So you've just built your first arcade cabinet....

Supersplines

So here I am, with a brandspanking new arcade cabinet and a pc and everything except the monitor. Just wandering if I could get some advice on which way to go? CRT tv or CRT monitor.

I'm thinking CRT tv because I get more screen for my dollar. I know the resolutin isnt as good but monitors are just so damn expensive. I figure most of the games were made to be run on tv's anyway so that shouldnt be too much of an issue. What say you guys?

The tv/monitor can be no wider than 27"

Cheers guys.

PS. I live in Australia

spookymuffin

I'm in the process of restoring my first arcade machine as we speak. I got the cabinet off of a Canadian guy for free, but it had water damage and the monitor was blown. So, I got ahold of some wood and built a shelf inside for a TV to sit on, and I'm restoring the base and adding some new wheels for the bottom, so I can roll it around, since the old ones are rusted and shitty.

Arcade monitors are (were) basically just TVs with no casing. That said, you can get high quality and resolution monitors like Pentranics for a pretty penny, especially since you'd have to either hunt all over Australia, or have one shipped to you. Then there is the problem of getting parts in case it breaks. The problem with the one I got was the motherboard had fried, and it would cost 250USD to get the part to fix it. Yeah, so screw that, I just put in a TV with S-video input, and my video card already had S-video output, so I was set. This is based on my having a PC inside of it. If you're going to run an actual Jamma machine, I have no idea what connections you'd need.

Supersplines

Yeah I'm running mine off a pc as well. That's great stuff.

Mate, would love to see some pics if you've got any?

Have you tried the tv, how does it look? What size is it?

spookymuffin

I don't have any of the inside, but I'm going to take some soon when I gut it out to rebuild the control panel. I really should've kept a better picture log of my project, I only have some of the exterior when I first got it, and exterior shots now.

The TV looks fuzzy in regular PC mode, but when you get some games going, the resolution doesn't matter, it looks like an arcade machine. I have a 27" in there right now, but I'm probably going to get a smaller set, like a 25", just because the TV takes up a whole lot of room in there, and I can't adjust it at all. Not to mention that I can't get bezel artwork around the screen. There is like 1/2" of room on either side of the TV, and none on top, so I can't move it around in there to get a better angle. I'll PM you my myspace page, I have a few pics on there, and that's where I'll be putting the rest when I take them.

Supersplines

HAHA, dude that looks great!!! Tv it is then, choice is made! I'll PM you some pics of my mates arcade machine. Mine is exactly the same design only different colours, dont have any pics of mine up yet.

How wide is that tv? (im guessing the 27" is the diagnoal viewing size?)