when reading text (white text on black for example) the text has a red "shadow" of about 1 pixel to the left. Now, when I hit this so called cal/clr button, the display flickers for a millisecond and the edges look better - not perfect but better. But after approx. 5 seconds, the monitor flickers again for a millisecond and the picture is back to normal (bad). I also hera a clacking sound every time it flickers so I just wonder what this button does (and maybe how to get the text to stay right). Those bleeding edges are not really noticable when playing except you are looking reaaaaally hard. But I guess it's just how we macho males are - we want everything to be perfect ; )