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Amiga computer related discussion => Amiga Hardware Issues and discussion => Topic started by: Examigan on July 05, 2023, 05:58:08 PM

Title: Amiga 500 and LCD monitor, using VGA adapter, will it show all 4096 colors?
Post by: Examigan on July 05, 2023, 05:58:08 PM

I am happy to report I finally have an Amiga 500 after selling my A2000 around 1995. 

I was wondering if I will be able to see and use all of the colors if I am using a VGA adapter so that it works with my Acer LCD montor?  I don't have any HAM slideshows on hand yet to see how it looks and to test it out, just a few floppies that it came with such as Workbench, etc. The 500 is working well so far and I hope to find some used software soon.

Back in the day I remember it looking nice on the Commodore monitor I bought with the A2000, but I wasn't sure how it works in relation to using it with the VGA adapter I bought for it. 

Title: Re: Amiga 500 and LCD monitor, using VGA adapter, will it show all 4096 colors?
Post by: vince_6 on July 05, 2023, 06:46:44 PM

If your monitor supports 15KHz, you will be able to see PAL/NTSC with full color spectrum.
If not and your Amiga is a Plus model, then you must choose some VGA resolutions which have limited color palette.
With VGA you cannot see default Amiga resolutions or play games.

Title: Re: Amiga 500 and LCD monitor, using VGA adapter, will it show all 4096 colors?
Post by: Examigan on July 05, 2023, 07:43:20 PM

It's a standard A500 and not a Plus model. 

i just checked out the monitor's specs, looks like I am out of luck:

Horizontal scan range 30 - 80 kHz
Vertical scan range 55 - 75 Hz

It does boot up OK and I can see the desktop at least. This A500 had one old game with it called Zany Golf which worked ok, but it doesn't really show off all the colors like (e.g.) a HAM image slideshow would.

Title: Re: Amiga 500 and LCD monitor, using VGA adapter, will it show all 4096 colors?
Post by: Examigan on July 05, 2023, 08:07:28 PM

Actually I just checked what I ordered and installed just recently and it's an Amiga-Kit RGB to SVGA (versus VGA) buffered adapter. 

Would that make a difference color-wise?

Title: Re: Amiga 500 and LCD monitor, using VGA adapter, will it show all 4096 colors?
Post by: vince_6 on July 05, 2023, 08:17:37 PM

I remember that I used to ran Dune 2 with a vga adapter, the game was ignoring the chipset and worked fine on dbpal

Title: Re: Amiga 500 and LCD monitor, using VGA adapter, will it show all 4096 colors?
Post by: nbache on July 05, 2023, 08:41:22 PM

@Examigan

Quote

Horizontal scan range 30 - 80 kHz
Vertical scan range 55 - 75 Hz

It does boot up OK and I can see the desktop at least.

If you can see the desktop, either Workbench is using a VGA compatible screenmode, or your monitor can sync lower than its specs seem to imply.

When you have booted to WB, try checking Screenmode Prefs (if you're running a new enough OS version - which one is it, BTW?) and see which screenmode it is using and its frequencies.

Best regards,

Niels

Title: Re: Amiga 500 and LCD monitor, using VGA adapter, will it show all 4096 colors?
Post by: Examigan on July 05, 2023, 08:59:38 PM

Quote from: nbache on July 05, 2023, 08:41:22 PM

@Examigan
If you can see the desktop, either Workbench is using a VGA compatible screenmode, or your monitor can sync lower than its specs seem to imply.

When you have booted to WB, try checking Screenmode Prefs (if you're running a new enough OS version - which one is it, BTW?) and see which screenmode it is using and its frequencies.

Best regards,

Niels

It is WB 1.3.3 (revision 34.34)