Wide Screen Monitors

[101RRS]

I just bought a 22" widescreen LCD monitor for my desktop - it runs XP professional.

Screen is OK but everything (images/text etc) is stretched across the screen distorting words and immages - desktop looks life I have sat on it and squashed it.

There is nothing in the screen intructions that helps and I cannot find anything in XP.

Any ideas?

Thanks

[Captain_Rightfoot]

Have you changed resolution? Right click on the desktops and properties.

You should find what the default resolution for the monitor is. You'll have to select that or it's going to look average.

[LavisLane]

try clicking on the start button in the bottom left of the screen then go to "control panel" (make sure this is on lassic view) then select "display" and adjust the screen dimension there, should be to 16:9 or 16:10.

I'm not an expert but sounds like you've got it on standard setting and that size is getting stretched on your widescreen

Good luck!

[jik22]

You need to use a wide angle screen resolution in your graphics card properties. Ideally, the native resolution of the screen.

[DiscoCam]

Right Click your Desktop/Properties/Settings & slide the screen resolution to 1680 x 1050. Will now only look funny if you have ever played with default sizes/spacing for icons etc.

[HangOver]

I see this on a weekly basis:

1. First off install the driver for the monitor it will be on the disk that came with the monitor.

2. As has been mentioned previously change your resolution to match the monitor. 1680 x 1050 for example.
**to change resolution right click on your desktop >properties > settings, then slide the screen resolution bar to match the monitor resolution.

3. Ensure your monitor refresh rate is set to 60Hz
Or whatever refresh rate your monitor can handle, usually 60Hz though.**to change the refresh rate right click on your desktop >properties > settings > advanced > monitor, then change the screen refresh rate.

It should look OK now.
If not update the driver for your video card if your computer is older than say 6 months.
If it still does not work let us know.

[101RRS]

I see this on a weekly basis:

1. First off install the driver for the monitor it will be on the disk that came with the monitor.



The provided driver is for Vista only - no other drivers provided.

I will try the rest though - thanks

Garry

[HangOver]

The provided driver is for Vista only - no other drivers provided.

I will try the rest though - thanks

Garry

What make & model is the monitor?

[Zakros]

Don't forget to change the font type to clear text. You should always use clear type fonts on LCD monitors, Windows XP defaults to standard fonts used for CRT screens, Windows Vista I think auto selects based on the connect screen

Go to control panel\Display Properties\(TAB ) Appearance\(BUTTON) Effects...
Second combo box down select "Clear Type" and press OK

As for screen size all 22" LCDs that I know of are 1680 x 1050 screen resolution

Zakros

[101RRS]

What make & model is the monitor?

It is a 22" widescreen Hanns.g monitor - a cheapie but all I need.

Garry

[HangOver]

Hi

I'm sad I know, I googled your monitor and it seems that it is Vista certified but does not come with XP drivers nor, is seems are any available.
It also seems there are many people a bit upset about this and having simmilar problems as you.

Some have said that setting the resolution to 1680 x 1050 and installing new video drivers cured it but most didn't.
The concensus seemed to return it and get a 19" hanns-g which have XP drivers.

I can't really argue with the logic.

Oh one thing you might try use a straight VGA cable, (d-sub) not one of those DVI-I jobbies. It might help as analoge only?

[HangOver]

about the VGA cable it seems that this monitor only accepts 1680 x 1050 @ 60Hz, (refresh rate) using a standard VGA cable, (15 pins and D shaped).

It will not work at that resolution/refresh rate using the supplied DVI cable but it should also have a VGA cable too.

[ladas]

Gary

I recently bought a 'el cheapo' 22" - I didn't even get Vista drivers - plugged it in using the 'normal' vga cable - and at first it was half off the screen -

Took a few attempts - but just by just trying different resolutions/configurations - got there in the end.

Mine ended up at 1600 x 900 - Generic PnP Monitor - figure that

[shorty943]

I'm using a Wintal 26 inch widescreen LCD TV from Dick Smith\Tandy.
Cost about $1600 dollars about 2 years ago. But, I got the big one.

It takes ordinary VGA or DVI as well as AVI and some other stuff I don't recognise. Has a built in DVD player on the side.
It "just worked" right out of the box on XP Pro.
No special config, it runs at 60 Hz and 1024 by 764, all texts are fine at Windows standard, I didn't even have to set to clear type fonts.
It runs off my FX7600GT like it was made for it. On either DVI or VGA, mainly VGA, because of my KVM switch.
Digital TV set top box and PS2 plugged into it as well, just press a button on the remote control.

Then turn off the A\C and the microwave, because they share some common commands evidently.:(:angel:

[101RRS]

Thanks to everyone for your input and help - seems the computer and video card will not support the monitor so it is going back.

Garry

[Pedro_The_Swift]

whats the go with LCD screens?
60hz is terrible on crts but OK on LCD screens??

[shorty943]

whats the go with LCD screens?
60hz is terrible on crts but OK on LCD screens??

I think, it is something to do with the "refresh rate" of the LCD screen itself.

The millisecond pixel refresh rate. The smaller the number the faster it works.

12 ms is just about too slow for 3D graphics, 8 ms is better.
The new 4 ms LCD's are brilliant.

Me? I'm waiting for the Germans to get this OLED system into full swing.

Organic Light Emitting Diodes. Opaque screens, the thickness of a plastic table mat. See through screens that can be stuck to a window, so the rest of the world can see what you see. Just back to front.

OLED.

[101RRS]

Monitor is gone - cash refund - JB Hi Fi didn't like it but coughed up.

Some tweeks to the computer like a better video card and I will give it another go.

Garry

[Pedro_The_Swift]

Some tweeks to the computer like a better video card and I will give it another go.

Garry

look here---
VGA Charts 2007 | Tom's Hardware (http://www23.tomshardware.com/graphics_2007.html)

its nice to be near the top,,
if only for a month or two:angel:

[HangOver]

whats the go with LCD screens?
60hz is terrible on crts but OK on LCD screens??
Exactly right.
The refresh rate is the speed at which the whole screen can be renewed, (refreshed) on a CRT 72hz should be a minimum or expect picture flicker and a bit of eye strain. I can not work on a computer @ 60hz for very long.

As I understand it, and I'm not an electronics person so I am open to correction....... The refresh rate on an LCD doesn't as such exist.

An lcd screen, (or rather the pixels, (lcd thingys)) operates in an on or off mode and stays that way until it's told otherwise although in on mode it can have different strengths of brightnes and colour.The whole screen is lit by a backlight which may technically have a refresh, (flicker) rate but its way too fast to see or notice.
Anyhow as I was saying yes 60hz is the go:D
*for the electronics people please excuse the non-technical descriptions, it's the best I can do.;)



Monitor is gone - cash refund - JB Hi Fi didn't like it but coughed up.

Some tweeks to the computer like a better video card and I will give it another go.
Might I suggest keeping your computer / video card they way it is and buy an LG LCD, the are cheap, reliable have quite a reasonable picture quality.
Garry

[shorty943]

Exactly right.
The refresh rate is the speed at which the whole screen can be renewed, (refreshed) on a CRT 72hz should be a minimum or expect picture flicker and a bit of eye strain. I can not work on a computer @ 60hz for very long.

As I understand it, and I'm not an electronics person so I am open to correction....... The refresh rate on an LCD doesn't as such exist.

An lcd screen, (or rather the pixels, (lcd thingys)) operates in an on or off mode and stays that way until it's told otherwise although in on mode it can have different strengths of brightnes and colour.The whole screen is lit by a backlight which may technically have a refresh, (flicker) rate but its way too fast to see or notice.
Anyhow as I was saying yes 60hz is the go:D
*for the electronics people please excuse the non-technical descriptions, it's the best I can do.;)



Might I suggest keeping your computer / video card they way it is and buy an LG LCD, the are cheap, reliable have quite a reasonable picture quality.
Garry



I'd concur there. Check your local crime, I mean Cash Converters.
I noticed my local the other week had a bunch of refurbished 19" Viewsonic LCD's going for about $150.

Mostly you will find the new LCD's to be very good.
They all use 1 of 2 screens.
There are only 2 factories in the world that make the damned things anyway.

At least that was the case a couple of years ago.

So the only real difference is in most peoples mind.
The advertisers convince them, theirs are the best ones.

There is some thing about the "greyscale" refresh of LCD's that can let them down. And in the early cheaper models "true black" was a complete furphy.
But, that is pretty much over now as well.


Sorry, Garry. But, I reckon your major problem is Vista.:(

[HangOver]

There is some thing about the "greyscale" refresh of LCD's that can let them down.

Maybe you mean the contrast ratio?

In general 500-600:1 contrast ratio in normal room lighting condition is considered adequate, (by me it is).

Saying that I believe the newer LCD's have ratios up to 1000-2000:1

[shorty943]

Maybe you mean the contrast ratio?

In general 500-600:1 contrast ratio in normal room lighting condition is considered adequate, (by me it is).

Saying that I believe the newer LCD's have ratios up to 1000-2000:1




I don't quite understand it myself.

It seems to be similar to the colour refresh rate of the pixels on screen, but, it's something to do with the transition of greys on the screen.

(I'm a steamship engineer, spooky white mans magic inside electrickery things.)

Having said that, the newer LCD's are leaps and bounds ahead of any CRT, or Plasma. The speed they operate at, and the contrast ratios, (and there is another thing about the actual overall brightness of the screen as well) all combine to make a damned good unit now.
I'd never use anything but LCD now.

Oh, and the "viewing angle" is very important.

Remember the early LCD laptops? EEEooowwwy.:D:D

[Pedro_The_Swift]

now theres an interesting observation,,,

I am quite happy with my 21" Hitachi CRT,,
I can run it at 1600X1200 at 100hz,,

It would be interesting to have an LCD side by side to compare,,,

The 21" sony's were(still are??) the benchmark against which all screens should be compared.

[Sandtoyz]

Atomic magazine Issue 85 (Feb 2008) - The truth about frames,
is an article about frame rates.
Explains a fair bit about CRT / LCD / FPS etc.

[shorty943]

Atomic magazine Issue 85 (Feb 2008) - The truth about frames,
is an article about frame rates.
Explains a fair bit about CRT / LCD / FPS etc.



Is Atomic still up and running? Wow.
I'd better go down the newsagent's one of these days.:(

[Pedro_The_Swift]

wouldnt bother shorty,, it'll be online somewhere---

its not a bad tech forum,, if you can deal with 14 year olds,,,,

[rick130]

now theres an interesting observation,,,

I am quite happy with my 21" Hitachi CRT,,
I can run it at 1600X1200 at 100hz,,

It would be interesting to have an LCD side by side to compare,,,

The 21" sony's were(still are??) the benchmark against which all screens should be compared.

any comments re above ? as I was about to post a new thread before I read this one.

I was seriously thinking of obtaining a 2nd hand Sony (Dell, et al) 21" CRT screen instead of a new LCD screen.