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.

[Krusher]

It eighter downscales the image (bad) or it doesn't show it.
Btw, there are hybrid lcd/tv pc monitors who are more then capable of showing Amiga resolutions, 20" goes to 1680x1050

Look for the Samsung Syncmaster 2032MW; It's listed for €283 in my country.

[Flashlab]

Can that monitor also handle lower resolutions well? A lot of LCD monitors have terrible display if not used with the native resolution...

[Krusher]

Flashlab wrote:
Can that monitor also handle lower resolutions well? A lot of LCD monitors have terrible display if not used with the native resolution...

An LCD monitor has only one native resolution (well, actually more, but you don't want to go that way)

It however looks a lot better then the other way around (downscaling a larger resolution on a low resolution screen)
And some monitors have an option to add a border to the unused part of the lower resolution, resulting in the same sharpness as the native mode. But you'll have to deal with the border(s)

Too bad they don't behave like CRT's, but that's just the downside of LCD's.

[Flashlab]

Yeah I know how it works, but do you know about this particular Samsung monitor how it behaves? I have seen monitors that display non-native resolutions quite ok and some that make a horrible mess out of it.

[Krusher]

I have no experience with that monitor, perhaps you should ask people at http://gathering.tweakers.net subforum Videoplanken&Beeldkannonen or click me
Please do a search first, they are picky like that if you start a topic without searching first.

For international users, it's a Dutch only site, but if you are friendly and post in English, people are willing to help.

[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 ?

[Krusher]

That Samsung model has both scart and a VGA input.
Basically what you need is an Amiga video cable with a vga connector and the scart connector.

[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.

[Krusher]

It beats a dual monitor setup if you lack space and money  :lol:

AFAIK there is no lcd monitor that is capable of using one input only on all resolutions.

And since CRT's are end of line, and cannot cope with Amiga PAL/NTSC resolutions anymore, you are out of luck.

[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.

[Krusher]

I've never seen a VGA 50hz capable lcd monitor in my life. Well, the ones I looked at given a certain price range. Perhaps Eizo have them or Sony professional (broadcast) monitors, but they are VERY expensive. If you really need realtime switching (for what purpose?) then you'd be better off with a dual monitor setup. If you have a pc, you can use the dvi input as well, and span the monitor in Windows XP for extra large real estate  :-D

But, again, I don't know your budget and if you have room for a solution like that.

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

Actually I tried to change my avatar but no luck, animated gif's aren't accepted  :-?

[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.

[Krusher]

My time is your time, we Amigans stick together you know  :-D

Oh and about the empty bed, more room for me  :lol:

[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.