What would be a good test bench monitor to get?

dukesilverfan

Active member
Joined
Sep 12, 2016
Messages
320
Reaction score
85
Location
Pennsylvania
The more I get into this hobby, the more I want to set up a test bench. I have a PVM that I use for retro gaming, that I believe works well as an arcade monitor, but it would probably be more versatile to set up a dedicated arcade monitor to test with. I have also considered using one of those VGA adapters and just hooking it up to an LCD PC monitor, since I will just be testing boards. What do you recommend for a beginner to use for a test bench monitor setup? If you think an authentic CGA monitor is best, any recommendations on which to get for cost/ease?
 
I've used PVMs before, they work well. Also seen some Commodore monitors, I think the 1084S is a popular choice for that. Or you can just plop a normal 13" open frame arcade monitor on the bench.

Don't get a LCD & CGA->VGA converter. They're unreliable and if you have a board with video issues, you get a blank screen, instead of a clue as to what's wrong.
 
I think the 1084S is a popular choice for that. Or you can just plop a normal 13" open frame arcade monitor on the bench.

For sure !

The commodore 1084S is an awesome small test bench monitor for standard resolution, also the Philips/Magnavox CM8833 which is basically the same thing.

- James
 
PsONE 5" LCD display ...
 

Attachments

  • PSONE.jpg
    PSONE.jpg
    136.7 KB · Views: 65
Just a plain old blank screen.


Does this have the same issues as a VGA adapter, where you just get a blank screen on a non-working board instead of being given helpful information for diagnosis?
 
in addition to what was already mentioned, an Apple RGB Monitor from Apple II GS has been a great small test monitor

+1 for Apple II GS monitor :) I use one on my bench and it works great. The only issue you see sometimes is that some jamma boards will output a higher peak voltage on the rgb lines then the monitor expects, resulting in oversaturated/washed out colors. I've been meaning to put some resistors in series on the rgb signals, which should fix that issue.
 
I had been using a Megatouch 6 as a bench monitor. It has an RGB monitor not VGA like the newer ones. I had a wiring harness, switcher PS and a Radio Shack project box (containing a mini set of game controls mounted on a piece of plywood. I set the whole thing on top of the Megatouch and used it to troubleshoot Pac-Man PCBs. That little setup helped me make some good coin on E-bay selling repaired boards.
 
So you would recommend a PVM over an open-air arcade monitor? Why is that?

Smaller size, you can put things on top of them, and they have an audio amplifier & speaker inside. Very convenient for the bench.

Exactly what ieure said and more.. The square shape of it is the best thing to happen to workbenches since sliced bread.

The back of these PVM mon's can handle 5,320 inputs, anything you can throw at it (except SCART, who cares about lame SCART, that's euro crap anyways). :)

Some of the PVM's also have a built-in degauss button which is groovy.
 
The more I get into this hobby, the more I want to set up a test bench. I have a PVM that I use for retro gaming, that I believe works well as an arcade monitor, but it would probably be more versatile to set up a dedicated arcade monitor to test with. I have also considered using one of those VGA adapters and just hooking it up to an LCD PC monitor, since I will just be testing boards. What do you recommend for a beginner to use for a test bench monitor setup? If you think an authentic CGA monitor is best, any recommendations on which to get for cost/ease?

See here:
http://www.arcaderestoration.com/Ar...h/89/PSOne+LCD+mod+for+Arcade+Work+Bench.aspx

It's nice because it's portable and you can use it to test a game without taking everything out of the cab.
 
Back
Top Bottom