IIfx incomplete system - complete it or pass it on?

[Unknown_K]

What monitor and cable/adapter are you using with that Thunder II GX? I have one but never got it connected to anything.

 

[olePigeon]

I'm was using a Sun branded 13w3 cable that was connected to an old 20" Hitachi 1600x1200 LCD.

 

[Unknown_K]

Is there a part number molded into the cable?

 

[Trash80toHP_Mini]

Were there any NuBus video cards that supported multisync monitors and/or didn't require sync-on-green?

Yes, MultiSync would be the ticket as most, if not all NuBus VidCards will work with one. It's the other way around, it would be fixed sync monitors that prove problematic. That's why old school Mac video output won't work with a large majority of modern LCDs. They're mostly limited to just 60Hz VGA input and traditional Mac resolutions were mostly above that mark so they'd be "flicker free," which was a concern back in the day for one reason or other.

My personal favorite is the Radius PrecisionColor Pro 24AC. Here's a link to the rebadged Apple version: Macintosh Display Card 24AC (OEM'd by Radius) and you can follow the links there to lowendmac's NuBus Video Card Tech Specs, everymac has the same kind of data with a few less errors. Neither site comes close to having data on all NuBus VidCards.

*** A good MultiSync CRT should be part of any serious Mac collector's kit, it gives the genuine experience and multiple resolutions are native by definition. MultiSync LCDs work well, but multiple resolution interpolations of their native resolution can leave something to be desired..

 

[BlueBoy]

...

They're mostly limited to just 60Hz VGA input and traditional Mac resolutions were mostly above that mark so they'd be "flicker free," which was a concern back in the day for one reason or other.

...

Not to derail the thread but the way I remember it was this... because of the way CRTs work (scanning each line left to right, top to bottom) a refresh rate of 60 Hz, which is not necessarily terrible for smoothness, the subtle changes in brightness from the electron beam caused a not too noticeable flicker leading to eye strain and headaches etc. Lower the refresh rate and it becomes more noticable. Higher refresh rates are less noticeable.

The problem usually comes (in my experience) from working on a 60 Hz refresh CRT for long periods of time because most offices were lit by inexpensive fluorescent lighting which also flickers at 60 Hz (in countries where the electricity also cycles at 60 Hz.) This can aggravate the eyestrain and headaches some people experience and is mitigated somewhat by higher refresh rates. An 85 Hz refresh rate was nice (to me, anyway).

IIRC most mac monitors used 67 Hz or higher.

So why are LCD panels for computers at 60 Hz usually? Well, LCDs work much differently than CRTs. They don't flicker due to scan lines. A pixel usually stays at it's color and brightness value as long as it's refreshed quickly enough and 60 Hz is plenty quick enough.

:beige:

 

[james_w]

So are IIfx PSUs different from other Mac II PSUs?

 

[TheWhiteFalcon]

Variable speed cooling fan is one difference IIRC.

 

[Brett B.]

Too bad the shipping from Canada would be a killer, I'd love a fixer upper IIfx... I even have a ROM SIMM, some RAM, a CPU, and some other stuff from a smashed one I found years ago.  

 

[Johnnya101]

What happened now? Any updates? I'd be interested in it if you've still got it (doubt it)