Looking for help/suggestions on monitors.

[rpfinley]

I am really lost at this point and looking for some suggestions.  I now have mame running on my dell dimension 2400.  My goal was to create a type of showcase cabinet hopefully with a 32" or 37" video screen.  That way during football season I could use the system as a third TV (either using TV turner or directv on the internet).  So it seems like I am limited to using a TV as my monitor.  I am fine with that, my favorite arcade game is NBA Jam and that is the one that will get the most play.

From what I can tell my options are: use an old TV and get a different video card or buy a new TV with a VGA input.  I am just looking for the best picture using the details described above and trying to keep the cost under $500.  I have a 32" Toshiba and a 27" Toshiba that could both be used but they are quite the beasts.  Would I just need to get a new video card to use one of these?  If I do buy a 32" or 37" LCD, is 720 okay?  I have seen some brands mentioned which one should I buy?

Any suggestions would be appreciated I am overwhelmed trying to figure this out.  Thanks in advance.

[Deadly]

I have used a CRT TV, an LCD and a Tri-res CRT monitor. IMHO
CRT TV's are absolutely horrible UNTIL you launch a front end. But if it's all you have or can afford  then go with it. Better than nothing right?
LCD's - I can't say I've used something "new" within the last year or so but the ones I have used are fine. I say "fine" because nothing can replace the CRT IMHO. The LCD would leave a glow trail. Hard to explain but say you're playing a pac type game. It was almost like a dissapating light behind pac. Motion blurr I guess. Maybe playing ms pac speed hack had something to do with it  Seriously an LCD is fine.
Tri-Res CRT - heaven is an understatement. It's how the games were meant to look.

Any of your mentioned items will work. It literally all boils down to what YOU like and what YOU can afford. Most video cards will have an S-Video output on them so using a CRT TV is not only the cheapest route but super easy to do.

One last thing - If you plan on buying an LCD TV your want a P.rogrressive not an I.nterlaced

[StephenH]

TV may be an option.    Also, there are also some large arcade monitors out there for 33" cabs that are used on large games.   If you also wanted to use it as a TV, you could add a TV card or USB TV Tuner.    Nieman even makes a 39" Monitor.   

[rpfinley]

Thanks for the replies.  After looking at the computer it looks like the only video output is vga, am I missing something?  I really have no idea what I am doing.

Does it matter that the two tv's I mentioned are CRT's?  Is it easy to tell if a TV is progressive or interlaced?  Is there a specific model or manufacturer people perfer?

Thanks!

[Nataq]

99% of CRT TV are interlace. Only HDTV or some EDTV CRT are offer progressive. Those TV are not as expensive as LCD or Plasma but still cost more than regular non HDTV models. My sister have a great 32" 4/3 HDTV with VGA input. That would be your best bet but prepair to pay for it (and search a lot... stores doesnt keep up with these anymore). You can always go with a standard resolution TV but with components input, even if not HD, video quality will be better than s-video. That can be best of both worlds. That is actually what I have for my cab and I am very satisfied of the graphics. You will need a special adapter that fits most radeon cards that is selling for 5$ at monoprice.com. If you have a nvidia card though you wont probably be able to output components.

Here is some samples I just took today :

[rpfinley]

I saw this on craigslist, how difficult would it be to hook this monitor up to my computer? 

http://chicago.craigslist.org/nwc/clt/1564512015.html

[solid12345]

Those pics are gorgeous Nataq, I've always thought having a CRT HDTV would be the best of both worlds, curious is it possible to get 15hz going through the VGA input?

[Nataq]

I cant say actually... I have never tried with an HDTV (pictures above are from my standard resolution TV through component just to make sure we understand each other). My guess is that if an 4:3 HDTV can do 480 progressive that would be exactly like an arcade monitor. I dont remember anyone using such a TV in this forum. I asked the question in the past and didnt got an answer. Would be interesting to see.

As for the showcase cab above it is Jamma so there is a PC interface you can use. I dont know more about it...