video boards for X386

[Thomas Hoberg]

In article <1991Mar21.225558.328 at am.sublink.org>, alex at am.sublink.org (Alex Martelli) writes:
|> jim at tiamat.fsc.com ( IT Manager) writes:
|> :We are contemplating the purchase of a new video board and monitor.  There
|> :is the possibility that we may want to try to use the X386 server with
|> :this new hardware.
|> :What board/monitor combo's are good (and hopefully not too expensive) for
|> :running X386 in whatever its highest resolution mode is?
|> 
|> I'm in a similar situation, indeed I plan to buy board and monitor for
|> the SOLE purpose of running X386.  I'd like at least 16", with 14"
|> barely acceptable, and about 1024x768 with 4+ colors/grays - I don't
|> need "highest resolution" because I do believe that X386 has no
|> builtin limits, and I CANNOT afford a 3000x2000 board&monitor and
|> up!-).  I believe keeping discussion in this area, rather than going
|> email, would be MUCH more appropriate, since I see SOOO many people
|> interested!  Any opinion/experiences?
|> -- 
|> Alex Martelli - (home snailmail:) v. Barontini 27, 40138 Bologna, ITALIA
|> Email: (work:) martelli at cadlab.sublink.org, (home:) alex at am.sublink.org
|> Phone: (work:) ++39 (51) 371099, (home:) ++39 (51) 250434; 
|> Fax: ++39 (51) 366964 (work only), Fidonet: 332/401.3 (home only).
There is a limit to the resolution X386 supports. It's imposed by the hardware
limits of the SVGA chipsets. (e.g. 1MB video RAM)
Currently a ET4000 card offers the best speed and can be had for $150-$200.
I have an Eizo 9070 (also known as Nanao 9070) 16" display, which I use at
960x710 pixels resolution most of the time. My VGA has a 65MHz crystal and
RAM-DAC on it and that resolution yields a screen refresh rate of about 70Hz,
meaning no flicker. For some games and all these X programs that think everyone
has a SUN I can go to 1152x900 interlaced, which actually looks better than
1024x768 at 60Hz (it uses that same 65MHz oscilator and at about 40 Hz per
half frame yields a stability comparable to an 80Hz display). For the 9070
a 65MHz crystal is about the end of the rope, though. 
-- tom
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