20WMGX2 and 4:3 scaling

[Painman]

I'm almost sold on this baby, the only caveat I had about it was that it's been said that it doesn't do 4:3 scaling very well. OTOH, I had read some reports of people getting the scaling to work by twiddling a few settings.

So here I sit in front of one (and hot damn, it IS a nice panel) but I'm not getting too far with the 4:3 business.

One report stated that putting it into DVI-HD mode would allow scaling while using the PC1 input (it does open some new options, but nothing that appears to be giving me a scaled image, at least not one that vertically fills the screen).

Using the PC2 input opens some options for horizontal size and positioning, but insufficient to get to the proper aspect ratio.

So... Any suggestions? Unless I can get this LCD to properly scale with some "legacy" resolutions, it has to go back. And that would be a shame. (At least that's an option - I've always bought displays B&M, no exceptions).

TIA.

 

[Zebo]

What video card you have and I'll try and explain. It's definity not supported by the electronics in the monitor like some LCDs (fewer and fewer these days).

 

[Painman]

Originally posted by: Zebo
What video card you have and I'll try and explain. It's definity not supported by the electronics in the monitor like some LCDs (fewer and fewer these days).

Hey Z, how's it hangin'...

It needs to work with 2 cards... main rig (BBA X1900XT) and the legacy rig (GF4 Ti4600).

 

[Zebo]

Starving..ate thai food tonight which never fills.


I assue this is all DVI right?

Anyway with the ATI card ..this is from mem since I don't have one anymore but under "Digital Panel Properties" > "attributes" > "image scaling": try and set use centered timings

With nv card: You need to set up a toggle key.
1) Enable and open nveiw Desktop manager
2) Select "hot keys" tab
3) highlight or select the "toggle LCD scaling" and click "add" tab
4) Now select your hot key... I use ctrl +F1

hit ok exit and now you can toggle LCD scaling instantly on and off with ctrl + F1

Gluck

 

[Zebo]

My hunger has me only thinking of myself right now...sorry...Congrats on a wonderful choice:thumbsup:

As you can see here I have no problems scaling with DVI in on nvidia

12x10

and

10x7

<<off to P&J it>>

 

[Painman]

Originally posted by: Zebo
I assue this is all DVI right?

Well... no there's a small matter of a Voodoo 2 card in the legacy box, but if push came to shove I can ditch that for a Glide wrapper. But there really ain't nothing like the Real Thing.

Hmm... if there's no HW support in the panel for res scaling, I might be truly SOL with lthe legacy box. I'm sure not gonna get any fancy control panels to adjust scaling if I'm trying to play Privateer on the LCD in pure DOS mode.

I'll give your suggestions for the main rig a try, sounds like I have to install CCC though. I'll futz with that tomorrow. I may have to give the legacy box its own dedicated CRT (got a nice spare one, now) and find a place for it - price I have to pay if I want to keep the main rig here in the Modern World I suppose.

Cheers. :beer:

 

[Zebo]

Before you throw baby out with the bath water and return it just wait until xtknight chimes in here. He is familiar with how it scales HW wise with the other inputs, it does.. I've never played around with it that way because I don't have a D-SUB out video card and never used any other input but DVI from a graphics card which doesnt scale with HW... and since play modern games which run under windows I'm happy with software 1:1 scaling video driver provide. Maybe you should try Sid Myers Pirates like Privateer but infinity better..

 

[CP5670]

Some LCDs have image size/position adjustment options but only on a VGA connection, so you might actually be fine with the Voodoo2.

 

[Painman]

Originally posted by: CP5670
Some LCDs have image size/position adjustment options but only on a VGA connection, so you might actually be fine with the Voodoo2.

The 20WMGX2 does have that, but it puts you in fullscreen with the horizontal slider @ 43.4% and putting it all the way to 0% still doesn't give the right aspect ratio.

I'll mess around some more tomorrow. Until then it's time for another beer and some Oblivion in Widescreen

Speaking of OB, here's another beauty shot for you, Mr. Boudreaux.

And a fresh face as well

 

[Zebo]

800x600? WTF?

And I don't do womenz fighters Too many sisters to know they are worthless in a scrap.

Zebo Love these gates

 

[Painman]

800x600 scaled down from 1600 in PSP what, you think I bought the X1900 to relive the 90s? That's what the legacy box is for

I make some of my fighters wimmin because I like playing with FaceGen. And I'm good at it. FaceGenning a hot looking dude ain't really my thing

Originally posted by: Zebo
Love these gates

Ruined Akaviri shield... nice touch

 

[xtknight]

The 20WMGX2 can't perform any scaling in DVI mode with a PC signal. You'd have to have your graphics drivers do it. If you want to play a game in DOS, the graphics card would just be scaling and you'd have no way to change that in my knowledge.

 

[Zebo]

Thanks for joining in here...Thats what I said too. How about d-sub he has that too.

 

[CP5670]

The 20WMGX2 does have that, but it puts you in fullscreen with the horizontal slider @ 43.4% and putting it all the way to 0% still doesn't give the right aspect ratio.

Oh, that sucks. This method works for me on a 90GX2, but I don't need to adjust it a lot since it's already fairly close to 4:3.

I'm not sure if NEC's LCDs support their old Naviset tool, but you may be able to use that to recalibrate the setting and push it further.

what, you think I bought the X1900 to relive the 90s?

That's more or less what I am doing with mine these days.

 

[Painman]

OK, thanks for the info. ATi Tray Tools' adjustment options don't go far enough, and there's a "preserve aspect ratio" button that's all nice and greyed out. I'll see what CCC has to offer.

I got time to think on whether I want to go ahead and keep the panel. I don't want anything under 20" to replace a 19" CRT, and the pickins look slim... Any opinions on the LG L2000C for all-around use? Not on the rec list I see.

 

[Zebo]

Because it's a lotto and hella expensive I don't recommend LG L2000C... some users have reported getting MVA's inside the L2000C. If you're going to gamble get a dell. Not only is it way way cheaper dell has a 21 day shipping both ways satisfaction guarantee and does support HW scaling and overdrives panel more than LG for less blur. Both the 20" wide and 20" 4:3 Dells are lotto as well but at least you can keep sending them back until one agrees with you.

 

[xtknight]

The NEC 20WMGX2 can't do scaling in VGA either actually (as far as I remember). It can with the component/S-Video/composite and TV inputs. Options when available are under the "expansion" menu. There have been a couple revisions of the NEC 20WMGX2 though so it's possible they may have added features.

 

[Painman]

Not really getting far, CCC gives no more adjustment range for horiz size than Tray Tools does. No option available to preserve aspect ratio. (This was all using PC2, the D-sub)

Using the DVI port, CCC gives me an option to use centered timings that doesn't work. Using the monitor's expansion options while in DVI-HD mode does gives some proper scaling options, but the display quality is hell in HD mode.

Thanks for all the help, though it looks like the best solution for me is to wait for a recommendable 20"+ 4:3 unit to buy. I wasn't suffering on the CRT, it just felt like it was gettin to be time to take the plunge. I can wait a little longer to plunge if need be.

EDIT: NaviSet was mentioned, forgot about it - I'll see if it presents more options.

EDIT 2: No positioning tools in NaviSet, just color, etc. Bah!

 

[Zebo]

Don't rule out Dell Pain, cheap and good no matter which panel you get.

can't believe it doesn't work... Maybe 20WMGX2 pro will, due out this month. I would wait for the 24GX2 and enjoy serious size or get a 2070NX if color and view angle is your thing and don't care much about motion blur (it's kinda slow).

I have issues with our monitor ..too small..****** stand with no height... ugly brick thickness but scaling isnt one of them and definitely between the bezel looks the best I've seen..

 

[Painman]

Haven't ruled out Dell... their 24" panels are lots of real estate for the $ but user reports are giving me the willies (banding, backlight bleeding, etc).

I *did* make one important hard decision... I'm uncoupling the main rig and legacy rig and giving them each their own dedicated I/O. I don't want to be making compromises for the main rig for the sake of the other one that I don't even use that often. I picked up a new USB KB today and the legacy box can have the old CRT. Now I just have to clear up some room and rig up some desk space for it.

I did return the NEC today (had a dead pixel, besides my other issues) and going back to CRT... Well lemme tell ya, I thought this CRT was good (I suppose it probably is, on average) but that NEC was so damn crisp and easy on the eyes. Widescreen is just so bada$$ (it wasn't Oblivion that grabbed my boo-boo with WS, it was the shooters that did it - I felt my immersion and awareness increase a TON in those with WS).

Been bit by the bug now, so I'm still looking around. Moving back over to nV is probably gonna have to happen since ATi's panel utilities are... well, I'd call them sh!t, but sh!t actually exists, so that gives it a leg up over ATi.

3007 looks intriguing - hella $, but haven't seen anyone calling it a POS. Would serve for a long time, provided it didn't blow up. I'm not too interested in the refresh that's coming for it, it's somewhat better but will intro at $1700. I can almost get the current one + an 8800 for that.

Someone come and put me in a straight jacket, quick

 

[Zebo]

hehe@ATI- You mean drivers that use 200MB of mem still can't properly add a scaling feature? Yet another reason I only use nV...

As far as the return...sorry to hear that, however you're gonna be bit by using the best..it's all down hill from here trust me, they know me by first name basis at the Frys LCD return desk (if there was such a thing but LCD's are all I returned so that's what I'm calling it) Seriously like 20 I've been though only one LCD I'm somewhat satisfied with and you owned it.

Couple points. The Dell 3007 is good, it's an IPS so no real complaints from anyone but me .. its a two years old panel, slow and only covers 72% of adobe color gamet.. You'll want to look at HPs 3065 instead at this size. New faster panel covering 92% of adobe ad about same price at pricegrabber.

Dells 24" is a POS. I posted in another thread what color shift looks like in SPVA and you don't want it. Not only that it has worst input lag of any LCD..
http://img108.imageshack.us/img108/9021/dell2007wfpwithspvapanesu5.jpg

But then again I pour over this stuff. You may be happy with any LCD since they are all "crisp" as you say.

 

[Painman]

Nah, I wouldn't be happy with any LCD. I care about my interface devices quite a bit. Bought some Sennheiser cans last year and still wondering how much better they'd sound with dedicated headamp and outboard DAC.

With nV GPU in the box, I could go back to the well on the 20WMGX2 and probably be happy since I'd have some tools for it. But truthfully, it didn't feel like much of a "real estate" upgrade over the CRT. I'd like that to be part of the upgrade package. Any MSRP out there on the 24GX2? I'll wait for it if it's not ridiculous.

Do you know if eVGA still honors warranty after installation of 3rd party cooling? IIRC they were doing that. 8800 looks like a PITA to WC though due to that extra controller chip and the off center holes that are near it. I've been to the ghetto, I don't like it there, but I guess sometimes you gotta go there anyway.

 

[emachine]

Originally posted by: Painman
Any MSRP out there on the 24GX2? I'll wait for it if it's not ridiculous.

http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1153785

"travbomb" works for NEC and according him it's a sleepy 8 months until the 24 shows up, but if "much more competitively within its category than the 20WMGX2" holds true then I'd guess they'll try and squeeze it in under 1k.

 

[Painman]

Holy thread necromancy, Batman :Q

Seriously though, I appreciate the update but I've been following the updates on the new NEC stuff like a crack junkie waiting on their dealer for fresh supply. I'm quite likely to go with one of the new 90 series models because they sport all of the features I want plus a bunch that I don't even know that I want yet. They're incredibly robust on the configurability side. I'm kinda ambivalent towards OptiClear and I want to upgrade now; the 90 series stuff is hitting the channel now.

Welcome to the AT forums.