ATI, Powersrip & RGB scart + Gamex = wow!

[TX_TRINITY]

I just updated my Livingroom HTPC with an VGA - RGB scart cable (Only works on ATI cards tho). Previously had nvidia Svhs TV out Now I am getting corrupt arcade snapshots showing up in the game selection menu. avi thumbnails are fine, but its all the PNGs (even Tom's own) are looking like they're missing data (corrupted lookin) To boot it all its completely random in frequency.

It may be the cheap as chips ati agp card only has 64mb.

I'm running powerstrip to regulate the pal timing onto my widescreen philips. I did have to disable Tile-Based Rendering to get the desktop (xp) to appear properly but it's not affected anything else by the looks of it.

Any suggestions?

[Tom Speirs]

I just updated my Livingroom HTPC with an VGA - RGB scart cable (Only works on ATI cards tho). Previously had nvidia Svhs TV out Now I am getting corrupt arcade snapshots showing up in the game selection menu. avi thumbnails are fine, but its all the PNGs (even Tom's own) are looking like they're missing data (corrupted lookin) To boot it all its completely random in frequency.

It may be the cheap as chips ati agp card only has 64mb.

I'm running powerstrip to regulate the pal timing onto my widescreen philips. I did have to disable Tile-Based Rendering to get the desktop (xp) to appear properly but it's not affected anything else by the looks of it.

Any suggestions?

Make sure the card is not running too fast. ie overclocked. Also check the drivers.

Alos post your log so I can see what you have there.

[emphatic]

I'm curious, how does MAME work with that solution? Do you use AdvanceMAME or what? Because I'm thinking about buying a 25" Panasonic TV and put in my MAME cabinet (using a 21" PC monitor right now). I already have the cable and my laptop is ATI Radeon equipped so it should be working.

Feel free to post your PowerStrip settings.

Emph

[Tom Speirs]

I'm curious, how does MAME work with that solution? Do you use AdvanceMAME or what? Because I'm thinking about buying a 25" Panasonic TV and put in my MAME cabinet (using a 21" PC monitor right now). I already have the cable and my laptop is ATI Radeon equipped so it should be working.

Feel free to post your PowerStrip settings.

Emph

You can use AdvanceMAME if you really want to spend loads of time, but there's no point unless your running Windows 98.

The best option option is to setup TV friendly resolutions and timings in powerstrip close to most game resolutions, and setup MAME to use these resolutions, GameEx even has direct support for this if you hack up the ArcadeVGA support a little to work with different resolutions rather than AVGA ones. Otherwise just run all MAME games at a fixed resolution, and also possibly use the MAME Direct3D settings so there's no blurring when stretching happens.

[emphatic]

You can use AdvanceMAME if you really want to spend loads of time, but there's no point unless your running Windows 98.

The best option option is to setup TV friendly resolutions and timings in powerstrip close to most game resolutions, and setup MAME to use these resolutions, GameEx even has direct support for this if you hack up the ArcadeVGA support a little to work with different resolutions rather than AVGA ones. Otherwise just run all MAME games at a fixed resolution, and also possibly use the MAME Direct3D settings so there's no blurring when stretching happens.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Great. You should add a sticky thread with useful info like this. Like "Everything you'd ever wanted to know about GameEx but were to afraid to ask".

Emph

[TX_TRINITY]

Link to cool thread about powerstrip configs:

http://www.avforums.com/forums/showthread....11&page=1&pp=15

Long, long thread but scour for Powerstrip settings that work.. Lots of variations of TVs = lots that may not be right for you.

Link to How to RGB#1:

http://ryoandr.free.fr/english.html

(If making your own cable use above sites pin configs)

Link to How to RGB#2:

http://www.idiots.org.uk/vga_rgb_scart/

I did try making a cable and got certain success (made ok but TV wasn't kicking into RGB properly, turns out I had to use an HDMI to VGA adaptor to get real RGB pin out properly)

Eventually just bought one off of Ebay for £25. Added an additional composite input cable for GCon2 PS2 Lightgun.

(still faffing about with those drivers but getting there.)

I did use wifes laptop and VNC'd onto PC and played about with powerstrip on the cheap ATI card. (I'm an Nvidia Die hard thus hate ati drivers etc)

With a combination of the three links above I got it. There is no flicker reduce option like Nvidia's TV-out so desktop is pretty flickery, but then you run Gamex and all is well. Picture quality is amazin on emulators and movies playback.

If you are going to use a TV on your PC, ensure that the TV is on and the source selected when you boot up initially. If HTPC doesn't see the TV [as a monitor on boot] you wont get picture once booted.

I editted the Mame.ini to keep res at 800x600 and NOT to change the refresh rate.

May just give Tom's suggestions a try with DX et al.

I'll post my Gamex log shortly. I'll check GFX drivers etc too.

[emphatic]

Link to cool thread about powerstrip configs:

http://www.avforums.com/forums/showthread....11&page=1&pp=15

Long, long thread but scour for Powerstrip settings that work.. Lots of variations of TVs = lots that may not be right for you.

Link to How to RGB#1:

http://ryoandr.free.fr/english.html

(If making your own cable use above sites pin configs)

Link to How to RGB#2:

http://www.idiots.org.uk/vga_rgb_scart/

I did try making a cable and got certain success (made ok but TV wasn't kicking into RGB properly, turns out I had to use an HDMI to VGA adaptor to get real RGB pin out properly)

Eventually just bought one off of Ebay for £25. Added an additional composite input cable for GCon2 PS2 Lightgun.

(still faffing about with those drivers but getting there.)

I did use wifes laptop and VNC'd onto PC and played about with powerstrip  on the cheap ATI card. (I'm an Nvidia Die hard thus hate ati drivers etc)

With a combination of the three links above I got it. There is no flicker reduce option like Nvidia's TV-out so desktop is pretty flickery, but then you run Gamex and all is well. Picture quality is amazin on emulators and movies playback.

If you are going to use a TV on your PC, ensure that the TV is on and the source selected when you boot up initially. If HTPC doesn't see the TV [as a monitor on boot] you wont get picture once booted.

I editted the Mame.ini to keep res at 800x600 and NOT to change the refresh rate.

May just give Tom's suggestions a try with DX et al.

I'll post my Gamex log shortly. I'll check GFX drivers etc too.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thanks. I have a working cable (I ordered one from a swedish guy that is tried and tested. I'm just gonna find a right sized TV (either 21" or 25") that fit my cabinet with REAL RGB input. My current TV only has S-VHS scart or something unfortunately so I haven't been able to try it out for real yet.

Here's a link to a page with TV timings for Powerstrip (in swedish but you'll find the timings useful anyway). http://www.nada.kth.se/~feldt/vgascart/tv.html

It seems like most TV's can handle 720 x 576 (PAL) or 720 x 480 (NTSC) without a problem and some TV's can handle 1024 x 576/480. I didn't know about 800 x 600 for TV's, but since you say you use it, it should be working then.

Emph

[TX_TRINITY]

At 800x600 I am losing a part of the display in the overscan at the top. I'll try the usual 720x576 etc see if that helps.

note - I did switch this to see if it helped:

[ Warning: DirectDraw blitting set to NOT wait ]

Here's me Gamex Log:

17:15:58.2 3/4/2006: GameEx: Version 5.77: Starting Log

17:15:58.2 3/4/2006: Operating System Platform: Win32NT

17:15:58.2 3/4/2006: Operating System Name: Windows XP

17:15:58.2 3/4/2006: Operating System Version: 5.1.2600

17:15:58.2 3/4/2006: Checking for versions of .net Framework installed

17:15:58.2 3/4/2006: .net Framework 1.1 Installed

17:15:58.2 3/4/2006: Checking Registration

17:15:58.2 3/4/2006: Running Randomize()

17:15:58.2 3/4/2006: Initialising Video/MNG DLL's

17:15:58.3 3/4/2006: Running Misc startup tasks

17:15:58.3 3/4/2006: Setting Menu types

17:15:58.3 3/4/2006: Opening Configuration File

17:15:58.3 3/4/2006: Getting Configuration Values

17:15:58.3 3/4/2006: Using Theme: Default - MCE Glossy

17:15:58.3 3/4/2006: Checking for alternate Image Directory for Theme: Default - MCE Glossy

17:15:58.4 3/4/2006: Text/Language: English

17:15:58.4 3/4/2006: Applying Language/Text

17:15:58.4 3/4/2006: Creating Scancodes.txt (List of DirectInput scan codes)

17:15:58.4 3/4/2006: Warning: DirectDraw blitting set to NOT wait

17:15:58.4 3/4/2006: Snap Delay set to: 1

17:15:58.4 3/4/2006: Is Media Center running?

17:15:58.4 3/4/2006: Check Media Center Exit/Start Mode

17:15:58.4 3/4/2006: Media Center Mode 0

17:15:58.4 3/4/2006: Checking for applications to Launch On Startup

17:15:58.4 3/4/2006: Get other settings

17:15:58.4 3/4/2006: Set: Find emulator artwork on best match basis

17:15:58.5 3/4/2006: Launching HideOS.exe

17:16:00.4 3/4/2006: Hiding Taskbar

17:16:00.5 3/4/2006: Start work for Form

17:16:00.5 3/4/2006: Getting Original Screen Size

17:16:00.5 3/4/2006: Loading ICON

17:16:00.5 3/4/2006: Initializing Component

17:16:00.5 3/4/2006: Initialising Bass Audio Library

17:16:01.0 3/4/2006: Loading default loading screen

17:16:01.1 3/4/2006: Using 3D Animations

17:16:01.1 3/4/2006: Using Deadzone

17:16:01.1 3/4/2006: Using General Font: Trebuchet MS

17:16:01.1 3/4/2006: Using Title Font: Trebuchet MS

17:16:01.1 3/4/2006: Initialising DirectDraw

17:16:01.4 3/4/2006: Creating DirectDraw Device

17:16:01.4 3/4/2006: Using Device: RADEON 7000 SERIES

17:16:01.6 3/4/2006: Setting Resolution to 800x600 32 bit color

17:16:01.8 3/4/2006: Creating DirectDraw Surfaces

17:16:01.8 3/4/2006: Creating Primary Surface - Full Screen Mode

17:16:02.2 3/4/2006: Creating Back Buffer

17:16:02.5 3/4/2006: Loading graphic surfaces

17:16:02.6 3/4/2006: Creating Surfaces Misc and Dialogs

17:16:02.6 3/4/2006: Creating Surface Volume

17:16:02.6 3/4/2006: Creating Surfaces Arrows

17:16:02.7 3/4/2006: Creating Surfaces GameEXlogo Text

17:16:02.7 3/4/2006: Creating Surfaces Toolbar

17:16:02.7 3/4/2006: Creating Surfaces Backgrounds

17:16:03.3 3/4/2006: Creating Surfaces Toolbar Controls

17:16:03.3 3/4/2006: Creating Surfaces GameEx Logo

17:16:03.3 3/4/2006: Creating Surfaces Home & Exit

17:16:03.3 3/4/2006: Creating Surfaces Snaps

17:16:03.3 3/4/2006: Creating Surfaces Menu and List Bars

17:16:03.4 3/4/2006: Creating Fonts

17:16:03.4 3/4/2006: Creating Menu Font

17:16:03.7 3/4/2006: Creating Game Font

17:16:03.8 3/4/2006: Creating Game Font Standard Size

17:16:04.0 3/4/2006: Creating Font Black

17:16:04.1 3/4/2006: Creating Font Black Small

17:16:04.1 3/4/2006: Creating Game Font Faded

17:16:04.2 3/4/2006: Creating Title Font

17:16:04.3 3/4/2006: Creating Control Panel Font

17:16:04.5 3/4/2006: Fonts Created Succesfully

17:16:26.6 3/4/2006: MAME Path is: W:\mame090b

17:16:26.7 3/4/2006: ZiNc Path is: W:\Zinc2

17:16:26.7 3/4/2006: ZiNc EXE file is: zinc.exe

17:16:26.7 3/4/2006: Use ZiNc on. zinc.exe will launch PSX games

17:16:26.7 3/4/2006: MAME EXE file is: mame.exe

17:16:26.8 3/4/2006: ROM Path is: w:\mame090b\roms

17:16:26.8 3/4/2006: Catver.ini is located at: C:\Program Files\GameEx\DATA\catver.ini

17:16:26.8 3/4/2006: controls.ini is located at: C:\Program Files\GameEx\data\controls.ini

17:16:26.8 3/4/2006: History.dat is located at: C:\Program Files\GameEx\DATA\history.dat

17:16:26.8 3/4/2006: nplayers.ini is located at: C:\Program Files\GameEx\DATA\nplayers.ini

17:16:26.8 3/4/2006: MAMEinfo.dat is located at: C:\Program Files\GameEx\DATA\mameinfo.dat

17:16:26.8 3/4/2006: Loading Controls.ini map file

17:16:26.8 3/4/2006: Loading Custom Emulators

17:16:26.8 3/4/2006: Loading Emulator 2: Playstation

17:16:26.9 3/4/2006: Loading Emulator 3: Sega Genesis Games

17:16:27.2 3/4/2006: Snap Path is: W:\mame090b\screenshots

17:16:27.2 3/4/2006: AVI Snap Path is: W:\mame090b\MameVideos

17:16:27.2 3/4/2006: Flyer Path is: W:\mame090b\flyers

17:16:27.2 3/4/2006: Cabinet Path is: W:\mame090b\cabinets

17:16:27.2 3/4/2006: Title Path is: W:\mame090b\titles

17:16:27.2 3/4/2006: Panel Path is: W:\mame090b\cpanel

17:16:27.2 3/4/2006: Icon Path is: W:\mame090b\icons

17:16:27.2 3/4/2006: Marquee Path is: W:\mame090b\marquees

17:16:27.2 3/4/2006: MAME CMD options: -triplebuffer -nowindow -joy

17:16:27.2 3/4/2006: Attempting to load game list

17:16:28.0 3/4/2006: Loading last used Game List

17:16:28.0 3/4/2006: Loading Start Page

17:16:28.4 3/4/2006: Setting Music Volume

17:16:28.4 3/4/2006: Creating DirectSound Device

17:16:28.4 3/4/2006: Trying: Primary Sound Driver

17:16:28.4 3/4/2006: Loading Sound Files

17:16:28.5 3/4/2006: DirectSound Device Created Successfully

17:16:28.5 3/4/2006: Creating ICONS

17:16:28.5 3/4/2006: Restoring Cached ICONS from File

17:16:33.0 3/4/2006: Initialising DirectInput for Gamepad support

17:16:33.0 3/4/2006: Looking for Device: 4 axis 16 button joystick

17:16:33.3 3/4/2006: Device Created

17:16:33.4 3/4/2006: Playing Startup Video

17:16:33.6 3/4/2006: Playing intro sound file

17:16:33.7 3/4/2006: Initializing MCE Remote

17:16:33.7 3/4/2006: Initialization OK! Starting GameEx!

17:16:33.7 3/4/2006: Testing Main Loop Once: Processing Frame

17:16:34.1 3/4/2006: Testing Main Loop Once: Main Loop ran successfully

[Tom Speirs]

At 800x600 I am losing a part of the display in the overscan at the top. I'll try the usual 720x576 etc see if that helps.

For overscan in GameEx itself use the "Deadzone settings" (if not already)

MAME should run at any resolution as long as its configured in Windows. So Ideally your native TV resolution would be better than 800 X 600.

Then eitther use the -RGBSHARP option or use Direct3D (with the correct settings so it does not stretch and blur) in MAME.

[TX_TRINITY]

At 800x600 I am losing a part of the display in the overscan at the top. I'll try the usual 720x576 etc see if that helps.

For overscan in GameEx itself use the "Deadzone settings" (if not already)

MAME should run at any resolution as long as its configured in Windows. So Ideally your native TV resolution would be better than 800 X 600.

Then eitther use the -RGBSHARP option or use Direct3D (with the correct settings so it does not stretch and blur) in MAME.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Many thanks Tom, 720x576 Pal Res rocks!

Superb support for an amazing front end.

You rock! Me thinks an (ahem) ati card better than the £20 4xagp card I put in is called for

EDIT NOTE: Solved the snapshot image garbled display.

In Display settings gamex config I disabled advanced graphics and set menus to 2d. Seems that the video ram on this ATI isn't ideal amount or setup properly in my bios. Looking fine now.

Thanks for the swedish site with powerstrip timings got a nice NTSC config that gives v.little cropping at the sides.

Tx