VGA Monitor for Amiga 4000

[Invisix]

Hey all, I finally got one. I purchased an Amiga 4000 on eBay complete with it's original box, styrofoam, docs, etc.

I havn't been able to try it out yet due ot lack of a monitor. :-(

I recently purchased a 23-pin - 15-pin convertor for it, so my question is this, which VGA monitor should I get, and where can I purchase it? I know Amiga's basically only support 15Khz, so I need a brand and a place to purchase the VGA monitor from.

Thanks!  :-D

[Jeff]

I have an Amiga 4000 also.  It's not really going to support a true VGA monitor without a graphics card.   You would need a monitor that supports 15.75 khz to even set the up one of the VGA screenmodes.  Your best bet to test it out is an old A520 composite adaptor from an Amiga 500.  Otherwise to really get the most from your 4000 you will need an NEC 3D, C=1942/1960, or other monitor that supports both 15.75 and 31+ khz screens.  Fire it up without a monitor and see if you get any HD activity.  You'll be able to tell without a monitor by watching the power and hard drive leds if it's booting up.  

If it works I would STRONGLY recommend a Picasso IV instead of a special monitor.  Alternatives might be some other flicker fixer/scan doubler and graphics card combo.  Perhaps an old GVP Spectrum or Picasso II and an Amber board A2320?  This way you can use virtually any monitor instead of being locked into older specialty ones.  I LOVE the Picasso IV in my A4000.

BTW open that puppy up and make sure the battery isn't corroding away the motherboard!  

Congrats!

Jeff

[Invisix]

Does the Picasso IV allow games and tech demo's to be played?

[Bodie]

Damnit, only we Bodies seem to be cursed with nonworking A4000 from eBay :-(  :-D  :hammer:

[Matt_H]

Your best bet to test it out is an old A520 composite adaptor from an Amiga 500.

Doesn't the 4000 have a built in composite port? :-? The 1200 does, and some older Amigas have a monochrome one.

For multiscan monitors, I recommend the CEI 1962, AKA Electrohome 1440, AKA Amiga M1468 (or something like that). Decent picture quality, and it's true multisync, from 15KHz to 31KHz+, so even Super72 will work (useful for big screens without a GFX card.

In theory, OS3.9.2 can promote the Early Startup Menu up to 31KHz, but I haven't had any success with that on my 1200. If you can get that to work, you can even boot the machine into DblNTSC or DblPAL for old games. If you can get all this working, and use Mutiscan or similar for your Workbench screenmode, you might be able to surive with a standard VGA monitor. This might be a good temporary solution.

Like Jeff says, though, the PicassoIV is probably the best choice compatibility-wise, and in terms of ease-of-use.

[TjLaZer]

Nope the Amiga 4000 does not have a Composite port.  The original poster needs to get a Scan Doubler card that goes into the Video slot or a Graphics card that has a built in scan doubler.  I had a Picasso IV before and I now have a Cybervision 64/3D with Scan Doubler.  It works great.  A cheaper option than the PIV also.  The regular Cybervision or Spectrum cards do not have a Scan Doubler so the user will not be able to set up the OS for the card!!!  He should get a RGB monitor or A520 adaptor.  Kinda a tough situation to be in.

[Akiko]

If you have an a500 modulator lying around it should work with your a4000

[HopperJF]

if not i have a spare on here i will post to you

[dandelion]

I'd be VERY interested to hear if you (or anyone else on here) has had success with a cheap non-commodore VGA adaptor. Just a plastic affair that links up the various required pins rather than having any ICs in it. I've tried using one with my A4000 and cannot get it to work. If someone has had success with this type of adaptor it might mean my a4k is knackered.

By the way, rather than messing around with modulators for your a4000, why not just buy a scart lead which connects to the RGB port? This will also have sound connectors and will give a better picture than an old modulator.

[StevenJGore]

SHAMELESS PLUG:

You will be able to use ANY monitor you like with your A4000 by using an internal scan doubler and flicker fixer. I just happen to be selling one on ebay UK at the moment (with worldwide shipping):

A1200/A4000 Scan Doubler & Flicker Fixer

It clips onto the AGA chips in the A4000/A1200 and allows all Amiga screen modes to be displayed on any PC monitor, via a standard VGA connector on the end of a cable.

Steve.

[Colmiga]

Problem with connecting the pins of the two connectors directly is that the A4000 will think the VGA monitor is a genlock and will not run in the 31KHz modes (strange innit?). The commodore adaptors have an IC on the board (forget the model number) to circumvent this problem.

I believe there are instructions on Aminet on how to construct an adaptor with the IC needed to make it work.