playing older 2D games on a 19" LCD

[Andrew Barss]

I have a collection of late 90s -early 00s computer games, which typically
run in 800x600 resolution mode. Last night I fired one up, runnging it
on botha Dell 1905FP LCD (which has a much higher native resolution), and
a Hitachi 19" CRT (think it's a CF721). I set the resolution of both to
800x600.


Much to my surprise, the non- or slow-moving images of the game
(Amerizone) looked great on both monitors, including the LCD; I had
thought they would look lousy on the CRT.

When a motion scene was on, both screens showed substantial pizilation of
the background. For example. there's a scene early on with a man
bicycling. The surrounding field, ands then a later background of a
castle, got broken up into largish squares. The effect was much worse on
the LCD, but noticeable on both.


Is this a function of the video card (it's a Geforce FX5200, on a Dell
machine with a 2.8Ghz pentium processor)? If I upgrade the card, (a)
would it make a difference, and (b) what would people recommend?


I don't do 3D gaming, and the main function of the computer is for text.

A final question: why did the image look so good in a non-native
resolution on the LCD?

Thanks,

Andy Barss

 

[Andrew Barss]

: Much to my surprise, the non- or slow-moving images of the game
: (Amerizone) looked great on both monitors, including the LCD; I had
: thought they would look lousy on the CRT.
^^^^^^^


I meant: lousy on the LCD.

 

[john]

: Much to my surprise, the non- or slow-moving images of the game
: (Amerizone) looked great on both monitors, including the LCD; I had
: thought they would look lousy on the CRT.
^^^^^^^


I meant: lousy on the LCD.

Unlike CRT dispays LCD's are designed to run a a single fixed resolution,
(say, 1024x1024) so if you run at 800x600 it's a compromise and things get a
little blocky.

 

[john]

Unlike CRT dispays LCD's are designed to run a a single fixed resolution,
(say, 1024x1024) so if you run at 800x600 it's a compromise and things get
a little blocky.

OK I've read the rest of your message properly, I don't have an answer! Do
you run the LCD on a DVI connection?

 

[Andrew Barss]

: :>
:> :>>
:>> : Much to my surprise, the non- or slow-moving images of the game
:>> : (Amerizone) looked great on both monitors, including the LCD; I had
:>> : thought they would look lousy on the CRT.
:>> ^^^^^^^
:>>
:>>
:>> I meant: lousy on the LCD.
:>
:>
:> Unlike CRT dispays LCD's are designed to run a a single fixed resolution,
:> (say, 1024x1024) so if you run at 800x600 it's a compromise and things get
:> a little blocky.

This was only the background. Stuff in the foreground -- much
more detailed -- was perfect. Imagine MYST, with everything loking great
but the sky.


: OK I've read the rest of your message properly, I don't have an answer! Do
: you run the LCD on a DVI connection?

Yes.

-- Andy