2D Image Quality

[KingJackal]

Well - I've been testing the Chaintech GeForce4 Ti4600 and the ATi Radeon 7500 that are sitting here. I was impressed with the Ti4600 - until it came time ( and all too soon ) to start hammering away with CHEM work in Excel. Ohhhh no - this card is good for gaming, but the acid test burnt it. Up to scratch? Not really.... :( So the Ti4600 is looking all alone sitting on my bench while the Radeon 7500 kicks it in my rig. Seriously!

....now, there's a small bottleneck problem. The Radeon 7500 IS better than the Chaintech, BUT it STILL gives the same ghosting!! ( only less so ) The same blurry bits come up etc :(. So, thinks me, it's my monitor. I move the window around the screen, and the artifacts FOLLOW. So, thinks me, it's not the filters ( unless I need something even BETTER :eek:, ie Matrox ), and it's not the monitor.

Could it be the cable? :confused:
Could it be interfearance from my TV/sound/network card(s)? :confused:
Could it be something else? :confused:

I'm only running 1600x1200x32@75Hz - this is nothing insane!

Ah wells, more testing awaits me....

BTW, have any of you guys played around with better quality VGA cables to your monitors at high resolutions? Any better?

[Hans]

Yeap, they make a difference @ high resolution, like the one you are using.

I had a big fat VGA cable back in TW with a 19" monitor (can't remember the model, made by MAG). It really improves the 2D quality. I don't know how to describe that, but the image is cleaner.

[paul rhee]

what is your monitor? and D-SUB cable does make a difference in IQ.. the ones from Canopus are awesome.. gold plate :-) nearly comparable to BNC ones. and if it is ghosting, have you tried to adjust your convergence and moare?

[KingJackal]

Thanks for the suggestions Paul - good calls, but unfortunately that ain't it.

It's a ViewSonic E790. ( identical to E95 - except weight and operating temps :p )

Hmmm - I know what you mean Hans.

Lol - might be time for a monitor and cable upgrade. And yeah, BNC is always a consideration - though the cables cost an INSANE amount of $$$s new ( D-SUB to BNC's were around $80 last time I checked :eek: ).

Well, I'll sort out my water cooling and case first - but monitor upgrade, hmmm..... :)

[SecretSquirrel]

Could it be magnetic interference?

Try slapping on a Toroid (sp) or two. A cheaper alternative, for sure.

[Artifice]

i downloaded the "dvi specification datasheet" from the "digital display working group" website.

it looks like
1600x1200x32bit color= maximum bandwith at 60 hz
1280x1024x 32 bits = 85 hz

above these rates you need 2 channels.

however my g-force 4 output modes says it can do.
1600x1200x32@100hz
1280x1024x32@150hz

i dont know if this helps, but i reccommend reading the pdf.

[KingJackal]

Originally posted by Artifice
1600x1200x32bit color= maximum bandwith at 60 hz
1280x1024x 32 bits = 85 hz

above these rates you need 2 channels.

however my g-force 4 output modes says it can do.
1600x1200x32@100hz
1280x1024x32@150hz


That sounds about right. Analogue outputs have a LOT more ceiling than DVI outputs. I'm not sure about BNC, but I'd imagine it to be higher again.

I'll try pulling out PCI cards, moving speakers ( even if they are sheilded ), cables and the like tonight - never know, might get lucky and find where the noise is coming from ;)

[Geek4Life]

well if the ghosting still occurs when moving the window around the display, wouldn't that then be a problem with your mouse

[Solid Snake]

:) I knew Geforce 4's had bad 2D display, but hopefully they'll be okay at 1280 X 1024 X 32 @ 100 hz. This is what I normally run at ... I don't even go to 1600 X 1200.

Mmmm, we'll hopefully I see it soon. Two days is too far away.

[Ragnor]

What happens when you move yourself away from the monitor.. ?

Maybe you've gone radioactive and started putting out EMI from too much time wh0r3 'n the forum.. hehe jks


:o

Did changing the monitor cable have any effect or not go round to it yet..?

[S.T.U.]

It could well be the monitor.... they have a max RESolution and a recommended RES.... in all monitors there is a shadow mask ( or something similar that is there to focus the 3 colours ( this is whre dot pitch comes into it). so if your using anything other than twth recommended RES your picture quality shouldn't be as good...

another thing to note is that my monitor has a vertical and horizontal focus.... i ppresume that this is use to fix ghosting.... it might pay to see if your monitors got the same option !!!

[KingJackal]

Trust me, EVERY setting this monitor has on the outside is perfect.

I WOULD pull her open and get out my screwdriver and tweak her a bit more, but I don't want to lose warranty on it :rolleyes:..... yet ;)

I'll try it in some lower res' and see if it does the same. But no, it ain't a focus, convergance, moire or gauss effect.

[Deviant]

Have you got a window mod? They cause heaps of inteference.

Also I made up DB21 to BNC cable for a 20'' monitor I'm running now, cause I didn't get given one when I got it, and it works great. Easy to mak so you could try that.

[KingJackal]

Originally posted by Deviant
Have you got a window mod? They cause heaps of inteference.

*looks at side of case*
*there IS no sides of case*

ummmm.... weeellllll..... :o

[Deviant]

a ha, try that as I'm sure you are now.

[Mobius]

... that you are getting weird performance. I don't know the E790, but I do know the E95 (I sell lots of them) and I wouldn't advise anyone to run that monitor at higher than 1280x960.

There's a line-in-the-sand for those entry level 19" screens, and at 1280x1024 you've passed it: Even with a great Matrox pushing them, they suffer badly at wake-up time - causing disturbances across protions of the screen that disappear after warming up.

For just a *little* bit more, do yourself a huge favour and go PF790 - which is a very good part. Crystal clear at 1600x1200x85Hz.

I'd also add that you really want a 21" for 1600 mode, and the Philips 201P (My current main screen) is brilliant.

[KingJackal]

Originally posted by Mobius
... that you are getting weird performance. I don't know the E790, but I do know the E95 (I sell lots of them) and I wouldn't advise anyone to run that monitor at higher than 1280x960.

There's a line-in-the-sand for those entry level 19" screens, and at 1280x1024 you've passed it: Even with a great Matrox pushing them, they suffer badly at wake-up time - causing disturbances across protions of the screen that disappear after warming up.

For just a *little* bit more, do yourself a huge favour and go PF790 - which is a very good part. Crystal clear at 1600x1200x85Hz.

I'd also add that you really want a 21" for 1600 mode, and the Philips 201P (My current main screen) is brilliant.

Thanks, but being a poor student, this monitor was of course second-hand. A new PF790 isn't a *little* bit more at all.....
;) ;)

And warm-up isn't really much of an issue, as it tends to be on for around 12 hours a day, and that's straight ;).

But yeah, I know it's an entry level monitor ( wasn't expecting pro performance ). It's still better than any Proview I've seen ( hehe :D ), but yes - I'd kill for a P95F+ or similar *drools*.

Ah wells, here's hoping somebody wants to sell a 1year old one for cheap.... :D