Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!swrinde!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!wuarchive!bcm!dimacs.rutgers.edu!dorm.rutgers.edu!medici From: medici@dorm.rutgers.edu (Mark Medici) Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware Subject: Re: Meaning of dot pitch in rating monitors Keywords: VGA Message-ID: Date: 13 Dec 90 00:43:38 GMT References: <4194@network.ucsd.edu> <34563@netnews.upenn.edu> Organization: Rutgers Univ., New Brunswick, N.J. Lines: 62 In article <4194@network.ucsd.edu> nbeck@weber.ucsd.edu (Nathaniel Beck) writes: >>... >>So the question is - can my eye tell the difference between .28 and >>.31 dot pitch (or .25). Is the difference visible in vga mode (since >>most of my software only has drivers for vga and I don't use >>windows, I care most about what I see in vga mode)? Dot pitch is the distance (in mm) between two dots of the same color. The greater the dot pitch, the more granular your display will be. Also, depending on the size of the CRT, dot pitch can also limit the maximum displayable resolution. Take, for example, a typical 14" display (the NEC MultiSync IIa). The active screen size is 240mm (9.36") horizontal and 180mm (7.02") vertical. If the dot pitch for this typical monitor is 0.31mm (which it is for the MultiSync IIa), the result is a maximum horizontal resolution of 774 dots, and a vertical maximum of 580 dots. Though this doesn't meant you won't be able to display 800x600 resolution, some information cannot be physically descerned due to lack of unique pixels. However, if the dot pitch were 0.28mm, the resulting 857x642 pixel resolution would be fine. Similarly, if the active image area were larger (such as on the MultiSync 4D), a 0.31mm dot pitch would still be adequate. As for whether your eye will be able to notice the difference between 0.31 and 0.28mm dot pitch, that's difficult to say. Many factors other than dot pitch affect monitor clarity and sharpness. At 640x480 VGA resolution, there may not be enough of a difference for you to notice. That is, unless you use graphics applications that write small letters on the screen, where the smaller dot pitch monitor will likely be more readable. >sheinfel@grad1.cis.upenn.edu (Aviad Sheinfeld) writes: >I used to use an IBM 8513 (which I believe is .31 dp, correct me if >I'm wrong.) and now use a .28dp monitor. The difference is noticeable. >Images have noticeably sharper edges. In looking for a monitor I'd >definitely recommend looking for .28 or .25 dp. Actually, the IBM 8513 is a 0.28mm dot pitch monitor. The 8512 is a wopping 0.41mm dot pitch unit. The large size dot pitch on the 8512 results in very grainy looking images and very poor sharpness. >I must admit that the 8513 had fuzziness problem notoriety, but even >in comparison to brand new 8513s at work, my monitor is much sharper. As mentioned above, many factors affect monitor sharpness and quality. Having once been on the manufacturer's side of the monitor market, the best advice I can offer is to ACTUALLY SEE AND WORK WITH THE MONITOR before making up your mind. Go to a local computer store and ask to run some of your standard programs. If possible, do a side-by-side comparison of the models you are interested in. It is impossible to select the best monitor for your application and budget through published specifications and reviews. Though reviews will help steer you away from the lemons, they cannot substitute for hands-on evaluation. P.S., I am not now, nor have I ever been affiliated with either IBM or NEC; except as a customer. I used their products for examples only because I had their specifications available and are experienced as a user of their displays.