60-in-1 Monitor Suggestions

MonsterBash

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So I'm going to assemble my first 60-1 and trying to figure out which monitor to use.

The cab is a gutted pac-man

I have a 4600 I could use but honestly don't want to waste it on a 60-in-1.

I also have a couple brand new in the box 19" CRT VGA monitors. These are flat screen CRT which is a negative. I do have one VGA CRT that is a 'normal screen' (not flat screen)

I have available a 19" 16:9 LCD

I can purchase a 21" 16:9 LCD

I'm kinda leaning towards the VGA CRT as it's cheap (already paid for) and it would have more of an arcade look. The con being figuring out how to mount the 50 LBS beast.


Suggestions?

Thanks!
 
I never take the time to build a multicade without putting an LCD in it. The general public don't give a rat's ass if it looks authentic (on CGA or curved tube). They just want to know its new and will last a long time without breaking down.

If you use a CRT VGA you'll have your hands full trying to customize the mounting in the cab. Its a pain in the ass. The monitor is heavy, awkward, and requires a heavy duty mount. Typically a 19" crt is not able to mount without alot of extra effort into a standard CGA frame. LCDs are lightweight and can be bracketed into anything with ease.
 
All very valid points..

I don't plan on selling this one it would be for me =)

My big concern with the CRTs was mounting it...which is obviously an issue.

Do the games look goofy on the 16:9?

I never take the time to build a multicade without putting an LCD in it. The general public don't give a rat's ass if it looks authentic (on CGA or curved tube). They just want to know its new and will last a long time without breaking down.

If you use a CRT VGA you'll have your hands full trying to customize the mounting in the cab. Its a pain in the ass. The monitor is heavy, awkward, and requires a heavy duty mount. Typically a 19" crt is not able to mount without alot of extra effort into a standard CGA frame. LCDs are lightweight and can be bracketed into anything with ease.
 
All very valid points..

I don't plan on selling this one it would be for me =)

My big concern with the CRTs was mounting it...which is obviously an issue.

Do the games look goofy on the 16:9?

They look very goofy at a 16:9 ratio. If you do the LCD make sure that it is the older, squared screen. I used a crt VGA monitor one time. It was a pain in the neck. Go with your CGA or the LCD.
 
yeah, don't get me wrong, the quality looked just fine on the VGA crt, it was just a real annoying process to yank the guts out of the case and mount it. Typically, the VGA tubes I've seen are not held together to another frame inside the case. So when you remove everything (the back half and the front half) the chassis will flop around loose from the tube. This gets really bad, as most of them I've seen have a metal cage which wraps around the bulb. So if the chassis is moved too far one direction or another, it will crack the bulb. Fun stuff.
 
Mounting it? If you're keeping it, put the 4600 in it. Simple to mount in a pac-man cab - even if the original mounting brackets are missing. You can make some for under $20 with parts from Home Depot...
 
The simple way or the hard way? That is your choice..
Smiple is just keep the 4600 in there and run it that way.
You seem to indicate your 4600 has a certain value to it. You wanted to keep it for another project or you want to keep it for deidicated arcade machine.
SWo you have to ask yourself what is the 4600 is worth to you?
Mounting will be harder to deal with. You will have to build something custom to fit it in. Do you leave the case on Or off? Do you pull it out and build a custom bracket for it? This all take time and effort.

On the Plus side using a 4600 is quick and easy but you use something you may want to use on a better project.

On the Plus Using the VGA Cost wise is cheaper. You will learn a lot in mounting the monitor and you have the 4600 to use in another project.

Or you can buy another WG4600 ..

Time money and Labor. If you want It cheap Pick any two Laughs..
 
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