The Serpent Rider wrote on 2024-09-30, 22:57:

rmay635703 wrote on 2024-09-29, 02:37:

Ideally 2048x1536 Native resolution (1280 is too low for modern use, 1600x1200 is barely adequate)

2048x1536 is bad for scaling.

Bad but still better than 1280x1024

Next step up is 2560x1920 which scales beautifully to all resolutions but good luck with that, might as well get my dream 4k 4:3 panel

Scaling and jank is virtually solved as Modern LCDs use subpixels and have very minimal issues with non-integer scaling, especially on an analog input at a lower resolution.

I run terrible wrong resolutions into my semi modern screens and the classic, blur, blocks and janky text are nearly undetectable .

You place a 2016+ screen next to a 2004 and down era LCD with the same resolution panel driving a non-integer resolution and the differences in image quality and artifacts are immense.

As for 25” being “too big” I agree my desk really doesn’t work with more than a 23” 16:9 but 4:3 can actually provide a lot more screen real estate on a smaller desk and in the US at least it’s barely possible to find a screen smaller than 25” and outside strange Chinese portables the screens under that size are almost all unusable resolutions and TV sets.
Also worth noting a good custom 25” 4:3 screen would possibly have enough demand to get cost down because of all the wierd applications not only in the arcade but also in industry and military/.gov that use that size. These entities would then have a 3rd option that isn’t trash the cabinet

I’ve been trying to source a smaller high quality lcd without an immense investment for a while and all the screens on the shelf
they are all either ancient tech or total garbage

New video about this monitor just posted on Nostalgia Nerd:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWBVATSPPlw

edited to add:

I asked the question as to whether the monitor can do native 70Hz in DOS VGA resolutions and that question *still* remains unanswered. I'm not optimistic at this point, but man, it be would nice to have that confirmed one way or the other. 😒

On the plus side, he does show it running under Windows 98. It apparently detects as a standard Plug and Play monitor. Though unfortunately he didn't show the resolution or refresh rate options, which would have been nice to see.

I was getting excited about this monitor until I saw that the VGA input doesn't support 15KHz.

I'm sure there's a good reason for it, but that kinda kills it for me.

Go for Nec 193mi instead...and it supports 15khz /50hz! via VGA.
Panel is fast and supports changing the black-values which is important to get the fuzzeling lines out of the AtariST signal.

mx597 wrote on 2024-10-02, 05:23:

I was getting excited about this monitor until I saw that the VGA input doesn't support 15KHz.

I'm sure there's a good reason for it, but that kinda kills it for me.

IIRC, it has to do with the panel they used not natively supporting 15 KHz.

They do offer 15KHz input for the Appy's Retro Scaler add-on board, but that board doesn't have a VGA input.

There is also talk of the potential Arcooda panel/version of this monitor which purportedly would have native 15KHz support. But that is still in development and there is no word on if it will even come to fruition.

The panels themselves only support their native resolution with relatively strict timings on pixel clock and other parameters (blanking for example). It is the task of the scaler / "T-CON" board that interfaces with the panel to adapt any incoming input to what the panel will show. I imagine this thing uses some off the shelf part and it is why it will have the limitations it does.

They released another 'brochure' type image detailing various features / options for this monitor.

Note the HDMI inputs are a little confusing. I believe that 2 are intended to be internal (for connecting internal modules) and four are on the back of monitor.

Shponglefan wrote on 2024-10-02, 12:53:

IIRC, it has to do with the panel they used not natively supporting 15 KHz. […]
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mx597 wrote on 2024-10-02, 05:23:

I was getting excited about this monitor until I saw that the VGA input doesn't support 15KHz.

I'm sure there's a good reason for it, but that kinda kills it for me.

IIRC, it has to do with the panel they used not natively supporting 15 KHz.

They do offer 15KHz input for the Appy's Retro Scaler add-on board, but that board doesn't have a VGA input.

There is also talk of the potential Arcooda panel/version of this monitor which purportedly would have native 15KHz support. But that is still in development and there is no word on if it will even come to fruition.

The 20” Arcooda offering is almost ideal 1600x1200 with 15khz , 1080p scaling and other options.

I didn’t even know Arcooda had 4:3 offerings.

The official Checkmate Youtube channel just posted a Good, Bad, Ugly video with a deep dive into the features and limitations of the monitor: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRALIH-nmso

This was previously posted for backers, but it looks like they've made the video public now.

A detailed review of the Checkmate monitor (19" version) has been posted here: https://lyonsden.net/checkmate-retro-monitor/

Still waiting for my monitors, and hopefully will get them within the next month.