#Matrox MGA board?
25 messages in this thread
John,
>> The MGA II series is around $500, and is super fast but lacks 3D hardware.
<<
YES, by stripping the overhead of the Gouraud shading, etc. they were able to
"squeeze" a few million more WINMarks from them. What this means to the real
world I don't know.
Another benefit of the new MGAII line is that the 2+ model can be purchased
with 2MB VRAM and upgraded to 4MB later (user installable). I agree that the
MGAII line is THE choice for anyone that spends alot of time at high color
depths in Windows.
>> There is a PRO model with more memory, but I think it's only for greater
24bit resolution in Windows. <<
The PRO version (4.5Mb VRAM and optional 4Mb DRAM Z-Buffer) is specifically
designed for 24-BIT resolutions, and can do 24-Bit at 1280 x 1024!
Pushing may way in after a couple days off,
Chuck
Is there a PCI board that will do 1280x1024x24? I've been using the Viper,
which is a nice board, but the limitation to 8 bits in 1280×1024 sucks.
If Matrox doesn't have one out now, I'm sure they will soon. They had
planned to release all their MGA cards in PCI form, and that would
include the MGA Impression Pro. I can do 1280×1024 at 16bits (as can
the MGA II), but that's not good enough anymore <g>. With my little
15" monitor 1280 gets a little out of hand, though. I've been
meaning to get a bigger monitor, but I'm going to wait untill I get a
DEC XL, because you said the DEC monitor was nicer than your NEC…
do you still like it that much?
John Tissavary (La Luna cie)
>> DEC monitor was nicer than your NEC… do you still like it that
>> much?
Yes I do. It's a great monitor and I only use it in 1280×1024. The
image is by far sharper than my 21" NEC even though is just a 16"
monitor. When I ordered it I chose the 16" thinking I would just put
my NEC and have the 16" as a second monitor for my older 486. It
turned out I did the other way around.
I have read in PC Magazine that Matrox came out with a PCI version of
its MGA cards but I'm a bit scared of these "foreign" companies. I
feel you're somewhat left in a limbo when it comes to support. Not
that you would be better off otherwise but if I can avoid it… You
yourself have complained about lack of drivers and problems like
that. I suffered enough with that FAST board to learn that the
attitude toward "customers" is quite different outside this country.
It feels like I'm doing them a favor when I buy their stuff and they
will give support only if they feel like working that "week".
I need a PCI board capable of doing 1280x1024x24 in Windows, drivers
for 3D Studio, drivers for NT, VESA drivers for DOS and able to
display 132×43 in DOS text mode. If such a thing exist I will send
the money tomorrow for it…
It might be fun for you to give Super Mac a call. I recently talked
to a tech support guy there and although he couldn't say anything
about PCI but he left me with the feeling that we could expect
something soon. What is curious about Super Mac is that although
they probably have the best Windows drivers they have ignored the
1280×1024 resolution, opting for some strange two page display size
of 1152×870 but 24bit. Check the Feb 94 BYTE. The thing about the
Spectrum line is that it doesn't do VGA. You have to use a separate
card for VGA and connect it with a feature connector. At least these
folks speak english and not Canadian. <g>
I see that Zenon is advertising PCI bus systems with the PCI Matrox
64-bit MGA-II with 2Mb (only 2Mb sounds a little suspect) board in
them, Pentium for $3275. Might be worth talking to them. Tech
support 800 229-7898.
Michael B.
Miachael:
The 1152×870 resolution corresponds to a 72 dpi (I think) screen resolution –
which seems to be optimal for publishing.
Evan
The DEC monitor is actually a Taxan. They are no longer imported under the
Taxan name, but I agree – great monitor. I have one on my desk.
Actually, the NEC 6FGP can be as sharp as the Taxan – provided you get a good
unit (they vary somehwat), and run it at 1600×1200 pixels.
Evan
>> Actually, the NEC 6FGP can be as sharp as the Taxan – provided you
>> get a good unit (they vary somehwat), and run it at 1600×1200 pixels.
Mine doesn't have the "P". It's just 6FG. The image seems dimmer and it's
almost impossible to get the edges right. They always converge (barrel) and it
looks pretty bad. I called NEC (a long while ago) and they said I could send
it over for "adjusting". The fact it weights more than a grand piano (I would
have to pay freight and insurance round trip) compounded with not having a
monitor for a week or so made be leave it alone for the time being… Simple
procrastination.
I have a 5D, a 4D a a couple of 3D's. They all work great. Just this big white
elephant isn't that great.
I don't have the monitor in front of me, but to adjust the barrel:
There are two diamond-shaped arrays of buttons on the front of the
monitor. Press the top button on the right array while holding down
the degauss button. The LED light at the left will begin to blink.
Now, the bottom buttons on either diamon shaped array will control
barrel/pincushion. Once you get it set right, while holding the
degauss button, press either the right or top (I forget which) button
on the right diamond array, and the LED will stop blinking.
Regards the image brightness, do you have a monitor lens for the unit? It will
increase contrast markedly. (If you don't have one, I have a spare I'd be
willing to barter.)
BTW – the "P" unit has the antiglare built in.
Evan
Evan,
He, he, he… Like I haven't tried everything already… <g> I don't
remember messing around with the degauss button however, but I might
have as I remember dealing with barrel/pincushion controls. To better
describe it, it seemed like I was playing with a spline control
trying to make it straight. Problem was it went from 30 to -30 and
never "parked" close to 0 (degrees). As it is, it's "almost" perfect.
It only shows when in Windows as you have this bright white screen
with the [void] black border. It somewhat matches as my entire
Windows screen looks something like a fat cat or an 'ole beer belly.
Both quite related to Windoze… <g>
The NEC guy said something about the "coil" being misaligned. Don't ask me. I
might, one of these days, send it over. In fact, if I wait long enough, I might
get something better. The last (and only) time I sent a monitor back to NEC (a
Multisync I) they sent me a brand new 3D back.
Regarding the monitor lens, yes I have it. Thanks for the offer. NEC was giving
it away when I got this thing (they started charging right after that). Note
that this isn't really bad, it's just that when compared with this Digital, the
Digital looks better. I was very happy with the 6FG 'till I saw this guy.
Sounds like your NEC is broken.
Evan
Evan,
As the one that has seen most of the large format monitors, where
would you put the IDEK 8621 in this spectrum? We have a demo model
here on a 3MB MGA board with 1600 x 1200 support and I can't imagine
anything getting much better! This thing is CRISP!
Chuck
Chuck:
The IDEK Vision Master MF-8621 is one of the nicest monitors I've ever
reviewed. I have its baby brother (the 8521) on one of my home computers.
Evan
Evan,
I have an 8421 and 8621 at work and was wondering how the 8521 compares to the
8621. These things are all so close in price and features, sometimes it's a
toss-up. Wonderful digital controls across the board though!
Chuck
Chuck:
I had an 8621, but had to send it back. The 8521 has the same specs, but uses
a 0.28mm pitch tube instead of a 0.26mm pitch tube.
Evan
I have found Matrox's support to be more than excellent. When I was having
driver problems with R2 I called them and they re-worked the drivers, called me
on the phone the minute they were ready (32 hours), and uploaded them on their
BBS for me. The Windows driver is the best I've ever used. Now that the MGA
will be supported by Vibrant, the 3DS R3 driver issue is more or less moot, but
it won't be ready for a couple more weeks, I guess.
I really, really, really recommend the Matrox MGA's. I think they're
the best cards out there, and are faster with greater 24bit
resolution than the SuperMac. SuperMac is really dedicated to DTP
that I don't think they would be as competetive in other areas. I
don't think their cards are supported by Vibrant, but don't know for
sure.
There are NT driver for the MGA series. I think you should give Kim Pallister
a call up at Matrox, and tell him about your hardware needs. They are very
responsive.
John Tissavary (La Luna cie)
Do they [Matrox] have a forum here? Which model would give me 1280x1024x24?
(That's almost 4meg worth of video memory). Who carries it?
Gus – PMFJI… Matrox's "Forum" is Section 16 of the Graphics B Vendor Forum
(GO GRAPHBVEN).
Dave
>Do they [Matrox] have a forum here? Which model would give me 1280x1024x24?
>(That's almost 4meg worth of video memory). Who carries it?
Yes, they have forum here (CIS:MATROX). Today I received two Matrox Impresison
PRO cards (1280x1024x24, 4.5MB VRAM, 4MB RAM as Z-buffer for realtime
rendering, VL bus version). Two hours ago, I finished the installation of this
card to my machine. This card is really GREAT !!! I tried Windows (Photoshop,
Pstyler) and ACAD. The performance is excellent and the whole system seems
stable. The (near) realtime shading and rotations in ACAD are fantastic. If you
want to buy, write to Chuck Mies. I received these cards from him.
Bye PavelK
BTW, the fact that I have this card is the result of John's advice. Thank you
JohnT
Pavel,
Glad to see that they made it, Federal Express had me a little scared for a
while though. What we forgot about on the 3-Day delivery schedule from me to
you is the 1/2 day time zone difference, and the fact that because of this the
first day doesn't count!
I may be easily amused, but I still can't believe that our economy has become
so global in nature that I can have these card's from Kansas to the Czech
Republic in three (opps, FOUR <BG>) days.
Thank you Pavel, and enjoy the video cards!
Chuck
Gus,
>> Which model would give me 1280x1024x24? (That's almost 4meg worth of video
memory). Who carries it?)
For the PCI Bus you will have one option, the MGAII 4MB version. This is the
model I have on order and can't get for a couple of weeks. Who knows, maybe
the Vibrant drivers will be ready by then! Retail on the board has been reduced
to $999.00. The MGAII series do not support any of the 3D Shading bells and
whistles, but I know that these are not a concern for you. Yes, it has 4MB
VRAM for 1280x1024x24 support!
Chuck
Chuck,
<<The MGAII series do not support any of the 3D Shading bells and whistles,>>
Are the 3d shading B's and W's do anything in 3d Studio? Will they become
available?
Regards, Peter Kroko
Peter,
Sorry for the delay in the response, but I have just returned from a couple
days in California. Here's what I know right now…
>> Are the 3d shading B's and W's do anything in 3d Studio? <<
Not at this moment. The ADI Interface in Studio (if I understand it
correctly from Gus and Greg) is simply a raster sisplay device, and
doesn't allow any "kooks" into the geometry as ACAD does. Therefore
the 3D Hardware is pretty useless in 3DS. On the otherhand, Pavel
Korensky (a developer from the Czech Republic) and I are currently
trying to locate the MGA development libraries so he can give it a
shot!
>> Will they become available? <<
Not on the MGAII series. These boards were designed for the ULTIMATE
in throughput, and have had this support hardware removed. The only
hope for this support will be a PCI version of the original MGA.
Hope that helps,
Gus,
Yes, and no. When I can get my hands on one (they are OEM only right now!) I
will have a 4MB PCI MGA that is "supposed" to do 24-bit at 1280 x 1024. I have
seen your list of requirements posted in a later message and will keep you
posted as soon I can "see the scar".
Chuck
>> I have seen your list of requirements posted in a later message and
>> will keep you posted as soon I can "see the scar".
Vielen Dank!