VGA, or what to do with my tax return!
John Blankenagel
I am planning to buy a better display system soon. I want to replace my
current CGA system. I have an 8MHz AT clone. What I need is recommendations
on a card and monitor for the best resolution I can get for about $700-$800.
Also, could someone clue me in on the specs for the various graphics boards
(i.e. resolution, colors, etc.) like PGA, VGA, MGA, MDA, and HGC. I am
currently thinking of getting a NEC Multisync and a vega deluxe card. Are
there other monitors/cards that are as good for less $? Thanks for any info.
John Blankenagel
William E. Davidsen Jr
| I am planning to buy a better display system soon. I want to replace my
| current CGA system. I have an 8MHz AT clone. What I need is recommendations
| on a card and monitor for the best resolution I can get for about $700-$800.
I don't think you can beat the Multisync. There are other which are
equally as good, but even those with advertized better dot pitch don't
really look better in real life (properly adjusted).
You should consider the new Everex VGSMASTER (I may have the name
slightly wrong) which does all 17 VGA modes plus 512x480 256 color. I
believe that with additional memory it also does 640x480 and 800x600,
all in 256 colors. This looks a lot better than a TV, and may
legitimately be called photo quality.
--
bill davidsen (we...@ge-crd.arpa)
{uunet | philabs | seismo}!steinmetz!crdos1!davidsen
"Stupidity, like virtue, is its own reward" -me
Ward Christensen-
because I had had other STB products, which were "OK", and because STB
was one of the first available.
I bought the Magnavox professional multi-mode monitor, because it
was rated high in a magazine article for its analog mode capabilities.
The combination simply doesn't work together. The VGA is apparently
a fixed-frequency scan, which may or may not work with traditional
multi-mode (-sync, -scan, whatever) monitors.
I have to adjust a recessed screw (pot) in the back to have the screen
filled vertically as I switch from cga to ega to vga emulation. ALso
the VGA emulation is terrible - "glistening" colors etc.
STB promised a ROM update months ago, I even got a shipping paper for
it, but they didn't come thru - they called to ask for a board swap -
and I've seen nothing in about 3 weeks.
They are supposedly coming out with a "better" board, but I hear the
upgrade from mine would be $240. Makes me wish I'd bought a $100
EGA clone, and forgotten the VGA stuff. (though the 256 color stuff
is "fun", and the board doesn't flicker like a true IBM VGA when
writing to the palette registers.)
Mike Ewan
>In article <22...@tekig5.TEK.COM> joh...@tekig5.TEK.COM (John Blankenagel) writes:
>| I am planning to buy a better display system soon. I want to replace my
>| current CGA system. I have an 8MHz AT clone. What I need is recommendations
>| on a card and monitor for the best resolution I can get for about $700-$800.
>
>I don't think you can beat the Multisync.
I agree on the multisync although I have a Genoa level 5 CGA/EGA/PCA/VGA
card. The Genoa does just about everything including Hercules mono-graphics.
Its a half length card with 256Kb standard. If you get one be sure to
specify "level 5" as there is also a "level 3" that does not support the
800 X 600 resolution. If you don't need the 800 X 600, there are some Genoa
level 3 clones out for very good prices. I can't be sure but I think the
clones go for about $150. The real Genoa also comes with drivers and a
real slick mode change program.
Yesterday I saw a glossy on a new NEC Multisync display adapter. It
supposedly has up to 1024 X 912 (or some such) resolution on a Multisync
Plus monitor.
Mike Ewan
Tektronix Inc.
sy...@tekgen.TEK.COM
--
This is a test of the .sig file.
Bill Mayhew
I am looking into the eyeball of a Multisync right now. I got this
one in June of 1986. When it arrived, it had color balance and
convergence misadjustments as well as need to be degaussed. Once I
adjusted it, it did look pretty decent. I'll admit that the need
for degaussing might have been caused by exposure to a magnetic
field durring shipping.
I also did the technical work for a review of some multisync
monitors for an article that appeared in PC Tech Journal. I had a
total of seven NEC monitors-- none of them came adjusted correctly
from the factory. Most typical customers (net people not
necessarily being typical customers) probably won't want to go
digging around inside their monitors the day they arrive. The NEC
also has rather thick glass on the face of the tube and has a lot
of pincushion distortion when not viewed right on center.
I have to give NEC credit their new series of Multisyncs is much
better than the original model. I have only looked the new NECs
over under ideal conditions and have not had to live with them.
The best all around EGA (and VGA) monitor is still the Sony
CPD-1302. (See some of my previous articles)
The Mitsubishi Diamondscan delivers a better picture than the NEC
and is slightly less expensive. I'd pick the Mitsu if I were
buying an EGA monitor today. (also see previous postings)
The Taxan 770 is also a possiblity (the electronics are made by
JVC), but Taxan seems to have quality control problems with their
CRTs. I have owned two Taxan monitors and each has had one dark
pixel someplace on the screen. One other Taxan monitor owned by a
friend had precisely one bad pixel -- hmmm... I see a trend
developing.
Happy holidays,
Bill
John Unekis
>| I am planning to buy a better display system soon. I want to replace my
For anyone who has invested in an EGA compatible with multisync monitor
there is now a way to display real imagery, both mono and color, without
putting up with grainy halftones. It is an image coprocessor called the
CLARITY1, which daisy-chains off the EGA. It comes with software to support
a couple of popular digitizers and hard copy printers. It is available
from SEFCO at (818) 765-8882.