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Workaround for playing 4x3 games with lateral bars?
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Author:  Ymer [ 02 Oct 2006, 02:48 ]
Post subject:  Workaround for playing 4x3 games with lateral bars?
With lateral bars. Is there a software solution or if the hardware does not offer that option than you're doomed to have all your 4x3 games stretched and deformed?

I'm thinking about buying a Widescreen monitor but I'm not quite ready to give up on all of my 2D 4x3 games, such as Baldur's Gate, Planescape Torment, Grim Fandango, etc... just examples.

The models I'm torn between are Viewsonic VA1912Wb and Acer AL2216. All that is left for me to finally decide is to know if I can play my 4x3 games unstretched in one of those monitors :(

Please help out ;)

Thanks in advance!
Author:  X-ray Doc [ 02 Oct 2006, 03:01 ]
Post subject:  Workaround for playing 4x3 games with lateral bars?
In ATI drivers there is a setting called "centered timings". If you use this, it should display a 4:3 ratio resolution such as 1024 x 768 undistorted with side black bars. If you choose the "full screen" option it will upscale all resolutions to completely fill the screen, even when not a 16:10 resolution to begin with.
Author:  Microtia [ 02 Oct 2006, 03:02 ]
Post subject:  Workaround for playing 4x3 games with lateral bars?
The problem with said option is, it seems to not work more than work. nvidia's drivers also has such an option.
Author:  skipclarke [ 02 Oct 2006, 03:35 ]
Post subject:  Workaround for playing 4x3 games with lateral bars?
Please see the tutorial on "Pillarboxing".
Author:  Ymer [ 02 Oct 2006, 04:19 ]
Post subject:  Workaround for playing 4x3 games with lateral bars?
Please see the tutorial on "Pillarboxing".


Basically that means I can play 4x3 games with black bars in any widescreen monitor, even if it does not offer different scaling options? :D
Author:  skipclarke [ 02 Oct 2006, 04:33 ]
Post subject:  Workaround for playing 4x3 games with lateral bars?
As always, YMMV. The "perfect" solution is to have a vid driver and a monitor that both support aspect scaling. That covers all bases. If you're unsure of the monitor, then I would make sure your vid driver has it. NVIDIA has offere better and more consistent support for this.

I'd suggest using the search tool and read the reviews of these monitors. The first and fourth hits on the VA1912WB have post that indicates the monitor wouldn't scale properly.

No reviews yet on the AL2216, so you may be the first. Also, Acer doesn't list any details on their site. Make sure the (r)etailer has a good return policy.
Author:  xocomaox [ 04 Oct 2006, 20:47 ]
Post subject:  Workaround for playing 4x3 games with lateral bars?
Well, I have an AL2423W and I just can't seem to get this thing to do 1:1 pixels on lower resolutions.



...But I can on some.

I can get (sometimes, not always) the monitor to do 1:1 pixels on 1680x1050, and on 1280x720. There is like one more random widescreen res I can get it to do 1:1 on.

All other resolutions, mainly 4:3 aspects, stretch out completely with no visible black bars.


I really want to be able to do 1:1 on these 4:3 resolutions. (1280x1024 and 1600x1200 are the main ones)

I completely blame ATI driver's (x850xtpe on 6.9 cats) for this problem. I am still working on it and will give you guys any updates I may find.
Author:  Rodman49 [ 17 Oct 2006, 00:24 ]
Post subject:  Workaround for playing 4x3 games with lateral bars?
You guys need to put in the "Pillarboxing" guide that your monitor needs to have DVI (not analog) input. I would have bought a monitor with DVI if I had known that . . . about my only gripe with my current monitor.
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