OK - this is for the hardware guru's

I currently run FS at 1600x1200x32 on a 19" CRT monitor. Love it! The prices on TFT's are coming down but I'm puzzled. Reading the ad's for example on a 19" TFT - they state that the native resolution is 1024x768.

Does this mean that it will not support higher resolutions or that it won't go lower to 800x600?

Doesn't make sense to buy a new monitor if I can't run it at the resolution that I would like.

Thanx -

Vic

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• RE: TFT Monitor question,Madape, 22:37z, 09-14-03
• RE: TFT Monitor question,Stephen, 03:07z, 09-15-03
  • RE: TFT Monitor question,vgbaron, 04:26z, 09-15-03
    • RE: TFT Monitor question,Madape, 09:56z, 09-15-03
      • RE: TFT Monitor question,andrewluck, 18:51z, 09-16-03
• RE: TFT Monitor question,Ben_Chiu, 05:55z, 09-15-03
  • RE: TFT Monitor question,vgbaron, 22:11z, 09-15-03

I have just bought a 17" AOC TFT monitor, its native operating (maximum aswell) resolution is 1280 x 1024, now my desktop is at this setting but the monitor can go lower than this but it will appear ever so slightly more blockier due to how TFTs resize their pixels. I have no problems running FS2004 in 1024x768.

So in answer to your question yes they can go lower than their native resolution

Sam Harvey
sam@crew.flightadventures.com

Vic,

The monitor is not capable of displaying anything above its native resolution, although, as Sam points out, you'll be able to use it at lower resolutions if you're prepared to put up with slight distortion of the image.

If you're looking for a 19" TFT monitor I imagine you'd be best searching for one with a native resolution of 1280x1024 rather than 1024x768 - this way your monitor is more 'future-proof' and you'll be able to enjoy high-res games, assuming you've the necessary hardware. Just as 640x480 and then 800x600 slowly died out the same thing may soon happen to 1024x768 as good quality and large monitors become cheaper and more readily available.

-Stephen.

Sam & Stephen -

Thanx for the info. I had guessed wrong but now I know what to look for.

Vic

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One other thing I forgot to mention Vic... Blown/Bright pixels. Due to the way TFTs are manufactored and that they contain hundreds of thousands of transistors some become blown or dead during manufactoring, this results in a pixel permantly producing one of the primary colours during operation, this CAN be highly annoying and I just had my TFT screen replaced because I had 3 of them, fortunatly the replacement doesnt have any.

The majority of TFT monitor manufactorers have a minimum dead/bright pixel limit before they will replace the screen for AOC I think its 5, I had to play real hard-ball with them to get my 3 blown pixel TFT replaced! Dead/Blown pixels dont usually occur during normal operation, but some brands such as Sony do have a zero blown/dead pixel policy... just something else to consider before forking out the moolah

Sam Harvey
sam@crew.flightadventures.com

While we're on the subject of TFT faults I've recently had a bad experience with Acer. On two of the monitors we brought insects managed to get between the LCD and the white reflective backing. Each one is about 3 pixels big. Despite these screens only being 6 months old we can't get them replaced under warranty.

One more thing to ask before you buy.

Andrew Luck
18 SW EGSH

Hi Vic:

As Sam stated, resolutions below the native resolution will be scaled to fit causing blocking. What I've seen happen in when you try to run higher resolutions than the native resolution is it won't work (my guess is it's graphics card dependent) or it'll cause the desktop to scroll--neither of which would be acceptable for FS.

Just as with most things, the things that drop in price first are the ones that folks don't want or older technology.

Ben

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Hi Ben -

>
> Just as with most things, the things that drop in price first are the
> ones that folks don't want or older technology.

Ain't it the truth?????

Vic

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