Viewsonic professional series CRT

[poordevil]

I have a Viewsonic 21inch CRT that I really like. My problem is that I can't get it to display my games in anything higher than 1600 x 1200. The monitor is suppose to be able display at 2048 x 1536, but it won't.

I have an adapter on my ATI HD4850 video card. it is a single port DVI male that inserts into the video card and the opposite end is analog female that receives my CRT cable.

This set up works fine for resolutions as high as 1600x 1200. That resolution seems to max out the DVI single port plug.

My question is would an adapter with a dual port DVI allow my CRT to display at the higher resolution of 2048 X 1536? The second part to my question is does such an adapter even exist? I went shopping at Fry's for one but all they had was single port DVI to analog adapters. Searching online I see the same thing, all the adapters are single port DVI. Here is a typical example that even mentions the max res attainable.

Cables Unlimited DVI To VGA Adapter
Connect your high performance graphics card to your CRT display with this adapter. This adapter is fully compliant with the DVI standard defined by DDWG (Digital Display Working Group) and features an ultra high bandwidth for resolutions up to 1600 x 1200.

So how does a old CRT buff get his monitor to display in the supported resolution of 2048 x 1536?

[poordevil]

One other piece of information I should mention. My existing Monitor cable is BNC video cable. BNC branches off into 5 connectors that attach to the monitor. There is also a DB-15 video port back there sitting idle. I don't have DB-15 video cable for it but I would get one if it would solve the problem. I don't even know what DB-15 video is.

[poordevil]

General
Type

VGA adapter
Connectivity
Connector(s)

1 x 15 pin HD D-Sub (HD-15) - female
Connector(s) (Other Side)

1 x 29 pin combined DVI - male

I found this adapter. Is that describing a dual port DVI plug?

[poordevil]

Yep, the dual port DVI adapter is what the CRT needed to bump up to 2048 X 1536. It came in the mail today. The dual port is not 2 adapters it is a single adapter with more pins to go into the DVI connection than a single port.

It is a big step up in resolution and it makes a difference in frame rates in this flight sim I am playing, Rise of Flight. I had to cut back on graphics options, especially AA which I only had on X2 anyway. I don't generally use it because I rather turn up resolution and AA seems to cost more than it's worth in FPS hits.

Also I had to go into the monitor settings and redo the vertical and horizontal settings to get the display to fill the screen properly. I was hoping that 75hz wouldn't leave me with any noticeable flutter, because I have been running at 85hz, but it seems smooth.

Someday I will get a an LCD display and catch up to the times. A couple of years ago I walked into Fry's and asked for the best LCD monitor they had. I walked out with a Sammy and after using it for about a week I returned it. I didn't like it at all. Compared to my CRT the display was washed out and grainy. If I shifted around in my computer chair or turned my head the image would vanish. I had to look exactly straight at it all the time.

This CRT I have now is even better than that older one which was pretty nice. I got it for free, the guy was upgrading to LCD and gave it away. I am sure they have improved the LCDs since that Sammy I tried. When this CRT burns out I will go with LCD, but for now this 4:3 CRT is fine.

[jlreich]

Though I would much rather have an LCD any day CRTs do actually have a better picture and better color reproduction.

Did you have to attach steel braces to you desk and beef up the joists in your floor boards to support that 21" monster? Fork lift to get it in the house? Is the EPA standing watch outside your house. :p :D

I am sure they have improved the LCDs since that Sammy I tried.
They have improved greatly over the last couple of years. Viewing angle is now very good on standard grade LCDs, and color reproduction is also better. Speed was an issue a couple years ago but 5ms and 2ms is fast enough for most things and is standard now. Back then 12ms definitely had some ghosting issues, 8ms wasn't too bad. But 5ms or lower is where it's at. Some discerning eyes insist on 2ms but I haven't had any issues with my 5ms 22".

If you are a graphics designer that requires excellent color reproduction you will want to go with either a very expensive LCD or just stick with a CRT, but for most people current LCD technology is more than good enough. And you certainly can't beat the low weight and small footprint of an LCD. Also a 22" or bigger widescreen is very nice. Lots of screen space to do all kinds of things.