Why not use a 20" CRT PC Monitor?

[hellothere123]

I can get a 20" CRT PC Monitor for $100.00.

It seems like 90% of cabbers are using 27" TV's.

I'm thinking 20" will be big enough, so why  not use PC monitors...what is wrong with using them?

Thanks!

[SirPeale]

Nothing wrong at all.  A lot of people do.

I personally like actual arcade monitors.

[hellothere123]

So a 20" CRT would work fine? Or is there problems?

I see it as the cheapest easiest way to connect to a PC.

I've heard people complain that the S video out is not the best for a TV, and that component is better...but that TV is a lot more cash with component.

So why nt just use a CRT Monitor...doesn't it simplify the whole process???

[Popcorrin]

It usually has to do with the fact that pc crt monitors are only so big.  I think for the most part 22" is the largest.

[hellothere123]

OK that makes sense, If you want bigger than 21" you are forced to buy a TV.

I'm gonna stick with a 20" display, I'll have to modify the cabinet design by a few inches...

[Zebidee]

Arcade monitor & TVs naturally looks heaps better for arcade games than vga monitors.  It isn't just about size.

[siastbill1]

Yah, I have to agree. The image on the computer monitor looks nothing like the image on an arcade monitor or TV. Lots of people run 19 or 20 inch TV's to try and get that "arcade" look. Obviously, the closer you can get your TV to looking like true RGB (component is pretty damn close, s-video a little less) the more happy you will be.

None of my friends have bought a TV over an computer monitor simply for size. They all do it because of the way things look.

Now, that all being said, menus on a computer monitor look better than an arcade monitor, simply because the text is easier to read and the screenshots are more vibrant. But that means nothing if the games look bad!

[FrizzleFried]

Also remember that computer monitors have a different VIEWABLE size than their ADVERTISED size (I do think flat panels are now rated at actual size though?).  So a 20" computer monitor is actually only about 18" viewable.  Measure your 20" diagonally from edge of viewable screen to edge of viewable screen to determine actual size.

I prefer arcade monitors for MAME cabinets.  I have 3 MAME rigs,  2 with 19" arcade monitors and 1 with a 15" PC monitor (in a cocktail).  The PC monitor looks fine...but not authentic.

[RyoriNoTetsujin]

OK that makes sense, If you want bigger than 21" you are forced to buy a TV.

Not necessarily... you might be able to find an old Gateway Destination monitor.  They came in 27", 31" and 33" varieties, and are VGA (and sometimes SVGA) monitors (max resolution 800x600.)   They pop up every now and then on Craig's List or eBay and are usually cheap because the people getting rid of them have no idea what they have!

Easy hookup, HUGE, crisp picture for OS/frontends, really nice in-game, and (if you can find one) usually cheap.  I paid $85 for my 31" model.

[siastbill1]

Forgot about this site. It actually shows a bunch of different monitors running spy hunter, and show's how each look. There are computer monitors, TV's and arcade monitors:
http://mirrors.arcadecontrols.com/OscarControls/monitors.shtml

[Malenko]

TV vs PC vs LCD vs Arcade CRT all boils down to preference and cost.

I got a 27" CRT VGA monitor for like $150 almost 5 years ago and Ive never regretted the purchase, for me right now if I had to replace it, I'd prolly get whichever display filled the hole best based on cost. I will admit that using windows XP in 640x480 sucks, but thats the price you pay for a good game of Pengo