YourCoWorker

I am having a similar issue. P4 3GHZ, ati x700, 1GB ram, registered gameex. MAME works fine. I can run stella from the .exe when I set video = soft, and fullscreen = false. In fact that is the only way I can run it. Video = gl and/or fullscreen = true causes video errors. I can not get stella to run through gameex no matter what I set. I am currently passing the parameters Stella.exe -video soft -fullscreen false "[ROMPath]\[RomFile]". Anyone have an idea on how I can 1. get stella to work with gameex in full screen mode like it should, 2. get stella to work outside of gameex in full screen mode... Thx, Jeff

As far as the frequencies go, the D9200's range is 15.75 to 31.5 Khz, and I have noticed that it switches around automatically. I read extensively before buying the monitor and thought that the refresh rates were very important, but I do not see that it makes any difference. I would like to know if it 'does', just for my knowlegde, but I am very happy and don't experience any flickering, tearing, strech problems...... The monitor is fabulous, the color and brightness are amazing. I am so glad I did not use a TV in my design. It has VGA input, right from the computer, and an adjustment pad in the back, similiar to a TV for color, brightness, screen size, etc. I didn't have to do a thing to it. GameEx is working fine. I am using the SlikStik Classic, which comes with a trackball and 3 adjacent buttons which act as a mouse. I have no problems with GameEx and I find it far more attractive and easy to set up compared to MameWah and some of the others that I worked with. My computer is a Shuttle SK43G, (search on www.shuttle.com). I am using the onboard graphics, you really don't need anything special with the D9200. Try it and see and if you find a need for the ArcadeVGA later, then get it (and email me), but I seriously doubt it. I think the ArcadeVGA is designe for a true arcade monitor. The D9200 is a hybrid arcade/VGA monitor, it is much more flexible. Jeff

Hello Erk, I am also using the WG-D9200. Don't waste your money on the ArcadeVGA card, you do not need it. At least in my experience, you can run at 800x600 in GameEx, and when Mame fires up, the monitor and the settings in Mame for stretching the image, compensate for the different resolutions. I know this is not the exact answer to your question, but I thought since we have the same hardware you would be interested. Jeff

Ok, I will continue with the onboard graphics. Thanks Tom, Jeff

I updated and turned off the -triplebuffer and it is working smoothly again. Thanks for the support, I really appreciate it. One last question, is the -triplebuffer removal, or the lack of a better AGP card hurting the visual clarity of the games? I would still consider getting a card if it would improve the visuals. As it stands, the games and gameEx look great, I don't think that any clarity is diminished, but can't me sure without a side by side comparison. Jeff P.S. I am off to the donate page!

Log from integrated graphics computer: You will notice I have the ArcadeVGA turned on. This was the only way I could get Galaga to load, it must be related to the poor onboard graphics. I did not have to use this setting when I got it working with the ATI x700 card in another machine. 16:38:30.8 7/29/2005: GameEx: Version 4.61: Starting Log 16:38:30.8 7/29/2005: Operating System Platform: Win32NT 16:38:30.8 7/29/2005: Operating System Name: Windows XP 16:38:30.8 7/29/2005: Operating System Version: 5.1.2600 16:38:30.8 7/29/2005: Running Randomize() 16:38:30.8 7/29/2005: Running Misc startup tasks 16:38:30.8 7/29/2005: Hiding Cursor 16:38:30.8 7/29/2005: Setting Menu types 16:38:30.8 7/29/2005: Opening Configuration File 16:38:30.8 7/29/2005: Getting Configuration Values 16:38:30.8 7/29/2005: Using Theme: Default - GameEx 16:38:30.8 7/29/2005: Checking for alternate Image Directory for Theme: Default - GameEx 16:38:30.8 7/29/2005: Text/Language: English 16:38:30.8 7/29/2005: Applying Language/Text 16:38:30.8 7/29/2005: Snap Delay set to: 6 16:38:30.8 7/29/2005: Is Media Center running? 16:38:30.9 7/29/2005: Check Media Center Exit/Start Mode 16:38:30.9 7/29/2005: Media Center Mode 2 16:38:30.9 7/29/2005: Checking for applications to Launch On Startup 16:38:30.9 7/29/2005: Get other settings 16:38:30.9 7/29/2005: SlikStik support enabled 16:38:30.9 7/29/2005: Using DirectInput for keyboard input 16:38:30.9 7/29/2005: Launching HideOS.exe 16:38:31.3 7/29/2005: Hiding Taskbar 16:38:31.3 7/29/2005: Start work for Form 16:38:31.3 7/29/2005: Getting Original Screen Size 16:38:31.3 7/29/2005: Loading ICON 16:38:31.4 7/29/2005: Initializing Component 16:38:31.4 7/29/2005: Using General Font: HandelGothic BT 16:38:31.5 7/29/2005: Using Title Font: HandelGothic BT 16:38:31.5 7/29/2005: Initialising DirectDraw 16:38:31.5 7/29/2005: Applying GameEx is Loading Image 16:38:31.5 7/29/2005: Creating DirectDraw Device 16:38:31.5 7/29/2005: Using Device: VIA/S3G KM400/KN400 16:38:31.5 7/29/2005: Setting Resolution to 800x600 16 bit color 16:38:31.5 7/29/2005: Creating DirectDraw Surfaces 16:38:31.5 7/29/2005: Creating Primary Surface - Full Screen Mode 16:38:31.6 7/29/2005: Creating Back Buffer 16:38:31.6 7/29/2005: Loading graphic surfaces 16:38:32.0 7/29/2005: Creating Fonts 16:38:32.0 7/29/2005: Creating Menu Font 16:38:32.5 7/29/2005: Creating Game Font 16:38:32.8 7/29/2005: Creating Menu Font Standard Size 16:38:33.2 7/29/2005: Creating Font Black 16:38:33.3 7/29/2005: Creating Font Black Small 16:38:33.3 7/29/2005: Creating Game Font Faded 16:38:33.7 7/29/2005: Creating Title Font 16:38:34.4 7/29/2005: Initialising Windows Media Player Component 16:38:34.5 7/29/2005: MAME Path is: C:\Emulation\Mame32v.98\Mame32 16:38:34.5 7/29/2005: MAME EXE file is: mame32.exe 16:38:34.5 7/29/2005: ROM Path is: C:\Emulation\Mame32v.98\Mame32\roms 16:38:34.5 7/29/2005: Catver.ini is located at: C:\Program Files\GameEx\DATA\catver.ini 16:38:34.5 7/29/2005: controls.ini is located at: C:\Program Files\GameEx\data\controls.ini 16:38:34.5 7/29/2005: History.dat is located at: C:\Program Files\GameEx\DATA\history.dat 16:38:34.5 7/29/2005: nplayers.ini is located at: C:\Program Files\GameEx\DATA\nplayers.ini 16:38:34.5 7/29/2005: MAMEinfo.dat is located at: C:\Program Files\GameEx\DATA\mameinfo.dat 16:38:34.5 7/29/2005: Loading Controls.ini map file 16:38:34.5 7/29/2005: Loading Custom Emulators 16:38:35.0 7/29/2005: Snap Path is: C:\Emulation\Mame32v.98\Mame32\snap 16:38:35.0 7/29/2005: AVI Snap Path is: C:\Emulation\Mame32v.98\Mame32\snap 16:38:35.0 7/29/2005: Flyer Path is: C:\Emulation\Mame32v.98\Mame32\flyers 16:38:35.0 7/29/2005: Cabinet Path is: C:\Emulation\Mame32v.98\Mame32\cabinets 16:38:35.0 7/29/2005: Title Path is: C:\Emulation\Mame32v.98\Mame32\titles 16:38:35.0 7/29/2005: Panel Path is: C:\Emulation\Mame32v.98\Mame32\cpanel 16:38:35.0 7/29/2005: Icon Path is: C:\Emulation\Mame32v.98\Mame32\icons 16:38:35.0 7/29/2005: Marquee Path is: C:\Emulation\Mame32v.98\Mame32\marquees 16:38:35.0 7/29/2005: Using Ultimarc AradeVGA 16:38:35.0 7/29/2005: Using Ultimarc AradeVGA 16:38:35.0 7/29/2005: MAME CMD options: -skip_disclaimer -skip_gameinfo -triplebuffer -nowindow -joy 16:38:35.0 7/29/2005: Attempting to load game list 16:38:35.2 7/29/2005: Running: mame32.exe -help 16:38:35.3 7/29/2005: Running: C: C:\Emulation\Mame32v.98\Mame32\mame32.exe -help > C:\Emulation\Mame32v.98\Mame32\help.txt 16:38:35.6 7/29/2005: 16:38:35.6 7/29/2005: Now Outputing mame32.exe - Help 16:38:35.6 7/29/2005: 16:38:35.6 7/29/2005: 16:38:35.6 7/29/2005: --BEGIN-- 16:38:35.6 7/29/2005: M.A.M.E. v0.98 (Jul 10 2005) - Multiple Arcade Machine Emulator 16:38:35.6 7/29/2005: Copyright © 1997-2005 by Nicola Salmoria and the MAME Team 16:38:35.6 7/29/2005: 16:38:35.6 7/29/2005: MAME is an emulator: it reproduces, more or less faithfully, the behaviour of 16:38:35.6 7/29/2005: several arcade machines. But hardware is useless without software, so an image 16:38:35.6 7/29/2005: of the ROMs which run on that hardware is required. Such ROMs, like any other 16:38:35.6 7/29/2005: commercial software, are copyrighted material and it is therefore illegal to 16:38:35.6 7/29/2005: use them if you don't own the original arcade machine. Needless to say, ROMs 16:38:35.6 7/29/2005: are not distributed together with MAME. Distribution of MAME together with ROM 16:38:35.6 7/29/2005: images is a violation of copyright law and should be promptly reported to the 16:38:35.6 7/29/2005: authors so that appropriate legal action can be taken. 16:38:35.6 7/29/2005: 16:38:35.6 7/29/2005: Usage: MAME gamename [options] 16:38:35.6 7/29/2005: 16:38:35.7 7/29/2005: MAME -list for a brief list of supported games 16:38:35.7 7/29/2005: MAME -listfull for a full list of supported games 16:38:35.7 7/29/2005: MAME -showusage for a brief list of options 16:38:35.7 7/29/2005: MAME -showconfig for a list of configuration options 16:38:35.7 7/29/2005: MAME -createconfig to create a mame.ini 16:38:35.7 7/29/2005: 16:38:35.7 7/29/2005: For usage instructions, please consult the file windows.txt 16:38:35.7 7/29/2005: 16:38:35.7 7/29/2005: --END-- 16:38:35.7 7/29/2005: 16:38:35.7 7/29/2005: 16:38:35.7 7/29/2005: Loading last used Game List 16:38:36.1 7/29/2005: Initialising Bass Audio Library 16:38:36.4 7/29/2005: Creating DirectSound Device 16:38:36.4 7/29/2005: Trying: Primary Sound Driver 16:38:36.4 7/29/2005: Loading Sound Files 16:38:36.4 7/29/2005: DirectSound Device Created Successfully 16:38:36.4 7/29/2005: Creating ICONS 16:38:37.0 7/29/2005: Gamepad/Joystick disabled 16:38:37.0 7/29/2005: Initialising DirectInput for Keyboard support 16:38:37.1 7/29/2005: Playing Startup Video 16:38:37.1 7/29/2005: Playing intro sound file 16:38:37.1 7/29/2005: Initialization OK! Starting GameEx! 16:38:37.1 7/29/2005: Testing Main Loop Once: Processing Frame 16:38:37.1 7/29/2005: Testing Main Loop Once: Getting Tick count 16:38:37.3 7/29/2005: Testing Main Loop Once: Checking for song change 16:38:37.3 7/29/2005: Testing Main Loop Once: Checking Keyboard for Input 16:38:37.3 7/29/2005: Testing Main Loop Once: Front buffer exists? 16:38:37.3 7/29/2005: Testing Main Loop Once: Surfaces need restore? 16:38:37.3 7/29/2005: Testing Main Loop Once: Checking Joystick for input 16:38:37.3 7/29/2005: Testing Main Loop Once: Drawing Background 16:38:37.3 7/29/2005: Testing Main Loop Once: Drawing Logo 16:38:37.4 7/29/2005: Testing Main Loop Once: Flipping Surfaces 16:38:37.4 7/29/2005: Testing Main Loop Once: Main Loop ran successfully 16:39:16.7 7/29/2005: 224-288-V-True-640-288 16:39:16.7 7/29/2005: Running: cmd.exe /c C: C:\Emulation\Mame32v.98\Mame32\mame32.exe galaga -rompath C:\Emulation\Mame32v.98\Mame32\roms -skip_disclaimer -skip_gameinfo -triplebuffer -nowindow -joy -resolution 352x256 -hwstretch -effect sharp 16:41:21.2 7/29/2005: Exiting GameEx! 16:41:21.2 7/29/2005: Saving Settings 16:41:21.4 7/29/2005: Writing Game List to disk 16:41:23.7 7/29/2005: Checking for applications to Launch On Exit 16:41:23.7 7/29/2005: Media Center was not open when starting GameEx, so not launching

Thanks for the quick reply. I did what you wrote and had the same problem, but I have since had and epiphany and figured out the problem. My mame machine is a shuttle SK43G, and while it is a great computer, the integrated graphics suck! I moved all of my mame file over to another shuttle that I have (main gaming machine) that has an ATI X700 PCIE card in it, intalled GameEx and launched it. Everything runs great, no problems at all. I am headed to Fry's to pick up a mid range AGP card for the shuttle! Jeff

First off, GameEx is a beautiful, full featured program and it is my first choice for a MAME32 front end, I just can't get it to run correctly! Specs: AMD 2800+ processor 512 MB ram Integrated video, 64MB shared MAME32 v.98 latest GameEx Wells Gardner D9200 monitor running at 640x480, 31.5 Khz Ok, here is the situation. I have MAME32 configured and running, no problems on both a regular PC monitor and the Arcade monitor. The games are fast, sized correctly, everything, no problems. I use GameEx to load the MAME32.exe (as a front end) and the games are about half speed, and the music skips. All other aspects of GameEx are operating correctly. To be more specific, when a game is loaded and the intro screen appears, the video is smooth, but a bit slower than it should be. The music skips, like it is repeating every half second. I don't know if the music is repeating to keep up with the slow video, but it seems like that is what is happening. Anyway, in game, this problem continues. I am pretty skilled with computers and understand what changing config options in Mame and GameEx will do. Let me just say that I have tried EVERYTHING to fix the speed problems. I have tried: -running the arcade monitor at 800x600, 640x480, 32 bit, 16 bit -throttling back on the hardware acceleration in windows -turning VSYNC off along with the Reduce CPU Utilization itea from the FAQ -running in arcade mode -turning off direct draw (crash of course), turning on direct 3D -I have tried all the different configuration settings in MAME32 including the audio option for downsampling thinking that it was robbing CPU cycles. -I have tried every combination of these options. I did read and utilize the FAQ to no avail so I moved into brute force method of figuring out this problem! What I did learn: -MAME32 works fine by itself on a regular PC monitor and the arcade monitor. -Advance Menu works fine with MAME32 on a regular PC monitor and the arcade monitor. -MAMEWAH works fine with MAME32 on a regular PC monitor and the arcade monitor. -It is not a CPU problem, MAME32 by itself pegs out the CPU but runs fine -I don't believe that I need the ArcadeVGA card from Ultimac to run the Wells-Gardner D9200. I could be wrong. Please let me know will all details please. I am using a SlikStik classic and would have to build a custom cable to make the ArcadeVGA work with this monitor. Argh. Please Help! Thank You, Jeff