SAM and quality of the display

Hi,

I have got two SAMs on my desk, one looks like a first batch (it has everything on it, the FPGA connector etc...) and the picture quality on my 19" VGA monitor with DVI-VGA adapter is crystal clear.


The other SAM board arrived this morning (batch 3?) it hasn't got the following:

J28
J6
J26
J8
J4
J3

j9 / j4 no idea what they are for

j8 is reserved for the cpu?!

j26 is used to connect touchscreens?!


There is no big connector at the bottom (where the ATX is).

AND

the picture quality is not as good with the same monitor and DVI-VGA adapter (I have also tried another adapter but still the same).

Vertical lines on the screen, especially visible with a white/grey background. They are not proper lines but they seem to be like when there is interference. Ghost effect with text.

Is anyone experiencing the same?

@TheDaddy

Yes, there are some people with that problem.
http://amigaworld.net/modules/newbb/v ... p?topic_id=28041&forum=14

@TheDaddy

Get a monitor with dvi. Works like a charm here

@TheDaddy
Get a new monitor and join us in the future.

@everyone

I have spoken to ACube:

1) Missing pins/headers are of no use to the end user, so we can relax now

2) Quality of display when connected to a CRT VGA monitor using the DVI-VGA adapter is being investigated. It seems to be ok when the signal is taken directly from the board.

3) The backplate is being worked on. It should present all the apertures for the existent connectors plus USB, 5.1 sound connectors and VGA connector (signal taken directly from the motherboard).

@TheDaddy

- that mean the backplate will have also connector the for 5.1 and connector for VGA ???? (connectors= ribbon + little hardware) ???

- A delai ?? week, month,...

@Mrodfr

Consider at least one month instead of one week I suppose.

Laurent aka Faranheit

@TheDaddy

I've exactly the same problem here, I've sent an e-mail to ACube yesterday to have infos about taking the VGA signal directly from the header.
But since I'm quiet a noob on this hw things I've asked if they sell some kind of adapters to plug in the header.

@Allanon

I have tested the SAM with a TFT monitor using DVI and the picture is very clear so it's something to do with the VGA on the latest batches of SAMs.

I would wait for the backplate.

@Faranheit

No, just a day (for the news, because TBA actually)

see here:

http://www.sam440.com/eng/sam440ep-flex.html

I have a strange situation with my SAM. My LG monitor has a native resolution of 1680x1050. If I use the dvi-vga adaptor I can use that resolution but the picture is slightly dodgy. If I use a dvi-d cable or a dvi-hdmi cable the highest resolution I can use is 1440x900. The SAM doesn't seem to output the digital signal. It's very annoying as my monitor displays that resolution with both my Pegasos II and Efika on either vga or dvi-d. I've adjusted the tooltypes of the Radeon monitor icon to match the specs of my monitor but that hasn't helped.

@Ruud

Quote:
Change
MODE=1680x1050@60
to
MODE=1680x1050@60+RB

Let me know if that helps.

@jahc

Yep that does the trick! Thanks.
Fonts don't look that great though. I'll just have to play around with them.