CPCWiki forum

General Category => Emulators => Topic started by: Beaps on 15:44, 12 November 12

Title: Amstrad CPC Emu on 15khz Arcade Monitor
Post by: Beaps on 15:44, 12 November 12
Hi All

I REALLY hope someone can point me in the right direction

I am looking for an Amstrad CPC emulator to run in my Arcade Machine on arcade 15khz Monitor. The native & best resolution is Ddraw & 320x240. I can run 640x480 but the screen is interlaced (vibrating) and the picture is not sharp.

Does an emulator for the Amstrad exist as I have one for the Sceccy (realSpec I think its called) that has all these features & the image is truly amazing!
Title: Re: Amstrad CPC Emu on 15khz Arcade Monitor
Post by: Bryce on 16:10, 12 November 12
You're taking the piss!? How the hell is anyone meant to be able to read that? :D

Bryce.
Title: Re: Amstrad CPC Emu on 15khz Arcade Monitor
Post by: Beaps on 16:21, 12 November 12
Sorry, amended font size (dam phone)
Title: Re: Amstrad CPC Emu on 15khz Arcade Monitor
Post by: ced64k on 16:54, 12 November 12
A few years ago I made a little arcade machine with AdvanceMame/ArcadeOS. It's a DOS version of MAME. I made a direct VGA to RGB cable and with a special dos driver, it could run at 15 Khz on my TV.
Now I see that AdvanceMame "is a port of the MAMEā„¢ and MESS emulators for Arcade Monitors and TVs but also for normal PC Monitors. " And MESS can emulate Amstrad CPC...
Title: Re: Amstrad CPC Emu on 15khz Arcade Monitor
Post by: Beaps on 17:12, 12 November 12
I am liking where you are coming from as I messed around with MessUi64 last night for ages but the emulator is really basic. I got it working in the end but its very basic.

Is there not these option in a more current emulator & I just didnt see them?
Title: Re: Amstrad CPC Emu on 15khz Arcade Monitor
Post by: mr_lou on 18:43, 12 November 12
I am using Lincade (Linux distro with MAME and MESS) to emulate MAME and Amstrad and C64.

It is connected to a TV directly from VGA output to SCART, and drivers tell the graphics cards to output 15khz signal. Works really great. Super clear and crisp picture.

Resolution can be changed with a single key while things are running.
Title: Re: Amstrad CPC Emu on 15khz Arcade Monitor
Post by: Gryzor on 16:09, 14 November 12
I'm not really sure I understand the question/problem. I'm guessing you have your arcade cab all figured out, which means you're outputting at 15kHz through a VGA that supports this, correct?

Where is the problem then - that there's no emulator that does full screen at 320x240? Or something else?


Title: Re: Amstrad CPC Emu on 15khz Arcade Monitor
Post by: Beaps on 16:23, 14 November 12
Ok here goes....

I have a Jamma arcade machine. I have a pc connected the cabinet via a JPac adapter. The maximum res the pc will display in the machine is an interlaced 640x480. If I drop the res by half to 320x240 then image quality is razor sharp. When I run MAME at this res with ddraw enable this gives an unbeatable image.

The problem I have is I need an Amstrad Emulator that displays a 320x240 Ddraw image that also runs at 60hz just like the speccy emulator does
Title: Re: Amstrad CPC Emu on 15khz Arcade Monitor
Post by: Gryzor on 16:26, 14 November 12
That's the same setup I've got, I'd guess, but what VGA do you use? Will check later in the evening at what resolution I run my emulators and how they look...
Title: Re: Amstrad CPC Emu on 15khz Arcade Monitor
Post by: Beaps on 16:40, 14 November 12
Maybe if I put up a quick YouTube video of the settings in speccy emu I need that might help with what I trying to explain?

Thanks for all your help with this guys. It's just bugging my why the amstrad screen looks so poor in comparison.
Title: Re: Amstrad CPC Emu on 15khz Arcade Monitor
Post by: Gryzor on 16:42, 14 November 12
Quote from: BeapsMaybe if I put up a quick YouTube video of the settings in speccy emu I need that might help with what I trying to explain?

Thanks for all your help with this guys. It's just bugging my why the amstrad screen looks so poor in comparison.
I know exactly what you mean, I think, but a vid wouldn't hurt. Had quite some trouble getting the thing to give me a steady image. 

You didn't say what VGA you use :)

Oh, btw, I found that a degausser really, really helped with my monitor's stability. Might be worth it to give it a try?
Title: Re: Amstrad CPC Emu on 15khz Arcade Monitor
Post by: Beaps on 16:49, 14 November 12
The pc is VGA to the jamma head (into the jpac)

The screen in the cab does not have VGA input
Title: Re: Amstrad CPC Emu on 15khz Arcade Monitor
Post by: Gryzor on 16:51, 14 November 12
Yeah, I know it does not, everyone does JAMMA, but what model is it and can do 15KHz?
Title: Re: Amstrad CPC Emu on 15khz Arcade Monitor
Post by: Beaps on 17:03, 14 November 12
It's a Nanao MS9 15khz only arcade monitor
Title: Re: Amstrad CPC Emu on 15khz Arcade Monitor
Post by: Gryzor on 17:04, 14 November 12
Hahaha!

VGA. Graphics card. Not the monitor! :)
Title: Re: Amstrad CPC Emu on 15khz Arcade Monitor
Post by: Beaps on 17:12, 14 November 12
Hahaha sorry

It's an ATI HD 4550 that I am using 'soft 15khz' to enable a 15khz signal
Title: Re: Amstrad CPC Emu on 15khz Arcade Monitor
Post by: Gryzor on 17:24, 14 November 12
Hmmm have no idea how well soft 15KHz works - I use a modified ATI that outputs 15KHz itself, but in any case I'll check my emus at home...
Title: Re: Amstrad CPC Emu on 15khz Arcade Monitor
Post by: TotO on 17:34, 14 November 12
Quote from: Beaps on 17:03, 14 November 12
It's a Nanao MS9 15khz only arcade monitor
Nanao are the best arcade monitor ever !!!  :-*
Title: Re: Amstrad CPC Emu on 15khz Arcade Monitor
Post by: Beaps on 17:43, 14 November 12
I agree its a wicked image  :o

Like I said, I will post a vid later on tonight.
Title: Re: Amstrad CPC Emu on 15khz Arcade Monitor
Post by: Beaps on 23:45, 14 November 12
Here you go, hope it make sense what I asking  :D
A quick video of ZX Spin emulator that I was hoping for an Amstrad emulator with the same setting to run in my arcade cab
Speccy Emu - YouTube (http://youtu.be/bEqgCTrxoBM)
Title: Re: Amstrad CPC Emu on 15khz Arcade Monitor
Post by: Gryzor on 09:00, 15 November 12
Never seen a Nanao in action, are they really that good? Got a Hantarex myself...

The video looks great, wow. Absolutely fantastic.

Unfortunately I got home last night and... my cab won't work :( Starts booting Windows but after the Windows XP loading logo it just gives me a black screen (though it boots into safe mode fine). Sorry, will probably have to install Windows again :(

Title: Re: Amstrad CPC Emu on 15khz Arcade Monitor
Post by: TotO on 09:28, 15 November 12
Quote from: Gryzor on 09:00, 15 November 12
Never seen a Nanao in action, are they really that good? Got a Hantarex myself...
I got a 26" Hantarex (31Khz) to play with my Naomi 2, Dreamcast, XB360... Great monitors. The best in Europe. (Italian brand if I'm not wrong) :)
Nanao (Eizo) is the most famous japanese CRT monitor brand. You can four them on medical imaging too.
Title: Re: Amstrad CPC Emu on 15khz Arcade Monitor
Post by: Beaps on 09:39, 15 November 12
No worries Gryzor, I will keep looking. Amstrad is the one that I grew up playing, and I would love to get it running perfect.
Title: Re: Amstrad CPC Emu on 15khz Arcade Monitor
Post by: Gryzor on 09:47, 15 November 12
Hantarex is Italian I think, too. Got to see a Nanao for myself then, though I'm not sure why you'd use the best option in medical equipment, a cheaper solution would do just as good a job, especially in the CRT days...

@Beaps: again, apologies. I was gutted to see it wouldn't boot... Once it's up and running again I'll give soft15KHz a go myself!
Title: Re: Amstrad CPC Emu on 15khz Arcade Monitor
Post by: Beaps on 09:53, 15 November 12
Out of interest which is the best/most accurate CPC emulator out there?
Title: Re: Amstrad CPC Emu on 15khz Arcade Monitor
Post by: Devilmarkus on 12:34, 15 November 12
Depends on what you need:
If you want a light weighted emulator, use WinCPC or Arnold or Arnimedes.
If you need a more proper emulation, use WinApe.
If you also have a nuclear plant in your cellar, use JavaCPC.

Really: It's not easy to say "this is the best emulator" because that depends on your requirements...
Also it's hard to say which emulator is the most accurate.
Every emu has it's weak points.
Title: Re: Amstrad CPC Emu on 15khz Arcade Monitor
Post by: Beaps on 12:38, 15 November 12
I am beginning to love this forum more & more

Everyone is so dam friendly & helpful lol.

Thanks all :-*
Title: Re: Amstrad CPC Emu on 15khz Arcade Monitor
Post by: Gryzor on 12:41, 15 November 12
Every last friday of the month we gather round and hug each other, then we roll on fluffy carpets with our CPCs. All very warm and cuddly :D

But, nice you like it here, thanks :)
Title: Re: Amstrad CPC Emu on 15khz Arcade Monitor
Post by: Devilmarkus on 12:45, 15 November 12
Quote from: Gryzor on 12:41, 15 November 12
Every last friday of the month we gather round and hug each other, then we roll on fluffy carpets with our CPCs. All very warm and cuddly :D

But, nice you like it here, thanks :)

You forgot the condom-automat we installed under the shoutbox...
Title: Re: Amstrad CPC Emu on 15khz Arcade Monitor
Post by: Devilmarkus on 12:48, 15 November 12
Oh.... forgot to say:
Gryzor acts as smurfette.....

Ehmm.....

No....

Also a warm welcome from me :D
Title: Re: Amstrad CPC Emu on 15khz Arcade Monitor
Post by: remax on 13:49, 15 November 12
For your need, i'd say give MESS another go.


It's not the best emulator available, but you will have no problem using it with your screen.
Powered by SMFPacks Menu Editor Mod