Fuzzy characters with DW Motif

[Trish Morman]

I'm using an Alphastation 500-500 using VMS 7.2-2 and Decwindows Motif V0102-6-1. I use the EVE editor and DCL, etc. I don't know the model of the graphics card, but the device comes up as GYA0. I just bought a new Samsung 225BW LCD monitor and when using it with Motif I have poor resolution, particularly bad about every vertical inch. The system manager at my client's shop has suggested that the problem is because Motif uses 75 or 100 DPI fonts and LCD monitors use 96 DPI fonts. That doesn't make sense to me because monitors use pixels, not fonts, right? Or is the monitor or graphics card interpreting the DPI font into pixels and they are incompatible? I can return the monitor, and I'll do that, but I need to understand what the problem is so I can buy a monitor that will give me good resolution. Thanks

[Hoff]

The GYA0 device is usually either a TGA or a TGA2 controller, and the TGA2 is used with the PowerStorm 3D30 and PowerStorm 4D20 series. There are other members of the TGA and TGA2 series. I'd encourage determining the particular and specific graphics controller in use here. That detail matters.

I abandoned my effort to get a high-end older graphics controllers -- the PowerStorm 3D30 and 4D20 series -- to work with an LCD. This due to display artifact. The older controllers simply could not generate a reliable 60 Hz resolution for use with an LCD. The display was fuzzy, and had various other forms of display artifact. In those days, faster refresh was better, and nobody used 60 Hz due to inherent flicker.

Check your cables and connections, et al., and try swapping cables or controllers. The usual techniques of classic divide and conquer debugging swaps are warranted.

Do also look at the setting in the private server setup DECW$PRIVATE_SERVER_SETUP.COM or the card-edge resolution setting knob or the resolution switchpack -- how the resolution is set it entirely specific to the graphics controller -- and ensure it is within spec with the LCD. And try a few different (other) settings that are (also) in spec for the LCD. Best to go to the LCD native resolution, if the controller supports it.

Also see the OpenVMS FAQ "Which video monitor works with which graphics controller?" and particularly "Why is DECwindows Motif not starting?" sections, available via http://www.hoffmanlabs.com/vmsfaq

The AlphaStation 500/500 is an ancient EV56 box and not EV6, meaning it can't be used with newer EV6-only graphics controllers. I have a list of OpenVMS graphics controllers at: http://64.223.189.234/node/46

As for the 96 DPI fonts, tell this system manager that a patent-pending Heisenberg DPI Compensator avoids issues with the DPI differences in font displays. :-) But seriously, no, that's not at all related. The displays are pixels, and the controller and the display are slightly skewed.

I'd also look to replace the AlphaStation 500/500 with an EV6-class Alpha or with a low-end Office-Friendly (OFS) Integrity pedestal, too. But that is likely another discussion.

Stephen Hoffman
HoffmanLabs LLC

[Trish Morman]

Is there a way to determine which video card it is without opening the system box?

[Hoff · Accepted solution]

I usually prefer to follow the video cable back to the connector on the motherboard or in the host bus slot, and crack the box open and look behind it.

As for avoiding mechanical intervention, see what the ANALYZE/SYSTEM command CLUE CONFIG shows, or check the output from the SRM console if you're permitted to shut down the box.

If either CLUE CONFIG or SRM identifies the specific graphics widget, post that. If there's a hex PCI slot identifier in its stead, post that.

Some cards have an identifying string embossed onto the visible spine of the PCI slot.

[Trish Morman]

Hooray! There was a string on the visible spine of the card: PBXGB-AA.

[Hoff]

The PBXGB-AA is the PowerStorm 3D30, and that's one of the controllers I couldn't get to work with a TFT series LCD; display artifact and ever-so-slight shimmer.

As the box in question was EV6-based and thus compatible with the newer drivers and the flat address space, I first switched to the ELSA GLoria (very slow) and then to the Radeon 7500 series (much better). Both of which drove the LCD just fine.

[Trish Morman]

Yee Haw! You're the best. I've ordered 2 Radeon 7500 video cards. I have a 500-333 as well as a 500-500 and I presume the video cards will work for both (right?). Now, what about drivers? Will there be a driver that is native to VMS 7.2-2 (probably asking for a miracle?) or will I have to load one? If I have to load one, will an appropriate driver come with the card or will I have to download something, if so where? Once I get a driver, how do I install it on VMS 7.2-2? The estimated delivery date for the cards is Jul 23. I'm just delighted that I might be able to work with higher resolution. The more code I can see at once the easier my work is. :)

[John Travell]

Trish, I suspect that you may be disappointed with the Radeon 7500's.
IIRC, they are supported ONLY in EV6 machines, and not in EV5 (or EV5/6 as in your machine). However, I do not know if this support status is a case of 'known to NOT work in pre-EV6 machines, or might work but not tested'.

Interestingly, searching the HP website for 'Alphastation' is entertaining, looking through the 'retired systems' section finds NO matches, but using the search box at the top of every page managed to find http://h18000.www1.hp.com/alphaserver/workstations/retired/a500series.html?jumpid=reg_R1002_USEN
which will lead you to documents dating from 1997, with no mention of more modern options, graphic or otherwise.
JT:

[Hoff]

Radeon 7500 requires EV6 or later.

[Trish Morman]

Ok. So my machines are EV5/6? What does EV5, EV5/6, EV6 refer to? Processor board? Thx

[Trish Morman]

Just reviewed the Web references you gave me, Hoff, and I see that the 4D6OT does not work with VMS 7+. I find the list a bit confusing. Please forgive me - will any of the cards on that list work with an EV5/6 machine running VMS 7+ giving higher resolution than 1280x1024? Thanks

[Trish Morman]

One of my posts is missing, therefore the confusion re the last post. Please just ignore that.

Resolution to the problem (pun): I have found that if I set the resolution on the graphics card to 0 (1280x1024 72) on a Dell 1907FP 19" Monitor (native 1280x1024 60) my output is OK. So, I'm a happy camper! Thanks very much!

[Hoff]

This case is not one easily surmountable; you're probably not going to like the answer. You're trying to retrofit new gear -- an LCD display -- onto some truly ancient gear -- an AlphaStation 500/500 -- and graphics controllers tend to have the product lifetime of a fruit-fly.

The AlphaStation 500/500 box is typically using an EV56 microprocessor; it's an updated version of the EV5 processor. The follow-on was the EV6, of which there were several flavors, then EV7, and the latest and last version of Alpha is the EV7z.

SHOW CPU can show the Alpha microprocessor on most boxes (as can the ANALYZE /SYSTEM command CLUE CONFIG), and there's full C source code of a user-mode Alpha microprocessor decode and display tool I wrote up a while back posted here:
http://h71000.www7.hp.com/wizard/swdev/implver.html

The 4D60T and other boards are not supported by OpenVMS.

The resolution is the easy part here, the problem here is that this AlphaStation 500/500 box is about a decade old, and its contemporary graphics controllers just don't work all that well with current-generation LCD panels.

http://h18002.www1.hp.com/alphaserver/workstations/retired/a500series.html

Yoy might manage to find a combination that doesn't shimmer, though I know the various 3D30 and 4D20 series controllers did shimmer.

If you're willing to deal with very slow text and graphics operations to get your LCD, the ELSA GLoria Synergy (also known as the PowerStorm 4D10T) will probably work in this box, and might be able to adequately drive an LCD. Emphasis here on the words Probably and Might -- replacing this whole box with a newer Alpha or with an Integrity server might be more appropriate and expeditious solution.

The PowerStorm 4D10T does work with V7.2-2 (and there's very likely an ECO kit needed, given that was early in the lifecycle of the 4D10T); this might work here with the LCD.

[Wim Van den Wyngaert]

I have a PBXGB-AA in a AS500/400 and I'm using a Nec multisync LCD 1810 (18 inch)without any problem.

Fwiw

Wim

[Wim Van den Wyngaert]

In 1280x1024, 75 dpi

[Wim Van den Wyngaert]

My switch is on 0 too.
http://h71000.www7.hp.com/wizard/wiz_2041.html

Wim