*BSD News Article 30658


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From: kgraham@dlvax2 (Kevin Graham)
Newsgroups: comp.os.386bsd.questions
Subject: Re: Will this configuration work OK?
Date: 13 May 1994 14:03:41 GMT
Organization: Data Logic Limited (A Raytheon Company).
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Message-ID: <2r01cb$6mu@starlight.datlog.co.uk>
References: <CpFv2u.Mvs@galaxia.network23.com> <2qi39g$cu0@agate.berkeley.edu> <ASAMI.94May8040613@forgery.cs.berkeley.edu>
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Satoshi ASAMI (asami@cs.berkeley.edu) wrote:
: In article <2qi39g$cu0@agate.berkeley.edu>
:         alanp@cory.EECS.Berkeley.EDU (Alan Pearson) writes:

:  * >5. If the Orchid F1280 a good video card?  I would like to run the monitor
:  * >in 1280x1024 mode so I need a card that will support that mode, and obviously
:  * >I need a card that is supported under XFree86.
:  * As long as the card has >2 MB video ram, you should be OK.  Though I don't
:  * even know for sure that XFree86 supports 1280x1024 mode, as I have never
:  * tried it.  I believe it does, though.

: XFree86 supports 1280x1024, but I don't think Orchid Fahrenheit 1280+
: has enough bandwidth for doing 1280x1024 realistically.  The one I
: have (1MB, VLB, purchased last November) goes only up to 80MHz, which
: means you'll end up with a refresh rate of <50Hz.  This is really bad
: for your eyes (VESA-standard is 72Hz).

: You would want at least 110Mhz if you want to do 1280x1024 without
: hurting your eyes.

: Satoshi

Please be aware that getting monitors to support a usable refresh rate
at 1280x1024 can be very expensive.  110MHz is not a common bandwidth
supported by "cheap" 17inch monitors like the NEC 5FG or MAG 17h (mine).

For a graphics card I personally recommend the #9GXE - it will support
more than the european refresh standards at 1280x1024 and higher.  It
also is very good with MS-Windows :-)  The most recent XFree86 (2.1.1)
claims to support the #9GXE up beyond its current 85MHz (software, the
card itself is 135MHz I think) limitations - which would make for
1376x1024@76Hz on the Hitachi 21in at work... :-)
(I currently run mine at 800x600@103Hz under Windows - now
that is a *solid* display - I'm somewhat sensitive to anything less
than about 85Hz - or if needs must then at 1152x870@70Hz - these
are all the limitations of the monitor not the graphics card).

The MAG 17h will only support 1280x1024@63Hz, which I believe is typical
of 100MHz limited monitors.  This is not good for your eyes, but bearable
for short periods.  As with a lot of 17in monitors I have used the
best compromise resolution is often 1152x870 - which on modern
equipment can often be pushed way over the relevant ergonomic refresh rate
standards.

Most of the ET[34]000, Cirrus logic and cheaper S3 based cards I've seen
seem to be limited to 85Mhz or less (basically limiting them to about
800x600 for my use).

Kevin.
--
Kevin Graham.  Systems Prophet.  Lemming.
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