Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!uwm.edu!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!wuarchive!texbell!attctc!chasm
From: chasm@attctc.Dallas.TX.US (Charles Marslett)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: Re: recommendations wanted for cheap VGA card and monitor
Summary: Tridents are not really so good at 1024x768
Keywords: VGA monitor display
Message-ID: <10875@attctc.Dallas.TX.US>
Date: 7 Jan 90 15:18:09 GMT
References: <1699@dukeac.UUCP>
Distribution: na
Organization: The Unix(R) Connection, Dallas, Texas
Lines: 48

In article <1699@dukeac.UUCP>, kgreen@dukeac.UUCP (Kendall B Green) writes:
> 
> I am interested in anyone's opinions about various brands of VGA
> monitors and video cards.  I mainly do text work with some graphics, 
> Smalltalk V/286, Flight Simulator, Balance of Power.  I definately 
> want a VGA system and would prefer higher resolutions if appropriate 
> drivers are available.  Color is a plus but so is a reasonable price.
> 
> I am interested in a monitor advertized in the Jan issue of Computer
> Shopper by COMPEQ.  It is called Loop Super VGA CT 1469.  1024x768
> resolution, .28 mm dot pitch, 31K and 35K frequencies and auto-switching
> are the advertized specs.  The price seems to be too good to be true,
> $339.  Any comments?  

It is a VERY GOOD PRICE (I think), but not outrageously so -- it may be a
private label (dumped) version of the Seiko 1430, and if so, it's pretty good.
The only real drawback is that the 1430 doesn't support 800x600 resolution.
You get 640x480 and 1024x768.  And, of course, currently available VGA cards
don't support 1024x768 256-color modes, so your best 256 color support is
640x480.

> A number of companies seem to be selling Trident chip VGA controllers for 
> less than $150.  They claim 1024x768 resolution.  Any comments?

The work very marginally at 1024x768 (STB doesn't make a Trident card for this
very reason -- they are not cost competitive if you use RAM chips that are
fast enough to work at a 45 MHz dot clock).  Our testing shows that most of the
80 ns 64Kx4 DRAMS work pretty well (all day) at 800x600, but you need faster
ones to get 1024x768 to work after the card warms up.

> Thanks in advance for your responses.
> 
> Ken Green
> -- 
> Kendall B. Green
> Duke University Medical Center
> Durham, NC 27710
> kgreen@dukeac.ac.duke.edu   or ...mcnc!escgate!dukeac!kgreen

NOTE: Special notice to disclaimer lawyers:  I work for STB Systems, Inc., and
I am one of the people who decided not to market a Trident based card (we make
cards based on Chips & Technologies, Cirrus and Tseng Labs chips -- an equal
opportunity video chip user ;^).

Charles Marslett
BIOS Guru, Class II
STB Systems, Inc.   <-- apply all standard disclaimers
chasm@attctc.dallas.tx.us