wales@valeria.cs.ucla.edu (01/10/90)
I have a "baby-AT" clone -- 8-MHz 286 CPU, XT (8-bit) bus -- with a monochrome monitor and a Hercules-clone video card. I would like to upgrade to some kind of color video system, but simply do not have the money available at this time to spend on a high-end multisync monitor and 1024x768 super-VGA card. Neither am I prepared right now to upgrade the system as a whole to a "full-AT" clone with a 16-bit bus. Can anyone offer recommendations for a reasonably priced color monitor and 8-bit-bus VGA card? Is there any way I can get away with something acceptable for a total price (monitor + card) of under $400? If not, then how about under $500? I've been told that EGA cards cost about as much as low-end VGA these days -- so I assume I shouldn't even bother considering EGA. But if this is not true (say, because I could get a much less expensive monitor for EGA than for even low-end VGA), then please tell me. I am prepared to accept less than blinding speed (as I said, I accept the fact that I'm stuck with an 8-bit XT bus). I'm also prepared to accept the limitations of a monitor that is not "top of the line". In short, I know I can't afford a Rolls-Royce color video system right now -- or even a BMW or Mercedes-Benz system -- so I'm willing to go with a VW or Toyota system if I can find one. -- Rich Wales <wales@CS.UCLA.EDU> // UCLA Computer Science Department 3531 Boelter Hall // Los Angeles, CA 90024-1596 // +1 (213) 825-5683 "I never lie when I've got sand in my shoes, Commodore."
wales@valeria.cs.ucla.edu (Rich Wales) (01/11/90)
In article <30666@shemp.CS.UCLA.EDU> I wrote:
Can anyone offer recommendations for a reasonably priced color
monitor and 8-bit-bus VGA card? Is there any way I can get
away with something acceptable for a total price (monitor +
card) of under $400? If not, then how about under $500?
Based on the initial feedback I've received (suggestions that I scan
magazines like Computer Shopper, and/or buy used equipment), perhaps I
should clarify a couple of points.
I was (am) hoping to hear from people who have actual experience with
specific monitors and/or cards. I am leery of the idea of simply going
to a magazine like Computer Shopper and picking some mail-order outfit
with a one-liner like "VGA: $XXX" in their ad. I've heard people say
that not all "VGA" cards are created equal (e.g., some aren't even close
to being register-compatible with "real" VGA) -- and the only really
good way I can think of to avoid being stuck with a "lemon" card is to
get feedback from people based on what they have actually tried.
If my concern in this area is ill-founded (i.e., if most or all no-name
"VGA" cards being sold these days really *are* OK after all), then I'm
certainly open to being told I have nothing to worry about and can
safely shop for the lowest price. But I do confess to some (hopefully
healthy) skepticism on this point.
Also, I'm willing to consider the idea of buying used equipment -- but
again, I would prefer to hear from someone who has actually used a given
make of card or monitor before I buy it (new or used).
-- Rich Wales <wales@CS.UCLA.EDU> // UCLA Computer Science Department
3531 Boelter Hall // Los Angeles, CA 90024-1596 // +1 (213) 825-5683
"I never lie when I've got sand in my shoes, Commodore."poffen@chomolungma (Russ Poffenberger) (01/11/90)
In article <30666@shemp.CS.UCLA.EDU> wales@CS.UCLA.EDU (Rich Wales) writes: >I have a "baby-AT" clone -- 8-MHz 286 CPU, XT (8-bit) bus -- with a >monochrome monitor and a Hercules-clone video card. > >I would like to upgrade to some kind of color video system, but simply >do not have the money available at this time to spend on a high-end >multisync monitor and 1024x768 super-VGA card. Neither am I prepared >right now to upgrade the system as a whole to a "full-AT" clone with a >16-bit bus. > >Can anyone offer recommendations for a reasonably priced color monitor >and 8-bit-bus VGA card? Is there any way I can get away with something >acceptable for a total price (monitor + card) of under $400? If not, >then how about under $500? > >I am prepared to accept less than blinding speed (as I said, I accept >the fact that I'm stuck with an 8-bit XT bus). I'm also prepared to >accept the limitations of a monitor that is not "top of the line". In >short, I know I can't afford a Rolls-Royce color video system right now >-- or even a BMW or Mercedes-Benz system -- so I'm willing to go with a >VW or Toyota system if I can find one. > I have seen lots of good deals on cheap VGA systems. Personally I went for an in-between system consisting of a Video-7 Fastwrite VGA and a Panasonic PanaSync C1391 monitor. Total cost was about $650. If you plan to go the cheap route be very careful about buying a system (especially a monitor) that you haven't seen running. I have seen lots of these cheap monitors that have serious problems with focus, convergence, pincushioning (where the sides bow), and other problems. If it means you have to buy from a local store and pay a little more, you should do it. You could also scope out monitors at a local store, then order the same thing mail-order if you can find it cheaper. Russ Poffenberger DOMAIN: poffen@sj.ate.slb.com Schlumberger Technologies UUCP: {uunet,decwrl,amdahl}!sjsca4!poffen 1601 Technology Drive CIS: 72401,276 San Jose, Ca. 95110 (408)437-5254