Hello, I've searched the threads and haven't seen anything about this particular unit, so I thought I'd mention it.
I have one of these units I picked up for free, because the backlight was dead in it. The cost of reparing the backlight was nearly the cost of the unit.
Unfortunately, I do not believe these units are easy to find at reasonable prices. However, I have taken mine apart and it is a DIYer's dream. The boards all have good long cables so they can be moved out of the way. The screen itself is about 11"H x 16"W, with an approximately 19" diagonal and 1600x1024 resolution, contrast ration 350:1. I also like that the video cable is about 9-ft long, so the controlling PC can be a good distance away. I'm thinking of buying a Mini-ITX motherboard and building a small PC to mount externally to the projector (I'm figuring, without the PC, the projector is going to be about a 3-ft cube, starting out. Big, but I (and hopefully my wife) can live with it, if the quality is good enough. Adding the custom PC will add only about the size of a PS2 to one side of the projector.
There are a couple of downsides to the screen. First off, it requires a specific graphic card (it's from the now-defunct Number 9 Technologies), and is only PCI. SGI does offer an adapter to allow the screen to be used with a standard VGA adapter, but its cost is $200 (last I checked). This means gaming will suck on it, unless you get a separate graphics accelerator. I'm also afraid it is too large to make a good projector, but it is my plan to try.
My plans are thus: to cut down on the size of the projector, I plan to fold the light path by having my light source at the front of the projector, shining through a focusing lense, to the back of the LCD, onto a mirror to redirect the light to the projection lense located above the LCD.
For a light source, I am contemplating something from LOA that hI've seen mentioned elsewhere on this board. I want to use the one meant for a replacement for spotlamps and dusk-to-dawn lights. I think I have figured out a solution for getting the light from between the coils of the board.
My solution: build a light guide for each turn of the tube out of plexiglass. The lightguide will actually be two pieces of plexi sandwiched. The top piece will be scored on top and in front, the bottom one scored on bottom and at front. I'm hoping this will collect the light from the middle of the coils and redirect it forward through a focusing lense. Then I will have an elliptical reflector to shine the redirect the light from the back side of the lamp to the front.
Any questions, comments or suggestions would be appreciated.
For more about the 1600SW:
Scroll down to see the specs.
I have one of these units I picked up for free, because the backlight was dead in it. The cost of reparing the backlight was nearly the cost of the unit.
Unfortunately, I do not believe these units are easy to find at reasonable prices. However, I have taken mine apart and it is a DIYer's dream. The boards all have good long cables so they can be moved out of the way. The screen itself is about 11"H x 16"W, with an approximately 19" diagonal and 1600x1024 resolution, contrast ration 350:1. I also like that the video cable is about 9-ft long, so the controlling PC can be a good distance away. I'm thinking of buying a Mini-ITX motherboard and building a small PC to mount externally to the projector (I'm figuring, without the PC, the projector is going to be about a 3-ft cube, starting out. Big, but I (and hopefully my wife) can live with it, if the quality is good enough. Adding the custom PC will add only about the size of a PS2 to one side of the projector.
There are a couple of downsides to the screen. First off, it requires a specific graphic card (it's from the now-defunct Number 9 Technologies), and is only PCI. SGI does offer an adapter to allow the screen to be used with a standard VGA adapter, but its cost is $200 (last I checked). This means gaming will suck on it, unless you get a separate graphics accelerator. I'm also afraid it is too large to make a good projector, but it is my plan to try.
My plans are thus: to cut down on the size of the projector, I plan to fold the light path by having my light source at the front of the projector, shining through a focusing lense, to the back of the LCD, onto a mirror to redirect the light to the projection lense located above the LCD.
For a light source, I am contemplating something from LOA that hI've seen mentioned elsewhere on this board. I want to use the one meant for a replacement for spotlamps and dusk-to-dawn lights. I think I have figured out a solution for getting the light from between the coils of the board.
My solution: build a light guide for each turn of the tube out of plexiglass. The lightguide will actually be two pieces of plexi sandwiched. The top piece will be scored on top and in front, the bottom one scored on bottom and at front. I'm hoping this will collect the light from the middle of the coils and redirect it forward through a focusing lense. Then I will have an elliptical reflector to shine the redirect the light from the back side of the lamp to the front.
Any questions, comments or suggestions would be appreciated.
For more about the 1600SW:
Scroll down to see the specs.
Bump!
Anyone else have any idears on this subject? Am able to get my hands on one for basically free before it's dumped/sold so figured I'd ask! 🙂
Anyone else have any idears on this subject? Am able to get my hands on one for basically free before it's dumped/sold so figured I'd ask! 🙂
my $0.02 worth
1> LOA/ flourescent is no good, you need a point-source unless you're using a small LCD and using the LOA as a super-backlight.
2> there is a thread on here for 15.75" fresnels. you may want to see if they'll work for that large of an LCD.
3> if it's free, the $200 adapter isn't a bad investment if the above 2 points are addressed.
1> LOA/ flourescent is no good, you need a point-source unless you're using a small LCD and using the LOA as a super-backlight.
2> there is a thread on here for 15.75" fresnels. you may want to see if they'll work for that large of an LCD.
3> if it's free, the $200 adapter isn't a bad investment if the above 2 points are addressed.
this is the exact monitor that i am using you are correct this is a diy-ers dream to dissmantel and i have contacted a fresnel mfg and i am making this a reality i purchaced a multilink adapter for my lcd witch was quite expensive but as you know markm this lcd looks better than any lcd i have ever seen hands down
if you are interested in large fresnels for your masterpiece comtact me at cruser_1001@hotmail.com
if you are interested in large fresnels for your masterpiece comtact me at cruser_1001@hotmail.com
SGI O2 TO 1600W FLAT PANEL ADAPTER
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=5723936761&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT
I found this on ebay - it's an adapter for the 1600sw?
does anyone know anything about it?
like is it a daughter / add-on card to the sgi's gfx card?
thanks
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=5723936761&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT
I found this on ebay - it's an adapter for the 1600sw?
does anyone know anything about it?
like is it a daughter / add-on card to the sgi's gfx card?
thanks
hi markm,
your right. this monitor "SGI 1600sw" strips down well. the image from it is fantastic. i built a projector with one already. it is not much larger than your standard 15". some old info about it at:
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=37611
there are now several adapters available, so you can use it with more modern graphics cards. all the best, tony.
your right. this monitor "SGI 1600sw" strips down well. the image from it is fantastic. i built a projector with one already. it is not much larger than your standard 15". some old info about it at:
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=37611
there are now several adapters available, so you can use it with more modern graphics cards. all the best, tony.
if you want external adapters that do not use a computer slot
1, dr. bott sgi-saver
2, pix-link adapter with scaling and adjustment for color temp and brightness
3, sgi multilink adapter
or an internal pci card,
4, the gfx-card, adjustment for color temp and brightness
1, dr. bott sgi-saver
2, pix-link adapter with scaling and adjustment for color temp and brightness
3, sgi multilink adapter
or an internal pci card,
4, the gfx-card, adjustment for color temp and brightness
But based on what I've been reading on this monitor it will NOT make sense to use it. The others that have built a PJ with it should only be getting 1280 x 1024 resolution and NOT 1600X1024.
If you use the multilink then you will only get 1280 x 1024 resolution.
If you use the Revolution 9 PC card you will NOT be able to play DVD movies.
So the demo screen shots could not have come from a DVD movie or if they did are actually 1280 X 1024 resolution.
You may get the high-res in one scenario if you have a ATI HDTV card and get HDTV programming and use the Revolution 9 PC card.
Also, the Rev.9 PC card may not work alongside the ATI card. My guess is it won't since it appears to be a legacy card.
All this for about 25% gain in resolution, if it can be done.
If you use the multilink then you will only get 1280 x 1024 resolution.
If you use the Revolution 9 PC card you will NOT be able to play DVD movies.
So the demo screen shots could not have come from a DVD movie or if they did are actually 1280 X 1024 resolution.
You may get the high-res in one scenario if you have a ATI HDTV card and get HDTV programming and use the Revolution 9 PC card.
Also, the Rev.9 PC card may not work alongside the ATI card. My guess is it won't since it appears to be a legacy card.
All this for about 25% gain in resolution, if it can be done.
just make sure that your graphics card supports the sgi's native resolution
of 1600x1024 and has DVI output. my monitor works well with the stock
video card that came in my 4yrs old computer, running it through an
external adapter. plug in and play.
of 1600x1024 and has DVI output. my monitor works well with the stock
video card that came in my 4yrs old computer, running it through an
external adapter. plug in and play.
So you are using it with just a cable adapter and NOT a multilink?
I found some video cards that do support that resolution.
I found some video cards that do support that resolution.
yes, i'm running it with a cable adapter. i'm not using the
multilink. i run it at the native resolution of 1600x1024. with
the pix-link i can scale up lower resolutions in, but why bother
when you can run it native.
multilink. i run it at the native resolution of 1600x1024. with
the pix-link i can scale up lower resolutions in, but why bother
when you can run it native.
Ok, you win.
I just bought two 1600SW monitors.
What adapter are you using? provide a link or info.
If you are using a Pixlink, then that is about same as a multilink.
I thought to use the 16000SW monitor with a newer digtial video card you had to use a multilink, Pixlink or that PCI 1600ET card.
I just bought two 1600SW monitors.
What adapter are you using? provide a link or info.
If you are using a Pixlink, then that is about same as a multilink.
I thought to use the 16000SW monitor with a newer digtial video card you had to use a multilink, Pixlink or that PCI 1600ET card.
hi g-man,
i'm using both, the dr. bott sgi-saver, link listed earlier in thread.
and the pix-link adapter, try pixsolution.com
all the best, tony
i'm using both, the dr. bott sgi-saver, link listed earlier in thread.
and the pix-link adapter, try pixsolution.com
all the best, tony
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