Well, I was feeling impatient and lucky, so I ordered a Crestron HD-SCALER-VGA-E .

I've already started jumping through the required hoops to get the latest firmware .

I just got a call back from Crestron support . Their policy is that only their dealers have access to firmware updates .

I ordered my unit NIB from a certain auction site, so I guess I'm out of luck if I actually need a firmware update .

the OSSC handles mode-x and mode-y fine, but it's not a scaler per se - it's just a line multiplier

if your display will not tolerate the video modes natively, it still may or may not tolerate them when multiplied 2 or 3x

maxtherabbit wrote on 2020-04-28, 14:08:

the OSSC handles mode-x and mode-y fine, but it's not a scaler per se - it's just a line multiplier

if your display will not tolerate the video modes natively, it still may or may not tolerate them when multiplied 2 or 3x

Thank you, that is good to know .

I will post back once I get to try that Crestron unit .

I have just had an idea . If I the Samsung 204B panel goes completely, maybe I can salvage its guts and use them with an LVDS (I assume thats what the mainboard and panel use to communicate) to HDMI converter .

EDIT : That probably would not work with 70Hz modes if the LVDS interface is actually sending it out as 70Hz .

Not same thing. LVDS are different signaling.

I suggest look around and get a replacement panel, but first thing, open up the monitor and get the part number off the panel.

50,000 hours is too old and backlight and LCD itself do and will degrade with time. That's approx 15 years or more or 5 years if it was left on 24 hours a day daily.

IF the panel color looks correct but dim, might look into replacing the CCFL tubes if the panel allows this design to have these replaced without too much disassembly.

Cheers,

There is a good chance the panels use same connector, and when they do (and share resolution) the Dell panel will work fine with Samsung electronics, though you may transplant an EEPROM chip from one panel to the other as often is needed with laptop panels.

pentiumspeed wrote on 2020-04-28, 18:17:

Not same thing. LVDS are different signaling. […]
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Not same thing. LVDS are different signaling.

I suggest look around and get a replacement panel, but first thing, open up the monitor and get the part number off the panel.

50,000 hours is too old and backlight and LCD itself do and will degrade with time. That's approx 15 years or more or 5 years if it was left on 24 hours a day daily.

IF the panel color looks correct but dim, might look into replacing the CCFL tubes if the panel allows this design to have these replaced without too much disassembly.

Cheers,

I know LVDS and HDMI are not the same thing, that's why a mentioned using a converter (such as this one https://www.banggood.com/Geekworm-LVDS-To-HDM … ur_warehouse=CN)

Replacing the panel in the Samsung 204B (LTM201UX-L01) is something that crossed my mind, but after seeing the number of people with what appear to be be panel related issues with this model, I don't feel its worth it . Additionally the Samsung has only 4571 Power-On-hours (not a typo, bought it new and then switched to a widescreen quickly), but its max brightness is only 130 cd/m^2 , so there something wrong with its CCFL , inverter or power delivery (this model is known for bad caps) .

As for the 11 year-old Dell 2007FPB, I agree that 50000 hours is a lot, but at least the panel looks fine, as opposed to the slightly older but sparingly used Samsung 204B (13 or 14 years). Max brightness on the Dell is 170 cd/m^2 (after some RGB adjustments, brighter otherwise) . Replacing the CCFL and possibly the inverter is always a possibility (and likely less trouble than sourcing/replacing a panel), but the 2007FPB is a complex beast inside, so I am not too keen on doing that, if parts can still be found .

LCD monitors, like CRTs, are repairable to a point, but still consumable. I consider the Dell 2007FPB to be an inexpensive (105 $CAN is about 75 $US) stop-gap solution . At some point, it will have to be replaced by a modern, LED backlit 16x9 (or if lucky 16x10) monitor and that is where a good external scaler comes in . In an ideal world, such a scaler would be freesync capable, able to handle a variety of non standard VGA modes and still be relatively affordable .

Tiido wrote on 2020-04-28, 18:33:

There is a good chance the panels use same connector, and when they do (and share resolution) the Dell panel will work fine with Samsung electronics, though you may transplant an EEPROM chip from one panel to the other as often is needed with laptop panels.

I actually thought of that too, but the Samsung chassis probably has issues too and both panels are not that bright to begin with, so it may not be worth the effort unless I also source a new back-light . Also, though I am always ready to learn new things, this may be a bit above my skill-set .

You probably can get new CFL tubes but replacing them is a huge PITA, the panels aren't really made for disassembly once they have been put back together. And you need to get several excess tubes as they break really easily and you'll probably break one while fighting the panel 🤣.

Refurbished U2412M is on its way . It was sold by Newegg so hopefully actually refurbished and not just used one with refurbished label . Hopefully LED backlights will last longer and be easier to replace when required . I wonder if there ever was a 1600x1200 monitor with LED backlight .

EDIT: I know the U2412M is 1920x1200, but it was the only affordable 1200P LED monitor I could find .

EDIT2: monitor is going back . Scratch in middle .

NEC P212 is 1600x1200 LED monitor. Maybe should have tried for that, oh well .

EDIT: Not at the prices I see

darry wrote on 2020-04-28, 13:33:

I just got a call back from Crestron support . Their policy is that only their dealers have access to firmware updates .

I ordered my unit NIB from a certain auction site, so I guess I'm out of luck if I actually need a firmware update .

Unit I got does not handle 70Hz input . I reached out again to Crestron asking if normal or fixable by firmware .

EDIT : Also ordered an Extron RGB-DVI 300 and the cable for firmware upgrade (just in case) .

I found and ordered what is probably the only (last?) affordable new 1920x1200 IPS monitor : the Acer BW257 .
It handles 75Hz over HDMI and Displayport . I wonder if it will frameskip 70Hz through its VGA port (not that I would likely notice) .

why not for example
27´´ Asus PB278QV (IPS LED, 2560x1440, 300, 80 000 000:1, 178/178, 5ms, 75Hz) (D-sub, DVI, HDMI, DP) pivot

btw i am still using 204B too 😀

robertmo wrote on 2020-05-16, 04:52:

why not for example
27´´ Asus PB278QV (IPS LED, 2560x1440, 300, 80 000 000:1, 178/178, 5ms, 75Hz) (D-sub, DVI, HDMI, DP) pivot

btw i am still using 204B too 😀

I wanted something that can do 1600x1200, which would allow 320x200 to be displayed with the least amount of processing possible (no interpolation since even multiples). If it can only do 1920x1200, I should be able to send it a 1600x1200 image mapped into 1920x1200 using an external scaler .

Price is another factor . The Acer was 206 Canadians dollars with shipping and taxes .

Crestron was kind enough to make an exception for me and provide the latest firmware . This, however did not make 720x400/320x200 at 70Hz work .
Great solidly built unit, but not suited to my DOS retro needs . It will probably find some use with a an older MAC that outputs 640x480, when I get to that project .

darry wrote on 2020-05-16, 11:37:

robertmo wrote on 2020-05-16, 04:52:

why not for example
27´´ Asus PB278QV (IPS LED, 2560x1440, 300, 80 000 000:1, 178/178, 5ms, 75Hz) (D-sub, DVI, HDMI, DP) pivot

btw i am still using 204B too 😀

I wanted something that can do 1600x1200, which would allow 320x200 to be displayed with the least amount of processing possible (no interpolation since even multiples). If it can only do 1920x1200, I should be able to send it a 1600x1200 image mapped into 1920x1200 using an external scaler .

Price is another factor . The Acer was 206 Canadians dollars with shipping and taxes .

Active OSSC user here. OSSC can now output VGA 320x200 as 1600x1200, but the signal is off-spec and may be incompatible with the monitor. I experience annoying fuzziness in this mode, therefore I have to stick to 800p. Your mileage may differ.

Also you may "tickle" OSSC signal timing to squash 16:10 320x240 into 1120x800. Not quite 4:3 (more like 4.2 : 3). A bit blurry but rather pleasant to look at.

Volo wrote on 2020-12-28, 17:32:

darry wrote on 2020-05-16, 11:37:

robertmo wrote on 2020-05-16, 04:52:

why not for example
27´´ Asus PB278QV (IPS LED, 2560x1440, 300, 80 000 000:1, 178/178, 5ms, 75Hz) (D-sub, DVI, HDMI, DP) pivot

btw i am still using 204B too 😀

I wanted something that can do 1600x1200, which would allow 320x200 to be displayed with the least amount of processing possible (no interpolation since even multiples). If it can only do 1920x1200, I should be able to send it a 1600x1200 image mapped into 1920x1200 using an external scaler .

Price is another factor . The Acer was 206 Canadians dollars with shipping and taxes .

Active OSSC user here. OSSC can now output VGA 320x200 as 1600x1200, but the signal is off-spec and may be incompatible with the monitor. I experience annoying fuzziness in this mode, therefore I have to stick to 800p. Your mileage may differ.

Also you may "tickle" OSSC signal timing to squash 16:10 320x240 into 1120x800. Not quite 4:3 (more like 4.2 : 3). A bit blurry but rather pleasant to look at.

I am pretty sure that the 320x200@70Hz --> 1600x1200@70Hz OSSC issue is due to running the HDMI TX on the OSSC at 189MHz, which is out of spec for it (official max is around 162MHz, AFAICR). I have tried two different monitors whose official specs specify up to 1920x1200 at 75MHz and they both the display the issue when the OSSC's HDMI TX is "overclocked" .

My current solution for DOS is running OSSC in line2x mode, so 640x400@70Hz (line doubled 320x200@70Hz) is output at 1280x800@70Hz into my Philips 252B9 in 4:3 mode, which upscales it 1600x1200 . The results is surprisingly sharp, IMHO .