Help Identifying Stock monitor And hookup tips

[mrserv0n]

I am picking up this cab http://www.arcaderentalzone.com/Images/Video%20Games/Die_Hard_Arcade.jpg

I wonder what monitor model was used in this cab (it is stock) and what adapter if any I have to hook it to my PC. I know how to do the control panel part.

Also do you guys foresee an issue in drilling 3 more buttons under the current ones?
Thanks!

[shardian]

That is a Sega ST-V cabinet. I'm not sure of the monitor manufacturer, but I can tell you it is standard res. Here is a nice FAQ about the system:
http://members.aol.com/CMull11217/private/segast-v.txt
In short, it is a Sega Saturn that takes quarters.

[mrserv0n]

Yea I know about the actual board, I want to know how to hook the monitor to my PC

[siastbill1]

As mentioned in the previous post, and on klov (http://www.klov.com/game_detail.php?letter=&game_id=7579), this monitor is standard resolution. The cabinet also seems to be a JAMMA cab, which means that the monitor will for sure have composite sync, in addition to the standard RGB connections.

If you want to interface with a PC, you have several options:
1) run dos/linux with advancemame (takes a little setup and know how to get going)
2) run windows with powerstrip (http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=43728.0)
3) Buy an ArcadeVGA video card, which does the proper frequencies for you (http://www.ultimarc.com/avgainf.html)

Of course, your monitor won't have a standard vga plug on it, so you will need to hack your own. You can look at this tutorial, but I would just use a multi-meter instead of the weird lightbulb thing that this guy is doing:
http://dragonsden.emuunlim.com/ddvgatutl.htm

[mrserv0n]

Yikes, this sounds complicated, its too bad noone has made something easier to rig up. I would be scared to ruin the monitor or something.. Darn I might not go through with this even though I love this cab design.. might have to see if I have a friend that could do it.

So being a "Standard Resolution" with RGB compatibility Could I just use a VGA-RGB Connector Adaptor Board, which DOES NOT convert CGA to VGA, instead of hacking a cable? Is this monitor a VGA monitor or CGA?

[Carlito]

There is something easier to set up.
You could buy a J-Pac ( http://www.ultimarc.com/jpac.html )which does exactly this.
You will still need to do something about the video card.  Like run powerstrip or buy an arcadevga.
There is also another bit of software called soft-15khz.  There is a post here about it that you can use.
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=66402.0

[mrserv0n]

Oh that is perfect thanks so much carlito that will be exactly what I will do!

[siastbill1]

These monitors are CGA, not VGA. That is why you just can't plug a VGA card into them without a hardware or software solution. You need something that will convert the frequencies/resolutions to an acceptable level.

If you buy the jpac, you probably also want to buy the ArcadeVga, so that it will automatically convert everything for you so that you can just plug everything into your computer and turn it on.

Keep in mind that if you want to add extra buttons (for example, the Street Fighter 2 configuration), that JAMMA will only allow a max of 4 buttons per player. From my understanding of the J-Pac, it will not give you those extra buttons that you would need. Of course, most other games will only require 4 or less buttons, so you're probably safe.

Note, I noticed die hard has three buttons per side, so if you wanted to add the fourth, in addition to drilling it in, you would also have to solder the connection to the correct part of the JAMMA connector.

[mrserv0n]

The J-PAC caters for these extra buttons by having screw terminal inputs for these extra inputs.  Inputs supported directly through the JAMMA connector are:
Player 1 and 2 joysticks, Player 1 and 2 buttons 1,2,3,4. Coin 1, Coin 2, Start1, Start2.
Inputs supported by the screw terminals are:
Player 1 and 2 buttons 4,5,6,7,8.


So according to the JPAC FAQ I could hook the additional 6 buttons right into the JPAC and avoid the JAMMA board all together.

Or if worse came to worse I could unhook the arcade controls from the JAMMA all together and just use an IPAQ-2 that will hook into the JPAC so I dont see an issue with the control schemes, Really just looking for a video solution which this should do.

I have a 6800 GT AGP card in the system I think I will just use a software solution like powerstrip instead of dropping 80 bucks on the arcade vga

[siastbill1]

Cool, if the jpac works for the extra buttons, then all should be good.

I would recommend buying the JPAC because it will also protect your monitor from harsh frequencies. This is especially important if you go with a software solution, as the computer will show the bios and loading screens in standard VGA res (which again will blast your arcade monitor with frequencies higher than it can handle). Without something like the JPAC, you would have to manually turn your arcade monitor on after you have waited for the computer to load. With the JPAC, you can just turn on your whole machine at the same time (computer,monitor, etc), and it will only display stuff on the screen when it detects the proper frequencies.

[mrserv0n]

Cool thanks for the extra information on the JPAC, yea I ordered one today, I will just get myself familiar with powerstrip and read through the nice forum here about it and should be on my way!