NEC Multisync vs. NEC Multisync Plus
Walter G Perz
Hello Netland!
I'm planning to buy a NEC Multisync. However there are two versions,
the "regular" Multisync and the Multisync Plus. What's the difference,
aside from the Plus colting $300 more.
Please e-mail me, as I don't keep up with the net.
Thanks in advance.
go...@unix.cis.pittsburgh.edu.UUCP
Phil Ritzenthaler
> I'm planning to buy a NEC Multisync. However there are two versions,
> the "regular" Multisync and the Multisync Plus. What's the difference,
> aside from the Plus colting $300 more.
As far as I can tell, the are 2 differences between the NEC II and the NEC
Plus:
1.) The NEC II is a 12 inch screen, while the NEC Plus has a 14 inch screen.
2.) The NEC II has a max resolution of 800x560 while the NEC Plus has a max
resolution of 1024x768
The greater resolution allows you to take advantage of the aftermarket VGA
cards that have extended modes with extended colors. For example one card I
know of (but have NO experience with) allows 256 colors with 800x560
resolution, 16 colors in an 800x600 mode, and 16 colors (which is the USUAL
for a VGA) in a 1024x768 mode. This is the Designer VGA by Orchid
Technologies.
To take advantage of the extra modes, you must have the Plus instead of the II.
Any other comments from folks that actually own these??
--
Phil Ritzenthaler |USnail: University Computer Services
Computer Graphics Research Consultant | 241 Math-Science Bldg.
UUCP :.!cbosgd!osu-cis!bgsuvax!ritzenth | Bowling Green State University
CSNET: ritz...@bgsu.edu | Bowling Green, OH 43403-0125
ARPA : ritzenth%bgsu...@relay.cs.net | Phone: (419) 372-2102
Charlie D. Havener
It is much like the old original NEC Multisync but it has front panel
controls and supposedly can handle VGA. It came with a VGA cable plug
adaptor to stick on the end of the regular cable. My Genoa Super HIres
graphics card does not have a VGA plug coming out of it so I have not
tried it. I think the colors are not as good as the old NEC Multisync.
In a side by side comparison the old one is better color wise.
Byte ( 2 issues ago ) did a big review of EGA/VGA monitors but they
did not test the NEC Multisync II which is most unfortunate. They
tested the Plus which costs a lot more. It is not at all clear to
me what you get for the extra money. Byte had a chance to clarify this
but they didn't.
Charlie Havener - GenRad Inc. ...genrad!condor!charlie
Mark Leighton Fisher
writes:
> [intro]
>As far as I can tell, the are 2 differences between the NEC II and the NEC
>Plus:
Unfortunately for some of us, there is one glaring misfeature in the NEC
Multisync Plus -- it doesn't support CGA resolution(s) (including the EGA
320x200 16-color mode). If you attempt to speed things up, as in by using
320x200 in some cases (as our smARTWORK product does for the most zoomed-in
window on your printed-circuit board (4"x2.5")), you are out of luck. You
are forced to put 640x350 or 640x480 pixels up on the screen, whether your
users need/desire them or not. The Sony Multiscan apparently supports all
the resolutions of the NEC Multisync Plus AND supports CGA resolutions also.
--
Mark L. Fisher Wintek Corp.
UUCP: ..{ucbvax|ihnp4|decvax}!pur-ee!wintek!um
BIX: fisherm
Charles Marslett
> I own a NEC multisync II. I have had it about 6 weeks. It cost $630.
> did not test the NEC Multisync II which is most unfortunate. They
> tested the Plus which costs a lot more. It is not at all clear to
> me what you get for the extra money.
The Multisync II is the successor to the old Multisync and has pretty
much the same specs, except that it pays attention to the sync lines
polarity. So it maintains the position and shape of a VGA screen much
better (I think it does a better job on EGA screens, too, but that is
getting pretty picky!). The Multisync Plus is a whole different animal --
it does NOT handle low frequency images (200-line CGA for example) so it
cannot be used with boards that do no double scan the CGA compatible modes
and it will properly display screens up to about 900x600 non-interlaces and
with a bit of fiddling the 8514A 1024x768 can be made to work.
Bottom line: for most people, most of the time the II is a better monitor
even at the same price (and they are not nearly the same price!) -- but if
you need higher resolutions than the 800x600 or 704x519 most current "good"
boards provide, you will have to pay more and lose something else. Sorry.
==========================================================================
==========================================================================
Wayne Cannon
it is actually spec'd at somewhat less than that, 960x720. HOwever,
considering the cost difference between it and anything spec'd at
1024x768 or 1280x1024, I decided on the Plus. Running it at 1024x768
on my HP9000 showed only minor smearing, and that was predominately due
to a misconvergence, I believe. It did lose a couple of lines at the
top on the HP9000, and I don't know why. However, my experience would
indicate that it would be easily adjustable, and could also be a
function of the driver board.
John Allen
>Unfortunately for some of us, there is one glaring misfeature in the NEC
>Multisync Plus -- it doesn't support CGA resolution(s) (including the EGA
>320x200 16-color mode). If you attempt to speed things up, as in by using
>320x200 in some cases (as our smARTWORK product does for the most zoomed-in
>window on your printed-circuit board (4"x2.5")), you are out of luck. You
>are forced to put 640x350 or 640x480 pixels up on the screen, whether your
>users need/desire them or not. The Sony Multiscan apparently supports all
>the resolutions of the NEC Multisync Plus AND supports CGA resolutions also.
Some boards, such as the Everex EVGA provide for this by double scanning.
When the board is set up for "higher resolution" monitors, (the Sony is
used as the example), 400 lines are displayed in 200 line modes. The
19" Multisync XL works very well in this mode, so I would expect the Plus
would as well.
On a separate note, our original Multiscan has been performing well in
800 by 600 mode, even though it's not rated for that resolution. Should
I expect damage to result from this "misuse", or are the claims about
these monitors not working in 800 by 600 mode based purely on the specs?
John Allen
=========================================================================
NetExpress Communications, Inc. uunet!netxcom!jallen
1953 Gallows Road, Suite 300 (703) 749-2238
Vienna, Va., 22180
=========================================================================
john
> On a separate note, our original Multiscan has been performing well in
> 800 by 600 mode, even though it's not rated for that resolution. Should
> I expect damage to result from this "misuse", or are the claims about
> these monitors not working in 800 by 600 mode based purely on the specs?
>
Is this a typo or are you really talking about the Sony MultiScan and
not the Nec MultiSync? I ask because the rest of the article is primarily
about the display resolution of Nec monitors.
john
John Allen
My apologies, it was a typo. I have used two original NEC MultiSync,
JC-1401P3A Monitors quite successfully in 800 by 600 "Enhanced" VGA
mode. I would still welcome speculation as to whether this creates
(internal) voltages or frequencies which may be harmful to the monitor's
electronics.
John Pedersen
battle is that the Multisync Plus will not emulate all the CGA modes. We have
some of both in house and I always wondered why the opening "advertisement"
screen on MS Word and other MS packages will not display correctly on the
Multisync Plus monitors but work fine with the IIs.
--
John.P...@Wichita.NCR.COM
NCR Engineering & Manufacturing
EMC Engineering Wichita KS
316-636-8837
Erik Lindberg
> On a separate note, our original Multiscan has been performing well in
> ^^^^^^^^^
> 800 by 600 mode, even though it's not rated for that resolution. Should
> I expect damage to result from this "misuse", or are the claims about
> these monitors not working in 800 by 600 mode based purely on the specs?
>
One time when IBM got bit (sort of). This is, of course, speculation, but
IBM wanted to come out with a new display for the PS/2 line that would make
people buy True Blue for awhile. They came out with a monitor that had a
scan rate somewhat beyond the spec limit for, say, the Multi-Sync. They
were surprised when they discovered that the Multi-Sync was drastically
under spec'ed due to some brilliant marketer at NEC that created the
inaccurate specs in order to "not confuse the issue".
The rest of this article is not speculation. NEC has officially stated
that the standard Multi-Sync will run the high res modes of the VGA with
no problem. The reason for the Multi-Sync plus (or II) is that IBM put in
a wierd polarity change on the sync pulses to determine what resolution the
monitor should be in. If you use a standard MS monitor, you may need to
adjust the hold circuits when switching modes. If you use the MS-II monitor
you may have sync problems on standard CGA. At least, this is what I have
understood from what I have read.
--
del (Erik Lindberg)
uw-beaver!tikal!pilchuck!del
Michael J. Farren
>This is, of course, speculation, but
>IBM wanted to come out with a new display for the PS/2 line that would make
>people buy True Blue for awhile.
Pretty thin speculation. 640 X 480 (or multiples thereof) is a pretty
standard resolution on many systems these days.
--
Michael J. Farren | "INVESTIGATE your point of view, don't just
{ucbvax, uunet, hoptoad}! | dogmatize it! Reflect on it and re-evaluate
unisoft!gethen!farren | it. You may want to change your mind someday."
gethen!far...@lll-winken.llnl.gov ----- Tom Reingold, from alt.flame
Phil Ritzenthaler
> One thing that I just found out today in the Multisync II and Multisync Plus
> battle is that the Multisync Plus will not emulate all the CGA modes. We have
> some of both in house and I always wondered why the opening "advertisement"
> screen on MS Word and other MS packages will not display correctly on the
> Multisync Plus monitors but work fine with the IIs.
From discussing this with NEC and VGA board manufacturers, the word I have
gotten is that if you want the Plus, make sure that your board can DOUBLE SCAN
in the CGA mode.
I don't know if this is the definitive answer, but maybe it helps . . .