Horun wrote on 2020-08-28, 02:22:Sorry to break cause it sounds like Bestmor needs more help than me.
Thank you ! I could not really make out what the simpler c […]
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darry wrote on 2020-08-28, 00:54:Wow ! You got a 4K 27-inch 10-bit IPS monitor at a thrift store ! Kudos!
Even if it is 60Hz only at native resolution, that thi […]
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Horun wrote on 2020-08-27, 20:50:
I stumbled on a BenQ 27" BL2711u today at thrift store for cheap. The manual is very lacking details of it's modes, even the website does not help much. One reviewer said it will do 75Hz at 1920x1080 but I cannot get it above 60Hz no matter which input I choose (DVI-D, Hdmi1 1.2 and Hdmi2 2.0.). Can anyone find any good info on it ?
Wow ! You got a 4K 27-inch 10-bit IPS monitor at a thrift store ! Kudos!
Even if it is 60Hz only at native resolution, that thing is probably fantastic .
Supported resolutions and refresh rates are here :
BL2711U_RF_EN.pdf
EDIT : I can't make heads or tails of the tables in that document .
EDIT2 : I think you have to consider only the column that has the native resolution of the monitor (3840x2160 in this case, AFAIK) . IMHO, whoever wrote or approved this document needs re-training .
Sorry to break cause it sounds like Bestmor needs more help than me.
Thank you ! I could not really make out what the simpler chart on the web I found was implying either, your Docu has a much better chart than what I saw. Agree with your Edit#2 ! One thing I think I figured out is that there appears to be two EDID tables built in to the monitor. One for UHD/HD modes and one for PC Modes (even though it has no PC DB15 input). I can see both using the HDMI 2.0 port to my GTX 960 ! Have never seen that on any of my 1080P monitors yet but maybe just did not notice. Here is what I slowly collected using the Nvidia Control Panel v8.1 testing many as I went thru them, they all seem to work but some seem ridiculous to include except for PAL and backward compatibilty.....Have not gone thru the DVI-D res and vert's yet. It does not appear to do 720x400 Text Mode but can see BIOS boot screen and read BIOS (but is a z370 based, and does Auto do HD for BIOS view)
Thru HDMI 2
UHD, HD,SD modes:
Res: Vert:
4kx2k, 3840x2160 60, 59, 30, 29, 25
4kx2k, 2560x1600 59, 30, 29, 25
4kx2k, 2048x1553 59, 30, 29, 25
1080p, 1920x1080 60, 59, 50, 24, 23
1080i, 1920x1080 30, 29, 25
1080i, 1768x992 30, 29, 25
720p, 1280x720 60, 59, 50
720p, 1176x664 60, 59, 50
576p, 720x576 50
480p, 720x480 60, 59
PC Modes:
Res: Vert
3840x2160 60
2560x1600 60
2560x1440 60
1920x1200 60
1680x1050 60
1600x1200 60
1600x1024 60
1600x900 60
1360x768 60
1360x768 60
1280x1024 75, 60
1280x960 75, 60
1280x800 60
1280x768 60
1152x864 60
1024x768 60
800x600 75, 60
One thing interesting is that it has a Display Mode in the Menu which I can set to 1:1, Full and a few other things. Also has a Overscan enable/disable . Here is the link I posted about getting this thing:
Re: Bought this (Modern) hardware today
added: I do not think it is 4:3 PC capable without a OSSC/adapter and setting the menu options properly but am not sure. Maybe you have run into a similar monitor and know how to set it up proper for old PC's. Yes I know it has only Digital Inputs so an OSSC or similar with Analog in's would be needed if hooked up to an old PC and expected to see anything of value 😀
AFAIK, most recent HDMI capable monitors have a a 256-byte EDID divided into a base 128-byte block that contains traditional PC resolutions and an extended 128-byte block that contains more video-centric and higher resolutions and audio capabilities (if any ) .
The lack of of 720x400/640x400 and integer multiples at 70Hz in the EDID is not necessarily the end of the world either as the resolutions may still work nonetheless . Most (all?) recent Nvidia based cards upscale their output to the monitor's native (according to EDID) resolution anyway in DOS, so this will only be an issue if forcing a custom native resolution using an EDID emulator or using OSSC .
Since you don't have a 4:3 mode, even with an OSSC, you will not be able to have proper aspect ratio either unless the out-spec 640x400@70Hz-->1600x1200@70Hz happens to work on the OSSC unit you might get AND the monitor accepts 1600x1200@70Hz WITHOUT reduced blanking (189MHz). I would not take that chance, personally .
If I were you, I would run the following tests using the hardware you already have (modern PC).
a) Using Nvidia custom modes in Windows, do 1600x1200@60Hz and 1600x1200@70Hz (with reduced blanking AND without reduced blanking) actually display in 4:3 ratio using 1:1 aspect in the monitor menu
b) Assuming a) works at 70Hz , is there any frame-skipping using vsynctester.com ?
c) Using Nvidia custom modes in Windows, do 640x400@70Hz , 720x400@70Hz , 1280x800@70Hz and 1440x800@70Hz work (a horizontally stretched image is expected) ?
d) Assuming c) works , is there any frame-skipping using vsynctester.com ?
Proper 4:3 aspect ratio options :
1) Assuming a) works at 70Hz with reduced blanking, at proper aspect ratio, without frame-skip (b) AND you use an Nvidia FX series card with an discrete TMDS chip, your best bet, IMHO, for now, is an EDID emulator like in 70Hz in pure DOS at 1600x1200 (or other) over DVI on an old card (FX5900) with modern monitor is possible or cde's DIY solution [HOWTO] Running DOS games natively with perfect 4:3 aspect ratio @ 70 Hz over DVI The disadvantage to this method is the rather soft Nvidia scaling . Note : 1600x1200@70Hz is an example, a lower resolution might work better: you would need to test a) and b) accordingly.
2) Assuming a) works only at 60Hz or there is frame-skip at 70Hz (b) or you are not using a retro Nvidia FX series video card with a discrete TMDS, IMHO, your best bet for now is an Extron DVI or HDMI 300 unit connected to VGA output of your video card and with the output set to 1600x1200@60Hz . Note : 1600x1200@60Hz is an example, a lower resolution might work better: you would need to test a) and b) accordingly.
Stretched aspect ratio options :
3) Assuming at least one of the modes in c) works, ideally without frame-skipping (d) AND you don't mind a horizontally stretched image, an OSSC becomes an option . It will preserve 70Hz (if your monitor is capable) and offer a sharper image than Nvidia's scaling would .
POTENTIAL IDEAL SOLUTION :
An OSSC Pro will allow sharp integer scaling while also allowing decoupling of input and output timings, which OSSC cannot do . Scaling to an integer 4:3 multiple of 320x200 (1600x1200) should be a possibility and I imagine that frame rate conversion might also be possible . We will have to wait and see.
TLDR : IMHO, a monitor with 70Hz capability and a 4:3 mode is probably best for retro use .