What is a 640x400 LCD TV supposed to do with higher resolutions ?

[arkpandora]

Hi,

Here is another LCD-TV-related newbie question.  I am considering buying a small (20') LCD TV that can fit on my desk, but most of these TV have a native resolution of only 640x400.  So what happens when they have to display 640x512 PAL High Res Laced or some higher resolution ?  Unlike LCD monitors, are they all able to scale down higher resolutions than the native one ?

Thank you for any LCD-TV-related knowledgeable answer.

[arkpandora]

Thank you for your replies.

My current LCD monitor (a 17' NEC MultiSync LCD1770GX) has no RGB input and is unable to display any lower frequency than 56 Hz.  As I also have a flicker-fixed Amiga, if I change monitors I would prefer the new one to be able to display 50 Hz through the VGA input.  But the Samsung 2032MW is rated 56 Hz only as well.  Has anyone tried to input 50 Hz through the VGA-in of this monitor ?  Or does anybody know another LCD monitor that has both a SCART RGB input and the ability of displaying a 50 Hz VGA screen ?

[arkpandora]

That's right, but then you have to select another input on the  monitor every time you want to display a 50 Hz screen.

[arkpandora]

Some LCD monitors are definitely able to display 50 Hz VGA screens, what are PAL screens once they have gone through a flicker-fixer, so there may be such a monitor that in addition is equipped with a RGB input.  Then not only could I use only one monitor whatever the Amiga, but I could use only one input if this Amiga has a flicker-fixer.

Given the late hour, I suppose that Buffy is now out vampire-slaying.

[arkpandora]

Well, no, I haven't the room or budget for such a solution.  I will stick to one affordable monitor.

Thank you again for your help - and time.

Buffy is out indeed (looks at empty bed) :-(

How sad.

[arkpandora]

I forgot to add that displaying 50 Hz screens through an Amiga flicker-fixer connected to the VGA input, rather than the native Amiga output connected to the RGB input, has also the advantage of preserving a 24-bit palette, which to my knowledge is reduced to something like 16 or 18-bit when it goes through the built-in flicker-fixer of a LCD monitor's RGB input.

I see that the 932MW is another (smaller - 19' instead of 20) Samsung model that has RGB inputs.

[arkpandora]

Buffy is always there when you need her.

At all hours of the day, I mean.

[arkpandora]

Thanks Flashlab for your report.

The LG M1721TA and M1921TA models might suit a PAL Amiga better than the two Samsung models, because their native resolution is 1280x1024, that is both the same ratio as PAL Low and High Res modes, and an exact multiple.  Scaling would then bring better results.

[arkpandora]

Good point.  But then at least the native resolution is not a multiple of the PAL one, so the monitor has to use anti-aliasing tricks, when a 1024-wide screen just uses several pixels instead of one.

OK, there isn't much difference between 1024 and 1050.

[arkpandora]

What's the "problem" with 320x240 ?

[arkpandora]

I thought you were talking about PAL Low Res, but if I understand you well your 320x240 is a custom mode of the graphic card.

So you can confirm that PAL Low Res 320x200(256) doesn't create problems when displayed through the SCART or S-Video input.

I will probably buy a monitor tomorrow, so the fate of my computing future is resting with you right now.

[arkpandora]

All right !  It seems there's nothing to choose between this Samsung and those LG, but as my Samsung vacuum cleaner was a real crap, I will probably buy a LG...

[arkpandora]

I'm sure I am going to dream of red and white gingham boing balls trying to escape fat and Stock-Exchange-diagram-blue Samsung vacuum cleaners tonight.

[arkpandora]

Thank you for this vivid preview.

I have ordered it today... the same Samsung !  The LG monitors I was interested in were either more expensive or unavailable here in Belgium.

[arkpandora]

And we could have arranged some Beneluxsamsamigans meeting.