Elite 3D and PC monitor
Hello.
I have a Blade 1000 with an Elite 3D card.
The problem is: The PC monitor I use does not support "composite sync".
When using "afbconfig" to switch from one resolution to another (must be a different resolution) the video output is changed to "separate sync" if the new resolution is a VESA resolution.
In the startup scripts I already do so (switching to a resolution I do not want and then switching to the resolution I want).
The remaining problem is: I want to see the OpenBoot prompt or at least single-user startup (if the system had crashed before).
The card seems NOT to change its output when changing the resolution in the OK prompt.
Is there any possibility to change the video output to "separate sync" from the OK prompt?
Thanks.
Martin
# 1
I had the same problem with a Creator 2D fitted into an Ultra 10 in that the OpenBoot always generated composite sync. From searching SunSolve never found any OpenBoot command to select the type of sync; only the resolution and refresh rate.
In the end brought a cheap second hand Sun 17-inch Entry Level Color Monitor (http://sunsolve.sun.com/handbook_private/Devices/Monitor/MONITOR_Color_17_Entr y_CRT.html#365-1354) which supports either composite or separate sync.
# 2
Have you tried playing with the OBP settings.
i.e.
ok setenv output-device screen:r1024x768x75
....Check original setttings first.
$ eeprom output-device
output-device=screen
Check out this url...it may help.
http://sunsite.ualberta.ca/Sun_Resources/Just_The_Facts/Expert3D-JTF.ps
Sun4u at 2007-7-7 2:03:32 >
# 3
>> Have you tried playing with the OBP settings.
Hello.
Yes. But the problem seems to be that when changing the resolution using OPB commands (e.g. setenv output-device) the resolution and frequency is changed but the sync mode remains "composite sync".
Thank you anyway.
Half a year ago I soldered a circuit (I found the schematics in the internet) that can convert CSync to separate sync. However this circuit does not run very well and produces a bad picture.
Martin
# 4
Hi Martin,
I have the same problem with Elite 3D and a PC monitor. I could change the resolution to 1280x1024x60 with afbconfig from serial console, and it switched over to separate sync (although it was already 1280x1024x60). However, it initializes with composite sync. I wrote the command '/usr/sbin/afbconfig -res 1280x1024x60 nocheck now' in /etc/rc2.d/S91afbinit, but the system hangs at boot. I will try to resolve it. If you have a solution, let us know.
For the OBP resolution you can try creating an 'nvalias afb /SUNW,afb@1e,0', then 'setenv output-device afb:r1280x1024x60' and reset.
Laszlo
# 5
I could force the Elite 3D to H/Vsync by putting two afbconfig lines at the end of /etc/init.d/afbinit before the line "exit 0". One is to set resolution 1152x900x66, then immediately following 1280x1024x60. I can get a display on OpenWindows now, but the Elite 3D still does not display anything at boot before the afbinit script is executed, regardless of the resolution setting in OBP output-device.
# 6
... and I found the reason: the Elite 3D (unlike the Creator 3D) puts out separate H/V sync after:
1.) its resolution is changed with afbconfig
AND
2.) the new resolution is a VESA resolution.
During boot it gives composite sync and it can not be forced to H/V sync (at least I could not find any way to do so). The only option is to use a monitor that accepts composite sync.
