Neo Geo MVS-2 mini 13 arcade monitor swap... HELP! :)

[fastbilly1]

Sorry folks I called the three guys I know that have MVS's (apart from Ack and Majors), and none of them answered or called me back. Ill keep trying them and we will get to the bottom of this because now its driving me nuts.

Even though I have no use for it, I want that board.

[sharp3D]

I really appreciate the help. You guys are great.

Still trying to clear up my confusion as to how the converter connects up to everything.

CRTGAMER says there is soldering involved, but I dunno what gets soldered where. Just looks like plug-in play to me.

I suppose I will figure it out once the thing gets here and I take the monitor out.

[CRTGAMER]

I am still not seeing anything that would need to be soldered as you mentioned. I see he has some resistors in line of those RGB connections. I don't think I will have to do anything like that(I hope).

I am really just hoping my MVS board does component out, so I connect the RGB cables into the converter, then output to VGA connected to an LCD. Then power the thing off an existing power connector from the arcades power supply. You mentioned before that I explained it better than you. But I never mentioned soldering, but you keep bringing it up.

Sorry its so hard for me to figure out just what you are talking about. What exact cables get soldered and where do they connect specifically?

See the left side of your picture? There has to be a way to go from video out to the adaptor. Yours will not have component cables but a large Jamma connector. You very likely will have to solder from that Jamma connector (pictured earlier-scroll down the blue large connector) to a small connector for plugging into the add on Video Adaptor.

Did you take a look inside to see if your setup already has that 5 pin connector? Hopefully you have that small connector to the old monitor in there, but unlikely. Take a look, it will answer the solder issue at least for the video signals.

You need a small rectangular plug to go into the white 5 pin RGB input on the add on Video Adaptor.

[sharp3D]

My arcade unit isn't here yet. It is being shipped to me. It arrives a week from today(3/24). So I really wont know till then.

I am sure I will leave it as is for a few weeks and in that time order this converter and also try to find a LCD monitor that fits based on the cab measurements.

I am also considering hiring a professional arcade "mechanic" to come out and help me with the monitor swap. This way I wont electrocute myself and he will probably be able to hookup this converter in a few minutes.

Might cost me $150, but its worth knowing that it will be done right.

[fastbilly1]

A good option. If you are not sure of yourself, definitely get a professional.

[CRTGAMER]

My arcade unit isn't here yet. It is being shipped to me. It arrives a week from today(3/24). So I really wont know till then.

I am sure I will leave it as is for a few weeks and in that time order this converter and also try to find a LCD monitor that fits based on the cab measurements.

I am also considering hiring a professional arcade "mechanic" to come out and help me with the monitor swap. This way I wont electrocute myself and he will probably be able to hookup this converter in a few minutes.

Might cost me $150, but its worth knowing that it will be done right.

Good idea getting an electrician, make sure its someone you can trust on that rare Retro.

One thing you might do while waiting.
Take a PS1 or similar older easy to plug in game console to where you can test some LCD screens out. Also compare to similar sized CRT screens. The LCD will definitely be easier to install because of size and weight, but picture quality might be a factor. A lot of LCDs tend to show "Dot Crawl" on older Non-HD resolution consoles which is what the Neo Geo Arcade puts out. On my son's PS3 with a Vizio Wide Screen LCD the PS3 games are beautiful but the PS2 game Black at 480p, displayed dot crawl running on the PS3 even when not stretched. The same PS2 game at 480p Component on my CRT HD 4:3 Sony looked crystal clear, no dot crawl. Grand Theft Auto same issue even at title loading screen, there is a difference. Other thing to consider is how a wide screen stretch might also be effecting to the dot crawl fuzzy effect, in addition to stretched "Fat" Neo Geo Arcade fighters.

[sharp3D]

Yeah. I am hoping an LCD with this converter lends a near pixel perfect picture. We'll see.

I got a hold of my local arcade repair guy. Told him the whole deal. He seemed more than willing to help me tackle this little project.

Thats a good idea to test monitors and converter with older game systems. None of my older game system output RGB though, so how would I test?

Well I guess my new modded Neo Geo AES will have component out, but thats not quite RGB. I'll still give it a go.

Man I cant wait till the arcade and my AES get here! Will be another childhood dream fulfilled.

[fastbilly1]

Will be another childhood dream fulfilled.

I am curious now, what are the others already fulfilled?

I felt the same way when I was at an auction and between a vending machine and a beateup Stun Runner there was a Nintendo Vs Tenttop. I saw it, fell in love with its ugly shape/setup, and bought it. Straight from Japan in the 80s, stored in a barn till 2006 when I bought it. And even though I am a huge Nintendo fan, I had never heard of it. Data on them is somewhat sketchy online aswell.

[sharp3D]

childhood dreams... the quick synopsis haha

When I was a kid, I loved my Super Nintendo, but would always hear about how badass and expensive Neo Geo's were. I wanted one more than anything. For about 3 summers in a row I had a childhood pipe-dream that I could wash cars, mow lawns and and garage sale old toys and save up enough money to buy a Neo Geo. Parents sure as hell weren't going to pay $650 for a video game console in the early 90's lol! Of course I never got one. TILL NOW! Which is why I went all out and bought a mint AES console in factory box with 2 controllers, memory card, the works. Its being modded to have component out, led power light mod and the controllers are being modded to have backlit led buttons to math arcade. Then the mini arcade purchase just kinda followed that.

My previous childhood pipe-dream was making video games for a living. My last semester of grad school, I interned at EA Sports in Orlando working as an environment artist on EA Sports MMA and after my internship was offered a position on the Tiger Woods team. So yeah that dreams been fulfilled as well.

you can check out my portfolio website if you want.

http://www.sharp3d.net

Also just got good news that my arcade could be here as early as this Friday or Saturday!

[CRTGAMER]

Thats a good idea to test monitors and converter with older game systems. None of my older game system output RGB though, so how would I test?

I was thinking of just a general comparison of LCD and CRT TVs so you get more of an Idea about the Dot Crawl issue I mentioned. Based on what you find out from regular HD TVs same effect would probably be similar on Computer monitor LCD to CRT comparison. Of course the VGA signal may make a difference but you get the idea.

Just go with the best cable you have Component, S-Video (a pain to constantly plug in, pins easily break) or even basic composite. Take whatever older "pre-HD" console you can easily hookup at store demonstration TVs. Tell store associate that it is the only purpose for the TV, so you have to test. Then compare various equal sized/brand LCD's and CRTs. In addition see if the widescreen LCDs make the older console 4:3 signal stretch too much. Your Neo Geo is 4:3 screen. Specs mean nothing compared to how you are satisfied with the picture quality.

A little side feature which may be important to work with the transcoder is zoom feature of the TV itself. All computer monitors have this, so not really a problem. So if you do end up using a TV in your Arcade, be sure of zoom capability.