The NEW Build Your Own Arcade Controls

Main => Monitor/Video Forum => Topic started by: SNAAAKE on October 12, 2002, 04:12:58 am

Title: Sommebody wanna confirm this.PLEASE
Post by: SNAAAKE on October 12, 2002, 04:12:58 am
HeLlo people,

Allright what kind of scan converter I need in order to display windows in an arcade monitor.

DOWN SCAN CONVERTER?
OR UP?

I found one from like $250(he is asking) which he claims some broastcast quility.

So the converter must have VGA output and R/G/B input right?
Or the other way around?

Someone knows for sure please reply..thanks ;)
Title: Re:Sommebody wanna confirm this.PLEASE
Post by: mtd on October 12, 2002, 04:21:34 am
I'd wait for Andy's card before risking a converter.  
Title: Re:Sommebody wanna confirm this.PLEASE
Post by: rampy on October 12, 2002, 09:20:04 am
I don't know anything about converters... but would you want VGA input and RGB output if you were trying to interface a PC with an arcade monitor...

Rampy

shouldn't this be in the monitor section where the monitor guru's visit, btw?
Title: Re:Sommebody wanna confirm this.PLEASE
Post by: SNAAAKE on October 12, 2002, 02:26:22 pm
Rampy,

How exactly I should get VGA input?

Does't it have to be VGA output and RGB input ????

Thats not the way you do it I believe.

and yes.....sorry......move this to monitor section if any admins get some time.thanks

Title: Re:Sommebody wanna confirm this.PLEASE
Post by: rampy on October 12, 2002, 07:52:50 pm

Rampy,

How exactly I should get VGA input?

Does't it have to be VGA output and RGB input ????

Thats not the way you do it I believe.

and yes.....sorry......move this to monitor section if any admins get some time.thanks




Well you wouldn't connect a male connector to a male connector wouldya? ( unless you swing that way, snaaake  :-* )

You stated your goal as displaying windows on an arcade monitor.

An Arcade monitor is RGB ( i believe... ymmv)... your computer most likely outputs VGA (at least in general for this exercise).

Now you want to place something in between your computer to interface with an arcade monitor...

so...   PC vid card VGA OUT -> scan converter VGA IN *Scan converter magic* Scan Converter RGB OUT ->Arcade Monitor RGB (and whatever hsync, vsync,  power or other fangled arcade monitor connections that you should probably understand before wiring this up, eh?)   Arcade monitor then (if you're lucky) emits flashing lights in the form of  MAME/etc goodness....

Again, I might be wrong... I'm no monitor guru ... I'm just applying very basic common sense...

*Shrug* good luck man...

rampy
Title: Re:Sommebody wanna confirm this.PLEASE
Post by: Dave_K. on October 12, 2002, 08:44:32 pm
Snaaake, what you are asking for is a "downscan" converter.  For example downscanning a 640x480 31.5khz rgb/vga signal to 640x480 15khz rgb signal (what a std res arcade monitor expects).

To me $250 sounds quite expensive.  But maybe it can downscan higher resoltuions than 640x480?  Things you might want to think about....what resolution are you downscanning from?

Also, what video card is in your machine right now?  I posted a thread on the monitor forum about using PowerStrip (its software) to make your regular PC video card output in 15khz mode (for Arcade monitors).  You should download the free version of powerstrip and give it a try yourself.  I found out my laptop graphics card won't let me change the sync rate....but there is a list of cards that will let you do this!

-Dave
Title: Re:Sommebody wanna confirm this.PLEASE
Post by: Rahzel on October 12, 2002, 09:39:54 pm
I'm thinking of doing the same thing as SNAAAKE. I just have a question about the resolutions. Say the scan converter has a max resolution of 640 x 480 and I try to play a game with a different resolution than that. Like 800 x 600. Would it automatically fit to my monitor or no?

That's all, thx :D
Title: Re:Sommebody wanna confirm this.PLEASE
Post by: SirPoonga on October 12, 2002, 11:17:24 pm
Andy/Ultimarc is coming out with a video card for arcade monitors.  Go look in the monitor forum.
Title: Re:Sommebody wanna confirm this.PLEASE
Post by: SNAAAKE on October 13, 2002, 01:48:40 am
Snaaake, what you are asking for is a "downscan" converter.  For example downscanning a 640x480 31.5khz rgb/vga signal to 640x480 15khz rgb signal (what a std res arcade monitor expects).

To me $250 sounds quite expensive.  But maybe it can downscan higher resoltuions than 640x480?  Things you might want to think about....what resolution are you downscanning from?

Also, what video card is in your machine right now?

 I posted a thread on the monitor forum about using PowerStrip (its software) to make your regular PC video card output in 15khz mode (for Arcade monitors). -Dave

Well,
Madsmurf is asking $250 but if its worth it then great(quility wise,the guy probley telling me the truth. :)

Downscaning from atleast 800x600 or 640x480 is ok too.

(http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid35/pf5cba8f495a720e4737a50f92296653e/fd2cc7b4.jpg)
(http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid35/p4679a2ef29b5653aca73bf75baf930ce/fd2cc7b2.jpg)

Wouln't this converter do the trick?

Also,I have ati rage fury pro in my machine now and would power strip do the trick?


P.S.  Rampy,
sorry about the confusion(I was wrong) and  >:(NO >:(...I do not swing that way.I am about 200% man :) ;D :)
Title: Re:Sommebody wanna confirm this.PLEASE
Post by: Dave_K. on October 13, 2002, 02:08:19 am
Snaaake ATI cards are supported.  Download a free trial of powerstrip here http://www.entechtaiwan.com/graphics.htm, and see if you can reset the sync rate to 15khz while at 640x480.

SirPoonga, I saw Andy's post about the new graphics card alternative, but I still think people should at least see if their own cards will support this feature first via powerstrip.
Title: Re:Sommebody wanna confirm this.PLEASE
Post by: SNAAAKE on October 13, 2002, 02:11:42 am
What about the converter?
What do you think,should work right?
Common sense and madsmurf confirm already and now the only problem is to get the actual $250 just for this.
Title: Re:Sommebody wanna confirm this.PLEASE
Post by: SirPoonga on October 13, 2002, 02:30:47 am
Snaaake ATI cards are supported.  Download a free trial of powerstrip here http://www.entechtaiwan.com/graphics.htm, and see if you can reset the sync rate to 15khz while at 640x480.

SirPoonga, I saw Andy's post about the new graphics card alternative, but I still think people should at least see if their own cards will support this feature first via powerstrip.



True, BUT with your own card right now you have to wire it up correctly.  I believe it will be a simple sire up to andy's card.
Title: Re:Sommebody wanna confirm this.PLEASE
Post by: SNAAAKE on October 13, 2002, 10:51:02 am
I do not have any arcade monitor to test it out :'(.

First I wanna get the scan converter then test with arcade monitor then buy it ya know..
Title: Re:Sommebody wanna confirm this.PLEASE
Post by: JMDickson on October 14, 2002, 03:54:26 pm
The Super Emotia is a great scan converter for this application.  It is an older model, but of very high quality, and handles up to 1024x768.

A few tips:
-Use the underscan mode.
-I takes STANDARD VGA/SVGA timings, nothing else.  Choose default SVGA 1024x768 monitor in windows.  There is a list of supported refresh rates on the unit. - If you have been tinkering with timings using powerstrip, you may have to reset your common resolutions.
-RGB and Composite are output on BNC connectors.  You can find BNC-RCA adapters at radioshack, if you want to use more common connectors.
-Sync output is composite.  

I prefer using 640x480 and 800x600 output. It is very crisp in underscan mode.
Title: Re:Sommebody wanna confirm this.PLEASE
Post by: SNAAAKE on October 14, 2002, 07:50:59 pm
there ya go....

JMDickson is the MAN ! here..thanks for the info..i was kinda wondring how it looks and now i know..hehe..thanks again. ;D