johnbl@tekig5.TEK.COM (John Blankenagel) (12/17/87)
[] I am planning to buy a better display system soon. I want to replace my current CGA system. I have an 8MHz AT clone. What I need is recommendations on a card and monitor for the best resolution I can get for about $700-$800. Also, could someone clue me in on the specs for the various graphics boards (i.e. resolution, colors, etc.) like PGA, VGA, MGA, MDA, and HGC. I am currently thinking of getting a NEC Multisync and a vega deluxe card. Are there other monitors/cards that are as good for less $? Thanks for any info. John Blankenagel
davidsen@steinmetz.steinmetz.UUCP (William E. Davidsen Jr) (12/19/87)
In article <2253@tekig5.TEK.COM> johnbl@tekig5.TEK.COM (John Blankenagel) writes: | I am planning to buy a better display system soon. I want to replace my | current CGA system. I have an 8MHz AT clone. What I need is recommendations | on a card and monitor for the best resolution I can get for about $700-$800. I don't think you can beat the Multisync. There are other which are equally as good, but even those with advertized better dot pitch don't really look better in real life (properly adjusted). You should consider the new Everex VGSMASTER (I may have the name slightly wrong) which does all 17 VGA modes plus 512x480 256 color. I believe that with additional memory it also does 640x480 and 800x600, all in 256 colors. This looks a lot better than a TV, and may legitimately be called photo quality. -- bill davidsen (wedu@ge-crd.arpa) {uunet | philabs | seismo}!steinmetz!crdos1!davidsen "Stupidity, like virtue, is its own reward" -me
ward@chinet.UUCP (Ward Christensen-) (12/21/87)
Re: shopping for VGA & monitor: CAUTION! I bought the STB VGA Extra, because I had had other STB products, which were "OK", and because STB was one of the first available. I bought the Magnavox professional multi-mode monitor, because it was rated high in a magazine article for its analog mode capabilities. The combination simply doesn't work together. The VGA is apparently a fixed-frequency scan, which may or may not work with traditional multi-mode (-sync, -scan, whatever) monitors. I have to adjust a recessed screw (pot) in the back to have the screen filled vertically as I switch from cga to ega to vga emulation. ALso the VGA emulation is terrible - "glistening" colors etc. STB promised a ROM update months ago, I even got a shipping paper for it, but they didn't come thru - they called to ask for a board swap - and I've seen nothing in about 3 weeks. They are supposedly coming out with a "better" board, but I hear the upgrade from mine would be $240. Makes me wish I'd bought a $100 EGA clone, and forgotten the VGA stuff. (though the 256 color stuff is "fun", and the board doesn't flicker like a true IBM VGA when writing to the palette registers.)
sytek@tekgen.TEK.COM (Mike Ewan) (12/22/87)
In article <8258@steinmetz.steinmetz.UUCP> davidsen@crdos1.UUCP (bill davidsen) writes: >In article <2253@tekig5.TEK.COM> johnbl@tekig5.TEK.COM (John Blankenagel) writes: >| I am planning to buy a better display system soon. I want to replace my >| current CGA system. I have an 8MHz AT clone. What I need is recommendations >| on a card and monitor for the best resolution I can get for about $700-$800. > >I don't think you can beat the Multisync. I agree on the multisync although I have a Genoa level 5 CGA/EGA/PCA/VGA card. The Genoa does just about everything including Hercules mono-graphics. Its a half length card with 256Kb standard. If you get one be sure to specify "level 5" as there is also a "level 3" that does not support the 800 X 600 resolution. If you don't need the 800 X 600, there are some Genoa level 3 clones out for very good prices. I can't be sure but I think the clones go for about $150. The real Genoa also comes with drivers and a real slick mode change program. Yesterday I saw a glossy on a new NEC Multisync display adapter. It supposedly has up to 1024 X 912 (or some such) resolution on a Multisync Plus monitor. Mike Ewan Tektronix Inc. sytek@tekgen.TEK.COM -- This is a test of the .sig file.
wtm@neoucom.UUCP (Bill Mayhew) (12/22/87)
I am looking into the eyeball of a Multisync right now. I got this one in June of 1986. When it arrived, it had color balance and convergence misadjustments as well as need to be degaussed. Once I adjusted it, it did look pretty decent. I'll admit that the need for degaussing might have been caused by exposure to a magnetic field durring shipping. I also did the technical work for a review of some multisync monitors for an article that appeared in PC Tech Journal. I had a total of seven NEC monitors-- none of them came adjusted correctly from the factory. Most typical customers (net people not necessarily being typical customers) probably won't want to go digging around inside their monitors the day they arrive. The NEC also has rather thick glass on the face of the tube and has a lot of pincushion distortion when not viewed right on center. I have to give NEC credit their new series of Multisyncs is much better than the original model. I have only looked the new NECs over under ideal conditions and have not had to live with them. The best all around EGA (and VGA) monitor is still the Sony CPD-1302. (See some of my previous articles) The Mitsubishi Diamondscan delivers a better picture than the NEC and is slightly less expensive. I'd pick the Mitsu if I were buying an EGA monitor today. (also see previous postings) The Taxan 770 is also a possiblity (the electronics are made by JVC), but Taxan seems to have quality control problems with their CRTs. I have owned two Taxan monitors and each has had one dark pixel someplace on the screen. One other Taxan monitor owned by a friend had precisely one bad pixel -- hmmm... I see a trend developing. Happy holidays, Bill
jru@etn-rad.UUCP (John Unekis) (12/22/87)
In article <8258@steinmetz.steinmetz.UUCP> davidsen@crdos1.UUCP (bill davidsen) writes: >In article <2253@tekig5.TEK.COM> johnbl@tekig5.TEK.COM (John Blankenagel) writes: >| I am planning to buy a better display system soon. I want to replace my .... For anyone who has invested in an EGA compatible with multisync monitor there is now a way to display real imagery, both mono and color, without putting up with grainy halftones. It is an image coprocessor called the CLARITY1, which daisy-chains off the EGA. It comes with software to support a couple of popular digitizers and hard copy printers. It is available from SEFCO at (818) 765-8882.