Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!usc!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!bloom-picayune.mit.edu!athena.mit.edu!acook
From: acook@athena.mit.edu (Andrew R Cook)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware
Subject: video choice
Message-ID: <1991Jan3.150835.5048@athena.mit.edu>
Date: 3 Jan 91 15:08:35 GMT
Sender: news@athena.mit.edu (News system)
Reply-To: acook@athena.mit.edu (Andrew R Cook)
Organization: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Lines: 36


Considering the large volume of video selection questions posted, and the scant
list of posted responses, I though it would be useful to poll the netexpertise
on the subject, then post a summary of the responses.  Since I am about to buy all new video for my computer, but have not decided yet what to get, it seemed that this was a good idea.  Please reply to my email address, that will
spare clutter on the net.

OK.  I don't want to spend more than $1000 for both board and monitor.  VGA seems
the way to go.  Any suggestions on what the best video board(s) are?  Important
qualifications are speed, register-level backwards compatibility with older
standards (EGA, CGA, Herc), VESA compliance, flexibility (# of colors, etc..),
and driver support.  It looks like ATI's new VGA Wonder + is a winner, it claims
more speed than VRAM, has some windows drivers, and is compatible with VESA and
older standards.  Any comments/other suggestions ?   That reminds me, it might be
useful to know what drivers different boards have, and how useable the drivers
are.

Monitors.   Interlaced, or non-interlaced.  I understand that non-interlaced has
less flicker at 1024x768, but any experiences with specific video combinations
that are interlaced?  Specifically, which board/monitor did you use that looked
bad or good?  The motivation, of course, for getting an interlaced monitor like
the NEC 3D is cost, and variable scanning frequencies (which allows compatibility
with other video standards).  Are there any low cost multisync non-interlaced 
monitors (ones that support also EGA, CGA, Herc) ?  I konw of the NEC 4D, but that
would push me out of the $1000 limit.  Does anyone know about or own the Seiko
CM1450 or the SONY 1304 ?  I know these are non-interlaced, but can they also
switch to the scan frequencies required by EGA, CGA, Herc ?  How good is the
picture produced by the Trinitron tube in both of these - I understand that the
vertical slots in the mask tend to produce thicker vertical lines than horizontal
lines.  Is this a noticable or annoying effect?

Please send responses to :
	acook@athena.mit.edu

Thanks in advance.  I will post a summary in 1-2 weeks.

Andy Cook.