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

[sharp3D]

Hello gents. I have a few questions hopefully someone here can help me with.

I have recently acquired one of these little guys. The Neo Geo MVS-2 13" mini arcade cab.



Here are some shots of the actual unit I have purchased.




As you can see, everything is in good shape and in working order. Other than dusting it off a bit and maybe getting some new labels, I don't want to do anything too drastic. I DO however, want the try and fit a bigger monitor in this little guy. The stock 13" doesn't even come close to filling the space available. So basically I need your help deciding which monitor to get.

This is the first arcade unit I have owned, so I don't know much about them. I have looked over the monitor section at http://www.happcontrols.com/monitors/monitors.htm but its not like buying a computer monitor or television. I dont know what I need compatibility wise.

I should also tell you that I would really like to hide one of these inside the cab.

http://configure.us.dell.com/dellstore/ ... lid=627062

A little PC capable of running MAME that is also connected to the monitor and controls.

It would make for the perfect little arcade unit. Small and out of the way. Plays some of my favorite Neo Geo games and also plays a bunch of others.

Unfortunately I cant provide any measurements because it hasn't been delivered yet.

So, CRT or LCD? I am sure most of you are going to say CRT, but which one? Can I use a standard computer monitor? What type of connection does the MVS use to connect to the monitor? RGB, VGA? How big of a monitor do you think I can fit? A 17" - 18" should fit. I just need recommendations!

Any answers to these specific questions would be much appreciate.

[Jerkface Killah]

I can't offer any advice, but I will congratulate you on getting your first arcade cabinet. I wish I had the real Metal Slug experience in my living room.

JFK

[fastbilly1]

First off see if there is enough space to mount a tv or monitor in there. I am not familiar with the innards of the mini, but it might take some rewiring to make the space.

Once you know how much space you have, you can start looking for monitors. Its holding a 13 inch crt, so unless you reinforce it, I would suggest going for an LCD. Itll be trickier to mount, but if you do not trust yourself to do the woodworking itll be your best bet.

[sharp3D]

Metal Slug!! Yeah I cant wait.


-fastbilly1

After I bought this little guy I did some research and came across this guys blog where he restores the same cab.

http://driph.com/words/2008/10/neo-geo- ... storation/

He was going to install a 19" CRT, but for whatever reason it didn't fit. He obviously knows what he is doing and if he thought there was a chance a 19" could fit, then maybe a different brand will or at least a 17" - 18" would.

I would love to get an LCD, but I have spoken to a few other people on other forums who told me not to. They didn't provide me with any real answers to any of my questions. They just seemed mad that I was going to "mod" a neo geo cab.

So does anyone know off hand what type of connection the MVS uses with the monitor? If an LCD works can I use just a standard PC LCD monitor? Or do I have to use the industrial grade ones on happ?

thanks!

[CRTGAMER]

He was going to install a 19" CRT, but for whatever reason it didn't fit. He obviously knows what he is doing and if he thought there was a chance a 19" could fit, then maybe a different brand will or at least a 17" - 18" would.

I would love to get an LCD, but I have spoken to a few other people on other forums who told me not to. They didn't provide me with any real answers to any of my questions. They just seemed mad that I was going to "mod" a neo geo cab.

So does anyone know off hand what type of connection the MVS uses with the monitor? If an LCD works can I use just a standard PC LCD monitor? Or do I have to use the industrial grade ones on happ?

thanks!

Sweet Arcade!

You can go with a bigger monitor, as "fastbilly1" points out check for clearance. The facing does seem it could easily fit a 19". LCD is lighter, CRT may get a better look with the older games. The Jamma connector would have to reworked to feed a replacement monitor.

Here is a sample pic. This is to hookup a PC to your Arcade. There are other boards for monitor conversion only.

[sharp3D]

CRTGAMER -

WOW! thanks for the help. Unfortunately I am a n00b when it comes to JAMMA(heard this acronym for the first time a week ago) and arcade setups, so I think I might need a dumbed down explanation of exactly how this converter works.

What connects to what? I see a VGA cable, but the image says that connects to a motherboard? I would expect the VGA cable to connect to a monitor, no? And what is the parallel port for? All a bit confusing.

You also said "There are other boards for monitor conversion only." What is this board for, if its not for monitor conversion? If VGA isn't the standard way an arcade board connects to its monitor, then what is?

And when you are talking about LCDs are you talking about PC LCDs or the application specific ones sold on Happ?

THANKS!

[Limewater]

You can go with a bigger monitor, as "fastbilly1" points out check for clearance. The facing does seem it could easily fit a 19".

If I had to guess, I'd bet that the limiting factor on fitting a larger monitor in there will be depth. I mean, your tag is "CRTGAMER", so I'm sure you know all about that, but I just wanted to mention it. The cabinet doesn't look too deep, and I bet that's the real reason for the small monitor in there in the first place.

But I could be completely off-base.

[sharp3D]

Next-Gen -

My guess would be that you are spot on. Which means LCD would be the way to go.

So...

Once I get this thing home, take out the stock 13" monitor... How on earth do I connect a regular PC LCD monitor? Component/RGB or VGA?

I know that the Neo Geo AES is capable of being modded to do component out, but how does the Neo Geo MVS arcade motherboard output video? Does it use component stock? Or is it something proprietary to arcade machines? I of course tried finding this info out, but I cant find anything, not even a screen shot of how regular arcade monitors are connected to their motherboards. Halp Halp!

[fastbilly1]

So you want the MVS hardware and a PC to operate concurrently? That is going to put you in a tight spot. The best option to do that would be to make a supergun for the MVS:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SuperGun

If this is what you are going for I would highly suggest just going all out with a PC and forgo the MVS hardware. I know that is considered a bastardization of arcade gaming but itll save you alot of headaches.

[sharp3D]

fastbilly1 -

Initially yes, I wanted to run a pc and stock mvs to a single new monitor. I have since simplified my pursuit.

Now I JUST want to replace the 13" with a larger PC monitor CRT/LCD.

This is ALL I need to know.

Here is how the perfect scenario goes in my head.

*I remove the 13" monitor, see that it was connected to the MVS via RGB. I then take the RGB cable, connect it to my LCD, turn everything on and DONE!*

This is what I need to find out. Is it this simple????? No one seems the be answering this question. How is the MVS connected to this little monitor? If its RGB, then I am set. I have like 3 LCD monitors laying around with RBG input I can use. If its some funky video connection I have never seen before, then I just want to know if a simple converter exists to go from MVS to my LCD.

Another simpler scenario. Lets say my arcade is a VCR. Can I connect my LCD to it or do I need a special cable/adapter?