Need help on choosing a CRT

[ryuuji]

So I was wondering which one to buy of these 2, which would be better for retro gaming (PC emulation as I don't own any consoles) :

Sony Trinitron KV-29X5L



or

Barco CVS 51



?

Is 29" too big for retro games ?
A guide for what other cables are needed would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

[gray117]

Assuming you get the remote or you can find another (many sony remotes use same codes/interchangeable) then you'll have service menu (hidden menu adjustments) and scart rgb that'll do 50 (pal) and 60 hz (ntsc). 29 inch is great for anything like arcade/console gaming. Most arcade crts were 25-29 inch. Will also help hold up to current expectations. Service menu is a hidden menu typically accessible

If you want the little kid playing in the bedroom nostalgia then you might prefer smaller.

For as many devices as possible you'll want an rgb signal and corresponding rgb scart cable plugged into the lower of the 2 scart sockets av input 1 confusingly enough/(f) in the manual:
https://www.manualslib.com/manual/78812 ... =10#manual

Nothing against barco, but got no knowledge on connectivity and probably a bit more expensive?

Enjoy the obsession. Read more. Ask more.




Likely service menu codes (hence needing remote):

[PWR OFF] - [DISP], [5], [VOL+], [PWR ON]

-or-

[PWR OFF] - [DISP], [5], [PWR ON]

-or-

[PWR OFF] - [DISP], [5], [VOL+], [PICTURE], [PWR ON]


...or a combination like this --- you may find old sets like this can even get into the service mode by holding a combination of volume/prog buttons on the front of the set and turning on...

Beware possibly needing to save adjustments when quitting service mode ... often '0''0' presses on remote... but don't think you'll need that on this older set.

[Ikaruga11]

Is 29" too big for retro games ?

I personally consider 27" to be the max size for CRTs. Anything larger than that and you're running into high prices, high shipping, massive size and weight which limits placement, and is too big for low resolutions like 240p and 480i.

[kamiboy]

29" is not too big. For my taste, the bigger the screen, the better. I cannot take anything smaller than 25" seriously.

[ryuuji]

I m planning to play mostly arcade games on it ... as for price yes the Barco one is more expensive.
What cables and other things will I need to connect the PC to it ? Does operating system matter for old TVs like that ?

[kamiboy]

I am guessing you are based out of the wrong side of the auld pond, so unless the SONY has component inputs it is not viable for PC connectivity.

Neither is the Barco if it does not have RGB or Component input. As for what hardware you need on the PC side, a CRT emu driver compatible video card is recommended.

[bobrocks95]

I use a 32" myself. I wouldn't mind a 36" at all if it was possible for two people to lift it.

A higher-end Trinitron with RGB cables is already 1000x sharper than anything I ever saw as a kid. No problem in looking for something even sharper (though you usually have to sacrifice size), but GeneraLight's statement of anything larger than 27" being too big for low-res stuff I'd disagree with completely.

[ryuuji]

I am guessing you are based out of the wrong side of the auld pond, so unless the SONY has component inputs it is not viable for PC connectivity.

Neither is the Barco if it does not have RGB or Component input. As for what hardware you need on the PC side, a CRT emu driver compatible video card is recommended.

Why wouldn't it work with a VGA-to-SCART conversion ?

[Lawfer]

I am guessing you are based out of the wrong side of the auld pond, so unless the SONY has component inputs it is not viable for PC connectivity.

Neither is the Barco if it does not have RGB or Component input. As for what hardware you need on the PC side, a CRT emu driver compatible video card is recommended.

Why wouldn't it work with a VGA-to-SCART conversion ?

A simple conversion from VGA to Scart wouldn't work.

VGA is RGBHV (Red, Green, Blue, Horizontal, Vertical), while SCART is RGBS (Red, Green, Blue, SYNC).

[ryuuji]

Not even if I use this http://arcadeforge.net/UMSA/UMSA-Ultima ... r::57.html ?

[kamiboy]

That would work, but does the TV have a SCART input? Unless you live in Europe the answer is no.

[Einzelherz]

I don't know that we got Barcos in the states.

[ryuuji]

That would work, but does the TV have a SCART input? Unless you live in Europe the answer is no.

it does I live in Europe

[kamiboy]

Then you are all set.

[mvsfan]

Id take the Trinitron over that barco Anyday. its only in the us that we have to pay a premium for an rgb monitor.

you have scart. everthing with a tube over there made in the last 30 years is basically an RGB monitor.

just make sure its not 100hz.

[ryuuji]

Id take the Trinitron over that barco Anyday. its only in the us that we have to pay a premium for an rgb monitor.

you have scart. everthing with a tube over there made in the last 30 years is basically an RGB monitor.

just make sure its not 100hz.

No, it is 50hz. Very tricky to connect to PC to SCART though
Thank you all for feedback.

[Lawfer]

Id take the Trinitron over that barco Anyday. its only in the us that we have to pay a premium for an rgb monitor.

you have scart. everthing with a tube over there made in the last 30 years is basically an RGB monitor.

just make sure its not 100hz.

No, it is 50hz. Very tricky to connect to PC to SCART though
Thank you all for feedback.

You are not talking about the same thing, for some reasons he brought up refresh rates of 100hz (120hz in the US) and you replied to him about the electronic standard it takes (230v 50hz), it's not the same thing, rather what you should lookout for is whether or not the TV you want to buy takes in NTSC 60hz, some European TVs can't even do NTSC 60, though with the Sony Trinitron one you probably won't have to worry about that (looking at it's shape it seems to be one made in 1996 or later).

However how many scart inputs does the Trinitron have? If it has 2, be sure to plug the scart cable into the first one, because it can do RGB while the second one won't:

https://www.manualslib.com/manual/78851 ... e=2#manual

[ryuuji]

Id take the Trinitron over that barco Anyday. its only in the us that we have to pay a premium for an rgb monitor.

you have scart. everthing with a tube over there made in the last 30 years is basically an RGB monitor.

just make sure its not 100hz.

No, it is 50hz. Very tricky to connect to PC to SCART though
Thank you all for feedback.

You are not talking about the same thing, for some reasons he brought up refresh rates of 100hz (120hz in the US) and you replied to him about the electronic standard it takes (230v 50hz), it's not the same thing, rather what you should lookout for is whether or not the TV you want to buy takes in NTSC 60hz, some European TVs can't even do NTSC 60, though with the Sony Trinitron one you probably won't have to worry about that (looking at it's shape it seems to be one made in 1996 or later).

However how many scart inputs does the Trinitron have? If it has 2, be sure to plug the scart cable into the first one, because it can do RGB while the second one won't:

https://www.manualslib.com/manual/78851 ... e=2#manual

I know that I don't need NTSC ... I was hoping that I can use the laptop but http://arcadeforge.net/UMSA/UMSA-Ultima ... r::57.html requires the the PC can output to 15Khz which I doubt that the laptop can do

[FinalBaton]

You are not talking about the same thing, for some reasons he brought up refresh rates of 100hz (120hz in the US) and you replied to him about the electronic standard it takes (230v 50hz), it's not the same thing, rather what you should lookout for is whether or not the TV you want to buy takes in NTSC 60hz, some European TVs can't even do NTSC 60, though with the Sony Trinitron one you probably won't have to worry about that (looking at it's shape it seems to be one made in 1996 or later).

However how many scart inputs does the Trinitron have? If it has 2, be sure to plug the scart cable into the first one, because it can do RGB while the second one won't:

https://www.manualslib.com/manual/78851 ... e=2#manual

Actually, I think they are both talking about the same thing, and about THE important thing too : the 100Hz CRTs that are out there are to be avoided for retro videogames. 50Hz is what he needs to look for. If the set he's looking at is 50Hz, then that's perfect if he won't be using North American or Japanese consoles

[Lawfer]

I know that I don't need NTSC

Yeah but still it's good to have the option rather than not in case you later decide to use it for various things.

... I was hoping that I can use the laptop but http://arcadeforge.net/UMSA/UMSA-Ultima ... r::57.html requires the the PC can output to 15Khz which I doubt that the laptop can do

Do you have a desktop? If you want to use that device it'be better if you could get a desktop with a VGA HD15 output, this way all you would need is an HD15 VGA to HD15 VGA cable and a Scart male to Scart male cable to hook to the Trinitron.

[ryuuji]

I know that I don't need NTSC

Yeah but still it's good to have the option rather than not in case you later decide to use it for various things.

... I was hoping that I can use the laptop but http://arcadeforge.net/UMSA/UMSA-Ultima ... r::57.html requires the the PC can output to 15Khz which I doubt that the laptop can do

Do you have a desktop? If you want to use that device it'be better if you could get a desktop with a VGA HD15 output, this way all you would need is an HD15 VGA to HD15 VGA cable and a Scart male to Scart male cable to hook to the Trinitron.

How can I check if it is regular VGA or VGA HD 15 ?
The laptop have VGA output also

edit: I have VGA HD15 on all computers

[Xyga]

I don't know about the Barco monitor but I'd definitely buy the Sony along if it's in good condition.
Those curved Trinitron TVs were as good as consumer-level sets could get, really.
Leaving out the tube's black borders the picture size should be the same as your average Japanese candy cab's monitors, so more like 27".
(actually those 29" trinitrons make great replacement cab monitors)

[Lawfer]

edit: I have VGA HD15 on all computers

I see that's good, I was asking because new computers have done away with VGA a long time ago, now it's either DVI and/or HDMI.

[ryuuji]

I was thinking... in case my PC/graphics card will get ruined and I will find only graphics cards with DVI ... would the dvi-to-vga adapter do the trick ?

[Lawfer]

I was thinking... in case my PC/graphics card will get ruined and I will find only graphics cards with DVI ... would the dvi-to-vga adapter do the trick ?

That depends, are we talking about DVI-D, DVI-A or DVI-D? And also, it seems that DVI is the next in-line to join VGA in the list of discontinued connectors. It seems that they are trying to eliminate everything that isn't "HDMI".

[ryuuji]

yeah it seems that only hdmi/dp are used lately

[Lawfer]

yeah it seems that only hdmi/dp are used lately

The only thing you can do later on if your PCs fail and you are out of VGA options is either to see if you can get a new PC build for you with VGA ports or buy a used PC with VGA outputs.

You could also try DVI if you use a cable like this one:



DVI-A to VGA

[vol.2]

yeah it seems that only hdmi/dp are used lately

There are many dp to VGA adapters out there. I used one for my current PC before I got a dvi capable display.

Edit: maybe they introduce noise though? Not sure. May depend on the quality of the adapter.

[Taiyaki]

Maybe I'm a bit late to jump on on the original question but my advice is to go smaller. I think 29 inch will be incredibly inconvenient to work with. If you really intend to get the most out of your tv you'll need to open it up at least once, maybe more, to tweak it. Personally my preference goes to 20 and 24 inch sets (the later already is a bit on the heavy side). 27 inch can be nice in a bigger room but it's unmanageable for a single person to carry around. 14 inch can also be very nice if you like the kid/ teen size room tv feel for your gaming experience.

[ryuuji]

Thanks for the info