monitor resolution question

[Kyteland]

Normal monitor aspect ratios are 4:3. Eg. 640x480, 1600x1200, etc.

What is with 1280x1024? It is 5:4. Shouldn't it be 1280x960?

 

[dakels]

you are correct, that 5:4 aspect ratio is an oddity and I believe unique as a "standard" 5:4 ratio. I am not certain where it exactly originated for use with monitors since the TV and computer monitor are set to display a 4:3 aspect ratio. From my knowledge the 5:4 1280x1024 is an oddball that never seemed to have gotten phased out and instead became a standard, an incorrect standard for our current 4:3 CRT's. It may have come from a relationship with the way PAL video works but I am not sure.

What I do know that if your monitor is set to display at 1280 x 1024 and you have set the edges of your screen evenly, you are viewing a slightly distorted image which is slighty shortened (or widened). Most people dont notice the distortion but if you put up a perfect circle in 1280 x 960 (4:3) then that circle will become very slighty an oval in 1280x1024 due to the distortion. Some screen setups (Video card or monitors) will give you a black frame on the left and right to show you proper aspect ratio, but others may fit to size, distorting your aspect ratio to fit into a 4:3 screen. The proper setting should be 1280x960 and NOT 1280x1024 but 1280x1024 has become so common that most video adapters will display 1280x1024 before they have an option for 1280x960. If your display driver setup shows a sample box sizing, you will see the aspect ratio difference when you switch from 1280x1024 to 1280x960.

hope this helped make some sense...