MAMEWorld Forums - EmuChat - Re: What are the ideal settings of TripleBuffer/SynctoMonitorRefresh/Waitfo rVsync/RefreshSpeed ?

> I've experimented quite a bit between all of these settings which appear to do a lot
> of similar things. My main goal is to get a smooth image without tearing and a
> minimal amount of lag - basically as close to the arcade as possible.
>
> My setup consists of my laptop on an LCD monitor. The native resolution and refresh
> rate are 1280x800@60hz. I also have a CRT and another LCD monitor with a native res
> of 1280x1024@75hz. So far, it seems that having a refresh rate of 60hz is the best
> for attaining a smooth quality image.
>
> Now, as far as the options go, I try to stay as close to the arcade as possible. I
> use DirectDraw with no hardware stretch and set the Screen to pixelaspect, switching
> resolutions to fit. With these settings, I find I can attain a good image with square
> pixels.
>
> Unfortunately, I still have not been able to get a perfectly smooth image. Sometimes,
> I still get hiccups here and there or slight stutters. I normally have always left
> Triple Buffering on because I know it can help with tearing. On the other hand, Wait
> for Vsync and Sync to Monitor Refresh both seem very similar so I'm not sure which
> one to use. I have, however, enabled Refresh Rate because I read that it tries to
> accurately reproduce the refresh rate of the game itself.
>
> What I want to know is, what is the best combination of options to attain a smooth
> image? Something that has no tearing, stuttering, or hiccups that mimics the arcade
> as close as possible.

The problem is, a lot of arcade games use different frequency ranges, so it will always be difficult to find that perfect refresh rate; I think LCD monitors are even harder to sync to an arbitrary refresh rate, as they don't 'roll' like a CRT does every frame.