I like my ArcadeVGA but...

[DeathMonk]

There should be a PCI version for those of us who like to play 3D computer games (with a good AGP card) on our cabinets (D9200@800x600!).  That way, all you would have to do is disable one card or the other and switch the cable.

[rampy]

What game would want to play at a meager 800x600 that doesn't play well with that card?

*shrug*  Just wondering...  or am I just pixel ignorant?

Regardless a PCI card would be neat for those that have crappy onboard AGP video with no agp slot for the card...

Rampy

[SirPoonga]

Me confused to why you'd want pci?  You'd only need a pci if you have no agp slot.  Switch what cards?  you aren;t hooking everything up to the argadevga?

[DeathMonk]

I've recently been playing Splinter Cell on my cabinet and it runs sloppy on my 2100+ and Geforce3 @ 640x480..  Plus, texture quality is really behind the times (and very noticeable on my d9200) on the ArcadeVGA..

-I'm also considering future games which will require a lot more horespower..

[DeathMonk]

Me confused to why you'd want pci?  You'd only need a pci if you have no agp slot.  Switch what cards?  you aren;t hooking everything up to the argadevga?

To have both the ArcadeVGA and a newer 3d card in the same system.

[SirPoonga]

The radeon chip in the arcadevga isn't new enough for you?  Like rampy said, you are only running 800x600.  no need for a top of the line card because you really aren't going to be taking advantages of it.

[AlanS17]

Only use I could see for a PCI version would be for those that don't have an AGP slot. The ArcadeVGA wasn't designed for 3D games, though. It was designed for 2D games that were written 20 years ago and could be packed 200 on a floppy. (That's alot of two's!)

If I had an arcade monitor, it would be the only card I would want, and I'd use it for the few 3D arcade games out there (like Zinc). Besides, would you want a more powerful card that costs $100 more that you won't use? I think using the older chipset is great.

PCI wouldn't be a bad idea, and I suppose everyone has their own reasons for wanting one... I think they would sell well for older machines that don't have AGP or ahve onboard AGP.

[DeathMonk]

Older motherboards without an AGP slot is another good reason for a PCI version.

I guess some people don't mind not having/don't have a need for a directx 9, pixel shading super 3d card.  It's just one of those things...

[SirPoonga]

Yeah, that would be cool, but again, 800x600 you aren't going to get the full effect.  Not really worth the trouble of a second card.

What game are you running that needs the new features?  On a control panel??

[AlanS17]

Maybe I'm just so used to old school games... They don't look that bad too me. I can't tell the difference between a game that was made last year and one made 3 or 4 years ago (but that's probably just me).

[SirPoonga]

Maybe I'm just so used to old school games... They don't look that bad too me. I can't tell the difference between a game that was made last year and one made 3 or 4 years ago (but that's probably just me).

Well, you'll see the difference if you use the right equipment with the newer features.  There is definately a difference between 16bit, 32bit, and 64bit textures.  Go look at screenshots for doom III.  If that doesn't floor you on how detailed computers are getting, nothing will.

[DeathMonk]

Yeah, that would be cool, but again, 800x600 you aren't going to get the full effect.  Not really worth the trouble of a second card.

What game are you running that needs the new features?  On a control panel??

True, but resolution is one thing and graphics are another...  I really don't need the newer card for the sake of only being able to run at 800x600 on my monitor, but the newer cards support newer technology; i.e. directx 9.

[1UP]

Maybe what you need is a second machine, not just a second card.  I don't see the point of having an ArcadeVGA if you're trying to play more advanced games.  The main idea of that card is to have arcade games in their native resolution, on the monitors they were made to be played on.  PC games are made to be played on PC monitors.

I would personally rather make a PC game machine in a mini ATX case, and hook it to my 32" TV and surround system, with whatever graphics card I can get my hands on.  Most PC games are pretty lengthy, and an upright cab is not the best place to play that kind of stuff.  I think you'd be much happier playing RPGs or tactical FPS sitting on a couch!

[_Iz-]

Isn't the D9200 natively (S)VGA compatible? Why are you using it with the arcade VGA? You could use this monitor with ANY AGP video card you choose. Problem solved.

[SirPoonga]

Yeah, that would be cool, but again, 800x600 you aren't going to get the full effect.  Not really worth the trouble of a second card.

What game are you running that needs the new features?  On a control panel??

True, but resolution is one thing and graphics are another...  I really don't need the newer card for the sake of only being able to run at 800x600 on my monitor, but the newer cards support newer technology; i.e. directx 9.

MNy point is at those resolutions the cool new technology isn;t going to look that great.  Ohhhh, high definition textures, woohoo.  Wait, only 800x600, those textures aren't going to look as good as they can.

Plus what are you running that needs dx9 on a cabinet?  I am trying to think really hard of a new game that needs dx9 AND is cabinet friendly.

[DeathMonk]

You'd be suprised how well 800x600 looks @ 27"...  I agree with you that it would wasting some untapped power but just because a game runs well and looks better at a higher resolution doesn't mean that it will not benefit from a newer card.  If I put a voodoo1 in my computer versus a Geforce2 and play quake3, don't you think i'm going to see a speed and overall quality increase--even at 800x600?  In a short while, were going to be seeing games like half-life2 and doom3 which will be high polygon count games, something the arcadevga couldn't handle, even at low resolutions.

[SirPoonga]

Ok, here's the problem with your current thinking.  You only mentioned first person shooters, which are usually the game genre that takes advantage of new technology.  A cabinet is not good for first person shooters, especially todays.  There is nothing new, or going to be new that is cabinet worthy that will use directx 9 for a couple of years.  Those games require a seperate computer, keyboard, and mouse

For a cabinet the arcadevga will be more than enough.  Actually, if the arcadevga came in 3dfx then it would be great for all the emulators/pc ports of arcade games out there right now

Get a radeon 9800 for your normal PC and play first person shooters on that.  There's a reason you don't see too many 1st person shooters in the arcade....

If I put a voodoo1 in my computer versus a Geforce2 and play quake3, don't you think i'm going to see a speed and overall quality increase--even at 800x600?

Well, yeah, with those cards.  Your talking the start of decent 3D cards versus newer refined ones, when 800x600 was considered big.   With today's cards you aren't going to see an increase in the 800x600 performance.  It's performance will be only look one way at that res: FAST!

I'm just saying for the little bitty bit of difference you will see between the arcadevga and a card that supports dx9 is VERY little and not worth the effort of trying to have both cards in an arcade machine.   It's like buying c4 to shatter normal glass.  It's overkill for the application.

Actually, rereading it sounds like you only have one computer right now?  I suppose, for the budget.  However, there isn't anything now that takes full advantage of dx9.  So until that happens, save up about $200 and build a dedicated arcade pc:)

[1UP]

Isn't the D9200 natively (S)VGA compatible? Why are you using it with the arcade VGA? You could use this monitor with ANY AGP video card you choose. Problem solved.

Good point!  (I missed that he was using a D9200)  You're actually losing a lot of the Arcade VGA's functionality by hooking it to a D9200.  It was intended mainly to be used with 15kHz arcade monitors.  If you look at the FAQ on Andy's site, he actually recommends NOT to use a VGA compatible monitor with his card, because you're not able to take advantage of the full range of native game resolutions without hardware stretching.  You might as well be using a regular Radeon...

[tom61]

The D9200 isn't just a VGA monitor. It can run at 15kHz, which is what the ArcadeVGA is designed for. Most games in Mame will look the same as if the real board was connected to the D9200, instead all the hardware stretching artifacts, etc. There is acutal advantages to using the D9200 and the ArcadeVGA together.

Back to the PCI issue: I've talked to Andy about this, and making a PCI version of the card would be cost prohibitive. The manufacturer of the 'donor' card doesn't make a PCI version of the Radeon 7000, so instead of some parts swaps and a different BIOS, an entire new card run would have to be done (of which the setup fees alone are likely to be in the thousands of dollars).

[DeathMonk]

SP> Unfortunately, the computer in my cabinet is the only computer that can run any of the games I like to play.  My cabinet has a really big keyboard tray.  Coupled with my padded barstool with backrest (which sits at a perfect height) my cabinet is really comfortable for playing games with a keyboard/mouse.

I guess i'll just have to switch out cards whenever I feel the need to play some computer games.