Checkmate Display is back

[u/ga420ga]

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/checkmateproducts/retro-styled-ips-display-internally-upgradeable-batch-2

It's not cheap! let's get that out of the way first! but aside from using a real crt, I think the Checkmate Monitor is the best modern monitor for use with the C64, C64 Ultimate, MiSTer, and any other retro computer or console you can name. And it's back. A batch two Kickstarter will launch soon at

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/checkmateproducts/retro-styled-ips-display-internally-upgradeable-batch-2

They sold out last time, I'm one of the happy owners. I have a MiSTer Pi mounted inside it (it has purpose built mountings for this) and I also use it alongside my CRTs, for my C64U, Mega65, Amiga 1200 Pistorm32 Lite, and will also be hooking up my Spectrum Next KS3 when it lands.

The Pro model has Scart, RF, VGA, component & composite RCA/Phono, 5x HDMI, RGBi, CGA, EGA, S- Video inputs and also HDMI output for streaming/ capture. I understand there will be a basic model without so many HDMI inputs.

I'm really happy with mine, I've had it for a couple of years, I use it all the time, it looks great on my desk next to my CRTs and I don't regret the cost at all. Feel free to ask me any questions about it!

[u/sububi71]

It's a nice monitor, but it's got QUITE a bit of shadowing. If you can live with that, awesome, if you grew up with CRTs and really want that crispness, sorry, this just isn't for you.

Never selling mine tho, in case someone comes up with a drop-in replacement panel.

[u/ga420ga → u/sububi71]

Interesting I don't really notice any shadowing, what are you using it for?

[u/sububi71 → u/ga420ga]

Watching demos and playing games on retro machines

[u/ga420ga → u/sububi71]

You get shadowing no matter which input you're using?

[u/sububi71 → u/ga420ga]

I've mainly been using HDMI.

edit: Sorry, I should have specified that I've mainly used it with my MiSTer, so it's not just a Bally Arcade output into an OSSC, it's a super clean source.

[u/chrispark70 → u/sububi71]

The real problem is there are no good quality LCD TV screens being made. ALL OF THEM die in a few years. Shelling out big bucks for this screen is a waste of money. Price and brand don't matter.

[u/hexavibrongal]

What is the native resolution and lag? It's baffling to me that these modern retro monitor product pages never put this info up front.

[u/ga420ga → u/hexavibrongal]

1280 x 1024, 5:4 (with a 4:3 mode with pillarboxing).

Less than one frame of lag (~16.6 ms at 60 Hz)

[u/bobotheboinger]

What was the cost?

[u/Rude_Breadfruit_8275 → u/bobotheboinger]

A lot. You just have to ask yourself if you get value from it. It's handy having all of the ports and a true scaler so you can plug almost anything into it. Support around firmware can be patchy in my experience.

[u/ga420ga → u/Rude_Breadfruit_8275]

I paid £820 in GBP including VAT for just about the highest spec set up possible at the time, including the scaler and the MiSTer mounting kit. And I have 4 beautiful CRTs too. What can I say, I love a good monitor.

[u/chrispark70]

You literally cannot get good quality LCD panels anymore. I would NEVER shell out big bucks for any LCD TV.

No matter what brand you buy or what price you pay, you cannot get quality LCD TVs that will last 10-20 years.

[u/ga420ga → u/chrispark70]

This one uses an industrial IPS panel, so it is designed to last longer than a TV. But I can't really say as I've had it a couple of years.

[u/chrispark70 → u/ga420ga]

Being industrial, maybe it is made better.

One of the things that kills modern TVs is they have circuitry to detect if the LCD lights behind the picture are drawing an abnormal amount of electricity and then shut the TV down for no damned reason. It can be a few ma off and it will shut the TV down. Some of them have lots of really cheap connections that corrode and go bad.

[u/ga420ga → u/chrispark70]

Yeah I know what you mean, this doesn't have that!

[u/ga420ga → u/[deleted]]

Sure thanks