Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!murphy!rna!dan
From: dan@rna.UUCP (Dan Ts'o)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.misc
Subject: Re: Questions: Zeos, NEC-4D, non-interlaced video cards
Message-ID: <1047@rna.UUCP>
Date: 15 Oct 90 02:10:44 GMT
References: <1990Oct7.203309.27723@uunet!unhd>
Reply-To: dan@rna.UUCP (Dan Ts'o)
Distribution: comp
Organization: Rockefeller University Neurobiology
Lines: 38

In article <1990Oct7.203309.27723@uunet!unhd> rg@unhd.UUCP (Roger Gonzalez ) writes:
>I'm thinking about getting a Zeos 386-33 in their $3695 package deal,
>except that I would get the NEC-4D monitor instead of their stock VGA.
>I would also like to get a better (i.e. non-interlaced) video board,
>but I don't know what to look for.  I read the article in PC Magazine
>on 768x1024 non-interlaced boards/cards, but was left feeling confused.
>All I want is 768x1024 with a jillion colors and no flicker, without 
>having to rob a bank.  Any suggestions?  I'm interested in hearing any
>advice about this configuration.

	I think the two to consider are the Video 7 VRAM and the Orchid
Prodesigner II. The VRAM is about the most expensive, at $350. But it
seems to have perhaps the best driver support and good reliability and
tech support. It is also fast.
	The Orchid is slightly cheaper and for $320 can even give you a
full 1Mb for 1024x768 at 256 colors (the VRAM can only do 16 color at that
resolution, having only 512K). It is also suppose to be fast, but PC Mag
rated Orchid poor in reliability and support. However that report was in
part based on the earlier Prodesigner. Orchid claims the new version is
much better.
	You can get cheaper boards, (my favorite, despite some problems)
is the ATI VGAwonder with builtin mouse port for $300, but these are
interlaced at 1024x768, whereas the VRAM and Orchid are not. The flicker
of the ATI is generally only noticeable when using graphics/fonts that
depend on single pixel transitions. For 95% of the time, you will not
notice any flicker. But tiny fonts, single pixel line drawings, etc, will
produce some flicker. I rate it as quite tolerable, but if you're going to
spring for the NEC 4D (actually I might recommend the Nanao 9070S instead),
you might as well add the extra $50-100 and get a real non-interlaced
board. (If you have more money, consider a 8514 emulator...)


				Cheers,
				Dan Ts'o		212-570-7671
				Dept. Neurobiology	dan@rna.rockefeller.edu
				Rockefeller Univ.	rna!dan@nyu.edu
				1230 York Ave.		tso@rockvax.bitnet
				NY, NY 10021