Modern monitors for Apple IIGS

[Cosmo]

What CRT or LCD monitor, if not Apple original, you are using with your IIgs?

I am looking into possibility running mine with Samsung 17" LCD TV model with Scart-connector (analog rgb). Found one Samsung Syncmaster 741MP 17" LCD TV wich is still 4:3 and has all the connectors expect hdmi of cos. Ideal model would be that would have every connector inc. hdmi on it, being 4:3 and supporting analog rbg over scart with 15.75 kHz.

Currenly running IIGS with Apple //c monitor.. wich is not, NOT, convinient and lacking the c o l o r. Atleast the 115V -> 230V PSU mod is working fine, trying to solve the issues with the memory expansion (4Mb) card. Need to install CFFA3000 and see how that works with. The Apple //c - scart-adaptor did not work either with modern LCD or older CRT Philips CRT monitor for some reason. Could be 50-60hz setup, need to try that.

 

[NJRoadfan]

If you want to build a SCART cable: http://vintageware.orconhosting.net.nz/apple2/scart.html

60Hz shouldn't matter as pretty much every TV sold in Europe these days can handle it. Luckily SCART connectors were standard features on European TVs. Much easier to find a RGB compatible monitor there compared to the US. The Apple IIc doesn't natively output RGB video.

 

[Cosmo]

Bought an cheap (shall pick it up next week) Samsung Sync Master 940MW. It has all connectors needed. I tried looking 15" models even with 4:3 but those are rare.

 

[NJRoadfan]

I have a Syncmaster 940MW, be warned that the power supply will likely need to have all its capacitors replaced. It doesn't have HDMI, but the DVI port supports HDCP.

I also have its 5:4 cousin, the 930MP, which I purchased new. Too bad that one seems to be dead with a not so obvious problem.

 

[Trash80toHP_Mini]

Try setting it up on an A/B/C/D ADB KVM switch with a P6360 (or equivalent) IIgs' output fed into the TV Tuner Card the to display it in an Apple Video Player window on a multisync LCD at 16" resolution along with whatever USB computer you're running via an iMate. I fiddled a bit on that setup with the P6360 plotter server and the DA back in the day. Full screen 640x480 display of the pixel doubled 320x240 tuner window is larger, but the floating window's cool factor is undeniable.

 

[Cosmo]

Not much help with IIGS, the output was excat same as on our 46" LED Samsung TV. Ordered the Analog RGB Component Adapter for Apple II GS from Japan, let's see if that works any better. Shall test an SCART cable made by friend this week as well.

Tried the Apple //e as well, but it outputs quite distored color graphics as well. Bummer.

 

[uniserver]

What I use is my powermac 7500,

I hook machines like the ][e ][c ][gs up to the video in of the 7500, and then use apple video player on the PM 1024x768 LCD screen.

i need to get rid of my LCD and my 7500 though, and drag in my G3 AIO then, that will do everything nicly, will take up more space but i think will give me a better computing experience.

 

[Cosmo]

With Nishida Radio's analog rgb-component-adapter, IIGS outputs fairly decent picture to Samsung TV/display using, i had only composite, cables.

Have not yet tried to trim the color's or used better component cable.

 

[NJRoadfan]

Now hook it up to the SCART port on the 940MW and compare the video quality.

 

[Cosmo]

Now hook it up to the SCART port on the 940MW and compare the video quality.

Will do so, as well try out an custom made scart-cable, to see if it improves or not the quality.

 

[Cosmo]

Tested tonight with friend's custom made Scart cable and the result was even better than using the adapter with better component cables! He'll make me an cable i just provide the parts to him. Brilliant! The IIGS was running in 60hz mode, did not try 50hz this time.

Got the 4MB RAM working as well. It had small cut in the trace to make it 1MB *only* we soldered a small wire over that and that made the trick.

It's bit tricky to get the IIGS working this side of the pond :lol:

 

[NJRoadfan]

The scaling blends SHGR 640 mode perfectly. The ghosting concerns me though. Either its the scaler creating artifacts, or poor shielding on the cable.

 

[Cosmo]

The custom scart cable is not well shielded, he'll make one for me with better shielding as well, with the audio pins attached.

But indeed, what comes to the component adapter, it's quite strange as the picture is bit darker, have ghosting a bit as well the colors have stripes.

Both run at 60hz mode from IIGS.

The quide for the custom scart-cable:

http://vintageware.orconhosting.net.nz/apple2/scart.html

 

[68kbits]

What I use is my powermac 7500,
I hook machines like the ][e ][c ][gs up to the video in of the 7500, and then use apple video player on the PM 1024x768 LCD screen.

i need to get rid of my LCD and my 7500 though, and drag in my G3 AIO then, that will do everything nicly, will take up more space but i think will give me a better computing experience.

Isn't there a loss of picture quality with vs. a IIGS RGB connection?

This connection is just the composite video from the II(c/e/gs) into an AV input right?

 

[uniserver]

yeah correct.

the picture is not fantastic, nothing beats the picture of a real IIgs monitor.

 

[Cosmo]

The real IIgs monitor would be the best option but in this case, the custom-scart is about the only option there is in Europe, specially here in Finland, as the IIgs was never even sold here in the first place. IIgs is not that common in europe either, finding those is very difficult and expensive.

 

[NJRoadfan]

The Commodore 1084 is a readily available substitute and has a larger display. It doesn't match, but it works better than composite. Fun fact: All Apple IIgs machines sold worldwide output NTSC video from their composite port, the units only received a different power supply.

 

[Cosmo]

Sure 1084 could be used, but point is to use modern, smaller and more lightweight option.

From control panel you can choose 50 Hz (european) or 60 Hz (american) refresh rate.

 

[techknight]

I never did understand why they would frame sync to the line frequency. Maybe it dates back to some REALLY old standards that actually used the powerline for syncro and never moved from it.