Midway 53hz And Video Encoders

[MottZilla]

So I was wondering after trying out a 53hz Midway game (Mortal Kombat), does anyone know what TVs handle these odd refresh rates well? The TV in my room, a 20" ESA standard CRT would roll the screen. However the 32" Toshiba HDTV in another room worked just fine, though the bottom of the screen was cut off.

So does anyone know what TVs are better at handling games that don't run at or very close to 60hz? I've heard Sony TVs tend to be bad. And I've heard that HDTVs are ussually better at handling it. Ofcourse I'm looking for some cheap with S-Video input, and HDTV monitors certainly aren't cheap and neither is a real RGB monitor.

[Calpis]

HDTVs are good in this situation because they have worldwide-use digital tuners which can take just about anything you throw at it. You won't find a standard television in North America that will display 50hz, you may not find a multisystem monitor that easily displays 53hz either. What you'll probably need is a unversal transcoder, or a standalone digital tuner or upscanner like the XRGB-2+. Instead of converting the video, I'd try tweaking the game, perhaps the VDP can be overclocked to 60hz without the game crapping out.

[mairsil]

Well, you could get this monitor:

http://www.billabs.com/bl27cb0p.htm

...and build a cabinet around it. I have one of these damn things sitting in its box in my living room just waiting for my new cabinet to get here.

Anyway, what you want to do is look for the vertical refresh rates for the TV's which you are interested in. You might need to dig around in the owner's or even the service manual for the full specs.

[abionic]

can any of the engineering/techs here explain to me in some level in detail, why they'd possibly want to use a 53hz refresh? Is there some sort of technical advantage, or some equation I'm missing?

[mairsil]

They wanted to force you to buy their complete machines.

[abionic]

wouldnt they take a bad loss on mfg the 53hz CRTs tho, or is that something they could easily adjust with stock parts?

[mairsil]

Easy replacement of stock parts on the monitor PCB.

[MottZilla]

Well, you could get this monitor:

http://www.billabs.com/bl27cb0p.htm

...and build a cabinet around it. I have one of these damn things sitting in its box in my living room just waiting for my new cabinet to get here.

Anyway, what you want to do is look for the vertical refresh rates for the TV's which you are interested in. You might need to dig around in the owner's or even the service manual for the full specs.

How much does that monitor cost? I do have plans to eventually put together my own Mortal Kombat arcade cabinet, or atleast a general purpose jamma cabinet. Perhaps I will invest in some kind of HDTV in the future too.

[mairsil]

$549 plus around $160 shipping (unless you can pick it up in GA). Not cheap, but it is definitely the best arcade class monitor available.

[MottZilla]

Damn... I think I'd be better off hunting for a half decent cabinet with monitor. That or just buying an HDTV, though I'd rather a proper monitor that would fit MK to the screen nicely. But maybe someday when I have a large chunk of cash to burn. =)