ArcadeVGA with LCD Question

[HeavyK]

I know this is probably been answered before, but I've having trouble finding a direct answer.  I was thinking about using a 28" Hanns.G monitor and from what I've read I will not need to buy an ArcadeVGA card.  Is that correct?  Will I need anything other than a good ATI card?  Do I need special software to get the resolution correct on the LCD, or will the video card and MAME be able to handle it with no real tweaking?  Just trying to figure this all out.  So in other words if I'm using the Hanns.G monitor what do I need to make sure the resolution will be correct for my MAME cabinet.  Thanks in advance.

[savj14]

This isn't an Arcade monitor correct? I did a quick search on it but just want to confirm with you.

If not I don't think there is really a point to get the ArcadeVGA. These cards are more for Arcade monitors, so they can run the correct resolution and refresh rate.

With non Arcade Monitors, you are probably going to be doing some hardware stretching in MAME anyways, so you can just use your standard ATI card. You'll never get the correct resolution and refresh or make it look like it does on an Arcade monitor anyways.

[HeavyK]

You are correct it isn't an arcade monitor.  I thought about using a real arcade monitor, but there seems to be a lot of folks believe its not worth the added weight and frustration for a MAME cabinet and supposedly LCDs can look just as good.  Has anyone every used the 28" Hanns.G as a MAME monitor?  If so how well did it do?

[northerngames]

if you want the native real arcade look you need a arcade monitor.

arcade monitors display low 15K res's that arcade's use for a display and there is no lcd screens that do low res they only do 31K display and cannot handle anything lower.

with that setup you dont need anything but a somewhat decent regular video card and a little ram.

for a arcade monitor you would use the arcadevga card or the soft15K software for the pc to work on a arcade monitor.

 also ultimarc that makes the arcade vga also sell's a video breakout cable that goes from the pc to the arcade monitor plug and play.

 That way you just put the arcade vga card in the pc run the drivers like any other video card plug the breakout cable to the pc and connect the other end to the arcade monitors video input and its done.

 it is worth the weight and their is no frustration if you read up on what your doing first.

as I mentioned above what it takes to hook one up and if one cannot handle that and get frustrated then perhaps they should buy one that is already pre-made lol.

[savj14]

It comes down to a matter of preference and how picky you are. As well as how much you want to spend on the monitor. In my opinion it is definitly worth it to have an Arcade Monitor.

I used to play around with MAME in Windows on a PC monitor. It was fine at the time. I then came here and did some reading and bought an old used 19" Arcade Monitor. Hacked a VGA Cable and messed around with Powerstrip. Got everything working. And now I could never go back to using anything else. It really brought back even more vivid memories while playing on the arcade monitor.

Like northerngames stated, it isn't really that hard to setup either. If you get a nice Multi-sync Arcade monitor, its basically plug and play. Still just a little setup involved. This is a nice route to go IMO.