
     pDiscussion on video modes for the FALCON 030 (and C-LAB MKII)q

			  by Xavier Joubert (Xaz)


pDesktop in overscan modeq

	For those who don't know how to switch to overscan mode under the
desktop. All you have to do is modify your NEWDESK.INF configuration file.
Find the line begining by a #E which should look like :

	#E 98 02 00 06 00 2A 00 00 00 00 
	                  
	The underligned value represent the video mode in hexa. Just add
0x40 to this number and you will get the same mode in overscan. For example
the line above would become :

	#E 98 05 00 06 00 6A 00 00 00 00 
	                  
	Just reboot, the desktop will be in overscan mode.

	The value 0x2A represents The 640x200 16 colors mode. The value 0x6A
represents the 768x240 16 colors mode. Got it ? Good !

	Now I have to tell you that your modified NEWDESK.INF won't work in
VGA modes anymore. The problem is that the system does not correctly handle
the overscan bit in VGA. Try and see !

	The solution to this problem is to use a boot configuration program
such as XBOOT 3. Then you will have a NEWDESK.INF for VGA and another one
for RGB/TV.

						Thanks to DATA/TRIO


p60Hz (NTSC) modesq

	I hope everybody still got BOOTCONF. You can use it to configure
your FALCON to use 60 Hz (NTSC) modes instead of 50 Hz (PAL) ones. All you
have to do is click on the NTSC button of BOOTCONF. Your FALCON will then
use 60 Hz modes. Your eyes will thank you for this.

	Problem : Some TV won't accept 60Hz modes. The display will be for
example compressed at the top of the screen. If this happens, switch back to
PAL mode using bootconf. I never heard of destroying TV with 60 Hz modes,
but you're on your own... OK ?

	Some people will think it is enough to set (or clear, I don't
remember) the NTSC bit in the video mode in the NEWDESK.INF. This won't work
because the desktop never change frequencies.


pCombining the 2 tricks...q

	Will give you the dirtiest display you ever see on your FALCON. The
problem is that the NTSC modes are even worst than PAL ones. In those modes
you won't see the bottom of the display (ouch !).

	The solution is SCREEN MOVER II. It perfectly handle those modes.

	Don't forget to register !


pConclusionq

	Thanks to those tricks, you will switch from 640x200 50 Hz modes to
768x240 60 Hz ones. Now you know what comfort is ...

	Next step : buying a Multisynch monitor...

	Last free advice : never use those crappy PC's VGA or SVGA monitors.
Their pixels are square, while multisynch 'n RGB/TV ones are circles. The
same picture looks better in 320x200 on an TV than in 320x200 on an VGA
shit. The difference is so great that a PC user looking at a DOOM snapshot
on your TV will ask you if the resolution has not been enhanced (real !).

	And if there is still someone to ask why ATARI supports RGB/TV and
not only VGA like any normal computer (PC), just tell him (her ? (No, I
don't think a girl can be that stupid)) that you can take your FALCON under
your arm, go anywhere and use it. Today, you can find at least one TV in
each home, not a VGA monitor. Try to hold a PC (even mini tower), its
keyboard and its monitor at the same time ! :-)

						Xavier Joubert (Xaz)

PS : I do not hate PCs, I prefer the FALCON, this is totally different.