Wide Screen Monitor Displays

[DJT]

I have just had my 15in LCD Monitor Die (Backlight- Not worth fixing).
I intend to get a 19in Wide screen LCD to replace it.
I realise that I need a video card that will supply the right
resolution, which will be ok when I get a new computer.

However I want to get the monitor before the computer (waiting for
Vista to issue first update).

The question I have is:-

Can I setup a wide screen monitor to show a 4:3 resolution by leaving
the edge of the sreen blank like TV's do or will it only display the
image streched to fit the whole screen.

If I can show the image in the center of the monitor I can get the
monitor now and not wait for the whole new PC.


Thanks for any advice

DJT

 

[Frank McCoy]

I have just had my 15in LCD Monitor Die (Backlight- Not worth fixing).
I intend to get a 19in Wide screen LCD to replace it.
I realise that I need a video card that will supply the right
resolution, which will be ok when I get a new computer.

However I want to get the monitor before the computer (waiting for
Vista to issue first update).

The question I have is:-

Can I setup a wide screen monitor to show a 4:3 resolution by leaving
the edge of the sreen blank like TV's do or will it only display the
image streched to fit the whole screen.

Mine automatically resizes to fit the whole screen.
Sometimes though, it resized to show a 4:3 display at the *left* side of
the screen; usually only with things like VGA graphics though.

If I can show the image in the center of the monitor I can get the
monitor now and not wait for the whole new PC.

Why wait in either case?
What you will want to do though, is download the right drivers for your
video board to match the native resolution on your new wide display.

Anything else will probably *work*; but not look nearly as good as
you'll get with full native resolution.

The difference can be *incredible*.

 

[stiffman320]

It will probably auto-resize it's self to fit the whole screen, but
you can use the controls on the monitor to manually squish it until it
looks right.

 

[FKS]

Can I setup a wide screen monitor to show a 4:3 resolution by leaving
the edge of the sreen blank like TV's do or will it only display the
image streched to fit the whole screen.

If I can show the image in the center of the monitor I can get the
monitor now and not wait for the whole new PC.

More expensive wide screen LCDs give you what you want, but cheaper ones
don't. So, download manuals and study.

My Sony P234B 23" widescreen (1920x1200) gives me 3 options to display
images of lower resolutions. Let's take 1280x1024 (4:3) as an example. I can
select one of the following 3 options to display the lower res 4:3 image:
(1) stretch it so that it can fill up the whole screen, (2) stretch it but
keep the original aspect ratio --> this will result in blank areas only on
the left & right sides (3) don't stretch it --> the LCD shows the image at
its original res, leaving top, bottom & side areas blank.

 

[DevilsPGD]

In message <[email protected]> Frank McCoy

Anything else will probably *work*; but not look nearly as good as
you'll get with full native resolution.

The difference can be *incredible*.

Or it can be no different at all, if you set your monitor to center
rather then stretch an inappropriate signal, and take advantage of the
rest of the display's space once a new PC is purchased (assuming the
existing PC cannot drive the new monitor)