Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!mnetor!seismo!rutgers!sri-unix!hplabs!tektronix!tekgen!tekigm!tekigm2!timothym From: timothym@tekigm2.UUCP (Timothy D Margeson) Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc Subject: Re: Using the EGA card and a monochrome monitor Message-ID: <1202@tekigm2.UUCP> Date: Tue, 11-Nov-86 12:54:52 EST Article-I.D.: tekigm2.1202 Posted: Tue Nov 11 12:54:52 1986 Date-Received: Wed, 12-Nov-86 03:11:42 EST References: <279@rocky2.UUCP> <895@bnrmtv.UUCP> Reply-To: timothym@tekigm2.UUCP (Timothy D Margeson) Distribution: net Organization: Tektronix, Inc., Beaverton, OR. Lines: 73 Keywords: No graphics cc: timothym In article <895@bnrmtv.UUCP> perkins@bnrmtv.UUCP (Henry Perkins) writes: >> Does anyone know how, if at all, I can do graphics in monochrome >> with an EGA card? >> Tom Reingold >To my knowledge, IBM has never provided any type of monochrome graphics >standard. This leaves Hercules graphics. Many (most) EGA cards do >Hercules graphics. IBM's EGA, of course, does not. >The era of monochrome monitors is passing rapidly. I suggest you >invest in a good color monitor, such as NEC's MultiSync or Sony's >MultiScan. >{hplabs,amdahl,3comvax}!bnrmtv!perkins --Henry Perkins I have seen data sheets on a board from ATI of their EGA Wonder board. This board will support EGA, CGA, MDA, and Hercules on ANY type of monitor, and do autoswitching between modes too. Which means that you can display EGA stuff on a CGA monitor, or Monochrome monitor, or an EGA monitor. You tell the card which monitor you have, the card then converts the video so that the sync rate is compatible with your monitor. I believe that they interlace the CGA monitor to give you EGA capability (this implies lots of flicker). Anyway, you can run an EGA monitor, and do Hercules emulation at the same time. Or a CGA monitor and EGA emulation. Or a monchrome monitor and CGA, EGA, or Hercules emulation. Then if you run different programs that use say an EGA, the card sets up and emulates EGA, then the next program is set up for a Hercules, the card adjusts automatically and emulates the Herc. (without you having to do anything). I plan on buying one as soon as they're available, which I'm told by ATI is December. My use is with a Compaq Deskpro, and it's monchrome monitor. The folks at ATI say it will work fine, so I'm going to try. (Compaq has a display board that emulates a MDA and CGA using the same monitor, and this combination has spoiled me for most anything, so when I saw the ATI ads, I rushed to the phone and had them send data sheets). The phone numbers I have are FA Components, a regional distributor for ATI (800) 321-6012, or ATI themselves at (416) 477-8804. Give them a call and tell them that you want this board now! If enough of us do it, they might just listen. By the way, this card is one up on the Paradise Autoswitch because you are not limited by the monitor connected to your system. (With the Para- dise, if you have a monochrome monitor, all you can do is Hercules, or MDA emulation, likewise, if all you have is a CGA monitor, you're locked into CGA mode only). Good luck all, and ring the phones off the hook! p.s. I have tried the Multi-sync by NEC (model 1402-jp?) and found it to be less than acceptable (of course I work for Tek, and I know the difference between good and bad graphics). The NEC had some real problems when they started their manufacturing line. The quality of CRT's they used suffered, and had a very noticable astigmatism in the lower portions of the display any time the beam intensity was set high. I talked to NEC reps at a show in Chicago and they played ignorance (even though the monitor on their desk showed the symptoms I described). I might add that I saw about 75 of the NEC monitors at the show, and at least 50 of them had this problem. I haven't seen the Sony monitor yet, and it could well be made well enough to meet my needs, but only a reasonable test period will tell. But if they make the monitor as well as their TV's, I will probably buy one. AND KEEP IT (not like the NEC(s) I bought and returned). Thanks for the ears.... -- Tim Margeson (206)253-5240 PO Box 3500 d/s C1-937 @@ 'Who said that?' Vancouver, WA. 98668 {allegra..inhp4..decvax..ucbvax}!tektronix!tekigm2!timothym