pre-purchase ?s about 25" trimode monitor (Nieman)

[keno21176]

Hi
first timer poster, plz be gentle
 
I am still going back and forth on my monitor decision ...which seems to be fairly common around here.... the ole "WG multisync vs Betson Multisync vs Nieman (digital or trimode)"  issue. Anyways, am current leaning towards Nieman's 24.8 trimode and just leaving it in VGA mode. Reasoning- better reliability, reduced wear+tear, simpler setup.  I emailed Rick a few q's about this monitor but hadn't heard anything back for a while so i figured i'd post here
 
- can the trimode support 256 or more colors at windows desktop of 640x480 , or is it strictly limited to 16 colors at that res.? (if I'm not mistaken, the "spec" for VGA is 640x480x16color?)
- is it ready to run right out of the box w/ a standard PC video card... ie, any special requirements such as isolation transformer, voltage booster, special video connector or power cord, etc etc?

also, a few general questions:
- availability of a 25" flat screen monitor bezel?  Suzo-happ only sells 27" flatscreen and 25" non-flat.
- I bought an arcadevga card a while ago (nice deal popped up on ebay so i jumped on it, but have not installed yet). any advantages to using that w/ this monitor or is it only beneficial if you want to do the "native" resolutions thing? can always dump it back on ebay if its just going to complicate things or has no benefits in a "single-res" setup
-is the mounting frame of a 25" significantly different than 27"?  I have a Mameroom cab and bought their Monitor Mounting Kit (supposedly for 27"), can that be adapted for 25" or will I have to make a custom thing?
 
if this matters, intended uses for this cab are: Maximus Arcade FE, MAME, project64, ZSNES, Stepmania, Daphne
 
thanks
Ken
 

[Rickn]

Hi Ken, sorry for the delay getting back to you, with Christmas, a bout with the flu and some travel, it is highly unusual that I take this long.
 
Anyway in answer to your question please see the chart below, all of  these modes are 640X480 with a horizontal scan rate of 31.5 khz. As far as the monitor goes, not exceeding the 31 Khz is the most important. You can run it at 32 bit it really depends on your card.
 
a little more info, 8 bit is 256 colrs, not likely supported by your card,
16 bit is "high Color" 64,000 colors and 32 bit is 'true Color" 16.7 m colors
 
Hope this helps.
 
Rickn
Rick Nieman
President
Nieman Video Displays Inc.
1023 Rife Rd Un 10
Cambridge, Ontario
Canada N1R5S3
Ph 519-621-1722 Fax 519-621-1264
www,Niemandisplays.com
 
Table 1. Display Resolution, Colors, and Refresh Rates

Resolution Color Depth External Monitor
Available Refresh TV as Secondary Display Available Refresh
640 x 480 (VGA) 256 (8-bit) 60, 75, 85 Hz 60 Hz NTSC, 50 Hz PAL
640 x 480 (VGA) 65 K (16-bit) 60, 75, 85 Hz 60 Hz NTSC, 50 Hz PAL
640 x 480 (VGA) 4.2 B (32-bit) 60, 75, 85 Hz 60 Hz NTSC, 50 Hz PAL

[ahofle]

- I bought an arcadevga card a while ago (nice deal popped up on ebay so i jumped on it, but have not installed yet). any advantages to using that w/ this monitor or is it only beneficial if you want to do the "native" resolutions thing? can always dump it back on ebay if its just going to complicate things or has no benefits in a "single-res" setup

If you are planning on leaving it at VGA all the time, then there is no point in using an AVGA.  You can get a more powerful card for other games/emulators that way too.