Aspect Ratios and Hardware Scaling in Monitors

[bradsh]

Is there a list somewhere of monitors that have aspect ratio options for their hardware scalers? You would think this would be a moderately important feature to people given that neither ati nor nvidia seem to have reliable solutions (I have an nvidia card and when i set it to maintain aspect ratio on 4:3 monitor and i use 720p, it stretches it out anyway).

I know that some Dell ultrasharp monitors have aspect ratio options, and I saw a westinghouse in best buy that did.

I'm just wondering if there is a website somewhere that keeps track? It seems like even the best reviews neglect this information.

 

[BernardP]

I don't think there is such a list, but NVidia has a very reliable solution to enable correct scaling at non-native resolution. You have to use the NVidia Scaling option in NVidia Control Panel, so that the scaling is performed in the videocard and not by the monitor. This works with any correct custom resolution that you can create.

(Please note that this option was broken for some time when the 8xxx series cards were launched, but is now working again)

As an example, I am using NVidia Scaling to display a 1684x864 custom resolution on my 24-inch Dell widescreen. I have also tried a lot of other custom resolutions.

Nvidia Scaling allows to ignore scaling abilities of the monitor itself. The way it works is that the scaling is done in the videocard, and then a native-resolution signal is sent to the monitor. The monitor doesn't "know" it is displaying a non-native-looking picture.

One essential condition for NVidia Scaling to work is that the DVI connection is mandatory. It doesn't work with analog D-sub connection

EDIT: In your case, you are writing about 720p, which means you are on the TV side of the Control Panel, not in the computer monitor settings. Those TV settings are a whole other ballgame. Try reading this thread:

http://forums.anandtech.com/me...AR_FORUMVIEWTMP=Linear

AFAIK, there is nothing equivalent to Nvidia Scaling in the ATI Catalyst drivers, but if someone can prove me wrong, I will be glad to hear about the way it can be done.

 

[bradsh]

I meant 1280x720. I was setting it in the computer section, but it still didn't work. The other resolutions did just not that one. Regardless, I'm looking for a monitor with hardware support so I can hook to an xbox 360.

If anyone knows of a review site or a list or anything that talks about scalers in monitors... I would really appreciate it.

 

[kmmatney]

The LCD in my sig has hardware scaling so you can swap it between widescreen and 4:3 resolution. Essentially, setting it to 4:3 converts it into a 1600 x 1200 LCD. It doesn't do 1:1 pixel mapping - it just changes whether the image is saled to 4:3 or widescreen. It very handy when playing older games and emulators. My LCD was $299 at OfficeMax, with option of a 3-year warranty for something like $39.

 

[bradsh]

Does that work with 16:9 signals as well, leaving you with black bars at the top? Or are you SOL in the case of 16:9?

 

[s44]

All Gateway monitors work.

 

[bradsh]

eh, i was playing with an fhd2400 the other day and i couldnt find the option in the menu i dont think