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Amiga computer related discussion => Amiga Hardware Issues and discussion => Topic started by: Todd on February 02, 2003, 11:11:19 AM
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Hello everyone!
I have a quick question for y'all. I currently have a fairly stock NTSC A1200 (8meg fast ram card and 2.1 gig hd) and I am interested in replacing my old 1080 monitor.
I am interested in a Scan Doubler/Flicker Fixer device and I am looking for some opinions. I searched and didn't really see any good threads on them
I am wanting to use a spare 17" Iiyama I have and had a couple questions:
1. How well do they work? Do they display a picture properly?
2. Would I have any problems playing older games or demos with one? How is the compatibility in general?
3. NTSC and PAL video modes: Once I use a scan doubler does this issue go away Or am I still gonna have PAL software not display correctly?
4. Any recommended one to buy?
Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!!
Todd :-D
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1. Thats hard to answer, but this is what I have with my DeInterLaceCard
(for the A2000 video-slot):
I can easily fine-tune the the card in my A4000 and every other Amiga
I tried it except the A2000 I orginally had it for. That A2000 on the
other side will produce perfect pictures with an A2024-monitor (which
includes a FF). The A2024 will be a bit "jittered" on the A4k..
Don't know if these issues are still there with the more modern FFs.
2. No !! The Amiga doesn't see the FF, it just keeps producing normal
video-signals, which are later converted.
3. try the early-startup-menu.
4. Be sure that your monitor really goes to 30khz and 50 (PAL) or
60 (NTSC) Hz, which isn't allways the case with the current ones.
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1. How well do they work? Do they display a picture properly?
Yes, depending of the type. The internal ones (usually soldered) produce a more stable picture. I use an external flicker (Apollo) and I find it very good. The quality is "a little" bit worser than a standard VGA PC but 10 times better than the TV set or the 1048 specially using 640x512 interlaced workbench setups.
2. Would I have any problems playing older games or demos with one? How is the compatibility in general?
Scan doublers are not video cards. They just take the standard amiga signal and double the refresh rate. Old games *do work* ;-)
3. NTSC and PAL video modes: Once I use a scan doubler does this issue go away Or am I still gonna have PAL software not display correctly?
If it's an issue using a 1048 CRT, it will ALSO be an issue using the Scan Doubler/FF. If a part of the screen seems eaten because you are running the Amiga in NTSC mode and the game was meant for PAL, there's no way around it, just set the machine to PAL everytime you want to run a PAL app/game.
4. Any recommended one to buy?
I have an Apollo which is supposed to be crappy but I love it, specially because I paid 100 U$S (new) and is external -works with every type of Amiga.
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http://www.softhut.com/cgi-bin/test/Web_store/web_store.cgi?page=catalog/hardware/accelerators/scanmagic.html&cart_id=5268161_27964
Check this device out. I use this one all the time. It has a very good display and I've never had a problem with it.
You have to be fairly clever with opening and plugging stuff onto the motherboard.
It has a ribbon cable that extends outside the box and has the db15 vga connector on the end.
Good Luck!
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The one thing I don't like about SD/FF is having to use 50hz. It sucks. Some years ago there was a videoslot one that did 100hz I think.
One compatible with the A1200 that worked in all modes and did 100hz would be a cool thing.
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@ todd
I picked up an internal flicker fixer for my A2000 awhile back, think it's a MicroWay maybe, plugs into the internal video slot, works great, got it from Ebay. No probs whatever. :-D
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So is there dramatical difference in picture quality between internal and external sc (for a1200)?
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@Todd
If you were talking about the A2000, I would suggest the MicroWay flickerFixer (aka AGA 2000 "The flickerFixer"). I bought a used one several years ago for my A2000HD, and it has worked perfectly ever since. :-D
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Thanks for all the help everyone.
It is an A1200 I have. I had a 2000 several years ago, but now all i have is the 1200.
How is the quality on the ToastScan Scan doubler?
I see SoftHut has that one.
Thanks!
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I have two of the ToastScan SD/FF. They work well on my A4000 desktops and my one A4000 tower, but niether one works well on my lone A1200. It's almost as if there isn't enough voltage driving it or something. The picture is dark and I constantly have to adjust the phase to keep the image from shaking.
Anyone use a ToastScan on an A1200? I wonder if it's juts mine?