#Monitor Choice?
13 messages in this thread
Am planning to buy a 500. Not sure, though, what type of monitor and video
adapter to specify. What do you think of the 1084S RGB? or a super VGA
(say 800×600 or 1024×768)? Can get super VGA for same or less money.
Thanks.
Mert (Virginia City)
A VGA or SuperVga monitor will not work unless you purchase an A3000, or a
flicker fixer for your amiga (they cost a couple hunderd dollards).
Some multisync monitors will work, the telling sign is wether they have a
scan rate of 15khz.
The 1084S is halfway decent…
–Alan
Russell
Yeah, I see. I also just noticed that the 500 is, well, a low-end machine.
Looks like the 1084S is intened to hook up easily to that machine and if
it's "half-way" decent (I take that to mean "just fine") I'll go that
route.
Thanks.
Mert
Mike: That depends whether you would like to use System 2.0 or the standard
1.3 on your new 500. I do not have the 1084s, but I do have a Sony
KV-1311CR RGB analog monitor, and it has been fabulous. If you're going to
use System 2.0 you MUST have either an analog RGB monitor such as the 1084
or the Sony, or, better yet, a MULTISYNC monitor. A "super VGA" monitor of
the type used in the IBM world will NOT work properly with the Amiga,
except perhaps in "productivity" mode, but 99% of software runs only in
NTSC or PAL scan rates. An MS-DOS VGA monitor cannot support such scan
rates!
—–Dave
Incorrect.
A VGA monitor works fine with flicker fixer equiped amigas in ALL modes.
At least that has been my experience with my CPD-1302 monitor, which is a
multi sysnc, but currently I am usingit in VGA mode.
Of course, I have a 3000…
Also, productivity mode sucks. I use my monitor in hi-res 8 color mode…
Alan: I belive there are quite a few VGA monitors that can work fine with
an Amiga equipped with a flicker fixer, but the monitor must be capable of
at least a 60Hz vertical scan rate. There are many "cheap" (around
$250-300) VGA monitors that are designed to work with VGA scan rates only,
both horizontally and vertically. These would probably not work well on the
Amiga, since the verical rate remains at 60Hz, even though the flicker
fixer increases the horizontal rate to 31kHz.
If course, I may be wrong… <grin>, but I think your monitor, being a
multi-sync, is fully capable of handling the 60hz vertical rate.
BTW, what advantages do you get by running Workbench in the 8 color mode?
The icons all seem to have been designed to work in the 4-color mode.
Perhaps you customize your screen a different color, or have created some
multi-color icons? I, too, have a 3000.
—Dave
Correct. I have made my own color screen, an I have revamed most of the
icons to be 8 color…
–Alan Russell
If you download a program from here called 'iconize', you can turn IFF
images into 2,4,8 or 16 color icons. A nice alternative to using special
'graphics finder' programs for your image libraries, for instance.
One exception.. with a deinterlacer (as in the one included with the
A3000), all modes should work with a VGA monitor except SuperHires /
SuperHires-Interlace. What's more, VGA monitors may not work with the Amiga
at all (deinterlacer, productivity mode or not); I have brought my A3000
into work to display additional 'contracted' jobs for which I billed them
and I assumed the VGA monitors in the office (Packard Bells) would do the
trick. I should have lugged my own monitor along, cause it didn't wanna
work for nothin, no matter how hard I tried to adjust the A3000 or wiggle
cables around. The solution? I called my Amiga dealer down the street and
got a 'loaner' NTSC encoder and used a training TV/VCR for the display.
BTW – I love my 1302 on my A3000, too. :^D Got a Sony TV before the
monitor… Guess Trinitron technology spoiled me.
Alan,
Hooked up my Loop CT 1458 the other day for a test drive. Great picture
after staring at a 1084 for 5 years. And at $369 plus $6 shipping (I'm
less that 100 miles from the wharehouse) it can't be beat. With a
deinteralacer it works in all Amiga modes. Loop Technologies,
1-800-852-0105.
No, I don't work for them.
wmc
Wayne,
thanks for the report! I'll see if I can get one.
Brian
All my "parts" are in now. Cable from Redmond, FFV installed,
switchbox, and standard vga monitor cable to the box from the FFV.
Great display almost edge to edge. With the add width switch set and
the horizontal position adjusted there is about a 2 pixel width on
the middle third of the screen at the edge where the picture tube
bends outward that is not covered by display. You have to look for
it. When I switch to Amiga ouput from the 23 pin RGB, the display's
horisontal position has to be adjusted. A little inconvenient as the
knob to do that is in the back. However, I don't see much reason to
go back to "native" Amiga modes.
Note that I am using WB 1.3.3 with FFV and ECS Denise. I am not
running in oversan or anything weird – just stock Amiga modes with an
FFV.
Redmond cable was a bit expensive. -$42. The switchbox cam from MEI
Micro I think, for $19, the new powercord (the one that comes with it
has two funny ends – you have to get one with a wall plug end) was
$4.95 from Radio shack and the extra VGA cable came from some other
electronics mail order for 9.95.
If you don't want/need Amiga modes, you can skip the switchbox and
the redmond cable.
Bottom line – this display is as good of better in terms of look and
stability than the NEC's I've used at work (3c,4d,and 2a). And at
$369, it is a better deal than a 1950 IMHO.
Wayne,
it does sound like it will fill the bill. I'll add the FFV to my list
of items that are going on order Monday. Since I'm already spending over
$1K for the upgrade to 2.0 and various sundries (MegaChip, Floptical, etc),
I might as well go whole hog. Thanks again for the info.
Brian