computer monitor?

markboston36 · Post by **markboston36** » Thu Oct 22, 2020 3:52 pm

this is a better one: https://www.amazon.com/Eyoyo-Monitor-1024x768-Resolution-Portable/dp/B01FHDL1DE/ref=sr_1_4?dchild=1&keywords=portable+vga+monitor+4%3A3&qid=1603381011&sr=8-4

DoubleA · Post by **DoubleA** » Thu Oct 22, 2020 4:37 pm

13 hours ago, Cyber said:

Another important point is X16 outputs resolution of 640x480. So if you use LCD monitor with resolution which is not a multiple of these values, you will get a blurry image, because pixels will not match. So it is best to find 640x480 monitor (if such even exists) or 1280x960 (which is also not easy to find). Other approach is to choose very high resolution monitor like 4K or heck 8K - its resolution would not be multiple of 640x480, but it would be so high, that blurry effect would be almost unnoticable.

That is why lots of retro tech users choose to use 4:3 CRT monitors. CRT is analog and does not have fixed pixels on screen, thus does not care much about resolution, so it will display 640x480 nice and crisp. Besides, X16 case is a horizontal desktop type, and can host a CRT monitor on top of it, thus saving valuable space.

Well, that's something i do not completely understand.

Let's say we have an old 15" LCD and the resolution is a typical 1024x768.

1024-640 = 384 and 768-480 = 288 and those leftover pixels could be filled with the border colour.

Thus we have a fixed 640x480 resolution and a left/right border of 192 pixels + top/bottom border of 144 pixels around it.

Couldn't VERA handle that automatic "resolution filling/fitting"?

Ender · Post by **Ender** » Thu Oct 22, 2020 5:12 pm

32 minutes ago, DoubleA said:

Well, that's something i do not completely understand.

Let's say we have an old 15" LCD and the resolution is a typical 1024x768.

1024-640 = 384 and 768-480 = 288 and those leftover pixels could be filled with the border colour.

Thus we have a fixed 640x480 resolution and a left/right border of 192 pixels + top/bottom border of 144 pixels around it.

Couldn't VERA handle that automatic "resolution filling/fitting"?

It's the monitor's job to add a border or scale or do whatever, not the device sending the signal. Being able to fine tune the X and Y size isn't very common on modern monitors, usually they'll try to adjust it automatically. On my monitor, for instance, it has the option to add black borders on the left and right for non-native aspect ratios, but not on the top and bottom. So it will automatically scale to fit vertically. And since my Y resolution isn't a multiple of 480 (it's 1080), it would probably look blurry. Like Cyber said though, for really high resolutions like 4k or 8k, this isn't as much of an issue.

DoubleA · Post by **DoubleA** » Thu Oct 22, 2020 5:46 pm

28 minutes ago, Ender said:

It's the monitor's job to add a border or scale or do whatever, not the device sending the signal. Being able to fine tune the X and Y size isn't very common on modern monitors, usually they'll try to adjust it automatically. On my monitor, for instance, it has the option to add black borders on the left and right for non-native aspect ratios, but not on the top and bottom. So it will automatically scale to fit vertically. And since my Y resolution isn't a multiple of 480 (it's 1080), it would probably look blurry. Like Cyber said though, for really high resolutions like 4k or 8k, this isn't as much of an issue.

Hm, but if the monitor doesn't do it's job, the device could compensate that. E.g. most of those mini retro consoles offer some decent scaling performances (even with CRT effects).

Perifractic · Post by **Perifractic** » Thu Oct 22, 2020 6:02 pm

If you're still stuck for choices you can use any HDMI display by connecting the X16 to a RetroTink or similar upscaler.

TomXP411 · Post by **TomXP411** » Thu Oct 22, 2020 11:17 pm

I'm planning on using this with an Asus 27" monitor that has VGA, DVI, HDMI, and DisplayPort inputs.

There are still lots of VGA monitors out there... you do NOT want to mess with the composite display mode; composite is only good for 40 column graphics or black & white 80 column text - not 80 column color.

Here is an example of a sub-$100 monitor with VGA and HDMI:

https://www.amazon.com/Acer-SB220Q-Ultra-Thin-Frame-Monitor/dp/B07CVL2D2S/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=vga+monitor&qid=1603408597&sr=8-3

TomXP411 · Post by **TomXP411** » Thu Oct 22, 2020 11:18 pm

7 hours ago, markboston36 said:

this is a better one: https://www.amazon.com/Eyoyo-Monitor-1024x768-Resolution-Portable/dp/B01FHDL1DE/ref=sr_1_4?dchild=1&keywords=portable+vga+monitor+4%3A3&qid=1603381011&sr=8-4

Actually, that one is pretty terrible. It's actually a portrait display turned sideways, so there are some really distracting effects due to the different brightness levels your eyes see when looking at it horizontal. Do NOT buy that monitor, or any of the other ones based on that display panel.

Cyber · Post by **Cyber** » Fri Oct 23, 2020 7:24 am

This one looks promising for those who like small size: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32252491113.html

Too bad this one is out of stock: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32813732163.html

markboston36 · Post by **markboston36** » Sat Oct 24, 2020 2:15 pm

On 10/22/2020 at 7:18 PM, TomXP411 said:

Actually, that one is pretty terrible. It's actually a portrait display turned sideways, so there are some really distracting effects due to the different brightness levels your eyes see when looking at it horizontal. Do NOT buy that monitor, or any of the other ones based on that display panel.

didn't really look at it in great detail. i meant in terms of specs its better. guess the search continues.

troj · Post by **troj** » Sun Oct 25, 2020 12:58 pm

If someone really wants a composite monitor, I believe I have a couple from the 80s I'd be willing to part with for the cost of shipping materials and shipping - I'd need to fire them up, first, to see if they work. Note that they were given to me, and I'm pretty sure they're monochrome.