Using 16:10 in games that don't support it

[Sheza]

Hello,

I've long considered getting this Dell 24" IPS display that is 16:10 (1920x1200) however I play a lot of games where only 4:3 or 16:9 resolutions show up in the options menu. Are they just hidden, or am I screwed?

And furthermore, what happens? Does the screen get stretched, or are there black bars? I'd much rather there were black bars, though I doubt that would happen. Some of these games I cannot possibly play in windowed mode, either.

I love the idea of an IPS display but the lack of support for 16:10 resolutions puts me off a bit. Can anyone enlighten me?

Thanks.

 

[MadMarc]

I don't think that would be a problem, a friend of mine uses a HP ZR2440w for gaming and he's never had a problem with games not supporting 1920x1200

 

[addarioo]

I picked up a Dell 2420M a couple months back and I haven't really had any probs, ubisoft games seem to run at x1080 with small black bars even though x1200 is selected but this hasn't bothered me enough to try and fix it.

Most games only display resolutions your monitor supports so 16:10 will show when you have a 16:10 monitor. Might be better to check specific game forums to make sure they support 1920x1200 especially if they are older titles.

I'm glad I changed to a 16:10 display cause I dont think I could go back to 16:9 anymore lol. hope this helps

 

[Sheza]

I picked up a Dell 2420M a couple months back and I haven't really had any probs, ubisoft games seem to run at x1080 with small black bars even though x1200 is selected but this hasn't bothered me enough to try and fix it.

Most games only display resolutions your monitor supports so 16:10 will show when you have a 16:10 monitor. Might be better to check specific game forums to make sure they support 1920x1200 especially if they are older titles.

I'm glad I changed to a 16:10 display cause I dont think I could go back to 16:9 anymore lol. hope this helps

Would that be the Dell U2412M?

A few are older titles but for that exact reason, it doesn't really matter if it gets stretched a but I guess, they have ugly graphics anyway! The only thing it would affect is alt-tab time. I alt-tab out of games a lot of the time so getting it to change resolution from desktop to full-screen every time would be annoying.

Surprised nobody's asked why I don't want a 23" monitor (common 16:9 res)... I think it's very difficult to go any smaller once you've gone bigger! At first my jump from a 4:3 19" to a 24" 16:9 was HUGE. I don't want to go any smaller.

 

[addarioo]

Would that be the Dell U2412M?

Yea sorry, I meant the 2412 but my fingers are being retarded this morning ^_^

From what I've noticed any game that supports 16:9 will just play with small black bars, a 4:3 res I'm not sure about.

Took me a week or so to get used to this monitor and aspect ratio but I love it and the colours. I was worried about the "dirty" look when it comes to whites because of the anti glare coating but it hasn't bothered me in the slightest.

 

[Sheza]

Brilliant Sounds great then, I can get this monitor as soon as next week. Might wait until after I come back from Gamescom though.

One of the let-downs of my Iyama monitor was the colours to be honest. I tried so many adjustments but no matter what, I couldn't get a bright enough screen where the colours didn't wash out. I've grown used to it which is why getting an IPS should hopefully be another big and pleasant jump for me. But at first I found it rather annoying. Then there's always the viewing angles, if I'm playing a dark game I will literally have to sit up high to see something at the top of my screen, else it is invisible. Solid block colours in power point presentations look like gradients to me!

 

[yassarikhan786]

I also play at 1920 x 1200 and have had no problems. As mentioned above games that don't support 1920 x 1200 will appear with black bars

 

[Sheza]

That's great, that's what I was hoping for. My current screen does some truly awful stretching when games run in lower resolutions full-screen.

I guess the reason it has black bars must be because it's the same width

 

[yassarikhan786]

That's great, that's what I was hoping for. My current screen does some truly awful stretching when games run in lower resolutions full-screen.

I guess the reason it has black bars must be because it's the same width

Yeah you are right, the width is exactly the same.

 

[Sheza]

Well I got the Dell today!

First impressions:
- Glare coating causing issues? No sir, looks fine to me!
- Colours are so much more vibrant
- 1200p resolution is a huge bonus - especially on the "expand" YouTube view.
- Text sharper

Any recommendations for adjustments? I'm using it as default factory settings right now. I have noticed it's an eyeful when viewing Outlook / Windows Live Mail Desktop because of all that white everywhere!

However, admittedly, I do think I could have lived with my old monitor!

 

[addarioo]

Well I got the Dell today!

First impressions:
- Glare coating causing issues? No sir, looks fine to me!
- Colours are so much more vibrant
- 1200p resolution is a huge bonus - especially on the "expand" YouTube view.
- Text sharper

Any recommendations for adjustments? I'm using it as default factory settings right now. I have noticed it's an eyeful when viewing Outlook / Windows Live Mail Desktop because of all that white everywhere!

However, admittedly, I do think I could have lived with my old monitor!

Glad you like it ^_^, I use these settings posted by 10e on hardforum and I find them pretty good for general browsing through to gaming.

> Custom Color with Red>96, Green>93, and Blue>87 @ brightness of 45 and contrast of 75.

 

[Sheza]

Hmm, looks way too dark for me.

 

[addarioo]

It shouldn't be that dark cause the monitor is extremely bright as standard. Might just take you a little getting used to. It also depends on the environment you work in and how well lit it is.

 

[Sheza]

It's a grey day and my blinds are half open. I do notice what appears to be an actual illumination coming from the screen onto the back half of my desk xD

I just played a game (Very oddly this specific game's lobby is designed solely for 16:10 displays so it didn't looks squashed like it used to) and oh my word it is something else all together! Games look beautiful on this.

 

[yassarikhan786]

I would suggest turning the brightness way down. My monitor is way too bright at anything over 30%. I'm also using the Adobe RGB preset mode.

 

[Sheza]

I've changed the colours and set brightness to 60. As it gets darker in here I will probably go further down the brightness - I just need to get used to it gradually.

God, BF3 looks so vibrant! 59.95Hz refresh rate though, dunno what that's all about.

 

[yassarikhan786]

I think my displays brightness levels are higher as I can't bear 60 % brightness at all. My eyes will burn out of their sockets if I keep the brightness that high

 

[Sheza]

Weird I can survive with 75% on this monitor haha. On my Iiyama I remember having to turn it down, though the action of turning it down didn't help the washed out colours.

 

[yassarikhan786]

Maybe you're just used to it. But I've always turned down the brightness to below 50 on each and every monitor I've owned

 

[addarioo]

I cant really stand looking at the screen for longer than a few mins if I have it over 50% lol. I find 45% comfortable and all the colours look vibrant.