24" Widescreen CRT (FW900) From Ebay arrived,Comments.

Yes 2304x1440 should be fine. May need to get into powerstrip.

My RGBHV with forced driver on XP loads my pc in 1920x1200@85hz just fine. Unfortunately its in panning mode.

I have to go through the pain of booting with HD15 then when in windows switching the cable at my video card.

NOTE: Not sure if anyone read my last post. My fw900 in the last few weeks has started POPing and BANGing. Sounds like it is due to it warming up and the case expanding. It is right next to a window so that may be what it is. I notice bright white and yellow I can see the refresh flash "more" then when the monitor hasn't "banged". Just a thought.

Also is there anyway to fix a discolored area in the NNE of my screen edge. It discolors redish hue's. Landing will not fix it as it is too far from the NE corner.
 
Hi. Great thread. Thanks to all who've contributed.

I've had my A7217A about seven months. Good price, local craigslist. (I was very fortunate to hook up with an honorable seller, who held it for a week even after getting much higher offers.) It's in good condition (minor coating scratches, slight convergence(?) issue in one corner). It worked fine for the first five months or so, which leads to main reason for my post.

I read through many of the posts in this thread before beginning my search for this monitor (mainly looking for an affordable source). I had read about the fuzzy-text-then-pop thing, and was very relieved when my monitor didn't do it. Then it did. It was up to once every couple hours or so at the peak. It hasn't popped once for going on two months now. *Crosses fingers, knocks on wood* (I'm not superstitious but coincidence seems to like slapping certain people around when the opportunity is presented.)

It started after I had become lazy about not letting it sleep. (I had also cranked up the brightness some while playing a dark game, but really I don't think that contributed.) After much fretting and searching through this thread again, I cranked the brightness down and disabled sleep (soft power-down). I also enabled a screen saver. I only turn it off at night, or when leaving the house.

I am not offering this as a cure, but as a warning:

  • Ignore the advice in this thread about sleep mode at your own risk!
 
i have an FW potentially for sale. to anyone up for the tweaking it needs. i just don't have the time/patience to deal with it even though i love the monitor.

i'm in houston.
 
Wow. The newest ATI Tray Tools just basically solved all my RGBHV problems.

DDCEdit.jpg


See, it lists the maximum at 1600x1200 with a big "Display Limits (no DDC!)". Just click the DDC button and it will supply two pull-downs. I just selected 2304x1440 and max refresh of 90hz. Restarted and without switching to-from my RGBHV, it worked perfectly. I will power everything down tomorrow and verify this is the miracle I was hoping for!

BIG NERDY CALIBRATION NOTE.. If you go into the Options menu next to the DDC button you can adjust the color temperature in nearly infinitely small increments. You have to use the left and right arrow keys to adjust properly.

ALSO: I don't have an anti-glare on this fw900 so it also means I don't have an anti-static coating. With my cat on my desk all the time it was a real pain in the ass. I bought this and recommend it to anyone with a CRT.

http://www.mcmelectronics.com/product/20-485&CAWELAID=220231384

Best $8.00 I ever spent. You can even hear it working when you start up the monitor. The screen surface buzzes!
 
I just reinstalled windows 7 x64 and installed a 5770. With BNC I get horrible resolution choices, with VGA at least ATI lets it do 2304x1440. I guess that Powerstrip doesn't support the 5xxx series for custom timings and I couldn't get Rivatuner to do it either.

I turned on debug mode and signed the driver for ATI tools but it locks up my computer everytime I run it. Had to go to safemode and uninstall it the first time since by default it starts with windows.
 
rally9x said:
I just reinstalled windows 7 x64 and installed a 5770. With BNC I get horrible resolution choices, with VGA at least ATI lets it do 2304x1440. I guess that Powerstrip doesn't support the 5xxx series for custom timings and I couldn't get Rivatuner to do it either.

I turned on debug mode and signed the driver for ATI tools but it locks up my computer everytime I run it. Had to go to safemode and uninstall it the first time since by default it starts with windows.
Click to expand...

My brothers computer is running Win7-64 with a 4850. I will try and install ATI Tray Tools tomorrow and see if there are issues. If so then it's a win7-64 thing. If it doesn't screw up its your 5770... Maybe.
 
MetaGenie said:
Here is the modeline for 2736x1710 that works on my FW900 (with custom "monitor driver") and GeForce 8800 GTS 512 with latest nvidia driver (195.62):
2736 208 304 500 1710 1 3 64 399750
(Horizontal active / front porch / sync width / back porch / Vertical active / front porch / sync width / back porch / Pixel clock in KHz)
This has a horizontal scan rate of 106 kHz and vertical refresh rate of 60 Hz.

My Sony GDM-F500 can do 2560x1920@60Hz which is an even higher pixel count, and per physical screen area is sharper than my FW900.

These modes are video card limited, not monitor limited. The FW900 could probably do 3120x1950@60Hz, but it would require a pixel clock of 520 MHz, and consumer video cards only go up to 400 MHz.
Click to expand...

IIRC, the pixel clock is also 400MHz for the FW900 (same clock as the RAMDAC on the video cards). Am I right about this?

I've also gotten it to run at 2736x1710 in Windows XP with my Geforce 8800GTX. Just type in 2736x1710, and then set the refresh to 60Hz and change it from Generic to Discrete monitor timings in the custom resolution feature in Nvidia Control Panel.
 
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mathesar said:
If anyone is interested in a calibrated FW900 this listing looks promising.. (although a bit on the pricey side): http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280449863839&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT
Click to expand...

I would bet UnkleVito's FW900's are better setup than the ones that came from the factory. If you haven't been keeping up to date with it, he's been posting in this thread and has given a lot of insight to some issues and concerns people were having with the FW900,
 
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eclypse said:
Windows Vista and Win 7 both have the drivers built in.. though you'll still have to tell it what it is. So you'll have to go into devices and printers.. Then right click on the monitor and select properties.EDIT: Under the General tab, hit the "Change settings" at the bottom. The select the driver tab. Then hit the update driver button. Then select browse my computer for drivers. Then select "let me select my own drivers from a list". Now, you'll have to uncheck "Show compatible hardware". Then fianlly, select Sony for the manufacturer on the left and then hunt for the model # for the monitor FW900.

:) Now try to remember all that! lol
Click to expand...

It installed 955DF drivers but still doesn't allow higher than 85hz for low resolutions that should be able to do 120hz.

Are there any programs like reforce or refreshlock for Win 7?
 
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Bo_Fox said:
IIRC, the pixel clock is also 400MHz for the FW900 (same clock as the RAMDAC on the video cards). Am I right about this?

I've also gotten it to run at 2736x1710 in Windows XP with my Geforce 8800GTX. Just type in 2736x1710, and then set the refresh to 60Hz and change it from Generic to Discrete monitor timings in the custom resolution feature in Nvidia Control Panel.
Click to expand...
I've only been able to get 2736x1710 using PowerStrip. Every time I reboot, the resolution disappears; to get it back, I have to recreate it with PowerStrip.

When I try to get 2736x1710 using NVIDIA Control Panel it says "Custom resolution 2736 x 1710 at 60Hz (32-bit) is not supported by your display." even though the values are all within their proper ranges, including a pixel clock of "399.0864 MHz".

If you could be more specific about how you got it, that'd be nice. What video driver version are you using? Did you have to switch to a custom monitor driver? Did you have to hack your EDID? Where did you "just type in 2736x1710"?
 
MetaGenie said:
I've only been able to get 2736x1710 using PowerStrip. Every time I reboot, the resolution disappears; to get it back, I have to recreate it with PowerStrip.

When I try to get 2736x1710 using NVIDIA Control Panel it says "Custom resolution 2736 x 1710 at 60Hz (32-bit) is not supported by your display." even though the values are all within their proper ranges, including a pixel clock of "399.0864 MHz".

If you could be more specific about how you got it, that'd be nice. What video driver version are you using? Did you have to switch to a custom monitor driver? Did you have to hack your EDID? Where did you "just type in 2736x1710"?
Click to expand...

Sorry, I was wrong about it working in WinXP. I just tried as I'm currently using WinXP right now. It works in Vista as I'm dual-booting. Since I'm using 5 BNC cable, Vista does not recognize the monitor (I pulled one of the pins from the VGA connection). That must be why Vista allows it. IIRC, it was using 185.85 Forceware. I could boot back into Vista and make sure for you, if you would like? But one thing that's strange is that sometimes other custom resolutions fail (it says "Custom mode test failed"), especially if I try a certain resolution with higher refresh like 1920x1200 @ 90Hz.


UPDATE: Nvidia CP in WinXP allows me to select up to 2560x1600 @ 68Hz, but it refuses to let me do 2736x1710 @ 60Hz. Oh well, whatever.. 2560x1600 is definitely high enough anyways, and I cannot bear the horrible 60Hz flicker whatsoever. When I was playing Dead Space, I gamed at 2560x1600@67Hz to make up for the lack of supported anti-aliasing, and it was bliss.
 
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Just picked up a HP branded GDM FW-9012 off craigslist. Paid $175 for it.

One thing that worried me were two faint horizontal lines but thanks to this thread I now know that those are damper lines.

What's more worrisome is a blotch where it looks like the monitor is wet but it is not. But it looks like it's wet and you can see the individual red, green, and blue pixels being magnified a bit. What the hell is that?

- - - - - - - - - -

Ok guys, with this INF file, you should be able to create custom resolutions: http://forums.nvidia.com/index.php?showtopic=153256&mode=threaded&pid=967683

Download the davemon64 INF file and use it rather than going through Win 7's built-in CRT drivers.

p.s. This monitor is fucking amazing. So much better picture quality and color than my 955DF. I used to have to turn brightness up all the way on the old Samsung CRT but on the FW9012 I can have it at zero and games are still great, can see ppl in the shadows in counter-strike 1.6.
 
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Epiik said:
a blotch where it looks like the monitor is wet but it is not. But it looks like it's wet and you can see the individual red, green, and blue pixels being magnified a bit. What the hell is that?
Click to expand...

Can you take a digital camera macro picture of it? From your description all that makes sense is a damaged anti-glare and improper convergence.

Fullscreen this image in a program other then windows photo viewer(pile of crap)



There should just be single pixel white dots every 24 pixels.. If you see the individual red green and blue then you need to adjust your convergence.
 
That image shows up fine. White dots and no colors.

The blotch is very noticeable on a white screen. It's not pixels itself but on the glass.

I think it's possible that the toothpaste I used to try and get rid of the scratch is the cause.

But seriously it looks like there's water on the monitor. I keep wiping it with a paper towel knowing it won't come off but think "maybe this time" cause it just looks like moisture on the glass.
 
You'll need to remove the anti-glare cover from teh monitor as i have long ago.. mine had many scratches that i thought went threw to the glass but nope.. that anti glare cover is super thick.
 
eclypse said:
You'll need to remove the anti-glare cover from teh monitor as i have long ago.. mine had many scratches that i thought went threw to the glass but nope.. that anti glare cover is super thick.
Click to expand...

Got any recommendations on how I go about removing the anti-glare?
 
Aww man, I would KILL for this monitor, the only problem is, there are none being sold here!
The eBay prices for shipping from the US are exorbitant! The monitor is $200 and the shipping is $700, if the seller even offers it... I don't believe those prices - please, can any of you folks check at your local post or online what it would really cost to ship it? I'm from Croatia, Europe... If anyone is selling one in good condition with no issues, I'd pay good money for it provided the shipping isn't over the head, this monitor is is my dream ;)
 
Shipping a 100lb box that is as big as one would need to be to safely carry an fw900 without it being destroyed in shipping probably WILL cost that much including insurance from the US to Croatia. Even shipping it across the country costs over a hundred USD from what I can see, when it's done properly, and many times the monitor still arrives damaged during shipping. I drove ~6 hours each way to get my good condition FW900 for 150$, and thought it was well worth the 12 hours in the car to avoid having one arrive damaged AFTER i paid hundreds of dollars for shipping.
 
As I feared... Well, about the only chance left on Earth I have of getting this monitor is sniffing out german classifieds and hopefully find one that is close enough to the two towns in Germany that I have relatives in, as I can't really inconvenience them with a 4 hour drive. I have found one, but I've only just sent an email to the seller and I'm not sure if he's sold it already. Even if I luck out and get one for not too expensive, they're still only coming here in July - the wait is gonna kill me :)
 
headless said:
Shipping a 100lb box that is as big as one would need to be to safely carry an fw900 without it being destroyed in shipping probably WILL cost that much including insurance from the US to Croatia. Even shipping it across the country costs over a hundred USD from what I can see, when it's done properly, and many times the monitor still arrives damaged during shipping. I drove ~6 hours each way to get my good condition FW900 for 150$, and thought it was well worth the 12 hours in the car to avoid having one arrive damaged AFTER i paid hundreds of dollars for shipping.
Click to expand...

Ya. I stuffed mine into the front of my wife's '94 Maxima and sat in the back seat with our sub-1 year old daughter. Drove it back upstate, about 2 hours.
 
GreenMonkey said:
Ya. I stuffed mine into the front of my wife's '94 Maxima and sat in the back seat with our sub-1 year old daughter. Drove it back upstate, about 2 hours.
Click to expand...


The first one I had shipped from Cali to me in NY in a box I made and sent to Cali (24x24x25 reinforced with plywood). Got the monitor for ~$100 and shipping the empty box (35lbs) was $55 and with it in there (135lbs) and back was $90 with a FedEx pickup. The monitor was damaged on the trip however.. Front bezel is completely split in the upper right corner from impact damage. Other then that all it has that MAY be a result of the trip may be the green tinge but I have to see if image restore fixes it.



I then bid on a second one a month later simply because it was 30 miles away in brooklyn. I got that for $226 and my cousin and I got it in the back of his 2 door Acura legend. That sustained no damage.
 
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I have one of these monitors... they are great!! Unfortunately it's taking up too much desk space so it is no longer in use...

cost me £70 over a year ago... survived being shipped across the UK, altho it was padded with about a mile of bubble wrap!!
 
Can this monitor meet the system requirements to use Nvidia GeForce 3D vision glasses? A curious mind needs to know.
 
I bought the monitor specifically for that, and have been using it since the glasses came out. I suspect it is the perfect monitor for those glasses, at least for now.

I have messed with the timings quite a bit, and these are the viable options:

1900x1200 @94
1900x1080 @108*
1600x1000 @110
1360x768 @120* (*=not perfect 16:10)
1280x800 @120

The 1900x resolutions push the monitor pretty hard at those refresh rates, and frankly 3D is a lot more comfortable on a CRT at 110-120Hz. For me I always use 1600x1000 @ 110Hz. Some games you may even go as low as 1280x800 if your video card is chugging. That is part of the beauty of 3D on a CRT, flexibility.

Have fun.
 
Thank you for your quick reply.
But now I really need to get into the balls to the walls question:
To make this monitor do 3D theoretically it should do 1920x1200 with 120hz refresh rate;that's what bluray 3D " ultra" movies will need to work using this glasses technology-not for just playing games.
so now here's the crux- can this monitor be tweeked or tuned up or rev'd up to the above resolution?
If so, how? Are there drivers that can push it? Are there internal buttons that can be pushed?
If not, then we are seeing our forum hitting up against the newer technology wall.
 
ZeosPantera said:
The first one I had shipped from Cali to me in NY in a box I made and sent to Cali (24x24x25 reinforced with plywood). Got the monitor for ~$100 and shipping the empty box (35lbs) was $55 and with it in there (135lbs) and back was $90 with a FedEx pickup. The monitor was damaged on the trip however.. Front bezel is completely split in the upper right corner from impact damage. Other then that all it has that MAY be a result of the trip may be the green tinge but I have to see if image restore fixes it.



I then bid on a second one a month later simply because it was 30 miles away in brooklyn. I got that for $226 and my cousin and I got it in the back of his 2 door Acura legend. That sustained no damage.
Click to expand...

Get a new bezel from Sony $55.00
https://servicesplus.us.sony.biz/Sony-Parts-Catalog-Details.aspx?groupid=610301
 
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Originally Posted by roberta
Widescreen Monitor page List [H]ardOCP
24" Widescreen CRT (FW900) From Ebay arrived
Reference Pages for Sony FW 900 on this thread
1. For most general links
65. Focus Pods Adjustment
84. Windas G2 default level adjustment
88. Maxdrive is increased for blacks Drive_Max to 250
91. Windas Installer
112. Gamma & Contrast
114. Link to pods
115.Focus Pods & Convergence
117. Pics to open monitor
118 .Drive max/contrast settings
126. ABL shutdown for contrast
141. G2 settings stock
143. Pics of G2 before and after
148. Windas guide for convergence test
151. Settings for color
160. Apply final step to save settings for convergence
171. Refreshrate Vista
184. Bezel replacement
191. Focus
196. Landing
204.Lower G2 to 130
216. DAT file (orginal)
234 .Black & Contrast Levels
248. White Balance RLC-2 Level converter
249. Correct Pins Setup for Windas
253. Damper Windas, White Point Balance, Uncle Vito
255. Anti Glare Film Removal
256. G2 problem Uncle Vito
262. ATI Driver Help
264. Degauss
266. Fixed Refresh Guide
273.RCL-2 Link
274 Big Link Page
275. Uncle Vito Gain Link
277. More Calibration Hints Uncle Vito
281.Find Drivers XP
282. RGB Video signals Graph
287. Calibration software
299. Windas Problems
302. Windas G2 Black Level
304.DVI to BNC Ati Fly
305. ATI CUT DVT Adapter Pins
309. Windas success Pin Links
312.Link to Remove Anti-Glare Screen
313.Guide Windas Convergence
314.ATI & anti glare removal
Made this quick reference list for myself when I got tired of searching this thread for quick answers!
Boiled down from 3 pages of a master reference guide
PS: Still needs updating
A special thanks to Warren who with his technical expertise tweaked out my monitor!
 
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Could some kind soul please post a WinDAS .dat file for a HP A7217A?

Mine was corrupted upon the first download from WinDAS.

Has anyone with a A7217A used a .dat from a Sony branded FW-900?
If the .dat dump from the FW-900 that someone posted on #216 works, let me know, I fear using that it might make my monitor inoperable since it's the HP A7217A flavor.

Thanks!
 
lovesupreme said:
Are there drivers that can push it? Are there internal buttons that can be pushed? If not, then we are seeing our forum hitting up against the newer technology wall.
Click to expand...


Lovesupreme,

I’m not at all interested in such application and I’ll leave others suggest your best LCD "3D" equivalent. But, this seems to be somewhat young market with defined models yet to come. I mean in sense of having range of proper selection among models and brand names.

But for sake of FW900’s good health, and provided yours is still in good shape, you really shouldn’t even consider any activity - in this case without any realistic prospect - with suggested refresh rates contemplation. What art thou good for when the only expense would be on FW900’s premature departure or hefty service attention? When I read how many people still craves for this model, and those of us still enjoying our good ones… be happy with your Sony and look elsewhere for fulfillment of suggested 3D gaming aspiration.
 
dever said:
Could some kind soul please post a WinDAS .dat file for a HP A7217A?

Mine was corrupted upon the first download from WinDAS.

Has anyone with a A7217A used a .dat from a Sony branded FW-900?
If the .dat dump from the FW-900 that someone posted on #216 works, let me know, I fear using that it might make my monitor inoperable since it's the HP A7217A flavor.

Thanks!
Click to expand...



http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?p=1035009057#post1035009057

This was from an A7217A.
 
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