Amiga Monitor VS A520

[Super TWiT]

I have a couple of questions about the amiga a520 and the capabilities of a monitor:

1: I've heard that the a520 doesn't work with all models. Is that true?
2: Is there any advantage to using a real monitor? Can it display more screenmodes?

The reason I ask is that I might be able to get an amiga 1000 monitor for free. However, since I have an a520 I don't know if I can justify picking one up.

[save2600]

An Amiga RGB monitor is going to blow away anything that outputs a composite or RF signal. Resolution, color saturation & accuracy especially.

IIRC, you'll also have trouble switching between PAL & NTSC modes with the 520 adapter as well. If you only intend to play games on your Amiga, then perhaps a larger screen using composite output will be good enough.

[som99]

I have a couple of questions about the amiga a520 and the capabilities of a monitor:

1: I've heard that the a520 doesn't work with all models. Is that true?
2: Is there any advantage to using a real monitor? Can it display more screenmodes?

The reason I ask is that I might be able to get an amiga 1000 monitor for free. However, since I have an a520 I don't know if I can justify picking one up.

You cant even compare a A520 with a Cmonitor. In my honest opinion the A520 is crap, and Id use a real monitor any day. You will be able to show difrent screen modes alot better on a monitor, using Dpaint with HAM mode on a monitor looks great.

but it all depends on what requirements you have and what you are going to use your Amiga for.

This is all my opinions, surley someone will bash me, but this is how I see it.

[broken]

Yes you should go and get the RGB monitor.

Like the others have said, the A520 never did a particularly good job of video output of either composite or RF. Since I am guessing you are in the USA, you won't be able to display PAL video on your TV (at least not in colour).

Where as with the Amiga RGB monitor (is it a 1080 or 1084 that you are considering?) you will get sharp, crystal clear video and the ability to display both NTSC and PAL video (good for euro games and demos).

Unless you absolutely need a bigger screen than the Amiga RGB monitors, you would be silly to pass it up.

[Super TWiT]

What kind of problems does the a520 have with pal/ntsc switching and screenmodes?

[Matt_H]

What kind of problems does the a520 have with pal/ntsc switching and screenmodes?

It's wired up for either/or, not both. An RGB monitor will handle any 15KHz mode the Amiga can output, with maximum signal quality.

[broken]

What kind of problems does the a520 have with pal/ntsc switching and screenmodes?

Problem is that it doesn't display them. At least not PAL ones, anyways.

This is of course assuming you are using an NTSC Amiga with an NTSC A520.

At best you will get a black and white picture. Worst: a rolling black and white picture.

Go with the monitor. You'll be better off.

[Speelgoedmannetje]

You could as well make (or let someone with some soldering skills make) an RGB SCART adapter yourself. It's very straightforward, the signals are the same, no circuits needed.
Or, well, if you live in the USA and cannot get any SCART TV's, you can also use this RGB-to-component encoder

[tone007]

If RGB isn't an option, this is a good device to get.  http://amigamaniac.com/RGB_to_PAL_NTSC_adapter.html

Much better than the A520.

[Super TWiT]

So, other than a commodore monitor, there is no way to get pal and ntsc to work on the same setup? I have an a500 with a fatter agnus and ks 1.3. I just don't wan't to take a whole lot of room at this point.

[Matt_H]

So, other than a commodore monitor, there is no way to get pal and ntsc to work on the same setup? I have an a500 with a fatter agnus and ks 1.3. I just don't wan't to take a whole lot of room at this point.

I think the device tone007 linked to will do both. And then there's the Indivision ECS, of course.

[Super TWiT]

It does both but what about my tv? Will modulate a pal signal to work on an ntsc tv?

[ChaosLord]

2: Is there any advantage to using a real monitor? Can it display more screenmodes?

Amiga Monitor has way the hell better picture quality!

Amiga monitor has ALL the advantages and none of the disadvantages of a crappy tv.

Amiga monitors can easily display PAL and NTSC.

[Super TWiT]

Ah well, I asked the guy that was selling it if I could pick it up, but he said its sold.... So guess that answers that. But is there any way I could get a standard ntsc tv to display both?

[tone007]

Most TVs in the US are NTSC only, at least older CRT types are.

One of these would convert PAL to NTSC, though this particular one doesnt seem to have  S-Video, which is the best way to go if you don't have VGA/RGB.

http://cgi.ebay.com/High-Quality-PAL-NTSC-TV-Video-System-Converter-Y33-/120500335330?cmd=ViewItem&pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c0e6132e2