Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!crdgw1!sixhub!davidsen
From: davidsen@sixhub.UUCP (Wm E. Davidsen Jr)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware
Subject: Re: QUESTION: Using a VGA monitor on its side?
Message-ID: <3572@sixhub.UUCP>
Date: 31 Mar 91 00:26:21 GMT
References: <91087.155337REIDMP@MAINE.BITNET>
Reply-To: davidsen@sixhub.UUCP (bill davidsen)
Organization: *IX Public Access UNIX, Schenectady NY
Lines: 39

In article <91087.155337REIDMP@MAINE.BITNET> REIDMP@MAINE.BITNET (Reid M. Pinchback) writes:

|    1. What causes the colour distortion?
|    2. Is there a way to fix it?

  One possible cause is a change in the magnetic field near the monitor,
particularly if you run near the CPU or another monitor. Use of the
degaussing control *may* help this.

|    3. Is it harmful to the monitor to use it on its side?

  Monitors depend on convection cooling, and convection depends on
gravity. I would be very careful of running a monitor on its side unless
the vendor was contacted and said it was okay. Reason: heat rises, and I
bet the cooling slots are in the top rather than the side.

  Addition of a fan, should you decide to do so, will probably cause
more color distortion. There are monitors designed to be used either
way, but you could kill your monitor and warantee in one stroke by
running some monitors on the side.

So:
 - call the manufacturer
 - if you try it watch the temp closely
 - if it runs hotter on the side it will have a shortened life
 - a fan would probably help, might cause problems.

  That still kind of leaves you on your own, but you understand the
problems. Other than heat there's no reason why *most* monitors won't
run in any position.

  I believe the space program noted that convection cooling does work
worth beans with the gravity off, and that several computer failures
were cause by just that. I don't have a NASA admission of it, though.
-- 
bill davidsen - davidsen@sixhub.uucp (uunet!crdgw1!sixhub!davidsen)
    sysop *IX BBS and Public Access UNIX
    moderator of comp.binaries.ibm.pc and 80386 mailing list
"Stupidity, like virtue, is its own reward" -me