Widescreen TFT with old graphics card

[stevie_b]

I'm shopping around for a TFT to use with my elderly but still-fit-for-purpose PC. If I buy a widescreen TFT, how is my old graphics card likely to handle it?

 

The card is a Leadtek Winfast GeForce2 MX with 32MB of RAM, circa 2001. I've checked that the card doesn't support widescreen resolutions like 1440x900: not a hope!

 

I guess that either the screen will apply a horizontal stretch to the picture (which will look pretty horrible), or the picture will simply not use the left and right margins of the screen area (pointless buying a widescreen, then).

 

Also, I've heard that some games are not playable in widescreen format. Supposing I got a widescreen TFT and graphics card to go with it, is there any way I would still be able to use those games (e.g. is there usually an option to switch to non-widescreen ratio?)

[DamanC]

GeForce2 MX - not seen one of them for a while. Tell me, is your PC as old as the graphics card?

[ivan]

I use a non widescreen compatible gfx card with my plasma TV.

It leaves wide borders left and right at the default setting. Anything other TV setting chops top'n'bottom or stretches things left-right.

 

You should be able to find a newer AGP card that supports widescreen though.

[Sheefa]

I take it you don't have PCI-E !! Otherwise I would of been more than happy to give away my old and now redundant silently cooled Gigabyte X800 XL 256 PCI-E card for a beer.

 

Think your screen will have some issues without a doubt mate. Can't you afford a small upgrade even if it's only £100, that'll get you a more recent Mobo, CPU and Graphics bundle of Fleabay or something no doubt.

[stevie_b]

GeForce2 MX - not seen one of them for a while. Tell me, is your PC as old as the graphics card?

 

Yes it is! Although I've upgraded one or two things, it's still got the original motherboard and hard disk. I've upgraded the CPU from 800MHz to 1.3GHz, and RAM from 128mb to 512mb.

[stevie_b]

I take it you don't have PCI-E !! Otherwise I would of been more than happy to give away my old and now redundant silently cooled Gigabyte X800 XL 256 PCI-E card for a beer.

 

Think your screen will have some issues without a doubt mate. Can't you afford a small upgrade even if it's only £100, that'll get you a more recent Mobo, CPU and Graphics bundle of Fleabay or something no doubt.

 

Thanks for the offer Sheefa, but my motherboard only has an AGP Pro slot.

 

I could upgrade the PC, but there's more pressing needs for the cash at the moment.

 

I might just buy a non-widescreen TFT. That should work shouldn't it, as long as it takes a DSub input signal?

[stevie_b]

I use a non widescreen compatible gfx card with my plasma TV.

It leaves wide borders left and right at the default setting. Anything other TV setting chops top'n'bottom or stretches things left-right.

 

You should be able to find a newer AGP card that supports widescreen though.

 

That's the other alternative: upgrade the graphics card. But because of the old games issue and because I never intend to watch TV/films on the PC, I'm kind of going off the idea of getting a widescreen at all. My budget will only run to a 19" TFT so I won't have that much space to put documents side-by-side.

[ivan]

I might just buy a non-widescreen TFT. That should work shouldn't it, as long as it takes a DSub input signal?

That'll do just fine.

And even if it hasn't got D-sub it'll come with an adapter.

[JustGav]

That's the other alternative: upgrade the graphics card. But because of the old games issue and because I never intend to watch TV/films on the PC, I'm kind of going off the idea of getting a widescreen at all. My budget will only run to a 19" TFT so I won't have that much space to put documents side-by-side.

 

Why not look at a two screen option then? Gives you the best of both worlds without having to resort to odd resolutions.

[carl0s]

Your widescreen monitor should be able to stretch a non-widescreen resolution.

For example, my card doesn't do D3D at 1680x1050, so I drop to 1024x768 for the heli simulator. Initially this leaves black borders either side of the image, but this Dell Ultrasharp allows me to set the aspect/stretch/zoom, so it stretches it to fill the screen.

[stevie_b]

Why not look at a two screen option then? Gives you the best of both worlds without having to resort to odd resolutions.

 

 

Could do Gav, but the main reason for changing the monitor (I've currently got a 17" CRT that came with the PC) is to free up some desk space to make it more comfortable for Em to use the desk for her studying.

[stevie_b]

Your widescreen monitor should be able to stretch a non-widescreen resolution.

For example, my card doesn't do D3D at 1680x1050, so I drop to 1024x768 for the heli simulator. Initially this leaves black borders either side of the image, but this Dell Ultrasharp allows me to set the aspect/stretch/zoom, so it stretches it to fill the screen.

 

I'd be happy to accept unused screen margins for games (which I only play VERY occasionally) but I'm not sure about stretching the picture: does the stretched picture still look good/sensible?

[carl0s]

I'd be happy to accept unused screen margins for games (which I only play VERY occasionally) but I'm not sure about stretching the picture: does the stretched picture still look good/sensible?

 

Mine looks fine (just like watching a 4:3 tv show on a widescreen TV I guess), but you should have some choice as to whether it's stretched or not. Hmmm. I think with analog D-SUB mine stretches by default, but with DVI it doesn't, and I had to enable it... I think.

 

I really think it'll be a non-issue and you should just go for the nice monitor. If you end up having to do so, a card to replace your GeForce 2MX and give you better performance won't cost more than thirty quid I shouldn't think.