Author Topic: TV or PC Monitor (Read 3412 times)

HeadRusch · « **on:** April 26, 2003, 01:03:22 pm »

Only have space for 20" TV (Can't find 25" TV small enough and don't want to get into taking one out of its case, etc, etc).

20" TV flatscreen with s video and component inputs $200 buck.

21" Computer Monitor, refurbished $300 dollars.

19" Computer Monitor, $150 dollars.

Which to choose...which..to..choose...

radiator · « **Reply #1 on:** April 26, 2003, 02:57:20 pm »

i'd personally go for the tv as it gives a more authentic look than a regular pc monitor...
just run it at 800x600 and set windows to use large icons and 120dpi fonts...it'll be easier to use windows with those settings

Sasquatch! · « **Reply #2 on:** April 26, 2003, 03:32:42 pm »

What Radiator said.

IMO, the only time that PC monitor is a superior choice is if you're going to be gearing your cabinet toward vector games (Tempest, Star Wars, etc.).

Tiger-Heli · « **Reply #3 on:** April 26, 2003, 03:45:34 pm »

Quote from: Sasquatch! on April 26, 2003, 03:32:42 pm

What Radiator said.

IMO, the only time that PC monitor is a superior choice is if you're going to be gearing your cabinet toward vector games (Tempest, Star Wars, etc.).

Actually, I prefer the PC monitors, but then I always turned scanlines off as well.

This should help as well:

http://www.oscarcontrols.com/monitors.shtml

Distortion · « **Reply #4 on:** April 26, 2003, 04:35:17 pm »

find yourself a rounded screen, the speakers on flat screen TVs are almost always at the sides, thus making the TV much much wider. You could probably fit a 25 inch rounded screen.

hevnsnt · « **Reply #5 on:** April 26, 2003, 04:51:44 pm »

I wrestled with this choice as well.. I went with a 19" PC monitor (got it brand new for $99)

I think if you are going for the classic look, a tv would be better, but I liked the more crisp look

HeadRusch · « **Reply #6 on:** April 26, 2003, 05:35:26 pm »

Distortion, not an option..even on 25" TV's that are mono the width is still usually in the 24" + range....and I've only got 23 1/2 to work with......

Also, all the rounded 20" TV's I've found do NOT have an s-video in......in order to get that option on a TV that small you gotta step up to flatscreen, which usually means you get the speakers on the side.

I saw an Advent 20" today at Best Buy for 179 that actually had a NICE picture (for a SDTV) and looked like it would also make a decent videogame monitor, ie: playstation 2, etc.....but should be perfect for a cab.

At 23" Wide there is just enough space to wedge it in there

Justin · « **Reply #7 on:** April 26, 2003, 05:43:39 pm »

Here is a Sylvania which is 23" curved monitor. Unfortunately, no S-Video. buaaaaahhhh!!!! It would have been perfect for me.. I have only 23.75" to work with.

MameFan · « **Reply #8 on:** April 26, 2003, 08:15:57 pm »

Best of both worlds: Arcade monitor chassis (electronic board) for $65, plus a free or near-free 1980's color TV tube that someone is throwing out or at a rummage sale = Authentic standard resoultion arcade monitor for CHEAP! Add an ArcadeVGA card/software and you're set to play all the classics in AUTHENTIC viewing.

Check the Monitors forum here and read the "Whooo mama" thread for tons of info.

slug54 · « **Reply #9 on:** April 27, 2003, 01:09:21 am »

Quote from: HeadRusch on April 26, 2003, 05:35:26 pm

Distortion, not an option..even on 25" TV's that are mono the width is still usually in the 24" + range....and I've only got 23 1/2 to work with......

Here is a link to a TV at Walmart that I was planning on replacing the pc monitor in my cab with.

- S Video
- Component video
- and best of all 23.2" width!!

I have not tested this tv for the all important features like

- Will it stay on s-video when powered off and on.
- Will it auto power on if AC is removed and then re-applied.

I also have 23 1/2" max width for a TV, I searched through a lot of specs on tv's and then I found this 27" which has a width less then most 25" tv's.

Slug54

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.gsp?product_id=2073373&cat=4560&type=19&dept=3944&path=0%3A3944%3A3987%3A3996%3A4560

If the above link doesn't work here's the make and model info.

Philips 27-inch Stereo TV 27PT543S

Justin · « **Reply #10 on:** April 27, 2003, 01:17:44 am »

That has to be a typo. No way a 27" TV can measure 23" wide... especially if it has side speakers!!! Go to Walmart and measure it.

paigeoliver · « **Reply #11 on:** April 27, 2003, 02:36:58 am »

All those choices are wrong as long as that one place still has 21" kiosk monitors for $75. That is an ultra high res PC monitor in an arcade frame. I bought one, and it is awesome.

Justin · « **Reply #12 on:** April 27, 2003, 11:12:53 am »

Quote from: paigeoliver on April 27, 2003, 02:36:58 am

All those choices are wrong as long as that one place still has 21" kiosk monitors for $75. That is an ultra high res PC monitor in an arcade frame. I bought one, and it is awesome.

PC monitors look like @$%#@ except for vector games. What are you talking about!?!?!

paigeoliver · « **Reply #13 on:** April 27, 2003, 11:20:13 am »

In my room right now I have 3 different PC monitors, 1 television, and two arcade monitors (13" and 19"). And I can display Time Pilot on any of them. And it looks best on the PC monitors (followed by the 13" arcade monitor, with the TV being dead last).

Justin · « **Reply #14 on:** April 27, 2003, 11:34:17 am »

Quote from: paigeoliver on April 27, 2003, 11:20:13 am

In my room right now I have 3 different PC monitors, 1 television, and two arcade monitors (13" and 19"). And I can display Time Pilot on any of them. And it looks best on the PC monitors (followed by the 13" arcade monitor, with the TV being dead last).

Unless your PC monitor generates some noticeable scanlines, I cannot agree with this. Post a screenshot or two so I can take a look. This interests me.

HeadRusch · « **Reply #15 on:** April 27, 2003, 11:48:15 am »

Slug, thats gotta be a typo..I've already found a few of those on best Buy's site too......(typos, that is, in dimensions).
Most 25" TV's without side speakers are 24" wide......factor in 2 inches of plastic on each side, or even an inch and a half, and thats what blows it up for me.

slug54 · « **Reply #16 on:** April 27, 2003, 06:24:06 pm »

Quote from: HeadRusch on April 27, 2003, 11:48:15 am

Slug, thats gotta be a typo..I've already found a few of those on best Buy's site too......(typos, that is, in dimensions).

Yeah your probably right. SO now your telling me the other 2 27" sets that say they are 23 1/4" are bigger. Grrrrrrr!

now I must find a huge PC monitor for cheap. oh well
It's probably better anyway. I saw a couple MAME cabs at an auction yesterday that used TV's and they kinda sucked.
Picture was weak and washed out looking.
Now that huge Arcade monitor on the Tekken 3 Cab ,that was cool.

Slug54

paigeoliver · « **Reply #17 on:** April 28, 2003, 01:16:14 am »

The Neotec website is kind of weird. It doesn't list any prices, but instead allows you to fill in your own prices on the purchase order page.

Lets try ordering a few monitors for like $9.99 each and see what happens.

paigeoliver · « **Reply #18 on:** April 28, 2003, 01:17:20 am »

Quote from: Justin on April 27, 2003, 11:34:17 am

Quote from: paigeoliver on April 27, 2003, 11:20:13 am
In my room right now I have 3 different PC monitors, 1 television, and two arcade monitors (13" and 19"). And I can display Time Pilot on any of them. And it looks best on the PC monitors (followed by the 13" arcade monitor, with the TV being dead last).

Unless your PC monitor generates some noticeable scanlines, I cannot agree with this. Post a screenshot or two so I can take a look. This interests me.

I am one of those people who don't particularly dig scanlines. I spent too long gaming at VGA res and higher, and I got used to that.

ButeLegz · « **Reply #19 on:** April 28, 2003, 08:55:02 am »

I think it depends what you're trying to get out of your setup. For me, Zaxxon, Galaga & Elevator Action without scanlines is like Popeye minus the spinach. I couldn't give a rats that the text in Windows can be illegible when using a TV... for some reason Windows doesn't feature heavily in my cheesy memories of the local arcade... I also want a display that is as close to the original as I can get without sending me broke or bald... which from what I can tell at this stage is a TV.

That Oscar Controls comparison is great. At a glace you can pick what 'look' you want and go from there.

- 'THEY JUMP LIKE EXCITEBIKE'
- 'I DROP MORE LINES THAN A TETRIS'
- 'WITH THE "WAX ON, WAX OFF" I'LL PLAY YOU LIKE ZAXXON'

> Quotes from Ugly Duckling's Andy Cat & Dizzy Dustin.
> Taken from 'Little Samba' & 'Friday Night' which appear on 'Journey To Anywhere' (XL Recordings).

> OBSCURE ARCADE REFERENCES OVER DOPE BEATS. GOTTA LOVE IT.

caykroyd · « **Reply #20 on:** April 28, 2003, 08:02:14 pm »

May not be a typo. 27" is the diagonal dimension of the screen. Good ole pythagurus has a theorem. a^2 + b^2 = c^2. If c = 27" , and a=b, then a and b are approx. 19" that leaves 4" left over (2" per side).

Justin · « **Reply #21 on:** April 28, 2003, 09:12:03 pm »

Wrong! beeeeeeeeeeeep! hehehe

Are you using a SQUARE monitor? a does not equal b! 3a=4b (3:4 aspect ratio)

If you equate properly, you'll realize the width=21.6"

only leaves about 0.8" per side LOL!!

caykroyd · « **Reply #22 on:** April 30, 2003, 04:22:24 pm »

Shame on me. I was assuming that was one of those new 4:4 televisions. You know its the new rave. More popular than the 16:9s anymore.

Oops, I goofed. But now we all know how to figure out the height and width of TVs.

Nice catch Justin

UKWildcat · « **Reply #23 on:** May 01, 2003, 12:58:47 am »

I haven't heard of a square monitor, but I haven't heard of a 3:4 aspect either.....sure you didn't mean 4:3.

Sorry Justin, you caught caykroyd's mistake so it's only fair that someone points out yours.

Your width calculation looks correct though.

Quote from: Justin on April 28, 2003, 09:12:03 pm

Wrong! beeeeeeeeeeeep! hehehe

Are you using a SQUARE monitor? a does not equal b! 3a=4b (3:4 aspect ratio)

If you equate properly, you'll realize the width=21.6"

only leaves about 0.8" per side LOL!!

Tiger-Heli · « **Reply #24 on:** May 01, 2003, 06:48:58 am »

Quote from: UKWildcat on May 01, 2003, 12:58:47 am

I haven't heard of a square monitor, but I haven't heard of a 3:4 aspect either.....sure you didn't mean 4:3.

Sorry Justin, you caught caykroyd's mistake so it's only fair that someone points out yours.

Your width calculation looks correct though.

Quote from: Justin on April 28, 2003, 09:12:03 pm
Wrong! beeeeeeeeeeeep! hehehe

Are you using a SQUARE monitor? a does not equal b! 3a=4b (3:4 aspect ratio)

If you equate properly, you'll realize the width=21.6"

only leaves about 0.8" per side LOL!!

Also, 4:3 refers to PC resolution ratios (640x480, 800x600, 1024x768, etc.). I am not sure whether TV's use the same ratio?

FWIW

Justin · « **Reply #25 on:** May 01, 2003, 07:48:38 am »

Yes, NTSC standard is 4:3. (w:h)

Or 3:4 (h:w).


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Author Topic: TV or PC Monitor (Read 3412 times)

MameFan