LCD User Reviews re: native resolution upscale

[metaHipster]

OK, so I know that arcade monitors are the most authentic and that CRT computer monitors and (gasp) LCD monitors/tvs are even further departure from the original displays.

That said, it's looking like a right b*tch to mount this monstrous 21" CRT Computer monitor I have kicking around in my empty Taito cab without cutting a hole in the back, sliding it further from the wall and/or removing the monitor case, etc.  Far simpler to just drop in a LCD monitor install-wise.

Can any LCD owners comment on how things look under the various emulators?  NES, SNES, Genesis, Mame, etc?  In particular I wonder whether the emulators switch the screen res away from the native LCD resolution (resulting in blurrier, perhaps more authentic graphics?) or whether the emulators can upscale to maintain the native res (e.g. 1600x1200).

Any advice is appreciated, though I don't want this to turn into a rant by the arcade monitor enthusiasts telling me all the reasons I need to spend an extra $200 on a Wells Gardner (I would if I could afford it).  I've got a 19" CRT computer monitor set up already as vertical and am generally happy with its graphic quality so it seems I'll be fine with LCD too if the native resolution thing doesn't pose any insurmountable hassle

[ahofle]

I've got a 19" CRT computer monitor set up already as vertical and am generally happy with its graphic quality so it seems I'll be fine with LCD too if the native resolution thing doesn't pose any insurmountable hassle

If you're happy with your CRT computer monitor, you will be happy with an LCD.  They look pretty much the same to me seeing as how both are upscaled.

[TOK]

I used an LCD in a bartop... It looks pretty good. The only thing might be very different from your setup is that I went with a 19", and that happened to be the largest non-widescreen LCD I could find. The games do not look arcade perfect, but no blurring or anything that would affect playability. People here would notice it wasn't a CRT, but no normal person    that has ever played the cab has mentioned seeing anything weird with the monitor.

This is while I was testing it, so the pics aren't the greatest, but it does show both horizontal and vertical games. I also lightly tinted the bezel with 35% tint, which really cut the harshness and made the screen look much better.
I'd lean toward a CRT if you can make it work, but the LCD isn't really a compromise to playability, only the strictest old school appearance. 

[ahofle]

That is a sweet looking bartop.

[Ummon]

I don't like the colors of LCDs for classic games, but here is a simple question: do you like true black?

[TOK]

I don't like the colors of LCDs for classic games, but here is a simple question: do you like true black?

That was where the tint really came through... Look at the background on the second Stargate picture and the Gyruss picture. That was with the bezel untinted. Look at the how deep the blacks look in the top Stargate picture and Moon Patrol.
Those two were with the tint. The difference is incredible.

[metaHipster]

Thanks everyone...

After thinking it over and trying a crappy TV, I've decided I can't afford an Arcade monitor and instead just ordered a 19" LG LCD for under $200 from Newegg.  should be here by end of week and the VESA mounting holes should make it a piece of cake to mount.  Plus with a 170/170 viewing angle should be ok.  BTW it's getting crazy hard to find ANY decent 4:3 LCD monitors!  I can only imagine it will get even more difficult as the Widescreens continue to supplant the old aspect ratio.

TOK: I can't see any of the pics you posted - they're showing up as ? in the forum.  I'm curious why you chose to use a tint instead of just dropping the brightness/contrast/gamma/etc within the monitor itself.

Ummon: I like true black but can't afford it (aka Arcade monitor?).  And while I do have a 21" CRT computer monitor laying around, I really don't want to have 1/2 of it sticking out the back of the cabinet like I do on my vertical cab.

[TOK]

That LG is the newer version of the monitor I have... Mine is the L1933.
Turning the contrast and brightness down doesn't have nearly the effect that using a tinted bezel does. I prefer it for CRT's as well as LCDs, but it really helps enhance the poor black level of an LCD. I think you'll see that the blacks are more of a very dark grey without it. My pics really showed the difference between with and without, not sure why you can't see them.

[Zobeid]

I need a tinted bezel for my LCD, and I'm trying to figure this out. . .

Is it possible to get acrylic sheet with the right sort of tint?  I'd like something I can have laser-cut.  Over at http://www.customlasercutting.com they have 1/8" gray acrylic which they say is "similar to a tinted window; #2064 or similar".  But a little research with Google showed that is only 40% light transmission (i.e. 60% tint) which is pretty dark.

Is it possible to get the part made from clear acrylic and then apply some kind of tint onto it?

How did you make yours?  Auto glass tint?

[TOK]

I have tinted plexi/acrylic on another cabinet, and the only stuff I could find locally was darker. It looks good, but is nearly black. The bartop I built was 35% auto tint (lower the number, the darker the tint). Guys here said it wouldn't stick to plexi, but it still looks great a year later.

Here are pics of the pre-tinted stuff I got, just to give you an idea.

[Ummon]

I don't like the colors of LCDs for classic games, but here is a simple question: do you like true black?

That was where the tint really came through... Look at the background on the second Stargate picture and the Gyruss picture. That was with the bezel untinted. Look at the how deep the blacks look in the top Stargate picture and Moon Patrol.
Those two were with the tint. The difference is incredible.

I missed this somehow. Yeah, back before I had arcade monitors, I thought of tinting for my LCD but didn't get that far. For sure, the top and bottom pictures are better...although the color on Moon Patrol is a little pastel-ly. Good enough for a bartop, though.

[Zobeid]

I have tinted plexi/acrylic on another cabinet, and the only stuff I could find locally was darker. It looks good, but is nearly black. The bartop I built was 35% auto tint (lower the number, the darker the tint).

Right, I had that backwards.  I thought 35% tint meant that it blocked 35% of the light, but it actually allows 35% through.  So the 40% acrylic would actually be a hair lighter tint than yours -- should be just about perfect, I'll give it a try.

[ablizno]

Just noticed the DoDonPachi picture.. love that game, but mad difficult.

[TOK]

Just noticed the DoDonPachi picture.. love that game, but mad difficult.

One of my favorite games of all time... That cab is about 80% vert shooters with a couple of vert classics like Donkey Kong on there for when shellshock sets in. 

[Blanka]

BTW it's getting crazy hard to find ANY decent 4:3 LCD monitors!

Samsung 214T. Last of the Mohicans IMO.