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Amiga computer related discussion => Amiga Hardware Issues and discussion => Topic started by: motorollin on January 27, 2006, 05:42:47 PM
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I went in to ASDA wondering if they had a decent LCD TV, one with both SCART and VGA inputs. I found a 15" one for £169 and bought it. It was branded "Dual" and the model number is DLCD1501.
1024x768 from my Voodoo looks great, but I was initially a little bit disappointed with the SCART display as it looked in a way too good - you could see every pixel and it was a bit blocky, whereas on a TV it looks a bit softer. Then I found that the SCART input has an optional sharpening filter which was enabled. I set it to normal, and instantly games looked much softer.
I would definitely recommend this screen for Amiga users who have a graphics card and want a monitor to display all screenmodes, and also those who are looking for a cost-effective solution for the scandoubler problem.
The only problem is that you have to manually switch from VGA to AV with the remote, but it's a small inconvenience.
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moto
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That sounds tempting!
I was going to give a heads up for the ones in Woolworths but I'm not sure they're as good.
· Crown 20" LCD TV
· Maximum resolution 640x480
· PAL 50/NTSC 60 compatible
· SCART input
· Phono input
· £299.99
As you can see, 640x480 probably isn't even good enough for Hi-Res Laced but maybe I'll try it. They'll give you a refund if you're not happy!
I'll definately check out the ASDA one but 15" isn't that big is it...
Does it have different channel memories that can store different screen settings/sizes? That'd rock for switching between PAL demos and NTSC games etc.
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I would prefer a slightly smaller screen with a higher resolution personally.
I don't understand what you mean by channel memories. SCART doesn't have channels, it's just an RGB or composite signal. The display size on the screen is determined by the signal, unless your screen allows you to stretch it (this one doesn't).
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moto
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Yeah me too!
The thought of staring at a low resolution blur at 20" isn't too appealing.
What I mean by channels is, buttons to switch between say preset 1, preset 2 etc.
preset 1 could be 640x512 stretched to fit the whole screen, whereas preset 2 would be 640x400 NTSC with the display moved to avoid overlapping etc.
Digital memories I suppose would be the CRT phrase.
Screen resizing would be essential to me as neither PAL/NTSC are perfect 4:3 aspect ratio and I prefer to watch TV where people don't look like either Lauryl or Hardy!
:-)
I think Woolies did a 32" widescreen LCD too for £600 which was really nice, don't know what resolution was though.
Does the Asda one have speakers?
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That's good news. No, actually it's great news!
I have been meaning to buy the new scandoubler/flickerfixer from Amigakit - I still might.
Do you get flicker on this TV - or is it solved with being LCD?
Shame about manually switching from VGA to SVGA/XVGA
I might check out the similar priced TV in Tescos just in case it automatically switches! However if you still get flicker - I'll just go with Amigakit and use a 17" LCD monitor!
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I don't think you'll get the flickering of a CRT but 60Hz NTSC will move smoother than 50Hz PAL.
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There is no flicker. The TV doubles the scan rate and stabilises the image so it displays perfectly on the LCD. And yes it does have speakers built in, but I don't know what they sound like as I'm using external ones.
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moto
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This sounds interesting is there any screenies :-)
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nasty wrote:
This sounds interesting is there any screenies :-)
In progress :-)
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moto
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Hey there's a Beastie Boys album called 'Hello Nasty' and a mobile phone slogan 'Hello Moto'...
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I've just bought a Dell 19" TFT display (200 UKpounds) for my peecee. My A1200T with a Voodoo5 running under Picasso 96 can output at least one screenmode (1120x832x32bit at 60Hz/59KHz)which is within range of the Dell. It (the Amiga screen)is superb. Anything that insists on outputting native modes can be promoted to the Dell using NewMode (Aminet), a top notch utility. No Early Boot Screen of course, but I have a very old Microvitec if I need to see that.
Don't know very much about it all, but spending 250 pounds on an LCD tv sounds like the wrong move. Sorry if I've misunderstood, but can't see why expensive tv's should be used for Amigas.
Cheers, JaX
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What I don't understand is you having a 19" LCD on your desk with a Microvitec just to display the early boot menu!
:-)
Surely it'd be best to kill two birds with one stone?
If you can get an LCD TV that accepts TV, DVD, Amiga AND PC then it's gotta be good thing.
Phase5 messed up when they left out a scandoubler/FF from the BlizzardVision/CyberVision PPC because everyone had to buy a monitor switcher/dongle and keep two different screens on the desk. CRAZY!
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@Hyperspeed
I don't. The old multiscan is in the shed in case I need it. The Dell TFT is 3 inches thick and also displays TV (via Amiga & pc tv cards), DVD, Amiga native (promoted) and PC.
My desk space is full of papers instead of hardware! I guess you pays your money and makes your choice.
Mmm, the Phase5 legacy.... I only used a Picasso 4 (also in the shed) so the SD/FF issue didn't arise, but with a Mediator/Voodoo5/Picasso96 setup, you don't need a SD/FF anyway.
Cheers, JaX
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Displaying TV through a PCI TV card is hardly making it 15Khz compatible and thus not only can you not see the Amiga's bootup menu but you'll be unable to see 99.996% of the games and demos!
The reason the Picasso-IV whooped the CV64 was because it had a fabulous 15KHz integration via the video slot. Ignore the custom chips at your peril!
What is your P-IV doing in the shed!? I'd swap that for a Voodoo any day, they're going for £150+ on eBay!
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You're right, I miss the demos. Games? I was always useless...spent too much time learning LightWave to bother with games. But remember I still have the Microvitec should I fancy getting behind the wheel of the Lotus Turbo again..
Yep, the Picasso 4 is Fabulous and worth all of £150 today. Today that is......
Cheers, JaX
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Are there websites that have the Lightwave models for the Babylon 5 shows, or perhaps Robocop TV series?
As for displays, what's the score when it comes to Amigas and HDTV/Widescreen/Plasmas?
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Hyperspeed wrote:
Are there websites that have the Lightwave models for the Babylon 5 shows, or perhaps Robocop TV series?
I saw a sight with models for Bab5 some time ago, but haven't seen anything available for a while now.
Personally, I would love to have a PIV. Seems to be the best option for Amiga video cards. I'm also curious about how good the mediator/voodoo option is. I've read that promoted screens can be really slow. Is that much of an issue? Does it work well with WHDLoad games?
-Oli
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I'll definately check out the ASDA one but 15" isn't that big is it...
Bigger than you may expect. My old (most?) 17" CRT had a viewable screen area of 15.1". LCD screen measurements generally refer to the viewable area so the actual visible screen would be almost the same as that of a 17" CRT.
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Yes screen promotion through Voodoo5/TFT is relatively slow, but then the Amiga is relatively slow anyway. Wouldn't suit gamers even if it worked. Don't know anything about the other stuff.
Babylon 5 Models (http://www.ultradrive.com/b5_3d_index.htm) for LightWave 3D. And another two seconds Googling got a Robocop model (http://www.turbosquid.com/FullPreview/Index.cfm/ID/206010), but you have to buy that one. You can find 'em if you look for 'em.
Cheers, JaX
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I've just posted some pics of the screen. They're not approved yet, but keep an eye on my album (http://www.amiga.org/gallery/index.php?u=3540) if you want to see them.
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moto
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... My old (most?) 17" CRT had a viewable screen area of 15.1". LCD screen measurements generally refer to the viewable area so the actual visible screen would be almost the same as that of a 17" CRT.
My 17" monitor has 16" viewable. I think 15.1" viewable is a bit of a rip for a 17" monitor. I'm still interested in the unit you described as an Amiga monitor though.
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Album Link (http://www.amiga.org/gallery/index.php?u=3540)
Those images look really good. But i'm waiting on someone to tell you to buy cable ties :-), theres always someone b*tching about untidy cables :lol:
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Haha, my other half cable ties everything to death. Looks very neat and tidy but you should hear the language that comes out of his mouth when he has to undo it all to move something :lol: That's why I don't cable tie things until I have them set up just right and know for sure I'm not moving anything.
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moto
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There's also a number of options for temporary ties. Anyway, one can exacerbate noise problems by tying signal lines together, or to power lines.
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@JaXanim:
1120x832? Isnt your TFTs native resolution 1280x1024 at 60Hz, which your voodoo should have no problem displaying?
/Patrik
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Oliver wrote:
There's also a number of options for temporary ties.
Yeah but I'm too lazy :roll:
Oliver wrote:
Anyway, one can exacerbate noise problems by tying signal lines together, or to power lines.
That's good enough for me - no cable ties today! :-P
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moto
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NEC 1802 multisync......mmmmm. :-D
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@patrik
The Voodoo outputs 1280x1024 at 91Hz which is too fast, but NewMode appears capable of fixing this as well as the higher resolutions. I say appears to 'cos I've just lost output from the TFT by failing to save the NewMode settings, Doh! Out with the Microvitek damn and frig!!
JaX
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This has appeared on radar:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=5862569568
1024x768 too...
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I just went to ASDA's UK website to see if I could find one of these DLCD1501s. I got a bad vibe when loading the web page and it just came up grey. After enabling javascript I managed to view some childrens CDs and then was told:
"YOUR COMPUTER IS TOO DAMN OLD, SOD OFF!"
It was phrased "Please download a new browser, you can only use IE 4 and above" or something dumb like that. I was using IBrowse2.3 with Javascript, SSL and everything. ASDA is the only website to give me grief to date on IBrowse.
http://www.asda.com/asda_shop/sys/web_sys01_b_initialise.jsp
I might have to check my local store, maybe give them a piece of my mind!
:-D
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@motorollin
How do you connect your Amiga to your LCD? Is it a cable that goes from the 23-pin Amiga video port to the SCART input. Or is it a phono type connection to the composite video output of the Amiga?