Tweak an LCD monitor?

Started by lexx · 13 posts · 1,971 views

  1. #1
    I picked up a 22" widescreen lcd today. It looked so good with my newsgroups and videos that I'd like to use it for some gaming too. Its at least twice as bright as my crt, which makes going inside doorways next to impossible.

    Only prob is I dont' know how to 'unstretch' the damn picture. Tried playing UT and BF stretched, but it really screwed up my hitscans. Also a little bit dizzining stretched out of proportion like that.

    Didnt' see anything in the monitor settings either. Is there some tweak or trick I'm missing?

    I'd be happy with a 4:3, at least for the old games. New ones I could get used to the stretch.
  2. #2
    lexx wrote:Its at least twice as bright as my crt, which makes going inside doorways next to impossible.


    Okay I will ask... HUH?????? Bright? Inside doorways?? HUH???


    lexx wrote:
    Only prob is I dont' know how to 'unstretch' the damn picture. Tried playing UT and BF stretched, but it really screwed up my hitscans. Also a little bit dizzining stretched out of proportion like that.

    Didnt' see anything in the monitor settings either. Is there some tweak or trick I'm missing?

    I'd be happy with a 4:3, at least for the old games. New ones I could get used to the stretch.


    The standard resolution for that monitor should be 1680X1050. That is what you should use with it by default.
    You can then set up hot keys through your ATI control center to put it in other resolutions. You will have to experiment. Once you find one you can simply hit those hot keys before launching your games.

    However with that said the best way is the game should be configurable to adjust the resolution within it. Try setting the game to the 1680X1050 and the game should be perfect. You may have to edit a config file manually to do it.
  3. #3
    LOL i remember tweaking a config file for my widescreen laptop in BFV. It had a strange side effect that allowed me to see the enemy out of the sides when inside a tank. For example. When i was inside with the HUD up, typically you can only see out the (view hole), i had that but since the game didn't have the hud drawn for widescreen, I could see out the sides as well. hehehe... no one could sneak up to plan a mine on me from the sides. LOL!
  4. #4
    Lexx, BF2 doesn't support Widescreen natively. However, you can manually add your resolution to the config. I think we have directions in this forum somewhere, but I'll see if I can find them.

    Adjusting Resolutions on a widescreen isn't recommended because it doesn't work like a monitor. For it to use a different resolution, it simulates the resolution. As you can imagine, this can cause all sorts of problems.

    One trick I have found for games using my 19" widescreen is to pick a resolution just under my native. For example, my resolution is 1440x960, so I try 1024x768 first, then 1280x1024. I don't change the resolution before joining. I just do it in the game. Between those two settings, I have managed to make things look decent.

    Another thing to keep in mind is you may experience some frame drops if you don't have a video card that can handle higher resolutions. That is part of the reason I went with the 19". I found a nice 22", but I was concerned because I don't play games above 1280x1024 because it starts to affect me.

    Keep playing with it. I found mine a little strange at first, but now I love it.
  5. #5
    Thanks guys. What I meant was my crt monitor will not brighten up enough to go into doorways on BF2. I can not see to make my way to the roof, so I can never clear a building. I also could never get CS setup bright enough to play it effectively.

    The high rez worked in UT04'.. Thanks Pal. Hitscan was where it should be. I changed POV to widest angle without antiTcc complaining. Its kinda crazy lookin' now, but kinda neat. I just got ShockWhore twice on a noob server, as I'm seeing about 20% more 🙂 Sat nite I can test instagib which has been giving us fits on the last 3 servers.

    I'll fiddle with the rez's if we do any BF2 again. I never really ran full rez on games before thinking it slowed down the game. The x800 seems to be handling it quite well.

    Is there is an 'ideal' rez when running an LCD? All in all, I'm really surprised how this thing preforms, but it is kinda big and close at times. Felt vertigo when looking down the ramps on Rankin, lol.
  6. #6
    The ideal rez is always Native for the monitor. After that, I think it's what your video card can handle.

    If you are having problems with the darkness in BF2, try lowering your shadows or even turning them off. It's amazing how much more you can see.

  7. #7
    Atomm wrote:
    The ideal rez is always Native for the monitor. After that, I think it's what your video card can handle.

    If you are having problems with the darkness in BF2, try lowering your shadows or even turning them off. It's amazing how much more you can see.



    You are a hacker like DocJon. He has his setting so bright I needed sunglasses to watch his monitor 😉
  8. #8
    Actually, when I got a card that could do it, I turned all the lighting and shadows all the way up. It's harder to see people hiding, but it looks really cool.

  9. #9
    Atomm wrote:
    The ideal rez is always Native for the monitor. After that, I think it's what your video card can handle.

    If you are having problems with the darkness in BF2, try lowering your shadows or even turning them off. It's amazing how much more you can see.

    Roger, I'll try that when I get a chance. It just takes so damn long to load BF maps, I lack the patience to mess with the video adjustments. Maybe it will be a moot point if the LCD can adapt ok.
  10. #10
    Paladin wrote:
    You are a hacker like DocJon. He has his setting so bright I needed sunglasses to watch his monitor 😉


    Hey, that used monitor was stuck like that! I had to turn the 2nd one up to match, and so I could see it after looking at the bright one. The ones I'm using now aren't like that.

    But yeah, I don't have building shadows turned on. You think all the people we game against do? Shit, people pay money for hacks, how many do you think tweak their settings for gameplay? That's not considered cheating, and it's free, so I would imagine a lot do.


  11. #11
    I run with no shadows.
  12. #12
    I have alway kept my shadows on, I found I could see shadows of guys on buildings and thus get a shot at them before they had any idea
  13. #13
    Bubbaspanky wrote:
    I have alway kept my shadows on, I found I could see shadows of guys on buildings and thus get a shot at them before they had any idea



    Same here. I have found several guys on buildings and coming up on me this way. Shadows are handy.