What do I need to know about buying a monitor?

Lagduf

Lagduf

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I'm thinking it's probably about time I just get myself a dedicated monitor for all my arcade stuff. While stuff like the JROK and other RGB->NTSC encoders are fine and dandy, I just want to get a little closer to that true arcade experience without having to go all out and get a cabinet. So here is what i'm looking for:

  • I'm thinking something in the 17"-19" range would be great, though I would consider purchasing a smaller size if the price was right. 21" is probably the biggest I'd want.
  • Under $200 would be awesome, under $175 would be even better.
  • I'd like to get the best quality monitor for the money i'm willing to spend (unless all the monitors in my price range are trash in which i'll be forced to spend more $$$).
  • I'd like to be able to put the monitor vertically to play vertical jamma shooters (are all monitors designed to do this?).

If anyone has any suggestions on monitors, or really just some information about what I should know (different resolutions, taking care of your monitor, wiring a monitor up, etc).

Right now I feel like I know enough about monitors to know that I really don't know shit, and should seek help from some pros.

If it matters i'll mainly be playing MVS and CPS2 stuff.
 
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shess

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If you want a real dedicated arcade monitor your size choices are usually 13", 19", 25", 27" and on up . The only way to get a easy rotating monitor for vertical games is to get a candy cab with a rotating monitor...I believe most of the candies do have rotating monitors except the Neo candies. The others will rotate with varying degrees of difficulty. There are people out there who have managed to construct rotating mechanisms for their normal arcade monitors, but you need to have a cab and be mechanically inclined. You mentioned that you don't want to use a cab but still have the arcade experience. You *can* use an arcade monitor outside of a cab but you'll need the power supply and all other power related items to get it running. You'd probably be better off using the JROK/Neobitz and using composite video...it'll give you that nice fuzzy look like a real arcade monitor :) . You could also get a monitor that has RGB/Sync inputs like the Commodore 1084 monitor (14 inches) or a PC monitor with RGB (BNC) inputs.

Scott
 
Piratero

Piratero

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Are the RGB BNC/RCA cables really $50 and up? :eek: Something like this.
 
Lagduf

Lagduf

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shess said:
If you want a real dedicated arcade monitor your size choices are usually 13", 19", 25", 27" and on up . The only way to get a easy rotating monitor for vertical games is to get a candy cab with a rotating monitor...I believe most of the candies do have rotating monitors except the Neo candies. The others will rotate with varying degrees of difficulty. There are people out there who have managed to construct rotating mechanisms for their normal arcade monitors, but you need to have a cab and be mechanically inclined. You mentioned that you don't want to use a cab but still have the arcade experience. You *can* use an arcade monitor outside of a cab but you'll need the power supply and all other power related items to get it running. You'd probably be better off using the JROK/Neobitz and using composite video...it'll give you that nice fuzzy look like a real arcade monitor :) . You could also get a monitor that has RGB/Sync inputs like the Commodore 1084 monitor (14 inches) or a PC monitor with RGB (BNC) inputs.

Scott
Click to expand...

Scott I don't think you understand what I intend to do. I want to get a monitor, build an enclosure for it, and hook it up to my supergun. I have a supergun with JROK installed that I personally built, however, as I stated before I do no want to use composite, s-video, or component sent to a standard television. I want a dedicated RGB monitor soley for arcade gaming. I do agree that the commodore 1084 monitor is a good a suggestion, but I'd like to look at an actual dedicated monitor first (19" preferably) because one day I may build a cab.

Although I don't understand your comments with regard to rotating monitors. Why would I need a cabinet to rotate my monitor? Wouldnt I just have to pick it up an put it on it's side? - Or is there a mechanical/electrical reason I should not do this? Can all arcade monitors be turned on their side without damaging them?

I was also under the impression that even if a computer Monitor had BNC inputs that didn't necassarily mean it was ready to accept RGB signals from a JAMMA board because of the differences in resolution (15k vs 30k?).
 
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norton9478

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Get a new monitor.....

If you are building an enclosure, then you don't want to have to pull it all apart a year later to do a capset.

Also, get one that will accept a 1v rgb signal... Almost all modern ones should.
 
Lagduf

Lagduf

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norton9478 said:
Get a new monitor.....

If you are building an enclosure, then you don't want to have to pull it all apart a year later to do a capset.

Also, get one that will accept a 1v rgb signal... Almost all modern ones should.
Click to expand...

My plans were to get a new monitor, i want to start fresh and not have to troubleshoot what could be any number of problems.

You have any manufactureres or brands to reccomend? Brands to avoid?
 
S

shess

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If you're willing to build an enclosure for your standard arcade monitor, then go for it. It'll look nice when it's done. As far as rotating it, yes, you could just simply turn it on its side, but if you didn't have an enclosure that was designed for it, it could be difficult/dangerous. The reason I mentioned a candy cab is because they have built in mechanisms for rotating monitors easily. Once you do turn the monitor on its side, you'll have to degauss it. The other solution is to turn off the monitor, turn it on its side and then turn it back on. This will reactivate the degaussing coil and fix the screwed up colors. Turning a monitor on its side when it's been horizontally oriented has the same effect as putting a magnet near the screen.

A new arcade monitor will be on the pricey side. Expect to spend between $150-$200 for a new 19" monitor. $300-$500 for a new 25/27" monitor. And for the BNC monitor, you're right, it won't accept 15khz, but I wasn't sure which route you were going to go.

Good luck with your search and I hope your enclosure turns out nice. I'm a DIYer as well so I can appreciate your project.

Scott
 
Lagduf

Lagduf

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shess said:
If you're willing to build an enclosure for your standard arcade monitor, then go for it. It'll look nice when it's done. As far as rotating it, yes, you could just simply turn it on its side, but if you didn't have an enclosure that was designed for it, it could be difficult/dangerous. The reason I mentioned a candy cab is because they have built in mechanisms for rotating monitors easily. Once you do turn the monitor on its side, you'll have to degauss it. The other solution is to turn off the monitor, turn it on its side and then turn it back on. This will reactivate the degaussing coil and fix the screwed up colors. Turning a monitor on its side when it's been horizontally oriented has the same effect as putting a magnet near the screen.

A new arcade monitor will be on the pricey side. Expect to spend between $150-$200 for a new 19" monitor. $300-$500 for a new 25/27" monitor. And for the BNC monitor, you're right, it won't accept 15khz, but I wasn't sure which route you were going to go.

Good luck with your search and I hope your enclosure turns out nice. I'm a DIYer as well so I can appreciate your project.

Scott
Click to expand...

Thanks for the help, the info on turning the monitor on it's side was helpful. I was pretty sure I would be ok if i turned the monitor off, rotated it on it's side, and then then powered it back on. I probably wont be playing to many vertical shooters or other vert games, but i want to be able to if the option arrived.

Do you reccomend any brands i should go with/stay away from? Or is the build quality on monitors good enough these days that it doesn't matter? I'll probably go with a 19" as it is in my price range.
 
S

shess

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I've owned some Electrohome G07's, various WellsGardners monitors, and a single Hantarex 900E. I believe the Wells was easier to repair and had more fine tuning dials. But as far as looks go, couldn't really see much difference. I've heard the Hantarex's are a pain..but works fine for me. A lot of people like the new WellsGardner D9200 27" monitor but I've heard there's a lot of quality control issues with it. Check out Betson, Happs, Electrohome, or any of the other WG models. Keep in mind that shipping will probably suck but you could find a good deal if you filter ebay's search results to nearest distance.

Scott
 
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