Questions re setup with ArcadeVGA

[microwrx]

Hi folks

I just wanted to ask a couple of questions.  I've been through several pages of topics and can't find the exact answer.

Today I received my ArcadeVGA card and J-PAC from Andy (amongst other things).  I have installed them and setup as follows:

Install ArcadeVGA card drivers
Install the ATI control panel
Install AVRes

My problem is that Windows will not run at any other resolution than 640x480 and when it is running at that res it flickers pretty bad.  Mamewah does the same thing but I can at least get it to run relatively smoothly at 368x240.  Both Windows and Mamewah just vertical croll at any other resolution (tried 640x288 and 800x600).

Is there something I have missed in the setup?  Most of the vertical games had the same problem until I reran AVRes with the 60Hz only box checked, now they all seem to run OK.

It isn't so much of an issue in that I probably won't be running in Windows all that much but I just wondered if there was a way to fix it.

thanks

[JoeB]

The problem with the flicker is normal.. The window driver does not support the arcade friendly resolution of x 240.  The lowest it supports is x 288, and that can only be set by the special ATI control pannel thing (and even then, that a resolution much different than the x240 that you're trying to accomplish!)

just live with it.. it only runs for 10 seconds as MAMEWAH loads.

As far as refresh rate, unlike computer monitors, arcade monitors don't have auto sensing auto correcting holds.  You have to manually tune it.  

This is why I love to use SmoothMAME or any mame that uses the smoothmame hack.  It forces all the games to 60hz and you tune the monitor to 60hz and all is good.

For vertical games, I suggest going 640x480 with H/W stretch.  Yes, it might look a bit flickery, but hey, you see the whole picture and playing a vertical game on a horizontal monitor!

[microwrx]

Yeah, I'm quite happy with the way it is.  I just wondered why it wouldn't run at 640x288 when everyone else seems to be able to get theirs to run at that resolution.  Doesn't matter, works just fine as it is.

thanks

[Minwah]

Yeah, I'm quite happy with the way it is.  I just wondered why it wouldn't run at 640x288 when everyone else seems to be able to get theirs to run at that resolution.  Doesn't matter, works just fine as it is.

It should work at 640x288...if the screen scrolls then your v-hold needs adjusting until it displays OK in all modes.  This can be tricky especially on an old monitor - sometimes the v-hold pot needs cleaning.

[krick]

Is there something I have missed in the setup?

Make sure that you use the quick-res icon (not ATI) in the tray to select 32-bit color 640x288 in Windows.
That will give you a non-interlaced (not jumpy) picture.

If you use windows 2000 or XP, you can set it up to use a "virtual" desktop that pans around when your mouse hits the edge.

Print out this page and read it over a few times.  That's what I did.  It helped...

http://www.ultimarc.com/avgainst.html

[microwrx]

Looks like I had everything right in the first place.  The problem was I assumed (incorrectly) that if I adjusted to V-Hold to stop the scrolling in Windows/Mamewah that it would then cause the games themselves to scroll.  All is fine now with both Windows and Mamewah.  thanks.

[JoeB]

Just because MAMEWAH and windows do not scroll, doesn't mean that you are guaranteed nothing will scroll.

I've noticed that when I run at a 640x288 windows, no matter what I do with the v Hold, a lot of the games scroll (especially Capcom games when there is a lot of action on the screen).

And my monitor has a new cap kit too..

[Minwah]

Just because MAMEWAH and windows do not scroll, doesn't mean that you are guaranteed nothing will scroll.

I've noticed that when I run at a 640x288 windows, no matter what I do with the v Hold, a lot of the games scroll (especially Capcom games when there is a lot of action on the screen).

And my monitor has a new cap kit too..

Iis possible to have all modes working without scrolling.  I don't think a cap kit will affect this in any way, if you cannot adjust get it working then you probably need to clean or replace the v-hold pot...

[microwrx]

Iis possible to have all modes working without scrolling.  I don't think a cap kit will affect this in any way, if you cannot adjust get it working then you probably need to clean or replace the v-hold pot...

Yep, that's how I have it now.  I just didn't think that it would be something so simple as the V-Hold.  I'm thankful it is though, and now feel a little stupid.