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07-18-2007 04:15 AM
07-18-2007 04:15 AM
Solved! Go to Solution.
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07-18-2007 05:38 AM
07-18-2007 05:38 AM
Re: Fuzzy characters with DW Motif
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
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07-18-2007 06:09 AM
07-18-2007 06:09 AM
Re: Fuzzy characters with DW Motif
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07-18-2007 07:40 AM
07-18-2007 07:40 AM
SolutionAs 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.
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07-18-2007 08:15 AM
07-18-2007 08:15 AM
Re: Fuzzy characters with DW Motif
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07-18-2007 10:03 AM
07-18-2007 10:03 AM
Re: Fuzzy characters with DW Motif
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.
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07-18-2007 11:17 AM
07-18-2007 11:17 AM
Re: Fuzzy characters with DW Motif
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07-18-2007 09:37 PM
07-18-2007 09:37 PM
Re: Fuzzy characters with DW Motif
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:
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07-18-2007 11:34 PM
07-18-2007 11:34 PM
Re: Fuzzy characters with DW Motif
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07-19-2007 02:09 AM
07-19-2007 02:09 AM
Re: Fuzzy characters with DW Motif
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07-19-2007 04:42 AM
07-19-2007 04:42 AM
Re: Fuzzy characters with DW Motif
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07-19-2007 05:53 AM
07-19-2007 05:53 AM
Re: Fuzzy characters with DW Motif
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!
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07-19-2007 06:00 AM
07-19-2007 06:00 AM
Re: Fuzzy characters with DW Motif
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.
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07-19-2007 10:45 PM
07-19-2007 10:45 PM
Re: Fuzzy characters with DW Motif
Fwiw
Wim
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07-19-2007 10:52 PM
07-19-2007 10:52 PM
Re: Fuzzy characters with DW Motif
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07-20-2007 12:07 AM
07-20-2007 12:07 AM