[Sunhelp] SGI + Sun Monitor

[Bjrn Ramqvist]

Wes Hofmann wrote:
> 
> I'm thinking about purchasing an Indigo 2.  Do any of you know if that
> machine can be used with a SUN monitor?  Though the two have
> identical-looking connectors, I had heard that they were incompatible in
> some way.  Is this true?  Thanks for any input!

Yes.
Infact, we've been discussing this fact some months ago, that there were
_some_ Sun-branded monitor that either work directly on a SGI or could
be easily modified to work.
The difference in SGI, Sun and IBM's 13W3 "standard" is in the monitor
ID pins in the connector. There's no other "standard" than the
connector, so every manufacturer has it's own standard on how to
recognize a certain monitor.
This was before "Vesa DDC" was ever invented.

But, there's another difference that usually makes up the hardest part;
Sync-signals.
Suns run a "seperate combined H+V sync", the "4th cable" that makes up
the picture.
SGI somewhat has done something DEC once did on their workstation-line,
running a "sync-on-green" signal.
By combining Green with that "combined H+V sync" you get only 3 cables
to play with.
To make it more confusing, PeeCee's are running everything seperate from
eachother, ie 5 cables.
I have no idea about IBM.


So, practicly, my Indy can do 1280x1024 by 76Hz which would satisfy my
wonderful Sun (Sony) GDM-20D10, but it won't "sync on green". Instead I
must find myself a SGI (Sony) GDM-20D11 to get the picture working.
Yes, practicly I could modify my GDM-20D10, but that renders my
Sparcstation 5 headless. :-(

What's more interesting though, is the fact that I can run a DEC (Sony)
VRT19-HA on this baby without problems. :-)
Those monitors were usually found running on either middle- to high-end
graphics capable VAXstations and DECstations, or on moderate graphics
capable Alphastations. (like the one sitting on my desk here at work)


	/Regards, Bjorn