LCD monitors and non-native resolution display quality

[Neo_Geo]

Just a quick question:
I am looking at the highly rated Dell 2001FP 20.1-inch Flat Panel LCD which has a native resolution of 1600X1200.

How well do lcds (in general) look when you use a resolution lower than its native, especially for gamming?

My desktop is always set to 1600X1200 (19" display) right now, so I know that won't be a problem for me. I am mostly concerned with image quality during games where I may need to lower the resolution for performance.

Thanks

 

[Czar]

for gaming its fine since you get an automatic mini anti aliasing

for desktop use its more of an anoyance, things are not as crisp, still very usable

 

[So]

LCDs often look like ass at non native resolutions, but if you pick a resolution that scales perfectly, you'll have no problem.

1600X1200 -> 800X600 = still okay res for gaming.

Also, it's not that bad at non even scaling resolutions. My 1280X1024 monitor is fine with 1280x960 in BF and does 1024x748 fine too.

 

[CarrotStick]

Lets not kid our selves now....non-native resolution on an LCD looks like crap. Thats the main reason I will not buy an LCD. Your stuck at 1 resolution. It sucks. Buy a CRT monitor. 100 times better.

But hey if your not planning on EVER changing resolutions an LCD is fine.

 

[SuPrEIVIE]

Originally posted by: CarrotStick
Lets not kid our selves now....non-native resolution on an LCD looks like crap. Thats the main reason I will not buy an LCD. Your stuck at 1 resolution. It sucks. Buy a CRT monitor. 100 times better.

But hey if your not planning on EVER changing resolutions an LCD is fine.

don't insult lcds so badly, yes crt is better in this aspect, but are you aware that crt takes up alot of space and are much more heavier?

 

[WobbleWobble]

Games generally look fine at non-native resolutions. Sometimes text may look a bit off though.

 

[Mem]

Lets not kid our selves now....non-native resolution on an LCD looks like crap. Thats the main reason I will not buy an LCD. Your stuck at 1 resolution. It sucks. Buy a CRT monitor. 100 times better.

Hmmm I`m going to disagree here,some LCDs scale better then others and some like my Samsung 191T can do native 800x600 etc with a smaller screen size and a boarder,I also have two expanded mode options for every non native res as well, I also happen to own a Samsung 21" flat CRT(SM1100DF) and my LCD is miles superior to the CRT when it comes to crispness especially in DVI mode.

Sure CRTs have no scaling problems but I actually prefer my LCD for gaming,crispness & geometry is just awesome.

 

[mflacy]

The 2001fp kicks ass at 1600 by 1200 and scales to other resoluations fairly well. It's not as good as a CRT, but it's pretty darn close.

I am wondering why you are laying out $700 for a monitor when you could upgrade your ti 200 and cpu/mobo for the same cost or lower and have a sweet setup.

 

[ponyo]

Scaling with 2001FP is pretty good and acceptable. But it's no CRT.

 

[Nebor]

Originally posted by: CarrotStick
Lets not kid our selves now....non-native resolution on an LCD looks like crap. Thats the main reason I will not buy an LCD. Your stuck at 1 resolution. It sucks. Buy a CRT monitor. 100 times better.

But hey if your not planning on EVER changing resolutions an LCD is fine.

Wow, great advice from a CRT fanboi that's never owned an LCD. :roll:

 

[JackHawksmoor]

On my Samsung SyncMaster 191T+ gaming is very acceptable at scaled resolutions. I'd say I don't notice a difference unless I see a scaled resolution, and then switch to the native one. Native looks much better-crisper, I guess, but without seeing them one after the other, I wouldn't really notice.

I don't think I could get used to a scaled resolution for a normal windows desktop, although through a combination of using DVI, the newish Syncmaster 191T+, and Windows XP's cleartype and modern font technologies, it's much more acceptable than on older LCDs. (Note-I don't like Cleartype at the native resolution, but it looks like it helps a bit at scaled resolutions-probably depends on the LCD panel in question and personal preference)

It just looks..."soft", I guess.

It would be great if they could completly perfect resolution scaling

 

[EvanAdams]

I have a 2000fp. I hate it because of poor scailing. (sorry for the spelling) It has basiclly prevented me from playing games because the hardware to run at 16x12 is just coming into existance and is still far from affordable.

 

[JackHawksmoor]

Yeah, that's one of the reasons I like the 19" monitors with 1280x1024 (versus the 20" 1600x1200). The other being that for my eyes, 1280x1024 is as small as I'd want to go on a 19" monitor for regular 2D Windows stuff.