SCART TV option ?

[ras2a]

Hi all

I am just starting building my first cab and have decided to go for a TV for the display due to cost.  I have been reading through these message boards trying to decipher what other users have been using and I've noticed that some folk have opted for a SCART TV using a VGA to SCART cable.  As I live in England , it's no probs getting hold of a SCART TV!  However I also noticed that people are using the ArcadeVGA (from ultimarc).  Now, if using the SCART TV as my display, is it possible to use other video cards to connect to the TV or do I 'have' to opt for the ArcadeVGA?  The reason I ask, is that I'd like to be able to play the odd modern 3D PC game in cab and obviously only a half decent vid card would be sufficient. If I was was to use a regular vid card (as opposed to ArcadVGA), would additional hardware be needed to interface correctly/safely to the SCART TV ?

What do you guys recommend?..should I forget about wanting to play PC games and just go for the ArcadeVGA?  Also, as the ArcadeVGA has only 64MB onboard, how will it cope with running the most demanding MAME games ? (later stuff etc?) and also other emulators?

Thanks a lot for any help in advance guys, it's verry much appreciated

Best regards

Craig

[seibu]

Hi all

I am just starting building my first cab and have decided to go for a TV for the display due to cost.  I have been reading through these message boards trying to decipher what other users have been using and I've noticed that some folk have opted for a SCART TV using a VGA to SCART cable.  As I live in England , it's no probs getting hold of a SCART TV!  However I also noticed that people are using the ArcadeVGA (from ultimarc).  Now, if using the SCART TV as my display, is it possible to use other video cards to connect to the TV or do I 'have' to opt for the ArcadeVGA?  The reason I ask, is that I'd like to be able to play the odd modern 3D PC game in cab and obviously only a half decent vid card would be sufficient. If I was was to use a regular vid card (as opposed to ArcadVGA), would additional hardware be needed to interface correctly/safely to the SCART TV ?

What do you guys recommend?..should I forget about wanting to play PC games and just go for the ArcadeVGA?  Also, as the ArcadeVGA has only 64MB onboard, how will it cope with running the most demanding MAME games ? (later stuff etc?) and also other emulators?

Thanks a lot for any help in advance guys, it's verry much appreciated

Best regards

Craig

A TV can only correctly display a 15Khz video signal. A normal PC video signal is 31Khz. A lot of video cards can output a 15Khz signal when the hardware is programmed directly, but this is usually impossible within windows. Therefore, if you're looking at using a "normal" video card, it must be one that can be programmed to work at 15Khz (there's a list of compatible cards in the AdvanceMAME documentation) and you're probably looking at running it from DOS or Linux.

You can use a scan convertor (a separate box which sits betwen your PC and TV) to convert a 31Khz signal to a 15Khz one, but this defeats the purpose of using a SCART TV, as the conversion will not be authentic to the original hardware of the arcade games. If you don't care about this, you may as well just get a video card with S-Video or use a PC monitor.

The Arcade VGA copes well with most modern PC games, mainly because it's running at such low resolutions (in PC terms). 64Mb is more than enough for anything currently playable in MAME - graphics card specs. are not really important to it.

What to recommend really depends on what you want. If you're not too bothered about arcade authenticity and want to play a few very new PC games, just go for a normal video card with S-Video out. If you want the real arcade experience and can live without super high-end PC games, get an Arcade VGA. Having plentiful and cheap access to SCART TVs means us brits can save a lot by not buying arcade monitors, and still get near identical results!

[ras2a]

Ok, MANY thanks indeed for that fast reply.  I figured that running at MUCH lower resolutions would be ok for PC games with the 64MB onboard.  I was just thinking about more modern stuff that requires pixel shaders etc..  But after what you have said, I think I'll sack it and opt for the ArcadeVGA...After all I have a good spec machine for games (with 21" monitor) ...at the end of the day it's only around 50+ quid for the ArcadeCGA and I DO want the FULL AUTHENTIC experience.  Now I just need to find a half decent SCART TV for much cheapness ...need to find summat that doesn't have the massive speakers at the side - Any suggestions?

EDIT: I'm considering using WinXP with Windows Build of MAME and Emuloader as my front end.  If using the ArcadeVGA would 'extra' config be needed through the frontend or should the games run at their native resolutions by default ?  If this is not feasible then I could use AdvanceMAME

Thanks again mate...really appreciate your help

All the best

Craig

[seibu]

Ok, MANY thanks indeed for that fast reply.  I figured that running at MUCH lower resolutions would be ok for PC games with the 64MB onboard.  I was just thinking about more modern stuff that requires pixel shaders etc..  But after what you have said, I think I'll sack it and opt for the ArcadeVGA...After all I have a good spec machine for games (with 21" monitor) ...at the end of the day it's only around 50+ quid for the ArcadeCGA and I DO want the FULL AUTHENTIC experience.  Now I just need to find a half decent SCART TV for much cheapness ...need to find summat that doesn't have the massive speakers at the side - Any suggestions?

EDIT: I'm considering using WinXP with Windows Build of MAME and Emuloader as my front end.  If using the ArcadeVGA would 'extra' config be needed through the frontend or should the games run at their native resolutions by default ?  If this is not feasible then I could use AdvanceMAME

Thanks again mate...really appreciate your help

All the best

Craig

I'm afraid I'm no expert on finding a cheap TV. 4:3 TVs are getting quite thin on the ground these days. 16:9 is becoming the standard (Why? very little cinema was actually shot in 16:9 because directors often like to make up their own ratios, and the majority of TV, including everything made before the last few years, is in 4:3). Anyway, your best bet is either second hand shops, or getting lucky with a clearance sale of 4:3s. I got a pretty good deal on a 21" Sony last year.

The ArcadeVGA comes with a utility which will create an appropriate ini file for every ROM you have, so regardless of OS or front-end, everything will be in the best resolution. Note that in a very few cases this will not actually be the native resolution, but then that's impossible without a multi-sync monitor.

It's also worth noting that from personal experience, I found that only AdvanceMAME under linux or DOS gave me correct refresh rates for some older games. Windows just places too many restrictions on how the card can be used. Furthermore, if you're using a TV (which may not have controls for adjusting picture position, height, width etc.) you may have to use AdvanceMAME anyway to get the picture properly positioned on your screen.

[ras2a]

ok, no worries thanks again seibu

cheers

Craig

[Beartron2097]

Coolies! Just last week I got my ArcadeVGA card and made up a cable to use my Scart TV. I live in England. Should be able to give you any advice you need.

1. RGB Scart is the nuts. Composite/RCA and even the finest S-video really are pap. Stay away from them at all costs!

2. As seibu said the public have been utterly fooled into buy widescreen tvs, and even LCD tvs so finding a fine looking 4:3 scart tv is easy these days. 1st stop would be the local free ads papers, easilly the cheapest prices.

You shouldn't pay more than

[Beartron2097]

forgot to add. Some modern tvs allow you to adjust the picture size and postion like you would on a PC monitor. If you can find a new tv that offers this snap it up. It would be worth your money. You might have to buy it brand new or ex-rental to get one that new though.

here's the soldering instructions i used to make my cable courtesy of minwah;
'Cable' = the pre-hacked cable from Ultimarc)

Cable = Scart
R = Pin 15 (Red)
G = Pin 11 (Green)
B = Pin 7 (Blue)
- = Pin 13 (Red GND)
H = } Pin 16 + Pin 20
V = } " "

the H and V wires are joined and wired to pin 16 and 20

I used this link for the scart pinout:
http://www.diyha.co.uk/electronics/scart.html

[ras2a]

WOW - you guys are a MASSIVE help.  Many thanks again for your time.  The folk on these boards are most helpful.  And thanks for those details, i'd already got the VGA/SCART cable wiring diagram from: www.jayma.org/mamescart/

but thanks anyroad...I just need to get my TV now as I've just placed an order for the ArcadeVGA.  Will check 'Loot' / ebay etc for some deals!

Cheers lads