Sync-on-green circuit? GDM-20D11 etc
Andy Mac
somehow failed. Several ideas suggest that it can be used with a PC. I tried
this and managed to get it to go 70Hz at 1024x768 with a passive circuit
using 1 transistor, a couple of resistors and a capacitor to generate sync
on green. I cant get 1280x1024 though (as the manual states is possible,
although maybe at 60 Hz). Has anyone managed to do this? What was the
solution?
Also, to get low res modes, 800x600 or 600x480, I have seen where people
have foxed Windows into thinking it has these modes, whilst it actually has
a small window within a higher res oultine (with extended porches etc). This
was with a Matrox card though, which had a handy file with all the timings
available to adjust (maybe I have missed one for my card? I have a Prophet
DDR)
I had a look at a program called powerstrip (thanks to 'BJ' for the
recommendation), but was unable to adjust the values for front and back
porch manually. Any ideas on this one would be welcome too.
I haven't tried to solve these problems with Linux yet; I guess that would
let me tweak the modeline to work for low resolution, but the signal problem
for high res would still be there. Maybe my circuit is too messy; must get a
smaller soldering iron! Hmmm.
Thanks for reading,
Andrew
G Douglas
Andy Mac wrote:
>
> I have rescued a GDM-20D11 from a skip at work since the Indy it came with
> somehow failed. Several ideas suggest that it can be used with a PC. I tried
> this and managed to get it to go 70Hz at 1024x768 with a passive circuit
> using 1 transistor, a couple of resistors and a capacitor to generate sync
> on green. I cant get 1280x1024 though (as the manual states is possible,
> although maybe at 60 Hz). Has anyone managed to do this? What was the
> solution?
Since you appear to be handy with a soldering iron, you may want to
try an internal modification of the 20D11 monitor. I don't know for
certain, but some of the other GDM series (specifically GDM17E11)
have the connector for separate H and V sync available on one of
the internal PCBoards. Yes, inside the monitor. Amongst all those
nasty, lethal voltages that can kill you. But, hey, you're a
professional, right? The modification involves soldering wires to
the H and V signals, and then bringing out a regular PeeCee HD15
(SVGA) connector to the outside of the box. Guaranteed to void
your warranty, not guaranteed to work, but might be worth a try.
Look for the links at the bottom of the Indytech page at:
http://www.reputable.com/indytech.html
And.... be careful in there!
--
---------------------------
Greg Douglas
Reputable Systems
http://www.reputable.com
ma...@tapir.uwaterloo.ca
The 13W3 connector has only the RGB connected to the inside of the monitor.
If anyone gets the 20D11 do sync, please send me Email.
Thanks,
Richard
Bob Myers
ma...@tapir.uwaterloo.ca wrote in message ...
>I'm not sure the Sony 20D11 can do separate sync.
>The 13W3 connector has only the RGB connected to the inside of the monitor.
>If anyone gets the 20D11 do sync, please send me Email.
Many of the Sonys of this vintage can do separate sync
ONLY if a sync separator board (usually, the "M" board in
Sony's board-naming scheme) is present. Many
manufacturers who used this monitor in sync-on-green
applications (like workstations, which is undoubtedly where
a 13W3-equipped monitor was originally used) didn't
get the "M" board in their monitors, since it was useless
to them.
Bob M.
>
>Thanks,
> Richard
Michael Anderson
> I have rescued a GDM-20D11 from a skip at work since the Indy it came with
> somehow failed. Several ideas suggest that it can be used with a PC. I tried
> this and managed to get it to go 70Hz at 1024x768 with a passive circuit
> using 1 transistor, a couple of resistors and a capacitor to generate sync
> on green. I cant get 1280x1024 though (as the manual states is possible,
> although maybe at 60 Hz). Has anyone managed to do this? What was the
> solution?
Is there any chance you could post this wee circuit? (eg. as jpg, gif,
etc?)
- Michael A.
Alexis Cousein
> Many
> manufacturers who used this monitor in sync-on-green
> applications (like workstations, which is undoubtedly where
> a 13W3-equipped monitor was originally used) didn't
> get the "M" board in their monitors, since it was useless
> to them.
>
IIRC, most DM20s SGI shipped have H- and V-sync circuits, even the
flavours with only a 13W3 externally -- but I haven't opened them all
;).
--
<standard disclaimer: these are my personal views, not SGI's>
Alexis Cousein a...@brussels.sgi.com
Systems Engineer SGI Belgium
Alexis Cousein
It can. Signals are not brought out on the 13W3 only flavours, but
they're inside.
Michael Pichler
> Andy Mac wrote:
> > I have rescued a GDM-20D11 from a skip at work since the Indy it came with
> > somehow failed. Several ideas suggest that it can be used with a PC. I tried
> > this and managed to get it to go 70Hz at 1024x768 with a passive circuit
> > using 1 transistor, a couple of resistors and a capacitor to generate sync
> > on green. I cant get 1280x1024 though (as the manual states is possible,
> > although maybe at 60 Hz). Has anyone managed to do this? What was the
> > solution?
>
> try an internal modification of the 20D11 monitor. I don't know for
> certain, but some of the other GDM series (specifically GDM17E11)
Same problem for me -- wishing to connect an SGI monitor to a PC. Not
even sure about the actual type of the monitor (all I have is a model
no. CM2198MSG and a serial no. G5L004007 on its back side) and not
very familiar with soldering. Are there any ready-to-buy cables or
adapters that connect/convert VGA with separate sync to 13W3 with
sync-on-green?
... Otherwise I'd rather choose an appopriate PC graphics card that is
able to deliver sync-on-green. Any recommendations? Especially one
with good OpenGL acceleration would be desired, but it seems that
RivaTNT chip based cards do not work.
Thanks a lot in advance for any help,
Michael
--
| DI Michael Pichler ______ mailto:m.pi...@qbvision.com |
| qbVISION ~) / / http://www.arcitec.com/ |
| Annenstr. 29 / / 4D people/mpi.html |
| A-8020 Graz, SimpleUniverse Tel. +43/316/763011-0 |
Michael Pichler - a chic hell PriMe ~) ARCiTEC now qbVISION
Emmanuel Florac
>
> Same problem for me -- wishing to connect an SGI monitor to a PC. Not
> even sure about the actual type of the monitor (all I have is a model
> no. CM2198MSG and a serial no. G5L004007 on its back side) and not
> very familiar with soldering. Are there any ready-to-buy cables or
> adapters that connect/convert VGA with separate sync to 13W3 with
> sync-on-green?
>
> ... Otherwise I'd rather choose an appopriate PC graphics card that is
> able to deliver sync-on-green. Any recommendations? Especially one
> with good OpenGL acceleration would be desired, but it seems that
> RivaTNT chip based cards do not work.
you cannot get sync-on-green with a cable, but many Matrox cards may
provide it.
--
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Emmanuel Florac | Atelier Sud Video
Integration Engineer | 39-41 Bd du général Martial Valin
mailto:efl...@asv-europe.com | 75015 PARIS
http://www.asv-europe.com | phone: 33 153982333 fax: 33 153982368
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hamish
Emmanuel Florac <efl...@mail.dotcom.fr> wrote in message
news:38BE595B...@mail.dotcom.fr...
> Michael Pichler a écrit :
> >
> > Same problem for me -- wishing to connect an SGI monitor to a PC. Not
> > even sure about the actual type of the monitor (all I have is a model
> > no. CM2198MSG and a serial no. G5L004007 on its back side) and not
> > very familiar with soldering. Are there any ready-to-buy cables or
> > adapters that connect/convert VGA with separate sync to 13W3 with
> > sync-on-green?
> >
> > ... Otherwise I'd rather choose an appopriate PC graphics card that is
> > able to deliver sync-on-green. Any recommendations? Especially one
> > with good OpenGL acceleration would be desired, but it seems that
> > RivaTNT chip based cards do not work.
>
> you cannot get sync-on-green with a cable, but many Matrox cards may
> provide it.
With my old Matrox Millnium I , the tool Powerstrip offers this option, yes.
You could try DL-ing this tool and check whether this option is enabled.
Hamish
M.C.D. Roos
> > even sure about the actual type of the monitor (all I have is a model
> > no. CM2198MSG and a serial no. G5L004007 on its back side) and not
> > very familiar with soldering. Are there any ready-to-buy cables or
> > adapters that connect/convert VGA with separate sync to 13W3 with
> > sync-on-green?
> >
> > ... Otherwise I'd rather choose an appopriate PC graphics card that is
> > able to deliver sync-on-green. Any recommendations? Especially one
> > with good OpenGL acceleration would be desired, but it seems that
> > RivaTNT chip based cards do not work.
>
> you cannot get sync-on-green with a cable, but many Matrox cards may
> provide it.
You can get sync-on-green with a cable, on any video-card. Basically it means you
mix the two sync signals with the green signal in an external device. Very simple
stuff, look at www.repairfaq.org for a circuit... I thought even using BNC
T-connectors works...
I've built one of these a while ago and they work quite well...
Michiel
--
Do-it-yourself 3D-stereo for SGI: http://huizen.dds.nl/~roosmcd
Bob Myers
M.C.D. Roos wrote in message <38BE8BE2...@dds.nl>...
>You can get sync-on-green with a cable, on any video-card. Basically it
means you
>mix the two sync signals with the green signal in an external device. Very
simple
>stuff, look at www.repairfaq.org for a circuit... I thought even using BNC
>T-connectors works...
>I've built one of these a while ago and they work quite well...
I think what was meant here is that you couldn't turn
separate syncs into sync-on-green using ONLY a
cable (i.e., no active devices between output and
monitor), and that IS correct. You do NOT want
to simply connect the syncs together with the
green video via a T connector or some such
arrangement.
Bob M.
Brian Nixon
> model no. CM2198MSG and a serial no. G5L004007 on its back side)
It's made by Hitachi, if that's any help. There's some basic information
about Hitachi models CM2198-51[134] at
http://www.hitachidisplays.com/support/discnt.htm. I'm not sure whether the
SGI-branded box is exactly the same as any of those, though.
The SGI manual gives its model number as D-M21G.
Cheers,
Brian.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Brian Nixon Alenia Marconi Systems
Graduate Engineer Stockport, United Kingdom
brian...@gecm.com www.aleniamarconisystems.com
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Vette
G Douglas wrote in message <38AA45F3...@reputable.com>...
>
>
>Andy Mac wrote:
>>
>> I have rescued a GDM-20D11 from a skip at work since the Indy it came
with
>> somehow failed. Several ideas suggest that it can be used with a PC. I
tried
>> this and managed to get it to go 70Hz at 1024x768 with a passive circuit
>> using 1 transistor, a couple of resistors and a capacitor to generate
sync
>> on green. I cant get 1280x1024 though (as the manual states is possible,
>> although maybe at 60 Hz). Has anyone managed to do this? What was the
>> solution?
>
>Since you appear to be handy with a soldering iron, you may want to
>try an internal modification of the 20D11 monitor. I don't know for
>certain, but some of the other GDM series (specifically GDM17E11)
>the internal PCBoards. Yes, inside the monitor. Amongst all those
>nasty, lethal voltages that can kill you. But, hey, you're a
>professional, right? The modification involves soldering wires to
>the H and V signals, and then bringing out a regular PeeCee HD15
>(SVGA) connector to the outside of the box. Guaranteed to void
>your warranty, not guaranteed to work, but might be worth a try.
>Look for the links at the bottom of the Indytech page at:
>http://www.reputable.com/indytech.html
>And.... be careful in there!
>--
>---------------------------
>Greg Douglas
>Reputable Systems
>http://www.reputable.com
I too fell over a cheap GDM20D11 so I was pleased to see these messages.
I am not very Techo so I wont be frying myself by modifying the monitor but
i will pass Andy's tif
someone who might be game.
I noticed the 90 dollar US Cable on the reputable site
http://www.reputable.com/sgilist.html#monitors
entitled
"13W3-HD15 adapter, sync on green adapter, 6' HD15 cable. $90. Picture
This will allow you to use an SGI sync on green monitor (with a 13W3
connector)
with a PeeCee. "
Could it be this simple ? I Dont wanna buy one if there is some weird nuance
in the D11 that
would make it not work. Any one offer any assistance ?
TIA
Paul
G Douglas
Vette wrote:
>
> I too fell over a cheap GDM20D11 so I was pleased to see these messages.
> I am not very Techo so I wont be frying myself by modifying the monitor but
> i will pass Andy's tif
> someone who might be game.
>
> I noticed the 90 dollar US Cable on the reputable site
> http://www.reputable.com/sgilist.html#monitors
> entitled
>
> "13W3-HD15 adapter, sync on green adapter, 6' HD15 cable. $90. Picture
> This will allow you to use an SGI sync on green monitor (with a 13W3
> connector)
> with a PeeCee. "
>
> Could it be this simple ? I Dont wanna buy one if there is some weird nuance
> in the D11 that
> would make it not work. Any one offer any assistance ?
A GDM20D11 works just fine at 1024x768 and 1280x1024. Many do not work
at 800x600, and most (but not all) do not work at 640x4x0. So,
they will work once you get Xwindows or Winbloze up and running at
the higher resolution, but they will probably NOT work at the DOS
bootup screen which is 640x400.
Many people have returned these cable/adapters because they thought
their brand new GDM20d11 would work at all resolutions, DC to light.
Such is not the case. The specs of the GDM20D11 (and I quote from
the GDM20D11 user manual):
Resolution, Horizontal Max: 1280 dots, Vertical Max: 1024 lines
Deflection Frequency, Horiz: 48 to 82 KHz, Vert: 50 to 150 Hz.
Note that "Horiz. Deflection Frequency - 48 to 82 KHz.". Also note
that 640x480 DOS bootup resolution on a generic PeeCee video card
is something under 31 KHz.
I _HAVE_ seen _SOME_ GDM20D11s work at this frequency, but not many.
Mark Albee
SGI 13pin to db9. But I have not gotten it to work yet. I had hoped that this
connector would make the swap possible. I get no display and the monitor keeps
going into stand by. I am trying to use a GDM-17e11 on my PC since my Indy power
supply blew. I wanted to use it till I can find a used supply.
Andy Mac wrote:
> I have rescued a GDM-20D11 from a skip at work since the Indy it came with
> somehow failed. Several ideas suggest that it can be used with a PC. I tried
> this and managed to get it to go 70Hz at 1024x768 with a passive circuit
> using 1 transistor, a couple of resistors and a capacitor to generate sync
> on green. I cant get 1280x1024 though (as the manual states is possible,
> although maybe at 60 Hz). Has anyone managed to do this? What was the
> solution?
>
Kyle Brant
you'll get a wealth of info on what is possible with these monitors. I have
an older HP A1097C (1280x1024 72 hz refresh fixed freq. monitor) running on
a g200 based matrox board, where the monitor timings are manually editable
via the mga.mon file settings. I don't have any sync'ed video until windows
loads, so a spare monitor is required for some setup operations, but it's
great to have a 20 inch monitor for next to nothing (in fact, it did cost me
nothing as a friend gave it to me). I did have to make a sync-on-green
circuit and attach that to the g200 video board bracket. I don't think any
other video board manufacturer provides a monitor timing file like Matrox
uses.
--
Best regards,
Kyle
remove --s.p.a.m.m.e.n.o.t.-- from email address to reply
Kyle Brant Software Homepage:
http://msnhomepages.talkcity.com/CerfSt/kylesb/
Mark Albee wrote in message <39341461...@osu.edu>...
xander
> I have bought an SGI adapter from Black Box that converts the monitor cable from
> SGI 13pin to db9. But I have not gotten it to work yet. I had hoped that this
> connector would make the swap possible. I get no display and the monitor keeps
> going into stand by. I am trying to use a GDM-17e11 on my PC since my Indy power
> supply blew. I wanted to use it till I can find a used supply.
You need 1) proper cabling 2) correct video-timings 3) sync-on-green
sync-on-green is supported by most Matrox cards (needs some software
tweaking), proper cabling can be soldered or bought (expensive),
videotimings are available at monitor.com.
All this and lots more are available in the SGI faq.
good luck,
xander