Would you use a 27" CGA Aracde Monitor?

[tuckerpup]

Greetings!  I have been reading this board for a few months (and enjoying it) but this is only my 2nd post so forgive me if this has already been asked and answered.

I have the opportunity to purchase a new 29" (27" viewable I presume) CGA (standard resolution) RGB arcade monitor with horizontal refresh rate of +/- 15K for a good price and avoid shipping since it is local.  I am still waiting to hear manufacturer and model #.

I understand from looking at Wells-Gardner's site there are is also Mid Resolution (EGA) and VGA/SVGA resolution arcade monitors.

Would you (or are you) use a standard resolution arcade monitor?  What is the downside?   Can you give me any examples of arcade games that use EGA or VGA arcade monitors (Golden Tee perhaps)?  How do those games look on your CGA monitor?  I would also like to run Golden Tee PC on it.  Will this even work?  If so, has anyone tried it and do they like it?  I realize I may need an ArcadeVGA card.

I have a very nice 21" Hitachi Computer monitor (which I like but is smaller and not authentic) and I have tried S-Video on a 19" TV (better than I thought but still hurt my eyes and GTPC was terrible) but I haven't seen the stand res Arcade Monitor so I am not sure what to expect.  I know that EGA and VGA arcade montiors would be superior but cost is a factor (have 2 kids to put through college some day  ).

Thanks in advance for any information you are willing to share!

[BobA]

I understand from looking at Wells-Gardner's site there are is also Mid Resolution (EGA) and VGA/SVGA resolution arcade monitors.

I realize I may need an ArcadeVGA card.

I have a very nice 21" Hitachi Computer monitor (which I like but is smaller and not authentic) and I have tried S-Video on a 19" TV (better than I thought but still hurt my eyes and GTPC was terrible) but I haven't seen the stand res Arcade Monitor so I am not sure what to expect.  I know that EGA and VGA arcade montiors would be superior but cost is a factor (have 2 kids to put through college some day  ).

CGA (not comp CGA)  is the standard for arcade monitors so it will look the most realistic of all your choices.   EGA monitors seem to be a bit of a problem as they are not as common and not many people are using them.   The VGA arcade monitors are real computer monitors and seem to be the solution for many people but they cost alot and are not as authentic looking.

The arcadevga card is the easiest solution to get a CGA arcade monitor working with MAME.  

My understanding is that the CGA monitor is the most authentic so dont expect any usable results with higher resolution games.  So if you want the most flexability go with the higher cost VGA arcade monitor.  If you want authenticity and less flexablility go with the CGA monitor and an Arcadevga card.


Just my own opinions.

BobA

[tuckerpup]

Thanks for the info.

I did get the manufacturer info.  They are made by Makvision.  Everyone here seems to talk about WG so I don't know how these compare.

He has 27" VGA as well which is $150 more.  I figure if I have to buy the ArcadeVGA I am about break even for the two so I am just go with the VGA instead.

Thanks again for sharing your opinion.  I appreciate it.

[AlanS17]

Sure I'd use one. Why? You wanna give me one? You know... my birthday is on Wednesday.  

[rampy]

my birthday is today... so =P

If it's a reasonable deal I'd pick it up... assuming you have room for a 29" monitor in your cabinet/design.

If you mate an ArcadeVGA card from ultimarc, with that you'd be in good shape, I'd think (for the display part of yoru project)

BTW arcade monitors are reported by their true diagonals (like TV's) so 29" means 29" viewable...

*shrug*  I'd just make sure it's a standard resolutino 15khz monitor (or that it can switch down to 15khz --- some med res monitors can do that...)

Rampy

[paigeoliver]

One other thing to think about, if you are thinking in the long term.

Standard res monitors are very common, so there is a lot of troubleshooting and repair information available for them. While VGA monitors are a bit newer, and don't seem to have much info available. I had a WG VGA arcade monitor that went wonky on me, and I couldn't find anyone anywhere who could give me any troubleshooting help with it. But with a standard res monitor you can just post the symptoms, and BAM someone will usually tell you EXACTLY what to do to fix it.

With that said. I am currently running 3 standard res monitors (with one spare out in the shed), and 2 VGA monitors (with a spare eating valuable desk space).

[tuckerpup]

Thanks for all the good feedback.

Good point on the vertical measurement.  I should have remembered that as I have seen it about 100 times in the message boards!

The monitor is $210 which I am not sure is fabulous but since I don't have to pay shipping that definately helps.  They are new with a 1yr warranty so that is something as well.

It sounds like the CGA is a good choice for that authentic look.  As dumb as it sounds, I really want to be able to play GoldenTee PC.  That is the only PC game I really care about (I got a good trackball for the cabinet).  Seems pretty silly to buy a VGA monitor for just one game but that is what it pretty much boils down to.

I have read that SNAAAKE and MrBond are using NEC Multisync monitors.  I have been looking at this as an option as well.  I think I will just "twist in the wind" for a while over this decision.

Thanks again for the feedback.  It is greatly appreciated.

Regards.