19" monitor comparable video resolutions

[FourWheelDrift]

I normally run games at 1280x1024 (32 bit colour) at a 75hz refresh rate on my 19" monitor because it gives a full screen display which isn't stretched in any way. I have played around with higher resolutions and different refresh rates but always seem to end up with elongated views or letterbox displays, I wondered if anyone has any list they have or can find on the web of high res settings and refresh rates that give an identical full screen view that I can try or even force in the config files.

Thanks

If you don't know what I mean here's an example (that I made up so is probably completey wrong)

Full screen display - 1280x1024x75hz ~ 1900x1400x65hz

PS I'm moving this to Computers although it's games related it's better in there

Edited by FourWheelDrift on Thursday 27th July 14:27

[aldi]

I think after 1280x1024 1600x1280 is the next normal one?

[mr_yogi]

I think you'll find 1280x1024 is an odd resolution in that it's 5:4 whereas most popular resolutions are 4:3 (640x480, 800x600, 1024x768, etc.) the correct (4:3) res is 1280x960

Don't ask me why most 19" LCD monitors are 1280x1024 or where that res came from I think most CRT monitors are 4:3

I'm sure someone will be along to explain in a bit

EDIT: I assume you are using an LCD monitor?

One problem with LCD monitors is that they only have one native resolution so to use anything but that will result in scalling artefacts.

Edited by mr_yogi on Thursday 27th July 15:07

[flossythepig]

There are no right or wrong resolutions. As I said on a previous post Windows defaults to a logical display of 96 dots per inch (dpi), Macs at 72dpi. My 17" LCD monitor runs at virtually 96dpi physically, which is one reason why I chose it over a 19" (86dpi). 1280 x 1024 @ 96 dpi is roughly 13.33" x 10.67" which is the size of my monitor (a ratio of 5:4). The ratio probably fits into manufacturing sizes

CRT displays work differently as the size of the dots varies with resolution. Most displays are of a ratio 4:3 so 640x480, 800x600, 1024x768, 1152x864 even 1600x1200. 1280x1024 will give geometric distortion if stretched to fill the screen

1900x1425 (4:3) is probably way beyond the capability of a 19" CRT display and I don't think there are any 19" LCD panels that can physically display more than 1280x1024. The 24" Dell LCD wide screen displays a native 1920x1200 (16:10)

I don't know if it's still made but the IBM T221 was a 22.2" display with a resolution of 3840x2400. You needed a special graphics card to drive it.

[victormeldrew]

flossythepig said:

The 24" Dell LCD wide screen displays a native 1920x1200 (16:10)

Yes, it does, and rather nicely too.

[FourWheelDrift]

The maximum my 19" CRT can display, as I've tried it (it's a very good quality CRT) is 1920x1440 but I only have an option of 60hz which is bad for using for long periods due to the 60hz flicker. I have noticed that changing the refresh rates also changes the display screen size of the screen res I am using.

I guess I am sticking to 1280x1024 at 75hz for now I suppose. Unless someone knows of a utlity that can force non-standard resolutions.

[mr_yogi]

Like flossy said, I think if you are using 1280x1024 on a CRT then you will have a stretched/ distorted picture, 1280x960 is the 4:3 ratio resoltion that is commonly supported. (And games should run a little faster )

As for software for custom resolutions there are a number of utilites depending on you graphics card manufactuer. There is powerstrip but if you don't register it then after you've used it for a while then Boot times will be measured on a calendar.

For nVidia I think the coolbits will allow custome resolutions and for ATI (I think) rage tweak or RadLinker.

Of course weather games can support these custome resolutions "out of the box" is another thing

[mr_yogi]

FourWheelDrift said:

I have noticed that changing the refresh rates also changes the display screen size of the screen res I am using.

Most monitors can store the settings for individual resolutions and refresh rates so you will have to initially set them up for all the res @ refresh rates you want to use.

The reason the image will be displaced is (i think) because each refresh rate will have different timings which will effect how the standard setting display the image differently.

Once setup, your settings (height, width, possition, geometry, etc.) should be remembered for each resolution at a given refresh rate(the are on my current CRT and were on my previous ones). Thus changing res/ refresh rate should keep the image full screen and centered

Is that what you meant?

[flossythepig]

You don't normally need any special utilities to adjust the resolution if you have the correct driver for the display or Plug and Play is working properly.

If you open the Display properties window (right click desktop.properties ofr via the control panel) click the advanced button to dispaly they monitor and graphics card properties. The Monitor tab has a check box to "Hide modes that the monitor cannot display". Make sure it is checked then on the adapter tab clicking the "List All Modes" button will display a list of all the resolutions and refresh rates available for your display.

[FourWheelDrift]

flossythepig said:

You don't normally need any special utilities to adjust the resolution if you have the correct driver for the display or Plug and Play is working properly.

If you open the Display properties window (right click desktop.properties ofr via the control panel) click the advanced button to dispaly they monitor and graphics card properties. The Monitor tab has a check box to "Hide modes that the monitor cannot display". Make sure it is checked then on the adapter tab clicking the "List All Modes" button will display a list of all the resolutions and refresh rates available for your display.

I knew that I didn't mean for windows. I meant for running games in non-standard screen formats which aren't given in the game configuration.

[FourWheelDrift]

mr_yogi said:

Like flossy said, I think if you are using 1280x1024 on a CRT then you will have a stretched/ distorted picture, 1280x960 is the 4:3 ratio resoltion that is commonly supported. (And games should run a little faster )

Not running at 75hz I don't, it's a perfect fit to the screen, completely undistorted on my 19" CRT.

mr_yogi said:

For nVidia I think the coolbits will allow custome resolutions and for ATI (I think) rage tweak or RadLinker.
Of course weather games can support these custome resolutions "out of the box" is another thing

I've read about people running different resolutions in the past, I'll check them out.

[mr_yogi]

Oh right... in games

It is down to the individual game and how open the config files are, im not aware of any generic utilites which open up game engines to allow changing things like resolution. I thik you'll just have to find resources for individual games. Is there a particular game you're having trouble with?

[mr_yogi]

FourWheelDrift said:

mr_yogi said:

Like flossy said, I think if you are using 1280x1024 on a CRT then you will have a stretched/ distorted picture, 1280x960 is the 4:3 ratio resoltion that is commonly supported. (And games should run a little faster )

Not running at 75hz I don't, it's a perfect fit to the screen, completely undistorted on my 19" CRT.

What monitor have you got? I'm sure it will be 4:3 if it's a CRT. In which case running 1280x1024 (which is 5:4) you will have non-square pixels and the image will be stretched. You said 1920x1440 is the max resolution which is a 4:3 resolution

[FourWheelDrift]

mr_yogi said:

What monitor have you got? I'm sure it will be 4:3 if it's a CRT. In which case running 1280x1024 (which is 5:4) you will have non-square pixels and the image will be stretched. You said 1920x1440 is the max resolution which is a 4:3 resolution

Largest option I have "in games" and that's distorted I get a post box shaped screen (in GTL for example) and the sides are curved, same with Windows actually as I just tried it.

I have a Phillips 109E50 19" monitor. - www.epcbuyer.com/products.asp?recnumber=3365

Recommended resolution is 1280x1024

[pdV6]

I run 2 19" CRTs at 1280x1024 @100Hz and they both look just fine.

In fact, in the office my Windows desktop is exended onto a 1024x768 LCD and there's no noticeable difference in an image that's dragged from one to the other (or even overlapping the join!)

[mr_yogi]

But surley you can reposition and resize the image when it's distorted by using the monitors controls for height, width and position (both vetical and horizontal), then if need be alter the geometry?

1280x1024 may look ok but it is in fact stretched. take a look at the recommended display area from the link. 355mm x 265mm is a 4:3 ratio.

[flossythepig]

FourWheelDrift said:

I have a Philips 109E50 19" monitor. - www.epcbuyer.com/products.asp?recnumber=3365
Recommended resolution is 1280x1024

mr_yogi said:

1280x1024 may look ok but it is in fact stretched. take a look at the recommended display area from the link. 355mm x 265mm is a 4:3 ratio.

Even though the display is distorted I bet most people could not tell. It would only be obvious if you took a ruler to the screen.

[FourWheelDrift]

Now this is wierd, maybe a techy can explain.

I've just set my monitor to 1600x1200 (70hz refresh) and fiddled with the controls to fill the screen with a square picture (horizontal increse, veriticle increase, squaring off the sides). If I now go back to 1280x1024 @75 hz it stays as a perfect square filling the screen. But when it was set to a square filling the screen in 1280x1024@75hz changing it to 1600x1200 gave a 2/3 filled screen with bad curving on the sides.

How's that?

[Plotloss]

Some monitors will allow you to have screen dimension settings per resolution...

[FourWheelDrift]

Ah, so the recommended setting 1280x1024 was pre-programmed, in the monitor so when I set it at that it automatically set itself to the proper screen fitting settings. So in actual fact since I've had this monitor it hasn't been properly set for any other resolutions.

Makes sense now,