#1960 monitor/4000 woes
14 messages in this thread
The college at which I teach has just purchased an Amiga 4000/030 and a
Commodore 1960 monitor. Can anybody tell me how to obtain a full screen
interlaced high-res display with this combination? I've tried using Double
Pal and I am left with a large gap (around two inches) on the left hand
side of the screen. This gap is always present and cannot be removed by
changing the horizontal phase control on the monitor. The company that
sold the machine say that this is normal for the combination of monitor
and computer, but surely this cannot be the case? If this is so, I would
have been better off with a 1084 – at least it has speakers.
Any suggestions gratefully received.
Thanks
John A.
On AutoPilot all the way from the U.K.
John,
I'm afraid that in Dblpal (or DBLNTSC, for that matter) you are not going
to fill the screen…or at least I haven't done it on my NEC 3D.
However, you CAN center your screen(s) so there's an inch or so on each
side.
Go to Prefs/overscan. Select regular (lo res PAL, and center up your
screen using the box AND your monitor controls, if necessary. Your screen
WILL be filled to all 4 sides. Choose whatever degree of overscan suits
you for both graphics and text.
Now, select DBLPAL, and using the on-screen drag boxes ONLY (don't touch
the monitor controls) center up your screens.
Repeat for any other resolutions you regularly use.
DO NOT HIT THE SAVE button until you are done with ALL of the above.
From then on your DBLPal screens should at least be centered (and much
more aesthetically pleasing).
Hope this helps.
P.S. Even if you could fill up the screens side to side, it would be
unusable grey area. Your workbench et al would still be the same size.
Gary
on AutoPilot from Charlotte, NC
Gary,
Thanks, I'll try that method out. Aesthetics is what it's all about and I
really object to asking the college to pay out for the 1960 and then not
being able to use it properly.
Thanks for your time….
regards,
John A.
On AutoPilot all the way from the U.K.
If you know anyone with a 1942, there should be updated monitor files which
allow you to get close to full screen after you tweak screenmode and overscan
settings. You will also need to set V.SIZE to auto and WIDTH to add on your
1960.
Bob
John (Robert, et al),
I use the A1960 with my A2000 (plus PP&S '040) and get fullscreen with NO
borders. There IS a penalty, however.
On the 1960, set V-SIZE to MANU(al) and WIDTH to ADD(itional ?). This
will force the gun sweep to fill up the ENTIRE viewable screen. The
penalty, is that the screen brightness will be reduced, and in some
occassions, usually with WB, I have noticed some darker spots on the
screen.
For my WB, I run an NTSC Super Hi-Res Interlaced display mode (BTW – I
ALSO have the CBM "flicker fixer" since any of the Interlaced modes
flicker a lot), with a size of 2000 x 640. The visible portion is 1380 x
472. This allows me to open and work with many more windows by using the
overscan area, so I don't have to "punch" all of the windows into just the
visible screen area.
V-SIZE set to AUTO(matic) forces a border at the top and the bottom.
WIDTH set to NOR(mal) forces a border on the sides. If total screen
brightness is not a problem, then changing V-SIZE to MANU(al) and WIDTH to
ADD(itional ?) will give you what you want (you may need to adjust H.PHASE
to center your WB, though).
If screen brightness is a major concern, then DON'T change V-SIZE or
WIDTH, and try to manually center the screen(s) as much as possible.
Real World:southern Illinois,USA Internet:ca0008 at siucvmb.siu.edu
Due to hardware changes, the maximum overscan widths are a bit lower on a 1200
or 4000. The 1960 will almost fill the screen when set as described on these
machines.
I wonder if the 1942 will do any better than the 1960 on an A1200/A4000,
for a "full screen" ?
Real World:southern Illinois,USA Internet:ca0008 at siucvmb.siu.edu
I don't know. I did visit a friend who has a 1200 and a NEC3D. He had
some utility that allowed all sorts of adjustments to the image. He
had stretched the 3Ds image a bit so it better fit the display. Since
the utility is messing with the sync rate, I am not sure how safe
such an approach is. I know that some graphics card mfgs publish dire
warnings about operating monitors outside of their range…
Robert,
Hmmm – I don't know that much about the specifics of trying to override
H/W design/limitations via S/W, but your "word of caution" via your friend
"playing" with the NEC3D's scanning capabilities via a utility, is good to
know about. thanks.
Real World:southern Illinois,USA Internet:ca0008 at siucvmb.siu.edu
Jim,
Thanks for that full and detailed description of the set-up procedure.
I've printed it out and will take it in to the college on my next visit.
I'll let you know how I progress.
Regards,
John A.
On AutoPilot all the way from the U.K.
John,
OK – note that somebody else mentioned that with an A4000 that you might
not be able to fill up the full screen due to some H/W changes somewhere
along the line, but even still – you should be able to reduce the
unsightly border.
Real World:southern Illinois,USA Internet:ca0008 at siucvmb.siu.edu
Jim,
Thanks. I've got a reasonable display now, but I'm waiting for the new
monitor drivers to see if that makes a difference.
Regards,
John A.
On AutoPilot all the way from the U.K.
John,
If the new monitor drivers DO make a subtantial difference, I (and
everyone else here) would SURE like to know. thanks.
Real World:southern Illinois,USA Internet:ca0008 at siucvmb.siu.edu
Robert,
Thanks for the information. I will try to get the new screen drivers and
improve on what I already have achieved.
Regards,
John A.
On AutoPilot all the way from the U.K.