Image deformity at 1280x1024 rez?

[higgsbosonparticle]

I have always wondered if setting the monitor resolution to 1280x1024 would produce a high resolution, but deformed image. Since most fullscreen monitor aspect ratio's are 4:3 = 1.33:1, and resolutions such as 1024x768 and 1280x960 both have the ratio 4:3 = 1.33:1, but 1280x1024 has the ratio 1.25:1. Would the side-effects of that be a vertically-compressed image, and if so then why do people choose this resolution? Or are there no side-effects, but just an image with a higher vertical resolution? This has confused me for quite a while.

 

[davepermen]

my screen is 1280x1024, and is not 4:3..

depending on app it results a distortet image. mainly stuff like video players. 3d apps just see a bit more on top and bottom, or so..

 

[Pete]

The vertical image is compressed, yes, even in 3D games (like RtCW) that one would think would be resolution-independent (meaning you would simply see the same view with a higher vertical resolution, rather than more at the same vertical res). People probably mostly use it b/c it's the general default 1280xY option, though I'm sure some can ignore its geometry distortion in favor of the extra desktop space.

I don't think I've noticed distorted images when full-screening videos, but I haven't really compared the two resolutions in that way.

 

[higgsbosonparticle]

Thanks, I have always wondered about that, so I think that I will just stick with non-deforming resolutions.

 

[kyleb]

you can scruch the sides of your screen in about 1/20th on the left and right to make the image true, but ya i like to use my whole screen and don't care for the deformation so i tend to stick to proper 4:3 resolutions.

 

[Bambers]

It depends. Most games tend to render the the aspect ratio of the res, but some will render to a set physical ratio whatever the resolution is. eg 3dmark2000/2001 always render to be displayed as 4:3, ut2003/4 will render 1280x1024 to be displayed at 5:4

 

[thop]

That's why many games (and most gfx drivers) offer 1280x960 nowadays. 1280x1024 is not disorted if you have a LCD though (because the screen itself is 5:4), only with CRTs.

 

[Sage]

That's why many games (and most gfx drivers) offer 1280x960 nowadays. 1280x1024 is not disorted if you have a LCD though (because the screen itself is 5:4), only with CRTs.

yup, the vid card output is not distorted, it's only when the CRT displays it. 17inch and 18inch LCD's are usually 1280x1024 natively which means that it's the only rez you'll get the more crispness of an LCD... which is kind of the point of having one

 

[Rugor]

I remember playing NWN at 1280x1024 on my brother's system and I found it definitetly looked off. My own monitor won't display that above 60Hz so I don't use it myself.

 

[KimB]

There's never any reason to have any distortion in a 3D game at 1280x1024, but it really depends upon how the game was programmed.

 

[Rugor]

Well that was on a Ti4600, maybe I should take a look on my R9500 Pro.

 

[PC-Engine]

I run my desktop at 1280x1024 on a CRT, but I adjust the geometry of the display using one of movie DVDs that have the circular pattern from the THX adjustment option. Similarly you can use Display Mate's 1280x1024 circular and cubic grid test images. You're going to end up with black bars on the left and right of the screen.

 

[KimB]

Well that was on a Ti4600, maybe I should take a look on my R9500 Pro.

It should be dependent upon the game, not the video card.

 

[Pete]

This thread just made me realize that more recent games that offer 12x10 as an option would gear it toward a 5:4 display, but games of a certain age should have aimed it at 4:3 displays (especially since they had no 12:9 option), as that was the dominant monitor ratio until only recently. Sure, you could expect ppl to resize their CRT to correct the geometry, but most ppl playing PC games won't.

 

[Temporary Name]

People still use CRTs?

 

[Eronarn]

People still use CRTs?

People use LCDs? For gaming?

 

[Sage]

People still use CRTs?

People use LCDs? For gaming?

yup, they look better if you get one with a decent response time... well, and you use it at it's native resolution... and a LOT better if you use DVI... but, yes, i will never game on a CRT again.

 

[LeGreg]

on a LCD, you can't even have gamma right across the entirety of the screen..

 

[Sage]

on a LCD, you can't even have gamma right across the entirety of the screen..

only if it's a low quality display

 

[davepermen]

all initial lcd complains are solved today. just get a look at a recent one, and you'll see.. i never want to touch a fat, flimmering, unsharp crt again. pointing at me, shooting at me with 60mhz to 120mhz, huge magnets breaking the orientation-system of any bird flying above.

crts are shit. we still have a lot at work here, not the money yet to replace'm all.. bah