Why 1280x1024 and not 1280x960?

[jim1976]

Originally posted by: Peter
Standard CRT tubes are 4:3 width:height ratio. There ain't no debating that 1280x1024 _IS_ a distorted resolution on a CRT, no matter how many people think this is "natural". 1280x960 matches the tube's aspect ratio, and produces undistorted image and font rendering.

What the man says. And as you mention later it's not a matter of resolution it's a matter of ditorted pixels.
12X9 is for CRTs
12x10 is for TFTs

 

[BoomAM]

Originally posted by: Wag
Because it's a standard res on the Mac.

And on my TFT!

 

[BFG10K]

I mean, if you have 1280 x 960, any smart person will just adjust his/her monitor and stretch the screen to it's limits, therefore highly resembling 1280x1024.

With a width of 1280, 960 vertically filling the screen is correct while 1024 vertically filling the screen is squashed because the pixels are not square.

 

[sxr7171]

Originally posted by: Wag
Because it's a standard res on the Mac.

...and just as stupid as a one-button mouse.

 

[num1rage]

Why is the recommended resolution and timing for my Samsung 700NF CRT 1280x1024 @ 85 Hz? I measured the screen and it is 4:3 not 5:4. Seems strange.

1280x1024 looks crisper but it is slightly distorted so I run at 1280x960.

 

[BFG10K]

Manufacturers are always trying to pimp the highest possible resolution to make their product look better. Because 1280 x 1024 usually has the same refresh rate as 1280 x 960 they choose the former because it looks "higher".

 

[VIAN]

yes, but then why don't all games support that resolution. Only some weird games do, but not most. If I'm gonna be bothered by that, then I would rather just use 1280x1024.

 

[jiffylube1024]

Originally posted by: VIAN
yes, but then why don't all games support that resolution. Only some weird games do, but not most. If I'm gonna be bothered by that, then I would rather just use 1280x1024.

From what I've seen it's the opposite - mostly all games support 1280X1024, while fewer support 1280X960. Although, just recently, more and more games are starting to support 1280X960.

 

[Zebo]

Originally posted by: fr
Most 17"-19" LCDs are 5:4, not 4:3. Otherwise, I would use 1280x960 to get the proper 4:3 ratio.

 

[3chordcharlie]

12x9 looks a lot better on a crt, but I appreciate every vertical pixel of desktop space I can get on my screen, so it sure doesn't bother me to get an extra line of text or two on a 12x10 tft screen...

 

[VIAN]

From what I've seen it's the opposite - mostly all games support 1280X1024, while fewer support 1280X960. Although, just recently, more and more games are starting to support 1280X960.

I was saying that 1280x960 is the one available only in weird games.

 

[BroadbandGamer]

Originally posted by: num1rage
Why is the recommended resolution and timing for my Samsung 700NF CRT 1280x1024 @ 85 Hz? I measured the screen and it is 4:3 not 5:4. Seems strange.

1280x1024 looks crisper but it is slightly distorted so I run at 1280x960.

Yeah, my Sony 19" CRT is the same way. 1280x1024 @ 85Hz is the recommended resolution.

Also, whoever said we should be using 16:9 screens by now is absolutley correct! Let's lose these 4:3 screens already!!! The future is 16:9 so all you cheap bastards stop buying 4:3 screens!!!!

 

[VIAN]

2:1

 

[Nexworks]

Wide screens are crap for games. Why? Because most games have static information at the top and bottom. So the moving picture in the center then becomes like a widescreen picture. If you then try that with a widescreen monitor, then with the same static information at the top and bottom leaves you a very thin sliver of screen space for the actual game. Widescreen good for HDTV and Dvd, bad for everything else.

 

[BroadbandGamer]

Originally posted by: Nexworks
Wide screens are crap for games. Why? Because most games have static information at the top and bottom. So the moving picture in the center then becomes like a widescreen picture. If you then try that with a widescreen monitor, then with the same static information at the top and bottom leaves you a very thin sliver of screen space for the actual game. Widescreen good for HDTV and Dvd, bad for everything else.

Well then game companies had better get on the ball and start programming these games to use a native widescreen resolution.

 

[jiffylube1024]

Originally posted by: VIAN

From what I've seen it's the opposite - mostly all games support 1280X1024, while fewer support 1280X960. Although, just recently, more and more games are starting to support 1280X960.

I was saying that 1280x960 is the one available only in weird games.

Ah! Me so sorry!

 

[Nexworks]

Games made for wide screen would have to have the static info like radars and such on either the left or right side, so the game view would more resemble a 4:3 image instead of 16:9. See what I mean? Its reversed, so if you want 16:9 gameplay you need to do so on a 4:3 screen where you have the room to place static content.

 

[futuristicmonkey]

Originally posted by: Steg55
I have been pondering that for a while.....

I believe it is for TFT's at a 5:4 ratio.
My 17" CRT looks better at 1280*960 so that is what i use - probebly because it is a standard 4:3 screen.

And humanentity - that is a odd one - i have never seen anyone use that res before *has a look at driver options window* oh yeh - its there but ive never seen it before.....

Steg

I also use 1152*864 on my 17" CRT. I use it because it's the highest resolution I can use at 75 Hz. I could use 12*9 but I'm not going to because it looks weird to me when I play games. And anyways, as was already stated, not many games give you the option of using 1280*960.

 

[BFG10K]

yes, but then why don't all games support that resolution.

Because most manufacturers promote 1280 x 1024. Also that resolution is native to many LCDs.

 

[Gagabiji]

Originally posted by: Dman877
1280x1024 ownzers all over 1280x960 that's why.

couldn't have said it better my self.

 

[Pilsnerpete]

I use 1280x960, but would switching to 1280x1024 make slightly wider targets in 3d games? That would be handy! Might have to try this distorted resolution...maybe I'll trade my circles for ovals.

 

[Mem]

I've always hated 1280X1024, and now that I have a 19" LCD, I just have to live with it (but at least on the LCD, it's a native resolution, unlike CRT's) .

On my Samsung 191T I can run it at 1280x960 ,it has a very small border at top and bottom but looks great picture wise,I do prefer 1280x1024 for general use ,however the 1280x960 mode is good for some games that don`t support 1280x1024 mode.Some LCD monitors scale better then others.

 

[rbV5]

Widescreen good for HDTV and Dvd, bad for everything else.

Since ATI added Center Timing Support for YPbPr output, I'm going to have to disagree with you. I play games on my widescreen all the time now. Its a simple as enabling CTS and setting ANY game to 1280x1024 and they are perfectly mapped to the center of my Widescreen display with small black bars on the sides.

Widescreen good.

 

[VIAN]

I've always thought that the more a game is like a movie, the better the experience.

Games made for wide screen would have to have the static info like radars and such on either the left or right side, so the game view would more resemble a 4:3 image instead of 16:9. See what I mean? Its reversed, so if you want 16:9 gameplay you need to do so on a 4:3 screen where you have the room to place static content.

But this guy also makes some sense.