Soft-15khz build 38 - all grey

[spuds]

Hi guys

First thanks for all the help you guys have given me - it's like learning a whole new language for me with all the roms, chd,s dats, compiler etc etc etc - LOL I still don't have the foggest idea what i am doing.

Anyway - I have Mame, PJ64, & ZSNES working (with your help !) and I have decided to let the other emus go for the time being.

So I downloaded soft-15khz to this PC before I attempt to connect it to the CAB - it's build 38 so i hope its the newest - but when I run the tool - the box comes up with all the selections in grey - nothing is in black and it will not allow me to select anything.

Any Ideas??

[Brian Hoffman]

Hi guys

First thanks for all the help you guys have given me - it's like learning a whole new language for me with all the roms, chd,s dats, compiler etc etc etc - LOL I still don't have the foggest idea what i am doing.

Anyway - I have Mame, PJ64, & ZSNES working (with your help !) and I have decided to let the other emus go for the time being.

So I downloaded soft-15khz to this PC before I attempt to connect it to the CAB - it's build 38 so i hope its the newest - but when I run the tool - the box comes up with all the selections in grey - nothing is in black and it will not allow me to select anything.

Any Ideas??

Your monitor wont support those refreshrates I assume...

What display are you using?

[spuds]

Your monitor wont support those refreshrates I assume...

What display are you using?

its a protron lcd tv that i use for my pc in my office - i currently have both PC's hooked to it

[VIPER0904]

you do have the right videocard drivers right? Seems like its saying your card is not supported so make sure you have the right drivers

[bkenobi]

Why do you need soft15 if you are running a LCD TV? That software is meant to set the resolution of the monitor as close as possible to the original resolution and refresh rate the game was playing at. BUT, you are using an LCD that only has 1 refresh rate (probably), and you want to run in the native resolution whenever possible. Perhaps I'm missing something, but I don't see why you would want to run that app if you aren't using a CRT...

[spuds]

Why do you need soft15 if you are running a LCD TV? That software is meant to set the resolution of the monitor as close as possible to the original resolution and refresh rate the game was playing at. BUT, you are using an LCD that only has 1 refresh rate (probably), and you want to run in the native resolution whenever possible. Perhaps I'm missing something, but I don't see why you would want to run that app if you aren't using a CRT...

Yeah Bk - you are missing something -

In my fisrt post I say i am prepping this PC to place it in my CAB - its a D&D (mystra) machine and I want to make sure all is right before I attempt to connect this by way of JPAC.

So are you saying I cannot "run" the soft-15khz while connected to this LCD TV?

VIPER

this is just an onboard video - would I need special drivers for the soft-15khz software??

Thanks Guys !!

[emphatic]

I have an onboard video in my laptop (with LCD screen) and it installed just fine. I then hook my laptop up to my cabinet with no problems. I made a hotkey to switch to 640x480 (what I run in my cab) and the external screen adapter.

This is how it looks for me:

(The two options greyed out here are already installed)

If your adapter is supported, it should show up to the left.

Emph

[iano]

Yeah Bk - you are missing something -

In my fisrt post I say i am prepping this PC to place it in my CAB - its a D&D (mystra) machine and I want to make sure all is right before I attempt to connect this by way of JPAC.

So are you saying I cannot "run" the soft-15khz while connected to this LCD TV?

VIPER

this is just an onboard video - would I need special drivers for the soft-15khz software??

Thanks Guys !!

Soft-15khz is for use with arcade (CRT) monitors.

[spuds]

I have an onboard video in my laptop (with LCD screen) and it installed just fine. I then hook my laptop up to my cabinet with no problems. I made a hotkey to switch to 640x480 (what I run in my cab) and the external screen adapter.

This is how it looks for me:

(The two options greyed out here are already installed)

If your adapter is supported, it should show up to the left.

Emph

So - since nothing is on the left, this means i have to buy something else?

another video card?

Below I have listed the PC I bought to install in my CAB

Can you tell from this what I need?.

THANKS

Brand:

Dell

Memory (RAM):

1,024 MB

Family:

OptiPlex

Hard Drive Capacity:

160 GB

Processor Type:

Intel Pentium 4 HT

Operating System:

Windows XP Professional

Processor Model:

--

Primary Drive:

DVD+/-RW

Processor Speed:

2,800 MHz

Condition:

Refurbished

[Tempest]

So - since nothing is on the left, this means i have to buy something else?

another video card?

Below I have listed the PC I bought to install in my CAB

Can you tell from this what I need?.

THANKS

Brand:

Dell

Memory (RAM):

1,024 MB

Family:

OptiPlex

Hard Drive Capacity:

160 GB

Processor Type:

Intel Pentium 4 HT

Operating System:

Windows XP Professional

Processor Model:

--

Primary Drive:

DVD+/-RW

Processor Speed:

2,800 MHz

Condition:

Refurbished

FYI - your Dell should have a service tag # on the outside, if you go to Dell.com, and enter that # (you probably have to go to "support") it will tell you exactly what was in the computer when it was built. I don't know if it makes a difference or not, but you don't list a video card, so you probably have "onboard" video. Or maybe you knew that already.....

[spuds]

FYI - your Dell should have a service tag # on the outside, if you go to Dell.com, and enter that # (you probably have to go to "support") it will tell you exactly what was in the computer when it was built. I don't know if it makes a difference or not, but you don't list a video card, so you probably have "onboard" video. Or maybe you knew that already.....

Yes, I am sure it is onboard videocard - I was told that this would be ok - this will only be used for my arcade cab and will have no other uses and with my limited funds I need to try to spend as little as possible.

I went to DELL and entered the service tag number but it provided no video card info.... and it also showed a different sized HD from what I have - maybe because its a refurb?? anyway the tag number is G00RW41..

any idea's...

[Brian Hoffman]

Yes, I am sure it is onboard videocard - I was told that this would be ok - this will only be used for my arcade cab and will have no other uses and with my limited funds I need to try to spend as little as possible.

I went to DELL and entered the service tag number but it provided no video card info.... and it also showed a different sized HD from what I have - maybe because its a refurb?? anyway the tag number is G00RW41..

any idea's...

Do you have a spare CRT monitor to try?

[spuds]

Do you have a spare CRT monitor to try?

no, I don't...

I have an old TV, but no way to connect it to the PC..

Do you think I should go ahead and attempt to connect it to the CAB

[Brian Hoffman]

no, I don't...

I have an old TV, but no way to connect it to the PC..

Do you think I should go ahead and attempt to connect it to the CAB

What type of monitor is in the CAB?

[spuds]

What type of monitor is in the CAB?

It is a Phillips MO8X

[Orclord]

It is a Phillips MO8X

That's only the tube.....

Any other ID on the chassis ?

Like WG K 7000 ?

[spuds]

That's only the tube.....

Any other ID on the chassis ?

Like WG K 7000 ?

There are several tags on the chassis

one says " ser no WG065228"

another says "Model no. 25k7193 wells gardner elecronics"

[Brian Hoffman]

There are several tags on the chassis

one says " ser no WG065228"

another says "Model no. 25k7193 wells gardner elecronics"

25k may be referring to 25hz.. Its a wells gardner..

Im not to familiar with using actual arcade monitors.. I wish I could be more help

[bkenobi]

Sorry, I can't help with an actual arcade monitor since apparently I'm too cheap to buy one

If you rip out the arcade monitor and put in a decent TV or PC CRT, then I might be able to help (btw, don't do that, I'm joking...)

[spuds]

Sorry, I can't help with an actual arcade monitor since apparently I'm too cheap to buy one

If you rip out the arcade monitor and put in a decent TV or PC CRT, then I might be able to help (in case it's not obvious, don't do that, I'm joking...)

OMG - LOL - you scared the Sh@t outta me :lol:

[iano]

Hi Spuds. I'd leave the arcade monitor in the cab and use it (i think it's a 25"). Best bet for help with the arcade monitor and Soft-15Khz is over at the BYOAC Monitor/Video Forum. They should be better able to help with your dilemma.

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?board=4.0

[spuds]

Hi Spuds. I'd leave the arcade monitor in the cab and use it (i think it's a 25"). Best bet for help with the arcade monitor and Soft-15Khz is over at the BYOAC Monitor/Video Forum. They should be better able to help with your dilemma.

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?board=4.0

Yah, I was planning on using the Cab as it is AWESOME at 7' tall and the picture is great - so anyway thanks for the tip - I will go over there and see if they have some ideas also

Thanks !

[emphatic]

If I were in your shoes, I would buy a really cheap ATI card and install in the DELL. First check the classifieds in your local paper or eBay. If you find a nice card, check it againt the supported cards in the Soft15hz forum. Should be able to get one for a couple of bucks. Running on that arcade monitor is the way to go, believe me. If it has 25khz it might even support higher resolutions like 640x480 (like I'm running on my EGRET II) and it looks awesome.

Emph

[spuds]

If I were in your shoes, I would buy a really cheap ATI card and install in the DELL. First check the classifieds in your local paper or eBay. If you find a nice card, check it againt the supported cards in the Soft15hz forum. Should be able to get one for a couple of bucks. Running on that arcade monitor is the way to go, believe me. If it has 25khz it might even support higher resolutions like 640x480 (like I'm running on my EGRET II) and it looks awesome.

Emph

Thanks emphatic, I appreciate your advice and all the other guys advice as well.

I will start looking for a video card

when you say

If it has 25khz

how can I tell?

I did a google search on the monitor and found several sites which talk about it but nothing about 15khx/25khz - I even went to WG site and tried a product search for it to no avail...

[iano]

Thanks emphatic, I appreciate your advice and all the other guys advice as well.

I will start looking for a video card

when you say how can I tell?

I did a google search on the monitor and found several sites which talk about it but nothing about 15khx/25khz - I even went to WG site and tried a product search for it to no avail...

Hey spuds. I just thought of something. I got a dell optiplex gx-240 out of work (it was considered outdated) and put xp pro on it. The graphics card that came with had an ati chipset on it (rage pro 128, i think). When i tried to put a different graphics card in it (ArcadeVGA2 agv version) i could get no picture past the bios screen - it was just blank. On asking about this over on the Ultimarc forum, i was told that on some models dell have custom bios that will not allow you to use any old graphics card (just ones approved by dell). It's just a word of warning. Like Emphatic suggested don't spend much money on the card (as it may not work). I'm wondering if it's possible to change the bios to get around this problem. Anyone ?