Ultrascan 17HS Refresh Rates & Resolution problem
Brian A. Phillips
I just bought a Dell Dimension XPS M200s, with a Dell 17HS monitor (the
Trinitron). My graphics card is the Matrox Millenium with 4 Megs of
memory.
My problem is that I can't get the promised refresh rates with the monitor.
When going to Control Panel / Display, MGA monitor, the Dell Ultrascan is
listed, but I can't change refresh rates unless I select the MGA monitor
option (which lists some Sony Monitors, but I'm not sure which one is the
Dell 17HS). The refresh rate for all resolutions is 75 Hz, which I was
told was on the low end. The monitor should support up to 150 Hz Vertical
refresh, and the Matrox supports up to 200 Hz.
One other thing, I have no option for the 1600x1200 resolution for this
monitor, the highest resolution available is 1280 x 1024
Well, I went to the regular win95 Setting tab in Display properties and
chose the Advanced Settings button, Monitor tab, and changed the monitor
type. Of the other compatible devices, no other Dell or Sony monitor was
available. I clicked show all devices and chose Dell as Manufacturer and
there is an Ultrascan 17HS selection. After choosing this option and
rebooting, I now have the 1600x1200 resolution available in the MGA
settings, but the refresh dropped to 60Hz for all resolutions.
Has anyone else had the same or similar problems? Anyone know what to do?
Oh yeah, the actual physical button on the monitor (where the contrast and
brightness buttons are) that shows on-screen info does not allow me to
select or change the resolution.
Thanks for any and all help.
Brian Phillips
Brian A. Phillips
Just wanted to let everyone know the fix for my situation. Matrox has a
new driver file which I d/l for their website at http://www.matrox.com.
The new drivers include Dell monitor options in the MGA monitor selection
option of Control Panel / Display.
Sean W. Smith
Brian A. Phillips wrote:
>
> I just bought a Dell Dimension XPS M200s, with a Dell 17HS monitor (the
> Trinitron). My graphics card is the Matrox Millenium with 4 Megs of
> memory.
>
> My problem is that I can't get the promised refresh rates with the monitor.
> When going to Control Panel / Display, MGA monitor, the Dell Ultrascan is
> listed, but I can't change refresh rates unless I select the MGA monitor
> option (which lists some Sony Monitors, but I'm not sure which one is the
> Dell 17HS). The refresh rate for all resolutions is 75 Hz, which I was
> told was on the low end. The monitor should support up to 150 Hz Vertical
> refresh, and the Matrox supports up to 200 Hz.
Yes the monitor file your using is out of date. "But, dell shuold ship
the correct file" Yep but the don't. try using the sony SeII, VESA
DDC
or get your manual out and define it using matrox's utility.
Forget about 1600x1200. Completely unusable on 17" display.
>
> One other thing, I have no option for the 1600x1200 resolution for this
> monitor, the highest resolution available is 1280 x 1024
again monitor file.
>
> Well, I went to the regular win95 Setting tab in Display properties and
> chose the Advanced Settings button, Monitor tab, and changed the monitor
> type. Of the other compatible devices, no other Dell or Sony monitor was
> available. I clicked show all devices and chose Dell as Manufacturer and
> there is an Ultrascan 17HS selection. After choosing this option and
> rebooting, I now have the 1600x1200 resolution available in the MGA
> settings, but the refresh dropped to 60Hz for all resolutions.
Again this is not right. use the sony seii or define your own based on
the
specs in the manual. dell will not help you with this.
>
> Has anyone else had the same or similar problems? Anyone know what to do?
yep
>
> Oh yeah, the actual physical button on the monitor (where the contrast and
> brightness buttons are) that shows on-screen info does not allow me to
> select or change the resolution.
I didn't know it was supposed to or have I ever seen a monitor that let
you change resolution. use your matrox utility or quickres.
Sean
--
Sean W. Smith Technical Consultant
sean_...@mindspring.com Netmedia Solutions Inc.
NOTE: New Email Addr. sws...@nando.net -> sean_...@mindspring.com
http://www.mindspring.com/~sean_smith for PGP key and more information
Sean W. Smith
durgin wrote:
>
> Sean W. Smith wrote:
> ...some other info snipped, review thread for full detail...
> >
> > Yes the monitor file your using is out of date. "But, dell shuold ship
> > the correct file" Yep but the don't. try using the sony SeII, VESA
> > DDC
> > or get your manual out and define it using matrox's utility.
>
> morning and max rez was only 1280 * 1024, and I believe 75Hz was fastest
> refresh available.
>
> >
> > Forget about 1600x1200. Completely unusable on 17" display.
>
> GDMSE2t, a.k.a 1726HS, a.k.a. Ultrascan 17TX. It's a subjective matter
> of perspective, vision, usage, and budget. Perspective because things
> are admittedly small (noted in my comments in Martin Sperling's Monitor
> Comparo posted regularly to this NG). Vision because some people can't
> see well enough to work at this resolution all day without eyestrain.
I'm glad you feel you can. Personally I have seen only two 21" monitors
that I could tolerate at this resolution. IBM P201 and Nanao I forget
Most of the other I have seen including my Sony 20, NEX XP21, & Radius
monitors contain one limitation or another. I am glad your eyes are
so forgiving.....
> Usage because some people, like me, are used to giant X-terminals where
> you can run 10 windows at once, all in view. (As I write this I have 8
> open panes.) Budget because the 21" monitors which support the same
> resolution seem to be upwards of 1.5K$
How big is giant. 20" We have lots xterms that run at 1280x1024. I have
yet
to see one run 1600x1200.
>
> I work at 1600 * 1200 typically for 10 hours per day with no problem.
> Oh, and even though the refresh rate is only 60 Hz there's no visible
> flicker. Must be clean viewing habits; I'm not subscribed to any of
more likekly high persistance phosphors........
> the alt.sex.with.aliens.octopeds type NGs ;->
>
> >
> > Sean
> >
> > --
> > Sean W. Smith Technical Consultant
> > sean_...@mindspring.com Netmedia Solutions Inc.
> >
> > NOTE: New Email Addr. sws...@nando.net -> sean_...@mindspring.com
> >
> > http://www.mindspring.com/~sean_smith for PGP key and more information
>
> --
> ___________________________________________________________________
> | |
> | dur...@world.std.com dur...@durgin.net |
> | http://www.durgin.net |
> | Durgin & Associates System Development |
> |_________________________________________________________________|
Robert Wallace
Brian A. Phillips (arco...@worldnet.att.net) wrote:
: Just wanted to let everyone know the fix for my situation. Matrox has a
: new driver file which I d/l for their website at http://www.matrox.com.
: The new drivers include Dell monitor options in the MGA monitor selection
: option of Control Panel / Display.
I just installed that new driver file and now there are *no*
Dell montiors in the MGA Monitor tab. There appear to be a
few new Dell's in the Microsoft Settings/Advanced/Monitor
listing, however.
Is this the section you're talking about?
Robert Wallace
rob...@netcom.com
durgin
Sean W. Smith wrote:
...some other info snipped, review thread for full detail...
>
> Yes the monitor file your using is out of date. "But, dell shuold ship
> the correct file" Yep but the don't. try using the sony SeII, VESA
> DDC
> or get your manual out and define it using matrox's utility.
This appears to be accurate. Just set up another XPS Pro200n this
morning and max rez was only 1280 * 1024, and I believe 75Hz was fastest
refresh available.
>
> Forget about 1600x1200. Completely unusable on 17" display.
No offense Sean, but this is baloney. Works quite nicely on my Sony
GDMSE2t, a.k.a 1726HS, a.k.a. Ultrascan 17TX. It's a subjective matter
of perspective, vision, usage, and budget. Perspective because things
are admittedly small (noted in my comments in Martin Sperling's Monitor
Comparo posted regularly to this NG). Vision because some people can't
see well enough to work at this resolution all day without eyestrain.
Usage because some people, like me, are used to giant X-terminals where
you can run 10 windows at once, all in view. (As I write this I have 8
open panes.) Budget because the 21" monitors which support the same
resolution seem to be upwards of 1.5K$
I work at 1600 * 1200 typically for 10 hours per day with no problem.
Oh, and even though the refresh rate is only 60 Hz there's no visible
flicker. Must be clean viewing habits; I'm not subscribed to any of
Brad Konopik
Brian A. Phillips wrote:
>
> Oh yeah, the actual physical button on the monitor (where the contrast and
> brightness buttons are) that shows on-screen info does not allow me to
> select or change the resolution.
Brian -- does the 17HS's on-screen info show the refresh rates (vertical
and horizontal) ? (BTW, as Sean Smith said, I don't think you can adjust
the refresh rates with the buttons). Thanks.
--
internet: kon...@austin.ibm.com | Brad Konopik
uunet: uunet!austin.ibm.com!konopik | IBM AIX Technical Support
ibmvnet: KONOPIK at AUSTIN | Austin, Texas
Brian A. Phillips
Brad,
Yes it does show them. I got confused reading the manual for the 17HS. As
stated before I now get all the possible resolution choices.
Also, I can change the refresh rates now that I have the Dell 1726T-HS
selected from MGA Monitor tab (using MGA Monitor "selection") - I simply go
to the Properties button on the same screen and highlight the resolution
for which I want to adjust the refresh. When I do this and up the
resolution beyond the highest default of 85VESA, (hit "details" button to
adjust beyond defaults), I am prompted to save the new options as a monitor
- is that what is supposed to happen??
One other question: I hear a lot about damaging monitors from using too
high refresh rates... I don't really know that much about it, but I've
heard a higher refresh is better for the eyes. Now, if my monitor supports
up to 150Hz vertical.. why shouldn't I be able to go to 150?? One of the
Dell tech reps said, "It's like buying a sports car that can do 200mph,,,
just because it can go that fast, you don't want to run it that fast all
the time". Well, I own a janitorial service, and if I buy a 1500 rpm
burnisher, it had better go 1500 and not 750.
Am I whacked??
I spoke to 5 Dell tech reps on this issue... The 4th was a "damage control"
guy that I was transferred to when I informed Dell I'd be returning my
computer and monitor (the Kiss-Butt Department),,, this guy promised to
have an experienced tech rep call me back... well, that didn't happen. I
called the KBD guy back and left a voice mail, informing I was still
waiting,,, and again, I am still waiting - "nothing outlasts the Dell
resolution time".
The 5th person was a result of my initiative... again, no help.
Now, having said that,,, I'm trying to put myself in Dell's shoes.... I
realize the position they're in, and I know they are working to fix it. A
friend of mine just bought the same system I did, and the CD ROM drive was
bad - he called them in the evening and they had someone at his house at
10:00am the next day. Now THAT's support!
Brian
PS. My resolution of choice is 1024x768 at 16bit,,, would like to run at,
say 100 or 120 Hz vertical.... what's best for my eyes?
Robert Wallace
Brian A. Phillips (arco...@worldnet.att.net) wrote:
[snip]
: A friend of mine just bought the same system I did, and the CD ROM drive was
: bad - he called them in the evening and they had someone at his house at
: 10:00am the next day. Now THAT's support!
: Brian
Re: the bad CD-ROM drive: I get the feeling that there must be a service
bulletin out on the 12x drives. The company I work for received 4 new
Dells and 2 had very flaky CD-ROM drives. 30 seconds after I reached
a Dell Tech rep (how long that took is a different thread) a field service
tech was scheduled to come out and replace them. No questions asked (except
for the Service Tag numbers).
The field tech said that he'd been replacing a *lot* of those drives.
Robert Wallace
rob...@netcom.com
Robert Wallace
Robert Wallace (rob...@netcom.com) wrote:
: Brian A. Phillips (arco...@worldnet.att.net) wrote:
: : Just wanted to let everyone know the fix for my situation. Matrox has a
: Robert Wallace
: rob...@netcom.com
To followup my own followup...
I went back and reinstalled the new drivers. This time I let the install
program wipe out my custom monitor settings and now I have all the Dell
monitors (well, a bunch... My old 15" monitor is not in the list)
It seems if you have custom monitor settings, the install program notices
this and lets you decide to keep them. If you do, it doesn't actually
preserve them, it just doesn't copy in the new monitor file. Oh well.
I did remember to write down all my customized settings and created
a new "custom" monitor and am back to normal.
Robert Wallace
rob...@netcom.com
AAD
How about NT4?
I could not find a way to let the system know what the monitor is
cabable of.
I have the dell Ultra scan 17TX with the Reality332.
the card is supposed to be cabable of handling up to 120 Hz
The monitor can support up to 150 Hz ( vertical refresh ).
The display property shows refresh rate of up to only
85 Hz.
Is there a way to get the 120 Hz, both the card and monitor cabable of?
How could one add to the list of the refresh rate frequencies?
Thanks for your time.
Aziz
li...@mail.utexas.edu