  Video Flicker? (Refresh Rate, Resolution) 
 The Question is:
 
We are running OpenVMS 7.3-1 on a DS20E with a PowerStorm 350 Graphics card.
 We have a graphics application that is using PHIGS graphics in OpenGL mode
 (PHIGS$WSTYPE 272).  The application updates and redraws the screen 10 times
 per second.  Our problem
is the screen flickers as the application is running.  How do I get the screen
 to stop flickering?
 
 The Answer is :
 
  Please see the OpenVMS FAQ discussion on graphics controller
  and video display compatibility, as it would appear that your
  (unspecified) monitor is not correctly synchronizing to your
  PowerStorm 350 series graphics controller.
 
  It is also possible that the application is explicitly or
  implicitly changing the resolution and the video synchronization,
  as your report could be read to indicate this problem only arises
  when this application is running.
 
  The OpenVMS Wizard will assume you have verified that the
  hardware involved is functioning correctly.  If not, the
  OpenVMS Wizard would recommend checking the synchronization
  and resolution for compatibility, and swapping in another
  monitor for testing.
 
  Double buffering (in either hardware or software) is also typically
  enabled for improved animation effects; to reduce flicker.  This
  can be demonstrated with the ico tool:
 
    $ ico :== $DECW$EXAMPLES:ICO.EXE:
    $ ico ! runs very fast with poor animation; default window is large
    $ ico -dbl ! runs more slowly with good animation; default window is small
    $ ico -softdbl ! may not run at all
    ico: can't allocate enough color planes
 
  This could also potentially be a hardware-level driver problem.
  (The OpenVMS Wizard would encourage the installation of the
  most current mandatory ECO kits for OpenVMS and including the
  GRAPHICS ECO, any ECOs specific to the platform, and DECwindows.)
 
  Please then contact the customer support center.
 
 Answer written or last revised on  19-AUG-2003 
