VOGONS


MonArc Plus help needed

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First post, by NightSprinter

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Is there anyone on this forum that's well-versed-enough with the MonArc Plus TSR programs out there? I have most games working fine, but there's so far a small handful I can't get to work at all. The games I have that won't work right are as follows:

Aldo's Adventure (screen too big for the resolution)
Aldo Again (same as Aldo's Adventure)
Any pinball game by DICE (scrambled graphics or image cutoff in hi-res mode, score display cut off or scrambled in low-res mode if Mode-X reprogramming is allowed)
Epic Pinball (menus are fine, but either no screen or scrambled display at 27KHz horizontal 55.6Hz vertical, which my monitor cannot handle the range between 16.25-30)
Jazz Jackrabbit (same as Epic Pinball)
Supercars International (same as the two games from Epic when those are in-game, as Supercars always runs at 640x480p60)
Turrican 2 (severe cutoff of the bottom third of the game screen, which would result in needless deaths and inability to see the status bar).

I'm just wracking my brain on this, as it's literally the ONLY utility that makes DOS games usable for livestreaming off of a real system. I sadly have no oscilliscope (or know how to use one) for measuring things.

Reply 1 of 10, by Davros

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How about univbe or a diff gfx card
ps: more info pc monitor ect

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Reply 2 of 10, by NightSprinter

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Sure thing. Univbe doesn't exactly work (unsupported card). Here's the specs of everything.

CPU: Pentium III-500 Katmai Core
RAM: 512MB PC-133
Motherboard: Intel SE440BX-2
Graphics: STB Voodoo3 3000 16MB
Sound1: Yamaha YMF-740 (on-board)
Sound2: Gravis UltraSound PnP Pro
Sound3: Turtle Beach Montego II
Hard Drive: 26GB Seagate
Monitor: NEC XM2960 (supports 15KHz, then goes from 31.5-64KHz)
OS: Win98SE

Any other bits of info or specs? I have used the VGATV utility with both an S3 Virge DX and a Trident TD9440 and 9640, and even that TSR had similar issues, if worse.

Reply 3 of 10, by Davros

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According to google images you are using a tv not a monitor can you try with a real crt monitor ?
Also a virge is supposed to be a very compatible dos card and i'm pretty sure it runs jazz jackrabbit fine

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Reply 4 of 10, by NightSprinter

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I am running a CRT monitor through its RGB2 input (5xBNC sockets). The reason I am having to go to putting the computer into 15KHz output is due to the fact my Startech card can't handle anything running at 70Hz. So this is my only method for capturing and livestreaming DOS games.

The PCI and AGP cards I have to work with are: Voodoo3 3000, GeForce4-MX440, GeForce4-MX-420 (for AGP), Trident TGUI9680-I, Trident TGUI9440-I, ATI Rage 3D Pro Turbo PCI, and an S3 Virge DX to round off the PCI cards.

Reply 5 of 10, by Davros

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Ahh, yes 5bnc sockets thats how pc monitors connect to pc graphics cards

here make life easy on yourself
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADvTC1SsbTE

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Reply 6 of 10, by NightSprinter

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Thank you for the non-help, then. Given my audience on Twitch wants to see the games from real hardware (and there are still compatibility/speed issues in DOSbox), that is not acceptable.

If noone can actally help, then, I request the mods lock and/or delete this thread.

Reply 7 of 10, by Davros

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why are you not connecting via standard dsub nobody ever connected their pc's via bnc sockets (with a few exceptions)
If those games are not displaying properly its your non standard monitor (i assume youve tried without the capture hardware to rule it out)

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Reply 8 of 10, by NightSprinter

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The monitor works fine in general VGA mode, be it via the BNC inputs or the standard HD15 socket for RGB1. It's the capture card that hates to work with the 70Hz output and odd resolutions. Whenever it decides to work via direct input to the capture card, this happens. 24649660246_50c3ae05ac_o.pngamarec(20160107-160630)

Keep in mind, the NEC XM2960 is a presentation monitor. The manual for it states for the hi-res modes via rgb input, it can go from 640x350@70 to 1024x768@60, though can do lower resolutions up to 120Hz and has a minimum refresh rate of 50Hz. So it's an incredibly versatile monitor. Just, the Trident-Philips SAA7160 on my Startech capture card doesn't like working with these more unusual resolutions and refresh rates.

Reply 9 of 10, by elianda

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While you are putting much efforts in handling the symptoms have you considered changing to a capture solution that actually supports DOS modes at 70 Hz?

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Reply 10 of 10, by NightSprinter

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Oh believe me, I know what I want to buy. The problem is I have zero income, and spinal issues that make employment impossible (last line of work I attempted, I nearly was sent to the hospital several times, and was deemed both safety and liability risks due to my spine). So really, I can only work with what I have.