WG 25K7191 Keep it for MAME or sell it off and just go TV

[GCS]

Well I bought an old MKII cabinet last night it comes with a fully functioning Relief pitcher in it with a WG 25K7191 Monitor in it.  The monitor works fine and looks pretty darn good to my eyes.  It has one issue -- the glass on the tube has some scratches on the front (look like kitty claw marks, LOL -- 4 lines about 3/4" long exactly the same width apart from each other.  They don't interfere with the look or gameplay but are noticeable)

My question is should I keep it and use the monitor or just sell it off.  I know if I am going to use it I going to have to the ArcadeVGA card which adds $90 to my costs and I am VERY APPREHENSIVE about messing with it.

Is this monitor worth $100-$150 (cost of buying a TV for the cabinet)

LMK what you guys think

Thanks

Greg

[krick]

I did a quick search of the BYOAC forums for that model number.  I'm about 98% certain that it's a standard resolution (15KHz) monitor based on what I saw.

I have a Hantarex Polo 25" 15KHz arcade monitor in my cab.  I kept the original JAMMA wiring harness and I use an ArcadeVGA + J-PAC.  I had it up and running in less than an hour.  I'm totally pleased with the results.

[JoeB]

I would keep it!!!

The WG monitors are easy to repair, parts are readily available, and there a lot of good knowledgable people out there that can help you repair it in the future.

As far as the scratches go.. you can always remove them using a glass scratch remover that they use on car windshields.

The problem with using a TV is that a TV will not accept RGB signal (unless you either hack it, or get an expensive monitor).  

RGB -> NTSC -> RGB will always yield worst picture quality than RGB -> RGB

Plus, it's already mounted and wired.. put a new cap kit in that baby, and it's good as new!

[GCS]

Yeah but I would just run SVIDEO out the Radeon I have sitting right here into the TV.

I'll keep thinking about it though.

If I decide to keep the monitor in there can I still tear out all the JAMMA stuff and get rid of it??  What would I need to keep for the monitor to get power??  And I am assuming I would need to hack in a cable to go from the PC to the monitor, right?

Thanks for the advice fellas!

Greg

[JoeB]

There's lots of info on this board on how to hook up a monitor to PC.. and no hacking is required (if your cab is Jamma.. and it should be).

As far as video quality.. even S-Video isn't as good as RGB!!!  The only thing that comes close to RGB is HDTV! (in terms of clean video signal).

[SirPeale]

Really, keep the monitor!  Keep the JAMMA interface, sell the mini-pac, get a J-PAC, plug it in and start playing!

You don't *need* an ArcadeVGA unless you're absolutely, positively running Windows, and even then there are options.

[GCS]

You don't *need* an ArcadeVGA unless you're absolutely, positively running Windows, and even then there are options.

Well talk to me about this!!  If I can do this with the monitor and NOT buy an ArcadeVGA I am all for it!  I WILL BE RUNNING WINDOWS though (most likely 2000).

I would imagine I could swing the purchase of the JPAC in there.  Perhaps even swap that Relief pitcher for a nice Tekken board  !!

Is this covered in the Project Arcade book cause I did purchase that.

Greg

[JoeB]

It all depends on how computer savy you are..

you can always be super cheap:  Hack a keyboard and use 5$ video card from eBay.. modify AdvanceMAME and have a blast.

Or you can go the plug n play route: ArcadeVGA + JPAC.

[krick]

You don't *need* an ArcadeVGA unless you're absolutely, positively running Windows, and even then there are options.

Well talk to me about this!!  If I can do this with the monitor and NOT buy an ArcadeVGA I am all for it!  I WILL BE RUNNING WINDOWS though (most likely 2000).

From what I understand, you can run a Trident Blade T64 based video card at 15KHz under Windows 98SE with special drivers.  These cards run about $35 or so.  The one I see recommended is the "Jaton 3DForce G-32".  Instructions are here: http://easymamecab.mameworld.net/html/win9815k.htm.  

Since the drivers don't kick in until Windows starts and DOS will still be using 31KHz, you have to leave the monitor turned off until the computer has entered Windows.   That is unless you have a J-PAC.   According to the Ultimarc site... "The J-PAC will not pass the sync signal through unless it detects the signal is at the correct frequency for the monitor".

[SirPeale]

Since the drivers don't kick in until Windows starts and DOS will still be using 31KHz, you have to leave the monitor turned off until the computer has entered Windows.   That is unless you have a J-PAC.   According to the Ultimarc site... "The J-PAC will not pass the sync signal through unless it detects the signal is at the correct frequency for the monitor".

I'm not sure what OS he's going to use, but if he uses < Windows 98, he can load the arcmon.sys utility to make the signal 15KHz @ boot.  Just put it as the first line in your config.sys

[krick]

I'm not sure what OS he's going to use, but if he uses < Windows 98, he can load the arcmon.sys utility to make the signal 15KHz @ boot.  Just put it as the first line in your config.sys

What do you do about the BIOS screen that shows BEFORE DOS loads (and subsequently loads the config.sys)?  That won't be 15KHz.

[SirPeale]

I'm not sure what OS he's going to use, but if he uses < Windows 98, he can load the arcmon.sys utility to make the signal 15KHz @ boot.  Just put it as the first line in your config.sys

What do you do about the BIOS screen that shows BEFORE DOS loads (and subsequently loads the config.sys)?  That won't be 15KHz.

If he's using a J-PAC, it won't matter.

If not...

[GCS]

Well you guys MAY have talked me into it.

After picking up my MAME machine this w/e (4P cab with a 25" TV in it) and seeing the results I think I may give the Arcade monitor a shot.  While I am not disappointed in the TV performance at all I did some more reading in the Project Arcade book and I think the Arcade monitor "may" be a better choice.

Anyway I have a J-PAC related question.  I posted this in the Main Forum as well but it seems appropriate to ask it here also:

Alright so it looks like you guys may have talked me into keeping the cabinet I have intact with the arcade monitor and JAMMA boards.

My question is if I get the J-PAC in there so I can go MAME with it can I still play the game in the machine??

How does it all work ... do I leave the computer off to play the game or is there a switch to switch or what??

Thanks for the help in advance.

Greg


Greg

[JoeB]

Greg, I assume the game you're talking about is MK2.

If you have a PC that is 1-2 years old or newer (1.5Ghz or faster), then what is the point of having the game in there?  MAME emulated MK2 very well on such hardware!

the only game you should consider keeping around together with MAME are games that are difficult to emulate, or are not emulated (e.g. San Fran Rush and any 3DFX game.. these games need 4-5Ghz CPUs to look smooth!)

In their case.. think of the JPAC as a PCB board.  So the correct hookup will be:

PC + JPAC   --->
Real PCB     --->       Jamma harness in your cab (joysticks, buttons, monitor)

You need a way to switch between them (expensive solutions exist) or do it yourself.  

Save yourself the time and hastle.. sell the MK2 JAMMA board, and the money you get buy a better PC!