LandShark, about your monitor...

[Lonely Raven]

I thought I recall you saying that you use an SGI 1600SW for
your main display.

I've beent seriously thinking about blowing my Tax Return on
one of these. What can you tell me about it?

How does it compair to a newer flatpanel?

How do you like the widescreen aspect ratio?

 

[LandShark]

first of all, i really LOVE it!! it isn't as much desktop mansion as a 21" 1600x1200 CRT. however, it take up a LOT less space on my desk too. and 1600x1024 is good enough for me.

the other thing is, u'll NEED their MultiLink adaptor in order to run it. (or a Number9 video card which......sux big time in 3d!) as it'll let u use any d-sub or dvi connector on most of today's video card. 'cos i believe it's a dvi connector. i could be wrong since i have it for a little while already.....

test and color is as nice as u can get. even when compare to today's flat panel. remember, it was designed by SGI for high end graphic workstation use. gaming isn't bad at all neither. as it scale back pretty nice too!

i've seen and use quite a few flat panel monitor. and i would say even some newer or even newest model still isn't look as good as the SGI 1600SW!! i've seen some very very awful flat panel, and they ARE the newest model!!

but u'd better make sure ur current video card support the odd 1600x1024 resolution tho! 'cos there isn't ALL card support this resolution! and sometimes, newer driver might help too. i'm currently using a GeForce2 Ultra w/ it running on Win98SE. i think WinXP should runs it fine as it should have native support of the monitor and the odd resolution. but haven't tried it yet. (still waiting for T-bred to completely build a new rig for my everyday use)

if u have any further questions, feel free to let me know.

btw, do u mind to tell me where u gonna get it?? 'cos some place sel this pretty (actually very) expensive!!

 

[LandShark]

here's a image of it on my desk (messy? i know! )........

 

[Morpheus]

I am waiting for thin CRT do out later this year... and supposed to be affordable from the onset...

You looked into this?

I thought I recall you saying that you use an SGI 1600SW for
your main display.

I've beent seriously thinking about blowing my Tax Return on
one of these. What can you tell me about it?

How does it compair to a newer flatpanel?

How do you like the widescreen aspect ratio?

 

[Cy]

Those should be nice Morph but I bet we'll have to wait another year or so...all these new techs are such teases...LOL

Cy

 

[Morpheus]

I had understood the big push was to have it out by the new fall season... but I'll have to agree Cy, the best prices will be just after the holidays if the first prediction is true...

LR's new monitor will be ready for an upgrade by then...

 

[Lonely Raven]

I was looking at getting the 1600SW off of EBAY refurbished
with the multilink.

I have 3 GeForce 3 cards right now. One has Analoge (typical 15
pin out), one has analoge and digital but won't overclock
(I'm trying to sell that one but everyone wants a GF4) and
one is the ASUS GeForce 3 deluxe that has VIVO at the
sacrifice of no DVI connection.

All 3 cards, and my matrox dual head (analoge) all have
1600X1024 as a native resolution.

As you can tell, I've already researched this. I'm just looking for
pointers from someone with some true hands on.

Like, how does it look for movies?

Do you see any issues with the hardware mentioned?

Is it good enough for me to make pretty pictures on? And game
on? I mean, honestly, I too have seen some terrible screens,
and a lot of the Ars Technica guys are trying to shy me away
"from an old screen like the SGI".

SGI has just released a new version of that screen, but I'm
too scared to look at the price. I'd like to shoot for $1000 or
less if I can, but I'll do $1000 if I can score a new one!

Anyone else have some LCD suggestions?

My runner ups are the Dell 2000FP 20" in black/grey. But that's
$1500.

And pretty much any of the Sony or Samsung as they have all
looked nice and have a pretty good track record.

 

[LuKE]

My company that I work for is an authorized dell reseller. We buy those 19" dell lcds for $899 US. they are beautifull displays and i would recommend them to anyone buying and lcd. if your on a budget them i'd recommend the dell 1503 lcd. there are two models with the 1503 being the best in both display and looks. i think these sell around 399-499 us dollars.

 

[LandShark]

Raven -->

i don't see any problem running the 1600SW w/ any of ur video card. (btw, how much u would like to sell one of ur GeForce3?)

i've play some games (MaxPayne, Rogue Spear) on it. no problem when scale down to 1024x768 or 1240x1024.

and i've tested w/ some fast action movie (Driven etc.) too. u know, LCD is known for their slow pixel response time. and any imprefection will show when u viewing some fast action movie or play some fast action games (UT, Q3, etc.). as far as i could tell, it's very good. and from what i've seen from reviews, being a couple yrs old, SGI still have one of the fastest pixel response time for LCD!! and it's viewing angle is very wide too. (that's a corcern when shopping for LCD too)

the other LCD that's as beautiful as the 1600SW is the Apple's 22" Cinema Display. but......it's a Mac.

i also have a SONY 15" super slim LCD. forgot the model number. but u know, the one that's less than an inch think! it's good too. but still not as good as my SGI!

so, if u can, go view some LCD, best watch a fast action movie or games. my work Viewsonic VG150 is actually a pretty good LCD consider w/ the price tag. however, it SUX big time for me after i've got my 1600SW. i've never notice it before i've use my SGI. when u scroll down a page, it "should be" as smooth as unnoticeable, rigth? at least that's for CRT. but after using my SGI for a while, i've start seeing the Viewsonic render (refresh) when scrolling down a web page!! believe me, if u are not used too a good LCD w/ fast pixel response time. u'll never notice the other's!

for me, i would take any SONYs too. Viewsonic? for average Joe and those whose in a tight budget. the newest NEC & Samsung (those w/ TV tuner built in) might also be a good candidate too.

good luck.

 

[Lonely Raven]

Thanx LG, that's exactly the info I was looking for.

There is a guy at my local computer show who has a 1600SW
for sale, but nobodies even giving it a second look cause it's
too expensive, and too esoteric for the masses.

I'm going to bring my laptop and a DVD and take it for a spin
this Sunday (if I can get away from the LAN party! Woot!).
If it's fully functional, I just might be taking it home!!

I also stopped in my local Microcenter and spent about an hour
looking over their screens. I was mostly impressed with the
NEC black bezel they had, but it was analoge only. I'd like one
that can do both if I'm going to be paying near $1000 for it!

I gave the Apple Cinemavision 22" some time with a DVD that
they had handy at the Microcenter, and I saw some flaws in it's
picture. Mostly because it's too damn big to support a DVD movie
without expanding the picture some! It never even occoured
to me that it might not look good. On all my CRTs (High end
Gateway Graphics Professional Models) DVDs look so good you
would think they were 3d movies!

If I can get close to that, I'd be happy.

 

[LandShark]

good luck and let me know how u like it, Raven!

 

[Lonely Raven]

Woot! I found a guy that lives just 20 mins away from me that
happens to be a Compaq server Wholesaler (I'm a Compaq
server field tech), and he has 17 OF THE VERY LAST SCREENS
OUT OF SGI!

He said he would pull one out of his stock, and if I drove over
to his house with cash, I can have the panel for $500!!!

Woot! Go me!

Now I just have to find a damn MultiLink adapter...grrrr

 

[LandShark]

WOW!! that's a good deal buddy!!

even if it's not SGI, $500 for a brand new 17.3" wide screen LCD is still a steal!!

good luck!!

btw, be prepare $200-450 for a multi-link adaptor from eBay tho....

hmm.....may be i should get one more from him since most GeForce4 support dual monitors!!

 

[Lonely Raven]

I'm already thinking that same thing.

I'm not sure you could get the same deal from him....
But you might be able to do $650.

He cut me some major slack because we work with the same
people in the same field and I'm literally driving over to see him
and pick it up. I'll ask him how he feels about me passing out
his E-mail.

 

[Lonely Raven]

LandShark and anyone else interested. I talked to the guy
I'm getting my Flat Panel from and he gave the go ahead to
give out his E-mail.

He said $600+ shipping on a NEW in the box SGI 1600SW,
just mention that your on the SETI team with me. He plans
on selling out in the next week, and no more are available!

His E-mail is:

[email protected]

Please remember, if you get one of these flat panels, you have
to track down a PC Compatable SGI specific video card from
Number9 or Oxygen, or the Multilink adapter which allows you
to connect it to whatever video card (digital or analog) you want!

 

[LandShark]

oh man.....u shouldn't do that for us Raven!!

now........i need to think should i use my next upgrade fund that was for a brand new thoroughbred system.........

tks Raven!!

 

[Lonely Raven]

Update!

I have two of these panels, and I've been searching for some
MultiLinks.

I might have a source, but you don't want to know the price...

In the mean time, my new friend at SGI has Thirty One(!) SGI
21" CRT Monitors using the SGI hopped up Sony Trinitron Tube!

Wow! This is one georgious mofo of a monitor!

Hopefully next paycheck I can score one myself. I've honestly
never seen a CRT that looks THIS good!

I'll keep you guys updated on how all this stuff looks and works
after this weekend!

 

[LandShark]

a friend of mine also running 2 SGI 1600SW SIDE BY SIDE in his main machine!!! man.......3200x2048 screen resolution all together!!! that's HUGE!!!!

lucky u, Raven!!

 

[Lonely Raven]

It's only "Lucky me" if I can get them both working!

I refuse to pay currently Prices for the MultiLinks, and the video
cards are not only hard to come buy, but people are charging
over $200 for them!

The exact same cards, but made for standard 15 pin output are
going for $20 on EBAY. (sigh)