Resolution

[THERESONATOR]

Right now I have a BFG 256mb 7800GTX OC Edition running on my DFI Lanparty SLI-DR Expert [/brag]. The card's spec says it can do resolutions well over 1280x1024, up to two thousand and something by 1600+ (i can't remember the exact resolution, just really high), however on my computer's resolution settings the max is 1280x1024. What can I do to remedy this?

I have read that in order to get 1600x1200 resolutions and above, I have to get a larger screen. My screen is a Dell 17" LCD monitor. Also in shopping for a new PC I have noticed that, whilst trying to look for monitors that do 1600x1200 resolution, most of the screens don't do it because they're mostly widescreen. For example, you can get 1920x1200, you can get 1600x1024, but it doesn't say whether they do 1600x1200. Of course that probably wouldn't look right on a widescreen anyway, but whats the deal, the world of square has gone a bit... rectangle-ish!

This information is important to me because I have read that there's no point getting two ATI HD3870s unless I'm running a 30" monitor, which I find to be quite fantastical and bizarre. Whomever is saying this, are they just spewing? I am determined to get an AMD socket mobo running Xfire X (all eyes set on the approaching DFI LANParty UT 790FX), so you can see why this is significant. It'll help me decide which monitor is right.

Another note, if widescreens are doing 1920x1200, I suppose you can get square 1920x1600?

All advice appreciated.

 

[WaTaGuMp]

Originally posted by: THERESONATOR
Right now I have a BFG 256mb 7800GTX OC Edition running on my DFI Lanparty SLI-DR Expert [/brag]. The card's spec says it can do resolutions well over 1280x1024, up to two thousand and something by 1600+ (i can't remember the exact resolution, just really high), however on my computer's resolution settings the max is 1280x1024. What can I do to remedy this?

I have read that in order to get 1600x1200 resolutions and above, I have to get a larger screen. My screen is a Dell 17" LCD monitor. Also in shopping for a new PC I have noticed that, whilst trying to look for monitors that do 1600x1200 resolution, most of the screens don't do it because they're mostly widescreen. For example, you can get 1920x1200, you can get 1600x1024, but it doesn't say whether they do 1600x1200. Of course that probably wouldn't look right on a widescreen anyway, but whats the deal, the world of square has gone a bit... rectangle-ish!

This information is important to me because I have read that there's no point getting two ATI HD3870s unless I'm running a 30" monitor, which I find to be quite fantastical and bizarre. Whomever is saying this, are they just spewing? I am determined to get an AMD socket mobo running Xfire X (all eyes set on the approaching DFI LANParty UT 790FX), so you can see why this is significant. It'll help me decide which monitor is right.

Another note, if widescreens are doing 1920x1200, I suppose you can get square 1920x1600?

All advice appreciated.

I will try and simplify this for you as much as possible. If you are going to buy an LCD you pretty much are going to just run it at ONE resolution and thats the native. Going with 22" etc you will run 1680, moving up to 24" you will go 1920. Widescreens are the way to go once you have one you wont regret it. Even tho you will have options to choose lower resolutions the IQ looks horrible. As for 2 HD3870's well I have been thinking about it and I run 1920, so it all depends on what games you play, Xfire with the new cards has shown some good numbers and scales well.

 

[THERESONATOR]

Well put it this way, I'm after Crysis on the highest settings and resolution (but not so high as to have it lagging), and games like Oblivion and Fear running top resolution full AA etc.

 

[WaTaGuMp]

Originally posted by: THERESONATOR
Well put it this way, I'm after Crysis on the highest settings and resolution (but not so high as to have it lagging), and games like Oblivion and Fear running top resolution full AA etc.

Crysis right now has set the bar so high that trying to play it on high resolution with great settings isnt going to happen. The lower res you use the better settings you will be able to use. I wont even attempt to play it and I have even heard its not that great other then nice graphics. I have seen some benchmarks where the Xfire setup using the 3870's did produce the best frame rates in Crysis and quite a few other games.

 

[THERESONATOR]

I wouldn't knock it until you tried it. Gamespot rates Crysis as one of the best games ever made, and aside from the amazing graphics, it looks to have more depth than your average "run around and shoot people and when they're all dead you win" FPS, with the game apparently divided into three seperate stages with each having a different type of game within the game. That said, when Greg Kasavin left Gamespot, it would never be the same again!

I should at least be able to run Neverwinter Nights 2, Battlefield 2 (really slow load times surely improve with this gear), Fear and Oblivion on all the highest settings. Wouldn't you agree?

 

[THERESONATOR]

Neverwinter Nights 2 is something I really want to go faster on the top settings. It runs at less than 30fps on just medium settings with my 7800gtx, and thats quite intolerable for such a great game.