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Author Topic: LCD monitors and VGA video cards  (Read 18419 times)

marc_mcdonald2b

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LCD monitors and VGA video cards
« on: January 09, 2008, 06:15:05 pm »

I do a lot of field photography for work and because of the travel, work exclusively with a laptop. I've been happy with the color matching between my Epson 3800 prints and the Sony GDM-F520 monitor I've been using, but when I heard a local store was closing and selling off their Apple Cinemaview displays I though there might be an opportunity to update my setup to an LCD monitor. (At this point I should say I use a color managed workflow, calibrating my monitor and generating profiles with Optix XR and Monaco EZColor. My laptop is an IBM T60P with an ATI Mobility FireGL discrete graphics chipset (256 MB). The ATI output is VGA, not DVI.) I took my laptop to the store to see what the display would look like and found that after trying various adapters, which seem to fit fine, the salesman could not get any image at all on the Apple. I also wanted to look at the NEC 2690wuxi but figured I would have the same problem. After this long-winded explanation here's my question; is there an adapter that will allow my video card to work with DVI monitors and if so is it a bad idea to do that for color-critical work? Should I just wait until I replace this computer (which could be a few years since I'm pretty happy with its performance) and not worry about replacing my CRT until then? I should also point out I'm not having any issues with the Sony, except for its size and weight (its actually warping my desk). Any opinions would be greatly appreciated.

Marc
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jackbingham

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« Reply #1 on: January 09, 2008, 06:55:33 pm »

Sounds to me like you should strengthen the desk. That Sony monitor is a really good lead weight. i would use it as long as I could.

Jack
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Jack Bingham
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marc_mcdonald2b

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« Reply #2 on: January 09, 2008, 09:04:38 pm »

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Sounds to me like you should strengthen the desk. That Sony monitor is a really good lead weight. i would use it as long as I could.

Jack
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=166222\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Thanks for the reply. I'm not surprised by the answer. I'm sure there's better monitors out there, but the Sony has always looked good to me.

Marc
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kaelaria

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« Reply #3 on: January 09, 2008, 09:48:55 pm »

You can not send an analog (VGA/d-sub-15) signal to a digital only receptor (DVI-D port on the display).

If you want to use that combination of hardware you need a DVI out, such as a docking station, port replicator or external video card.
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marc_mcdonald2b

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« Reply #4 on: January 10, 2008, 12:47:58 pm »

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You can not send an analog (VGA/d-sub-15) signal to a digital only receptor (DVI-D port on the display).

If you want to use that combination of hardware you need a DVI out, such as a docking station, port replicator or external video card.
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=166243\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

I have a docking station that supposedly outputs DVI-D (I've never tried it), but the salesperson at the computer store told me Apple displays may require a DVI-I output. What's the difference? The connector looks the same to me.

Marc
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kaelaria

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« Reply #5 on: January 10, 2008, 01:16:34 pm »

You need to know for sure of that monitor is dvi-i or dvi-d then.  -i cards are also outputting analog signal and usually come with adaptors to make them VGA out for older monitors.  Older apple displays were dvi-d, newer are dvi-d (digital only).  Match the monitor and video card.

Basically it means you can't pair old and new equipment, cheaply
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marc_mcdonald2b

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« Reply #6 on: January 10, 2008, 01:47:12 pm »

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You need to know for sure of that monitor is dvi-i or dvi-d then.  -i cards are also outputting analog signal and usually come with adaptors to make them VGA out for older monitors.  Older apple displays were dvi-d, newer are dvi-d (digital only).  Match the monitor and video card.

Basically it means you can't pair old and new equipment, cheaply
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=166355\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

That makes sense. It's just a little confusing with the laptop since the card outputs VGA from the computer and DVI-D from the docking station. I think I'll just keep using the Sony until it croaks. It's cheaper to get a new desk than a good monitor. I know some folks who got rid of their NEC or Sony CRTs and were really sorry, but I know the day is coming for us all when we won't be able to replace a CRTs with another one suitable for photographic work. I've really been struggling with what to do next. I guess it's pretty safe to buy an Eizo or one of the top of the line NECs but $5,000 to $6,000 is an huge amount of money to spend on a monitor with an unknown lifespan from my perspective. Thanks for your help.

Marc
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jackbingham

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« Reply #7 on: January 10, 2008, 04:20:19 pm »

I would use that sony as long as you can but there is no need to think you have to spend 5-6000 on an lcd. The eizo 210/211, the Nec 2690 and soon the Samsunc XL24 are all well below that and perform very well.
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Jack Bingham
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LA30

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« Reply #8 on: January 11, 2008, 08:11:07 am »

Look at the NEC MultiSync LCD2690WUXi

It has been spoken about here...It will most likely be my next monitor.  At $1400.00 it is pretty cheap, I would wait till feb after mac world...

Viewable Image Size      25.5"

Achieves 93% Adobe RGB and 88% NTSC coverage

Internal 12-bit Look Up Tables

27.7 lbs

Power Consumption      
On      111W
Power Savings Mode      1W

not bad!

Ken
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marc_mcdonald2b

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« Reply #9 on: January 11, 2008, 02:42:12 pm »

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Look at the NEC MultiSync LCD2690WUXi

It has been spoken about here...It will most likely be my next monitor.  At $1400.00 it is pretty cheap, I would wait till feb after mac world...

Viewable Image Size  25.5"

Achieves 93% Adobe RGB and 88% NTSC coverage

Internal 12-bit Look Up Tables

27.7 lbs

Power Consumption 
On  111W
Power Savings Mode  1W

not bad!

Ken
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=166485\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Those are impressive specs (93% of Adobe RGB would be nice) and the price is right, but what about this new Samsung folks are talking about? I've read a few comments that hint it's going to incorporate some major improvement over current monitors. Is there any basis for that or is it just pre-release hype?

Marc
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jerryrock

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« Reply #10 on: January 11, 2008, 05:32:16 pm »

Not hype, its LED technology that Samsung is making affordable. They released the XL20 last year and will be releasing the XL24 and XL30 this year. They claim 123% NSTC color and 100% Adobe RBG, SRGB and CMYK. 14 bit LUT. Here is a link to the brochure:

http://www.samsung.com/us/pdf/XLseriesBrochure01042008.pdf
« Last Edit: January 11, 2008, 05:33:07 pm by jerryrock »
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Gerald J Skrocki

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« Reply #11 on: January 11, 2008, 07:31:45 pm »

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Not hype, its LED technology that Samsung is making affordable. They released the XL20 last year and will be releasing the XL24 and XL30 this year. They claim 123% NSTC color and 100% Adobe RBG, SRGB and CMYK. 14 bit LUT. Here is a link to the brochure:

http://www.samsung.com/us/pdf/XLseriesBrochure01042008.pdf
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=166593\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]


Yeah, PLEASE show me a good review of these....They are about 1000-2000 cheaper than the NEC or the one by Eizo.....I have only read 1 review from Europe  ( I think)....

Ken
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jerryrock

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« Reply #12 on: January 11, 2008, 10:32:58 pm »

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Yeah, PLEASE show me a good review of these....They are about 1000-2000 cheaper than the NEC or the one by Eizo.....I have only read 1 review from Europe  ( I think)....

Ken
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=166613\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

There are a lot of people waiting for this one..........
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Gerald J Skrocki

JoanneMead

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« Reply #13 on: January 13, 2008, 04:32:16 pm »

I wasn't aware that there were different DVI connections.  I had a new PC built back in March with an ATI Radeon 1950 series graphics card (512MB version).  When I connected my LaCie 120 LCD monitor via DVI, I don't see anything during the Windows start-up, I just get a message 'input not supported', but once Windows starts, it all works fine.  If I connect via VGA, I get my start-up screens.

It's very odd.  I have a VGA cable in case I ever need to get into safe mode.  Other than that, computer and screen are excellent.
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kaelaria

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« Reply #14 on: January 13, 2008, 04:34:16 pm »

That has nothing to do with the DVI spec, that monitor (like others including the early ACDs) just doesn't support low res digital resolutions.
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digitaldog

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« Reply #15 on: January 14, 2008, 11:12:45 am »

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Yeah, PLEASE show me a good review of these....They are about 1000-2000 cheaper than the NEC or the one by Eizo.....I have only read 1 review from Europe  ( I think)....

Exactly, until they come out and someone tests them properly (like Karl Lang over at http://www.lumita.com), we'll have to wait and see.
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LA30

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« Reply #16 on: January 14, 2008, 12:32:32 pm »

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Exactly, until they come out and someone tests them properly (like Karl Lang over at http://www.lumita.com), we'll have to wait and see.
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Yes,

Lacie dropped this today

[a href=\"http://www.lacie.com/us/products/product.htm?pid=11036]http://www.lacie.com/us/products/product.htm?pid=11036[/url]

Lets see what NEC drops Tuesday......30" and maybe cheaper prices on the 26".....

hmmmm

Ken
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digitaldog

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« Reply #17 on: January 14, 2008, 12:59:39 pm »

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and maybe cheaper prices on the 26".....
[{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Well there's this:

[a href=\"http://www.necdisplay.com/communications/0108_macworld.html]http://www.necdisplay.com/communications/0108_macworld.html[/url]
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LA30

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« Reply #18 on: January 14, 2008, 01:25:55 pm »

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Well there's this:

http://www.necdisplay.com/communications/0108_macworld.html
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=167096\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]


:^)  You are ON IT!  I need a new display and I am trying to sort it all out.  What are your thoughts on New the 24" from LaCie?  I am looking for something that does most of the A1998 color space.  I was leaning way towards the NEC 26" with the spectraview software/puck.

Thanks,

Ken
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digitaldog

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« Reply #19 on: January 14, 2008, 01:33:10 pm »

Its quite possible the LaCie is an NEC (seconds). LaCie doesn't make em, they OEM them from someone, in this case, it might be NEC. That doesn't mean its the same quality panel. What most companies like NEC do is make huge amounts of such panels, run em through Q&E and those with the highest spec's are branded with that name, others are sold to OEM's like LaCie. Then there's the question of the SpectraView software which I'd highly recommend you get since it makes the entire process a one button affair and provides some really useful functionality like the ability to make multiple calibration aim points (say various contrast ratio's) and you can switch on the fly within the software (it will update the correct ICC profile in the process).
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