Trying to get IIsi to display video.

[LC_575]

I'm trying to use a Griffin Mac Sync Adapter (model no: 0220-UNV) and a Mitsubishi VGA-Mac DB15 adapter to get my IIsi's video to display to a Dell LCD monitor. Anyone have any experience with this, as I'm yet to be successful.

[Strimkind]

I had some issues with getting a IIfx to display video on a Dell LCD. I think it has something to do with sync on green. For me, the IIfx decided to wash out the image on the LCD and it would do that with both video cards and different DB-15 to VGA adapters. Using an official DB-15 Apple monitor solved that issue (mind you I have the monitor that outputs VGA but the cable adapts it to DB-15...something to try later). It didn't like my Acer monitor either (but it liked an 19" widescreen I used to have).

What specifically is your IIsi doing (or not doing)?

[LC_575]

It boots, I know that much. It's just my monitor refuses to display anything - just goes into VESA sleep mode.

[Strimkind]

Have you replaced the PRAM or tried a different monitor?

[LC_575]

Tried other monitors, no luck. I believe the PRAM is dead.

[Trash80toHP_Mini]

I haven't tried my IIsi with an LCD as yet, but ALL Macs I have set up for use on my HP 22" 1080p LCD have been set up to display:

any_pixel_count_available x any_pixel_count_available x any_colors_available @ 60Hz

. . . on a MultiScan CRT before they were ever hooked up to that LCD or any of the others I've bought along the way.

After I get the baseline resolution running, usually 640 x 480 x 8bit @60Hz, it's time to try for any higher resolutions or color depths. Then, if they work it's just fine and when they don't work, the Mac drops back down to the baseline after that interminable blank screen waiting period.

Dunno, works for me!

Have you got the Docs on your adapters and do they list the scan rates at the different resolutions available?

[LC_575]

First off, I'm using a Dell E152FPc monitor. I also have an IBM C50 handy as an alternative.

Here are the pdf manuals for my two adapters...

http://www.griffintechnology.com/sites/default/files/MonitorAdapter_MacSync.pdf

and...

http://www.nec-display-solutions.es/p/download/pr/File/cp/Products/CRT/Supported/CRT-DiamondPlus220/ProductManuals/PDF-Manual-DPlus220%28english%29.pdf?e=e1s1&fn=Manuel+d%27utilisation+Anglais, page 13 and 14.

[Trash80toHP_Mini]

Prolly not gonna get that LCD's native res outta IIsi's Mobo Video

[LC_575]

I just learned that my current monitor (connected to my Linux/7 machine) supports Sync-on-green! It's an LG Flatron W2043T. Not so sure about the 67 hz support. I'm going to try it out tonight.

[Trash80toHP_Mini]

A few of the LCDs that I've been scouring craiglist for have some limited mutisync capability, but again, get a friggin' good quality multisync CRT for your video testbed!

Folks are GIVING the things away! That's how I got my (very BLACK!) 22" High End ViewSonic CRT. A couple of days later, another guy was BEGGING for somebody on craigslist to sell him "any decent sized black CRT!"

For once, my timing was right! I coulda' turned a tidy little profit, but they'll have to pry that cold, dead CRT out of my grubby little paws whenever that sad day comes!

Check with macmetex, he's got some Radius, Color Pivot II, IIsi PDS passthru cards and they'll work just fine, far better than the IIsi's Vampire Video Kluge!
By the time you get one from him, I'll have the pinouts and cable hack posted along with the completed testing results . . .
. . . maybe! I may just go straight to the connection buzzing and breakout cable hacking phase . . .
. . . so I can post the end results and he can start raising his prices for those sweet little things!

BTW, I've found the packaging and docs for my own Griffin adapter, but, as usual, the searched for item remains to be located!

One of the LCDs, the main one I use for HP_Mini2, is a high end 20" Dell 1600 x 1200 Pivot and seems to be multisync, I'll give that one a try off both the IIsi MoBo and the Radius Color Pivot II Cards for the IIsi & the Se/30 when I get a chance. I forgot to mention that the SE/30 card works just fine in-n-out of the IIsi. What the heck the thing has a Q700 PSu sticking out where the top should be . . .
. . . why not a full height SE/30 Direct Slot Card stickin' outta' da' top too!?!

[LC_575]

Actually, as it turns out my NEWEST monitor, weirdly, works FINE with my IIsi. Perfect display and everything. But, two questions:

1. I have this odd Griffin "Mac Sync Adapter" that says it can modify the sync signals for particular monitors. I KNOW it can turn separate sync into SoG, but apparently it can turn SoG into separate sync too. I tried both modes on the LG monitor; both worked, although the SoG -> SoG mode resulted in a screen with a green tinge. Now, I have a Dell LCD that syncs to 640x480 @ 67 hz on my 6400 just fine, but it STILL refuses to display the IIsi video when the Griffin adapter is set to SoG -> Seperate Sync. Here's the manual for the adapter:

2. Is this what you mean for a video upgrade?