Help with VP in Widescreen

[m4paws]

I recently picked up a discount 23" widescreen LCD TV/Monitor - discounted probably because it's top resolution is 1360x768. That's fine with me, because I used 1024x768 on my old 19" 4:3 LCD Monitor, so it's about the same. I know VP needs to be played in some multiple of a 4:3 resolution to play correctly, but I'm having a hard time finding something acceptable. If I tell it to play in 1024x768 full screen, it stretches the image to fill the screen. Everything works, but it's all "short and fat" - it looks awful. If I play at 1024x768 in a window, that's worse because the background around the window stays, as does the task bar. In fact, the task bar ends up taking some of the screen real estate, so it doesn't even get a 1024x768 window to play in. That in turn causes some playfield object to be out of alignment. So, next I tried an 800x600 window. That sort of works, but there's a few problems, the biggest of which is that it's too small. That resolution also doesn't display fonts correctly (on tables that use them).

So, what am I missing? The best I've found is the 1024x768 full screen mode, but I don't want to be exiled to "short and fat" pinball land...

 

[kegpin]

I have a 32" Vizio widescreen TV that I play VP on and I had the same problem, But then I found that the remote had a zoom button that will change the aspect ratio to a 4:3 screen with black bars on both sides. I also play at 1024 x 768 and it looks great. So look around the remote or in the tv settings and look for something that will do it.
Hope this helps.
KEG

 

[m4paws]

I'd love to do that, your solution is exactly what I'm looking for... I have a button labeled "Aspect" that switches between "4:3" mode and "full" mode which basically does what you're describing, but it only does it in TV or HDMI (my PS3) mode. Unfortunately the button does nothing in VGA mode, so it doesn't help the VP problem.

Thanks for the idea though.

 

[sleepy]

Maybe there is an application software for the monitor to control the VGA aspect?
I would look for the manufacturer's website > Downloads or Support > Downloads.

If one is already installed, have you checked the Display Properties for a control? Right-Click on any empty space on the Desktop > choose Properties. The Display menu should appear. At the top click the Settings tab, then on that screen click the Advanced button and look for a control on the Monitor tab EDIT: or the Advanced > Displays tab if available. There *might* be one under an "Advanced" button on the Monitor tab screen.

 

[m4paws]

The video card is an onboard nVidia 6150LE. I downloaded the newest driver from nVidia and couldn't find anything in the nVidia Control Panel, then I tried the newest Omega driver as well and couldn't find anything there either. I looked in both the nVidia Control Panel and in the Windows advanced display settings areas - there's just nothing about setting the aspect ratio anywhere.

I think the LE in the 6150LE stands for "Lousy Edition". Actually, it probably stands for Limited Edition, which is why I can't find a setting for this...

 

[StevOz]

Nvidia, you say, are you sure about driver settings, I think you maybe able to change them here, see attached.


Use Nvidia scaling with fixed aspect ratio?

 

[m4paws]

Nvidia, you say, are you sure about driver settings, I think you maybe able to change them here, see attached.

Use Nvidia scaling with fixed aspect ratio?

When I Googled around I found someone describe that option, but I don't have it in my control panel. I'm sure that would do it if I could get it to show up... Maybe it's because Windows doesn't realize I have a flat panel and it just sees it as a "plug and play monitor"?

Off to try a few things...

 

[sleepy]

Does NVidia have a separate custom control panel installer, separate from the drivers?

 

[m4paws]

@StevOz: Bah, changing my monitor type didn't help, the flat panel option just isn't there. <shrug>

@sleepy: No, the nVidia control panel installs with the drivers.

 

[StevOz]

The only other thing to try might be an older driver, the one I'm using is not the latest. I'm currently using 175.16 with a Nvidia 6800GS graphics card.

 

[m4paws]

Actually I was using an older driver originally... I installed the new drivers and then the Omega drivers because I couldn't find any other answer. I suppose it's possible I missed that option in the older control panel, but I think it more likely that this stripped down on-board video card just doesn't support the option. Might be time to upgrade that too.

 

[Kiaininja]

I had the same problem as you m4paws. Basicaly Nvidia doesn't really support automatic fixed aspect ratio for VGAs, I think the option is their on the control panel in case the monitor itself supports the command. But if it doesn't respond then most likely no matter how much you update drivers it still wont support the option. Their still another option that you can try that might work, it's to manualy do it through the Advanced Timing option or custom resolution from the Nvidia control res panel. The way it works is for example my lcd does aspect ratio 16:10 and I am using 800X600 stretched and I want it at 4:3 with black bars on sides, in Advanced Timing while I'm at 800x600 I change the front end actives to the 16:10 equal which for my res is 960 horizontal and 600 vertical. You might need to adjust the screen position after this. Sometime it goes buggy when you fiddle with the option but a reinstall of the driver fixes it.

 

[m4paws]

I had the same problem as you m4paws. Basicaly Nvidia doesn't really support automatic fixed aspect ratio for VGAs, I think the option is their on the control panel in case the monitor itself supports the command. But if it doesn't respond then most likely no matter how much you update drivers it still wont support the option.

It's not that it doesn't respond, the option doesn't appear. That leads me to believe it's the video card that doesn't support it...

Their still another option that you can try that might work, it's to manualy do it through the Advanced Timing option or custom resolution from the Nvidia control res panel. The way it works is for example my lcd does aspect ratio 16:10 and I am using 800X600 stretched and I want it at 4:3 with black bars on sides, in Advanced Timing while I'm at 800x600 I change the front end actives to the 16:10 equal which for my res is 960 horizontal and 600 vertical. You might need to adjust the screen position after this. Sometime it goes buggy when you fiddle with the option but a reinstall of the driver fixes it.

I tried that a bit and really messed up the display, then decided I wasn't sure if I was doing the right thing so I wouldn't play with it more. Maybe I'll try again, but ---

Sadly, I now know exactly why it was a discount monitor - it already died. It's on it's way back to California for replacement. To be continued in a few weeks.

 

[m4paws]

Ok, the replacement monitor has arrived. I did some research while it was gone and I now know why I don't have the "flat panel scaling" options that StevOz pointed out. If you hook up the monitor using the VGA port, the nVidia driver treats the monitor as a CRT rather than an LCD, so you get no LCD options.

The other option is to hook up the monitor using the HDMI port which would apparently solve the whole problem, but I'm currently using port that for my PS3 and I don't want to switch back and forth.

I'm a little stumped what to do here. I just got the monitor back tonight, so I haven't tried much yet. I may end up trying Kiaininja's idea about the custom resolutions again if I can't come up with anything else.

 

[sleepy]

A HDMI Switchbox?
hdmi switchbox - Google Search

 

[m4paws]

A HDMI Switchbox?
hdmi switchbox - Google Search

Interesting, I didn't know they existed but it shouldn't surprise me that they do I guess. I'll consider that if I can't find a way to do it without throwing more money at it.

 

[Phoenixx]

If you hook up the monitor using the VGA port, the nVidia driver treats the monitor as a CRT rather than an LCD, so you get no LCD options.

Actually, thats not quite correct.

It is not really a CRT vs. TFT thing, it is actually just a matter of Digital vs. Analog signaling.

The problem is that D-SUB15 (or simply VGA) is a analog-only interface, while the software-scaling of the driver is done/outputted on the digital level only. Consequently this means that you are required to use a digital interface to process the signal from card to monitor as well (DVI-D would work) or no rescaling option will be available in the driver setup.

Likewise, if the driver shows a TFT as CRT in the setup, (by displaying a CRT icon), then it is only because the TFT is hooked up via the analog interface. But the driver doesnt really 'treat' it as a CRT since it can still recognize the device as a TFT (make/model plus all the resolutions it supports) if it has a DDC line. And all modern monitors have this line.

(Some cheap VGA cables lack that pin though, so one should always be sure to use a full 15-pin cable to make sure the recognition works.)


This only in case you didnt already know,...im not trying to be a smartass, just passing on what i know about the subject,...:)

 

[m4paws]

Actually, thats not quite correct.

It is not really a CRT vs. TFT thing, it is actually just a matter of Digital vs. Analog signaling.

The problem is that D-SUB15 (or simply VGA) is a analog-only interface, while the software-scaling of the driver is done/outputted on the digital level only. Consequently this means that you are required to use a digital interface to process the signal from card to monitor as well (DVI-D would work) or no rescaling option will be available in the driver setup.

Likewise, if the driver shows a TFT as CRT in the setup, (by displaying a CRT icon), then it is only because the TFT is hooked up via the analog interface. But the driver doesnt really 'treat' it as a CRT since it can still recognize the device as a TFT (make/model plus all the resolutions it supports) if it has a DDC line. And all modern monitors have this line.

(Some cheap VGA cables lack that pin though, so one should always be sure to use a full 15-pin cable to make sure the recognition works.)

This only in case you didnt already know,...im not trying to be a smartass, just passing on what i know about the subject,...:)

I'm grateful for any help... Connecting a monitor via anything other than a VGA cable is totally new to me.

I'm using an HD cable to connect to the video card, but I have an adapter on the monitor end so that I can plug it into the monitor's VGA port. (I suppose I should mention that I upgraded the on-board video since I started this thread, I now have an nVidia GTX 260. nVidia's control panel still "sees" it as a CRT in spit of this new hookup.)

Any way to get that setup to work, or am I going to have to get a switch like Sleepy suggested?

 

[Phoenixx]

Does the monitor only support VGA?

Or does it have a rectangle connector too? (DVI)

In short: If the monitor has a DVI port then you can use a normal DVI-D cable to get full digital signal transmission. If the monitor has VGA only then youre screwed, because it wont accept any digital signal then.

More info about your HW would be helpful,...the more details the better,...

 

[m4paws]

Does the monitor only support VGA?

Or does it have a rectangle connector too? (DVI)

In short: If the monitor has a DVI port then you can use a normal DVI-D cable to get full digital signal transmission. If the monitor has VGA only then youre screwed, because it wont accept any digital signal then.

More info about your HW would be helpful,...the more details the better,...

It supports a number of things, but not DVI. Below is a picture of the ports on my video card and my monitor, I hope this is specific enough.

(I think that) I know I can connect from the DVI connector on the video card to the HDMI connector on the monitor and that should work. However, currently I'm using the HDMI connector to hook up my PS3 to the monitor. I could connect the PS3 using the component cable instead, but I really want to keep it in HD so I'd rather not. Currently the computer is connected from a DVI port on the video card to the VGA port on the monitor (with a DVI -> VGA adapter).

So... Am I screwed? :-|

 

[Phoenixx]

Yes, definitely screwed.

Either a switchbox or swapping cables with the PS3.

Sorry.

(Since the composite signal sucks just as much as swapping cables a switchbox is the only sensemaking way to go. I hope you can find one for a halfways humane price,...)

 

[m4paws]

OK. Lets take the PS3 out of the equation for a minute... My assumption that connecting between the video card's DVI port and the monitor's HDMI port would solve the problems is correct, is it not?

Sorry.

Don't be, I appreciate the help regardless of how it turns out.

 

[Phoenixx]

My assumption that connecting between the video card's DVI port and the monitor's HDMI port would solve the problems is correct, is it not?

As far as i know, yes.

With a DVI-To-HDMI Adaptor like this:

 

[m4paws]

Yep, I have one. Came with the video card. Now I just need to find a reasonable switchbox I guess.