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Post by mrbombermillzy on Jun 20, 2016 20:03:58 GMT
@ Robert B; regarding monitors:
If they could multi scan between 16-30khz then that would be great. Most monitors these days are set at the standard PC resolution settings, and won't budge below 31khz. You can get the hyper expensive TFT EGA monitors but even then I believe they are rated at 640x200/400 ish res.
As for the Amiga compatibility: The point I was trying to make is that even if there was one game that was not compatible with an A500 KS1.2 512mb or a A1200 with KS3.1 that would be more than for the C64. You have to factor in processor for some games, memory for others, kick start version for others, etc. Nowadays though, the C64 scene has started to tinker around with 16mb REU demos and the like, so its a bit more fractured, but generally any C64 demo will work on ANY C64 (well, 99% now! Lol). The only thing really needed is a 1541.
@steve:
Whatever you come up with will already be better than the C128 CGA inspired pallette! Lol!
So, are we talking an 8 bit pallette with 16 colours available at any one time? I'm guessing then that the pallette choice would all depend on the actual picture being displayed, which is a tough problem to crack.
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Post by sjgray on Jun 20, 2016 20:49:04 GMT
@steve: Whatever you come up with will already be better than the C128 CGA inspired pallette! Lol! So, are we talking an 8 bit pallette with 16 colours available at any one time? I'm guessing then that the pallette choice would all depend on the actual picture being displayed, which is a tough problem to crack. Yes, you still have only one 16 colour palette for the entire screen, unless you modified the palette set on the fly in an IRQ like FLI modes on the C64 then you could have more visible at once. Of course there's practically no way to come up with enough palettes to do realistic pictures etc. The only way to do that would be with the RAMDAC and the FLI mode. You'd need to create custom palettes, perhaps one for each scan line. Still, I think it would be handy to be able to have a software method to pick specific palettes, say monochrome, greyscale, brown-fix, or C64. The eprom method is simple enough and wouldn't be any more complicated than current resistor or gal solutions. I'd go with the RAMDAC option if there would be an easy way to connect it to the user port. Otherwise it would have to be mapped into memory via an internal board or cartridge, which is going to be more complicated. Steve
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Post by tokra on Jun 20, 2016 20:58:29 GMT
@ Robert B; regarding monitors: If they could multi scan between 16-30khz then that would be great. Most monitors these days are set at the standard PC resolution settings, and won't budge below 31khz. You can get the hyper expensive TFT EGA monitors but even then I believe they are rated at 640x200/400 ish res. Just get an LCD-TV. They support 15kHz and are only marginally more expensive than monitors. I've connected mine using the BIT-C128 and a SCART-cable (using RGB-input). It even shows the interlaced modes (automatically de-interlaces them to full resolution). You will of course need an LCD-TV that still has analogue inputs. At least in Europe these will most certainly come with a SCART-connector which supports RGB-input.
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Post by Pyrofer on Jun 20, 2016 22:40:07 GMT
I just grabbed the BenQ monitor that RobertB showed me at Comvex 2015 for £30 !!!! Direct from Amazon, reduced due to a crumpled box. My C128 has a VGA connector on it anyway as the output from my 80col adapter so looking forward to getting the monitor. My RGB to HDMI adapter murders the C128s interlace so it will be nice to see it properly
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Post by mrbombermillzy on Jun 21, 2016 18:26:20 GMT
Well done Pyrofer. Sounds like you snapped up a bargain there! :-)
OK, well seeing as we are on the subject of TFT monitors, there was another avenue that I wasn't particularly keen to explore on a CRT, but it might work on a flat screen.
I was thinking along the lines of attempting to force a higher refresh rate than the standard 50/60HZ. Probably need some input from someone with more experience on this one as I haven't even looked into how to do this yet.
Do you get much flicker from colour switching (worst case scenario) white to black at, say, 25Hz on a flatscreen?
This could alleviate the lack of colour problems for Steve's colour circuit.
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Post by robertb on Jun 22, 2016 6:53:18 GMT
On Jun 20, 2016 13:03:58 GMT -7 mrbombermillzy said: > If they could multi scan between 16-30khz then that would be great. The BenQ's I mentioned multi-scan down to 15KHz. Writing from the Los Angeles area, Robert Bernardo Fresno Commodore User Group www.dickestel.com/fcug.htmJuly 30-31 Commodore Vegas Expo v12 - www.portcommodore.com/commvex
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Post by robertb on Jun 22, 2016 6:56:12 GMT
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Post by Pyrofer on Jun 22, 2016 9:02:27 GMT
In regards to the talk of Genlocking the VDC, I found this quote, "RES - Reset input to initialize all internal scan counter circuits. The control registers are not affected. RES can be used to synchronize the display frame to an externally generated signal. This signal should not be confused with the INIT input."
So yeah, Syncing then overlaying the VDC should be possible using that pin. In theory.
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Post by mrbombermillzy on Jun 22, 2016 17:34:04 GMT
In regards to the talk of Genlocking the VDC, I found this quote, "RES - Reset input to initialize all internal scan counter circuits. The control registers are not affected. RES can be used to synchronize the display frame to an externally generated signal. This signal should not be confused with the INIT input." So yeah, Syncing then overlaying the VDC should be possible using that pin. In theory. Well that's definitely going to come in handy for genlocking, I'm sure and it could be useful for other tricks... I will have to experiment with it at some point. I know Ive been spitting out all these different ideas, but its mainly because I am here twiddling my thumbs, so to speak, as I am still waiting for my electronic parts. Also my workstation is behind lots of other clutter. I will get it sorted out as soon as all the required components are here. I did get a bag of crystals turn up yesterday (no I don't mean that type of crystals!) so nearly there now. However, it is good to have a plan and a good discussion about the options! :-) I'm happy that there are a few people here who look like they are willing to go forwards with some sort of graphical improvement for the 128. I think that will, in turn, spur more software development for the machine, if we do it right. And at least one of you is keen to see how my experimenting turns out, so I will (soon) get back to work!
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Post by sjgray on Jun 23, 2016 15:41:10 GMT
In regards to the talk of Genlocking the VDC, I found this quote, "RES - Reset input to initialize all internal scan counter circuits. The control registers are not affected. RES can be used to synchronize the display frame to an externally generated signal. This signal should not be confused with the INIT input." So yeah, Syncing then overlaying the VDC should be possible using that pin. In theory. Yes, the INIT pin is what I mentioned a while back. It's funny they say "this signal should not be confused with the INIT pin" because on the schematics they do just that. Take a look at the schematics and see that there are two pins labelled "RES". Generally on the schematics RES is short for RESET, so it's really the INIT (pin 22) that they are describing. Then in the PRG (pg 597) they actually say "RES... is not actively used... and is NOT found at pin 22." (my capitalization on NOT). Steve
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