Widescreen Gaming Forum

Hello friends!

I have recently purchased a 19 inch widescreen monitor from dell.
The problem is when I play any game at 1024x768 resolution, the whole gamescreen seems to be streched, which looks very horrible.

I want to know, is there any way to play the game at the above mentioned resolution with black bars at the left and right side of the screen (i.e letterboxing), without stretching.

Your kind help will be greatly appriciated. Thank you. :(

What is your graphics card?

ATI/AMD and Nvidia graphics cards have an option in their control options for this.
In the Nvidia control panel there is an option under Display that says Change flat panel scaling. Change that to use nvidia scaling with fixed aspect ratio.
For most people it works, for others (like myself) it doesn't.

If you have an ATI solution, there is some similar option in their CCC or whatever it is called now days. If you have other graphics card, I have no idea.

BUT, make sure you have connected the monitor to your graphics card with a DVI and not a VGA or else the chances are against you.

If you can't get the fixed aspect ratio scaling to work correctly (like BlueMak, my screen won't do it), you could also try the centered output option. 1024x768 centered on my 19" ACER (native 1440x900) isn't glorious, but it might be better than a screen full of fatties :P . If you have the same native resolution, give it a go.

If neither of those work or you just don't like it, you can get a non-stretched game screen by running you game(s) in windowed mode. I can help figure out how to run in windowed mode if there is no obvious option available in-game.

As BlueMak also said, DVI FTW!

edit I skipped an obvious question: are you certain your game doesn't support widescreen resolutions?

edit 2 ...and welcome to the forum! :)

_________________
VirtualDub Game Recording Guide | BFME2 & RotWK Widescreen/Triplehead Mods

you could also try the centered output option. 1024x768 centered on my 19" ACER (native 1440x900) isn't glorious, but it might be better than a screen full of fatties :P

You should use 1152x864 :) should be much more enjoyable on your 1440x900 monitor if ever you need 4:3 centered.

If your using a nVidia card with recent drivers, you can add a custom resolution to get a pillar box effect with Graphics Card Scaling turned on.

If you are using 1440x900 the following settings "should" work (they do for me) if you have Adapter Scaling enabled in the nVidia control panel:

Add it under "Manage Custom Resolutions" Click "Create" and then "Advanced>>"

Horizontal Desktop Pixels = 1024
Vertical Desktop Lines = 768
GDI Refresh Rate = 75 (or 60 or 50 or whatever you need)
Bits Per Pixel = 32

Timing Standard = Manual
Horizontal Front Porch = 16
Vertical Front Porch = 1
Active Horizontal Pixels = 1224
Active Vertical Lines = 768
Horizontal Total = 1440
Vertical Total = 900
Horizontal Sync Width = 144
Vertical Sync Width = 3
Horizontal Sync Polarity = +
Vertical Sync Polarity = +



If you don't have a nVidia card then I hope this reply can help someone else in your situation anyway.
:D

If you don't have a nVidia card then I hope this reply can help someone else in your situation anyway.
:D

That's great info, Malakaius. Might be very useful when I get around to reinstalling H&D2.

Thanks.

_________________
VirtualDub Game Recording Guide | BFME2 & RotWK Widescreen/Triplehead Mods

WHy would you want to play a game at 1024*768 on a wide screen monitor?

WHy would you want to play a game at 1024*768 on a wide screen monitor?

So far I think we are all under the assumption that the game does not work properly in widescreen, but that's why I asked for clarification.

_________________
VirtualDub Game Recording Guide | BFME2 & RotWK Widescreen/Triplehead Mods

If your using a nVidia card with recent drivers, you can add a custom resolution to get a pillar box effect with Graphics Card Scaling turned on.

If you are using 1440x900 the following settings "should" work (they do for me) if you have Adapter Scaling enabled in the nVidia control panel:

Add it under "Manage Custom Resolutions" Click "Create" and then "Advanced>>"

Horizontal Desktop Pixels = 1024
Vertical Desktop Lines = 768
GDI Refresh Rate = 75 (or 60 or 50 or whatever you need)
Bits Per Pixel = 32

Timing Standard = Manual
Horizontal Front Porch = 16
Vertical Front Porch = 1
Active Horizontal Pixels = 1224
Active Vertical Lines = 768
Horizontal Total = 1440
Vertical Total = 900
Horizontal Sync Width = 144
Vertical Sync Width = 3
Horizontal Sync Polarity = +
Vertical Sync Polarity = +



If you don't have a nVidia card then I hope this reply can help someone else in your situation anyway.
:D

That would be great unless like me he has the aspect scaling options grayed out and not selectable, but still great solution for those that can use it.

What is your graphics card?

ATI/AMD and Nvidia graphics cards have an option in their control options for this.
In the Nvidia control panel there is an option under Display that says Change flat panel scaling. Change that to use nvidia scaling with fixed aspect ratio.
For most people it works, for others (like myself) it doesn't.

If you have an ATI solution, there is some similar option in their CCC or whatever it is called now days. If you have other graphics card, I have no idea.

BUT, make sure you have connected the monitor to your graphics card with a DVI and not a VGA or else the chances are against you.

My moniter is Dell SE198WFPI 19" with maximum resolution of 1440x900. I am using xfx 6600 gt graphics card.

Also there there isn't any 'change flat panel scaling' under display option.