acknowledgement
Information on this monitor is now available thanks to the exemplary cooperative support staff at NCD. Accolades and kudos to Christien Pho, in particular. Also, Hitachi Europe sent me more timings and confirmed the maximum resolutions and refresh rates.
To overcome these restrictions, there are several options: either use a second monitor, perhaps even permanently (be that a second VGA monitor on a second Matrox Mystique or Millenium, or an VGA/MGA combination), or buy a specialized video adapter (Photon, Mercury, Mirage, Mobius) with added synchronization capabilities.
A most elegant setup would be a twin Millenium or Mystique, adding two-monitor capability in Win95 and WinNT. If you can get monitors real cheap, you might go all out and set up even more displays on Matroxes plus an MGA for booting. Running NT on two or three monitors should really impress your friends and neighbours, give you lots of room to enjoy multitasking to the fullest, give you a real sci-fiction NASA-like feeling and fill your desk utterly and completely.
For OS/2 users, the MGA solution is built into Warp, the Matrox twin solution doesn't work and ELSA appears to make a VGA card that will allow for two VGA monitors to be used. For Linux users, I don't know.
Christien (of NCD) was quite adamant in me getting the right markings off the monitor, so perhaps all NCD 20"-ers are not equal. The specifications here are given in good faith, but without guarantees. If NCD, Hitachi or you think this page a good initiative, perhaps I'll receive more comprehensive information on the HMX range of monitors.
CRT specifications Size: 20 inch (19 inch V), screen size: 384 x 293 mm, active display area: 344 x 275 mm (5:4 ratio) Electron gun: Precision in-line Convergence: Self convergence, ITC (Integrated Tube Component) type Focusing: Elliptical aperture with dynamic focus (EADF) Deflection: Electromagnetic deflection Deflection angle: 90 degrees Dot trio pitch: 0.28 mm Phosphor characteristics: Standard persistence P22, dot type black matrix Phosphor (x,y) values Red (.622, .336) Blue (.150, .063) Green (.283, .600) Implosion protection: Banded type with mounting lugs Orientation: Long dimension horizontal Surface treatment: Anti reflective - anti glare - anti static coating Shadow mask: INVAR shadow mask Back up Signal input characteristics Video signal inputs type: RGB. Note: composite SYNC signal will be taken from the Green video signal line level (AC coupled input) composite: 714 mV video + 286 mV sync nominal non-composite: 714 mV nominal signal polarity (RGB): positive bright impedance: 75 Ohms +/- 2% terminated SYNC signal type: auto selection (composite sync on green, external HV mixed, external HV separate) level composite: SYNC to total signal ratio = 28.6+/-5% external: TTL level (DC coupled) signal polarity: negative, positive impedance: 2.2 kOhms terminated Connectors: BNC type receptacles for each RGB video signal and external SYNC signals Signal waveform: EIA RS-343A compatible RS232C Serial interface: optional Back up Electrical performance Resolution: up to 1600x1200/64Hz, 1280x1024/80Hz, non-interlace Scanning frequency range: horizontal: 56-85 kHz vertical: 60-120 Hz Video amplifier: bandwidth: 130 MHz (nominal) rise/fall time: 3.5 ns max. overshoot: 10% max. sag: no greater than 5% of full scale Colorimetry: 9300K+8MPCD (x=0.283, y=0.298) 6550K+7MPCD (x=0.313, y=0.329) 5500K (x=0.332, y=0.341) Emission warm up time: less than 20 seconds Warm up time: more than 20 minutes for stable display performance Phosphor protection: power on/off, loss of sync input, damage in deflection circuit Degaussing: power on degauss and manual degauss Auto Power Saver: Stand-by power mode in 10+/-1 minutes, if user away Preset modes: Factory preset: 6 (recall mode available) User preset: max. 4 Back up Display performance Active display area: 344 x 275 mm Raster distortion: Delta-X less than or equal to 1% of picture width Delta-Y less than or equal to 1% of picture height Linearity: with test pattern (1 inch pitch cross hatch) applied, the max. and min. interval on hor. and vert. center lines is (MAX-MIN) / (MAX+MIN) * 100 is less than 5% (horizontal and vertical) Brightness (max.): 35Ft-L typ. (0.3Ft-L nom. background) at 9300K+8MPCD Purity: +/- 10% of colorimetry (x,y) at the center of the screen Brightness uniformity: no less than 70% of luminance at the center of the screen Raster size regulation: less than 0.5% of max. raster dimension change from 0 to 100% APL Convergence Zone A: 0.25 mm inside a circular area with a diameter equal to the picture height of the active display area Zone B: 0.35 mm ouside this area but still inside the active display area Resolution: be able to distinguish 7x7 dot "m" and "E" pattern Jitter: less than 1 pixel viewed at 45 cm from the screen Mechanical position: refer to drawing Back up User controls Rear user controls: main power ON/OFF switch Front user controls: power switch brightness, contrast manual degauss side pin cushion moiré reduction V-center, V-height H-center, H-width color temperature Back up Primary power requirements Voltage range: 87-132V AC; 175-264V AC autosense Frequency: 47-63Hz, 1 phase Power consumption: nominal: 120W typ. when full white signal displayed stand-by: 30W max. Power inrush current at 100V: power on: less than 20A manual degauss: less than 10A at 240V: power on: less than 40A manual degauss: less than 20A Back up Environmental requirements Temperature: operating: 0-40 deg Celsius (with cabinet) storage: -40-70 deg Celsius Humidity: operating & storage: 10-90% no condensation Altitude: operating: 10,000 feet shipping: 35,000 feet Shock (packaged): edge drop, bottom 4 edges: 50 cm face drop, bottom face: 80 cm face drop, side 4 faces: 50 cm Vibration (w/o packing box): sweep-sine, 5-500Hz at 0.5G peak X,Y,Z 20 minutes Back up Mechanical guidelines Weight: Approx. 30 kg (with tilt/swivel stand) Size: 500mm x 470mm x 510 mm (with tilt/swivel stand) Back up Reliability and safety MTBF (mean time between failure): 30,000 hours calculated, using MIL HDBK-217D X-ray radiation: less than 0.5mR/Hr; DHHS rule 21 CFR, sub chapter J; RÖV EMI: FCC class A; CISPR-B; VCCI-1 Safety regulation: UL 1950; CSA C22,2 No. 950; GS (EN 60950, ZH1 / 618 Ergonomics: TÜV Ergonomie geprüft (MPR-II and ISO9241-3) Back up Electrical performance II (Power save mode) The chart shows the relationship between frequencies and power save mode. Horizontal Vertical Power save frequency frequency mode 1 1 Normal 0 1 Stand-by 1 1 0 Stand-by 0 0 Stand-by Horizontal frequency: 1: 50-90kHz 0: 0-45kHz, 95kHz and up Vertical frequency: 1: 50-130Hz 0: 0-45Hz, 135Hz and up 1 Can be changed in future without any notice. Back up
NC2085AA preset |
1024x768 @70Hz |
1024x768 @75Hz |
1152x900 @62Hz |
1152x900 @68Hz |
1280x1024 @70Hz |
1280x1024 @75Hz |
|
H.Disp | pixel | 1024 | 1024 | 1152 | 1152 | 1280 | 1280 |
H.FP | pixel | 24 | 16 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 16 |
H.Sync | pixel | 136 | 96 | 128 | 128 | 160 | 144 |
H.BP | pixel | 144 | 176 | 192 | 168 | 208 | 248 |
H.Blank | pixel | 304 | 288 | 352 | 328 | 400 | 408 |
H.Total | pixel | 1328 | 1312 | 1504 | 1480 | 1680 | 1688 |
V.Disp | line | 768 | 768 | 900 | 900 | 1024 | 1024 |
V.FP | line | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
V.Sync | line | 6 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 |
V.BP | line | 29 | 28 | 31 | 34 | 36 | 38 |
V.Blank | line | 38 | 32 | 37 | 40 | 39 | 42 |
V.Total | line | 806 | 800 | 937 | 940 | 1063 | 1066 |
H.Freq | kHz | 56.4759 | 60.0229 | 61.7952 | 67.5676 | 74.4048 | 79.9763 |
V.Freq | Hz | 70.0694 | 75.0286 | 65.9501 | 71.8804 | 69.9951 | 75.0247 |
Clock | MHz | 75.0000 | 78.7500 | 92.9400 | 100.0000 | 125.0000 | 135.0000 |
Width | mm | 367±10 | 352±5 | 344±5 | |||
Height | mm | 273+3/-10 | 275+3/-7 | 275+3/-7 |
The next chart contains information from Hitachi Europe. They provided me with the 73Hz settings. Both Hitachi and NCD agreed that the 80Hz and 64Hz were the maximum refresh rates for this monitor.
Hitachi-Europe HM-4020-D |
1280x1024 73Hz |
1280x1024 80Hz |
1600x1200 62Hz |
1600x1200 64Hz |
|
H.Disp | pixel | 1280 | 1280 | 1600 | 1600 |
H.FP | pixel | 64 | - | - | - |
H.Sync | pixel | 192 | - | - | - |
H.BP | pixel | 192 | - | - | - |
H.Blank | pixel | 448 | - | - | - |
H.Total | pixel | 1728 | - | - | - |
V.Disp | line | 1024 | 1024 | 1200 | 1200 |
V.FP | line | 3 | - | - | - |
V.Sync | line | 3 | - | - | - |
V.BP | line | 40 | - | - | - |
V.Blank | line | 46 | - | - | - |
V.Total | line | 1070 | - | - | - |
H.Freq | kHz | 78.13 | 85 | 77 | - |
V.Freq | Hz | 75.0247 | 80 | 62 | 64 |
Clock | MHz | 135 | 144 | 167.4 | 172.8 |
Polarity | (h/v) | +/+ | +/+ | +/+ | +/+ |
Installation in Windows 95
Hmm. I guess it should be similar to Windows NT. I'll say no more about it.
Installation in Windows NT 4.0
After installing the latest driver for NT4, you can get at the monitor database using the MGA Monitor tab in the display settings control panel and setting it to MGA monitor. Start out on your second monitor, and set it to a mode both monitors will display properly, selecting the (Standard monitor types) and choosing Vesa 1024x768 @70-72Hz.
The 1024x768@70 mode seems available on even the cheapest of monitors these days.
Once NT is up and running on monitor #2, it's time to unplug monitor #2 and plug in the NCD. It should come up all right.
Now you can set the display to (Standard monitor types) and Vesa 1600x1200 @60-75Hz. You are now able to use the four highest resolution modes (from 1024x768@75 to 1600x1200@60). Timings for the different modes can be adjusted using the timings chart above or interactively. Once satisfied, the settings can be saved. Now continue with the MGA Settings tab to put your on-the-fly switchable virtual screens together to your heart's content.
Actually the 800x600, 640x480, 600x400 and 512x384 modes can be made to work, but who cares when you can just as easily pan and zoom using the Matrox features. Again: 640x480@60Hz does not work.
Installation in OS/2 Warp 4.0
After installing the latest driver for OS2, you can do the very same thing as outlined for NT4. Using the MGA settings, you have access to the same monitor database, and using 1600x1200@60-75Hz you can pick the resolution you want. In my opinion 1280x1024@75Hz is best, WarpSans well readable even at 9pt at 50-60 cm distance from the screen. The OS2 driver will not allow you to save newly adjusted monitors, However, as NT and OS2 use the same Matrox monitor database, settings saved in NT can be used in OS2. Or you can add this monitor and its modes by hand.
Installation in Linux
With the timings chart in hand, creating the required modelines should be a breeze. Come on, Linuxers, is this easy or what? Well, it should be, but I can't get XFree86/os2 to start. It seems to fall back into 320x200 mode or something horrid. The driver is still new, so I think it will be ironed out in time. For the knowledgeable, here's the modeplot diagram you can use to calculate modes, your window of opportunity, so to speak.
Note that the allowed maximum ratings of 1280x1024@80Hz and 1600x1200@64Hz are well outside the allowed region. Don't ask me why, rather tell me why. Even my preferred 1280x1024@75Hz is outside the allowed range, i.e. just outside the vertical bandwidth line.
NCD information also included the following chart for allowed H.Blank times:
Extra parameters
The active screen size measures are not without use. Note the resolution you are working in and set the active display to the same ratio, so that your squares will be square and your circles circular.
Some programs (e.g. Photoshop) can use color parameters, i.e. phosphor (x,y) values and color temperature. Using those values will allow for beter color rendition and improved color calibration possibilities, such as there are on PCs right now.
I give no guarantees, risks and rewards are all your own.
Cheers/2 you all.
Please let me know your comments, suggestions, additions or answers concerning these topics.
Michiel de Mooij, with special thanks to NCD (Christien Pho) for great efforts in getting me the bulk of this information and Hitachi Europe (James Davenport).
Written on the day of the Mars Rover landing, Friday, the Fourth of July, 1997. Coincidence? Not!
Latest update: July 12, 1997.