preece@uicsl.UUCP (01/19/84)
#N:uicsl:7300014:000:375 uicsl!preece Jan 18 13:55:00 1984 Opinions on the relative quality of color monitors are earnestly solicited, with particular reference to use with the IBM PC color graphics adapter board. Is the IBM monitor significantly better than others? Subjective opinions as well as comparisons of fact are equally desired. Material of interest will be summarized to the net. scott preece ihnp4!uiucdcs!uicsl!preece
dya@unc-c.UUCP (01/28/84)
References: uiucdcs.4960
Virtually ALL consumer monitors stink, because their limiting factor
is the dot / other triad pitch. The upper frequency limit can be calculated
by:
((line length) / (dot pitch * 51 us) ) * sqrt(2.0)
Generally, a dot pitch of 0.43 mm is required for satisfactory NTSC
performance on a 15 inch screen, while 0.31 is required for a 13 inch screen
(including luminance to 4.2 mc/s.) Obviously, for RGB this matters because
all three channels have the full video bandwidth.
Vectrix's monitor isn't so bad ( $ 1100 ) although I don't know if
they will part it out. It has a 0.31 mm dot pitch. There seems to be a big]
brouhaha about someone like MGA which boasts an AWESOME 0.43 dot pitch. (This
is an improvement, my 9 inch ColourTrak is something like 0.8).
The other limiting factor is how many pixels. If you are only doing 128
by 128, then anything will work. Also, dot pitch is meaningless unless your
monitor manufacturer can guarantee convergence (especially in the corners.)
Needless to say, the RGB should be direct to the cathodes with a
minimum of amplification, and aperture correction if possible.
--David "Last of the Analog" Anthony
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