Contrast on Griffin Mac DB15 to VGA adaptor

[jamie marchant]

I have a Griffin DB15 to VGA adapter which I use to hook my 6400 up to my KVM switch. Since I started using it (I had a Mac CRT before that) it's always bothered me that for some odd reason the black colour is grey and it seems no matter what colour settings I use it never becomes black. All the rest of the colours look ok. Anyone know what's wrong, the monitor is working fine on all my Windows machines.

 

[mcdermd]

Traditionally, Mac and Windows used different gamma settings. Which are you using?

 

[Trash80toHP_Mini]

First thing first . . . or would this be second things second?

Have you tried it with a direct connection to the monitor with exactly the same results a/o a different video cable?

In my experience, some hardware turns nasty when connected to a KVM switch.

 

[jamie marchant]

@Gamma: on the Mac or on the monitor? My monitor is using "mode1" I will check the Mac latter on. I will try my second monitor with the adapter as it's "easeir" to unhook then my primary display.

 

[Trash80toHP_Mini]

Gamma setting in this instance would be set in the 6400's Monitors or Monitors and Sound Control Panel or some such, OS depending.

 

[Macdrone]

Trash you are da man. You know way too much (that's a compliment by the way)

 

[Trash80toHP_Mini]

THX, new chum! Did you get it up and running already? If so, share the how and why with the troops, that's the way we do it here.

My next suggestion would be to delve into that InstaTower's bowels and make sure that the little MoBo Video-Out board's ribbon cable was firmly seated and to "clean the contacts" with the 'ole in-out, in-out.

BTW, if you don't have one yet, snag a real Video Card for one of your slots. That way you can leave the MoBo set to 640x480 full screen output with VideoPlayer on one screen while you do something worthwhile on the KVM setup and switch back to both screens to play with the 6400.

 

[jamie marchant]

I was on "Generic RGB" but in a previews install I tried to make my own profile and still could not correct the issue. I tested another monitor directly and had the same issue but less noticeable. I accidentally triggered one of the DIP switches and now I have to go find the manual online(or archived away on my hard disk somewhere) and set it correctly before I can use it on my normal wide-screen display on the KVM.

.

EDIT: Just saw your post trash80... I'm not opening up this Mac unless I have too(we all know how hard is it to take these guys apart* ), I might check that latter on but its' getting late here in EST and I have a busy day tomorrow, I might not get a chance to work on the Mac tomorrow.

As for a video card, I don't want one for there rare and expensive, also to my understanding your Mac needs to boot up too a ceturn point before you see any signal so if something goes wrong it becomes a pain to troubleshoot. Also I'm using both my PCI slots. Now a guy on the Apple forum once said I can use an eartheneat card that goes in my modem slot(assuming I did not damage the slot when removing the modem**) but from what I have seen there more rare then VGA video cards.

* http://www.zone6400.com/manual/6400manual.html, I have a printed copy of this guid sitting in a desk drore

** I read somewhere this gives you more free memory and I was inside my Mac anyways installing the USB card.

 

[Trash80toHP_Mini]

What resolution? I'll yank out the wood pulp based storage media that I keep my docs on for that adapter.

< trots off . . . trots back >

Griffin PnP Adapter 8 dip? A.K.A. 0226-PNP?

shoot!

 

[Macdrone]

I have a bunch of adapter, most of them have the setting instructions on them.

 

[jamie marchant]

It's the 8 dip one but I'm not sure the model number, I probably have it on my eBay bill.

 

[Trash80toHP_Mini]

I meant shoot me a resolution for the setting, the paper manual for the Griffin is sitting right here! :approve:

 

[jamie marchant]

I want the setting that allows the Mac OS to change the resulation. I think it's called "Plug N Play for 20 inch displays" or something like that it allows for 1024 x 768, 800 x 600, and 640 x 480, it also allows me to go into "none-recommend" settings and chose 60 herts which is what I need to drive my new monitor*.

* I can do other refresh rates but only for about a minute(to give me time to change to 60 herts I guess)

 

[Trash80toHP_Mini]

MultiSync 21"_____13"-21"______4,6,8 On

Give'er a try, while I stand by! [] ]'>

Don't forget to restart.

 

[Trash80toHP_Mini]

Missed the one at the top . . . :I

Plug and Play * ____ all ____ 1,2,6,8 ON

* Requires a DDC compliant monitor and Mac OS 7.6.1 or greater. Check your Monitor's manual for DDC compatability.

What the heck is a "DDC" and what OS are you running?

 

[phreakout]

DDC stands for Display Data Channel. Using DDC, a monitor can inform the video card about its properties, such as maximum resolution and color depth. The video card can then use this information to ensure that the user is presented with valid options for configuring the display.

Btw, I too have the same model Griffin MacPnP with the manual. Plug & Play, across the board for the 0226-PNP is switches #1,2,6,8 in the On position. I also had acquired at one time a Performa/Power Mac 6400/200 and had bought the the video adapter in that same week. I had set it for Plug & Play and it worked on pretty much any SVGA-equivalent monitor I hook up to it. Now, I've got the same adapter working on my Power Mac 7500 with the same results.

73s de Phreakout. :rambo:

 

[jamie marchant]

4, 6, 8 worked! 1,2,6,8 did not, I only got 640x480 in that mode and even though I have DDC, it beat it does not produce understandable values for an old machine because t's an HD display.

 

[jamie marchant]

So back to my original question, what gamma setting should I use on my Mac/monitor?

 

[jamie marchant]

OK I guess nobody here really knows, I will have to play around with and see what works for me.