perkins@bnrmtv.UUCP (04/15/87)
The Subject: line says it all, I guess. I'd like specs on what the
new VDI in the IBM model 50/60/80 will accept in the way of monitors.
I'm particularly interested in whether the NEC Multisync and the
Thomson/Mitsubishi multifrequency monitor will work.
On a related note: anyone have an estimate as to when the clone
makers will have a VDI-compatible video board? I'm trying to
decide whether to get an EGA board now, pay big buck$ for IBM's
VDI board, or wait for a VDI board clone.
--
{hplabs,amdahl,3comvax}!bnrmtv!perkins --Henry Perkins
It is better never to have been born. But who among us has such luck?
One in a million, perhaps.mmm@gssc.UUCP (Preacher McLain) (04/17/87)
In article <1631@bnrmtv.UUCP> perkins@bnrmtv.UUCP (Henry Perkins) writes: |The Subject: line says it all, I guess. I'd like specs on what the |new VDI in the IBM model 50/60/80 will accept in the way of monitors. ^^^ I believe you mean the new VGA (Video Graphics Array). There's no such thing as a VDI (Virtual Device Interface) video board, that I know of. VDI is a software graphics standard not a hardware standard. (Not a flame, merely an explanation!) |I'm particularly interested in whether the NEC Multisync and the |Thomson/Mitsubishi multifrequency monitor will work. These monitors will not work with the new VGA, because they have 9-pin plugs and the VGA requires a 15-pin plug. I suppose a 9-to-15-pin adapter is a possiblity, but I'm not sure even that would work. The VGA is able to detect whether it's hooked to a color or a monochrome monitor, so there must be a signal from the monitor that probably isn't present in the NEC or T/M. | |On a related note: anyone have an estimate as to when the clone |makers will have a VDI-compatible video board? I'm trying to |decide whether to get an EGA board now, pay big buck$ for IBM's |VDI board, or wait for a VDI board clone. (Once again, it's a *VGA* board.) I've seen reports in recent trade rags in which some companies (I don't remember which ones) are claiming clones will be available this year some time. Time will tell. -- Mitchell McLain ...hplabs!tektronix!sequent!gssc!mmm
rrs11@amdahl.UUCP (Bob Snead) (04/23/87)
In article <1631@bnrmtv.UUCP> perkins@bnrmtv.UUCP (Henry Perkins) writes: |I'm particularly interested in whether the NEC Multisync and the |Thomson/Mitsubishi multifrequency monitor will work. We just called NEC about this and they said that the Multisync *will* work with VGA. You do need a new cable. Bob Snead Future Computing Technologies Group Amdahl Corp. 143 E 350 S Rexburg, ID, 83440 (208) 356-8915 UUCP: ..!{ihnp4, hplabs, amd, sun, ...}!amdahl!rrs11
jtc@dasher.UUCP (04/23/87)
In article <371@gssc.UUCP> mmm@gssc.UUCP (Preacher McLain) writes: >In article <1631@bnrmtv.UUCP> perkins@bnrmtv.UUCP (Henry Perkins) writes: >|I'm particularly interested in whether the NEC Multisync and the >|Thomson/Mitsubishi multifrequency monitor will work. > > These monitors will not work with the new VGA, because they have 9-pin >plugs and the VGA requires a 15-pin plug. I suppose a 9-to-15-pin adapter is >a possiblity, but I'm not sure even that would work. The VGA is able to >detect whether it's hooked to a color or a monochrome monitor, so there must >be a signal from the monitor that probably isn't present in the NEC or T/M. > According the PC Week (April 24, 1987) NEC reports that the multisync monitor DOES in fact work with the new VGA standard. It is true that there will be a new cable and/or an "adaptor". My impression (after reading many of the trade journals) is that Big Blue wanted to make it so none of the new multisyncing monitors would work with the new PS/2 computers (those guys, they are always trying to sell you THEIR equipment). Anyway, the published specs on the NEC said that the maximum sync rate on the multisync was ~60Hz (vertical sync). Therefore, IBM decided that the perfect sync rate for the VGA would be 70Hz. Well now, the really neat thing about this is that published specs for the Multisync don't tell the whole story. It seems that a "marketing decision" was made to "not confuse the end user" by reporting specs that up till that point were not needed. The Multisync can really go up to 100Hz and maybe even higher. This was probably a heck of a surprise for some product manager over at IBM. Either somebody was a marketing genius at NEC, or all the people their should change their name to "lucky". I'm sure a lot of other peripheral manufacturers will take note of what happened here. It may not always be in your best interest to report added capabilities of a new product; specially when your friends in the blue pin-stripes are about to release a new, proprietary computer line. - jtc BTW, I really do not think that the employees of NEC should be thought of as lucky, they have produced a truly superior product in the Multisync. ============================================================================= = sdcsvax \ Jeffrey T. Carter = = ncrcae - ncr-sd!jtc NCR ISS-OA E&M San Diego = = or try jtc@ncr-sd.SanDiego.NCR.com (619)485-2643 = ============================================================================= The opinions stated here belong to me, and maybe only me. They certainly do not reflect those of the company that I work for :-). I have no affiliation with NEC or IBM accept as a customer, and a watcher of the marketplace.
tankus@hsi.UUCP (Ed Tankus) (04/24/87)
In article <371@gssc.UUCP>, mmm@gssc.UUCP (Preacher McLain) writes: > In article <1631@bnrmtv.UUCP> perkins@bnrmtv.UUCP (Henry Perkins) writes: > |The Subject: line says it all, I guess. I'd like specs on what the > |new VDI in the IBM model 50/60/80 will accept in the way of monitors. > ^^^ > |I'm particularly interested in whether the NEC Multisync and the > |Thomson/Mitsubishi multifrequency monitor will work. > > These monitors will not work with the new VGA, because they have 9-pin > plugs and the VGA requires a 15-pin plug. I suppose a 9-to-15-pin adapter is > a possiblity ... NEC, Mitsubishi, Thompson, and Sony have all announced that they will make an adaptor for the new PC's. > |makers will have a VDI-compatible video board? I'm trying to > |decide whether to get an EGA board now, pay big buck$ for IBM's > |VDI board, or wait for a VDI board clone. > > (Once again, it's a *VGA* board.) I've seen reports in recent trade > rags in which some companies (I don't remember which ones) are claiming clones > will be available this year some time. Time will tell. > > Mitchell McLain > ...hplabs!tektronix!sequent!gssc!mmm Paradise is claiming a compatible board will be ready in 3 months. Chips says 6 months. I think AST and Quadram are also saying 6 months. You might want to look at the new Pepper board from from Number Nine in the Boston area. It is available now/soon and uses the TI TMS34010 (?) chip. There is a brief description in the 4/21/87 issue of PC WEEK near the front. Cheers! -- Ed. Net : {noao!ihnp4!yale!}!hsi!tankus Snail: Health Systems Int'l, 100 Broadway, New Haven, CT 06511 Bell : (203) 562-2101
cmaag@csd4.milw.wisc.edu (Christopher N Maag) (04/24/87)
According to many of the multiscanning monitor makers, including NEC and Thomson, their monitors will work with the new graphics controllers found in the new IBM PS/2 line. The only problem is that you need to get an adapter to convert from the 15-pin connector to the 9-pin connector. These should be readily available from the manufacturers in a few weeks. If you are curious about this topic, you will want to take a look at the latest issue of PC Week, as it has a detailed atricle about this subject.
mjm@cantor.UUCP (Michael Markowitz) (05/04/87)
> |I'm particularly interested in whether the NEC Multisync and the > |Thomson/Mitsubishi multifrequency monitor will work. > > These monitors will not work with the new VGA, because they have 9-pin > plugs and the VGA requires a 15-pin plug. I suppose a 9-to-15-pin adapter is > a possiblity, but I'm not sure even that would work. The VGA is able to > detect whether it's hooked to a color or a monochrome monitor, so there must > be a signal from the monitor that probably isn't present in the NEC or T/M. > > Mitchell McLain > ...hplabs!tektronix!sequent!gssc!mmm NEC has announced that the MultiSync will indeed work with the VGA and they expect to have the required cables available within the next month. Michael J. Markowitz Dept. of Math. Sciences Loyola Univ. of Chicago Chicago, IL 60626 (312) 508-3567 ihnp4!gargoyle!cantor!abel!mjm