16:9 is widescreen.. 4:3 is like you see on your CRT. Widescreen (16:9) will distort 2D panels but will have NO effect on VC's.. the VC is a model in effect so you'll either see more of it or the same but not distorted. 2D is a bmp made to 4:3 ratio (by and large) so will be stretched to fit and thus distorted.
Aha, I see my profound knowledge of things televisual is showing. (Read: Thanks for simplifying something that's previously confused me!)
...Widescreen (16:9) will distort 2D panels but will have NO effect on VC's
So for someone who prefers VCs (like me), widescreen sounds good -- but will less interesting programs such as Word appear distorted? (I'm guessing not, or there are straightforward ways to prevent it...)
No.. not unless your card won't support the native res of the new monitor. Though Windows is intrinsically 2D, it is not a 2D picture to be stretched if you see what I mean. With the correct res set in your graphics driver.. all will be well.. except 2D panels To be sure.. just check your available settings on your current card and see if one that matches the new monitor is available. If so, you're good to go
I bought a replacement monitor for SWMBO last year.. maybe the year before and I'd not considered the 'driver/res' issue. As a consequence, her screen distorts a little (stretches L/R) but as her eyesight isn't good.. it probably looks fine for her Looks like a bag of do-do to me but there's little I can do. The graphics chip is onboard and it doesn't support widescreen/16:9. I won't make the same mistake again
DaveB wrote:No.. not unless your card won't support the native res of the new monitor ......
Although it's now an old graphics card, it wasn't bad in its day, so I think it can handle what's required. I'll find some documentation to check.
David
PS: "SWMBO"... I had to look that up. So far, unfortunately, I've yet to find that dominant yet loving woman who'll keep me on the straight and narrow...
Check what the res of your new monitor is then go to your desktop, right click and select properties then settings/Advanced/Adapter and finally.. list all modes. You will see what modes your card is capable of and fingures crossed.. one will match the res/freq of your new monitor
Right, got the list of modes -- given all the permutations, it looks like there's over 200 (!) of them -- so I'm now watching eBay, etc. Review-wise, Samsung and LG models seem to've had good press.
Looks like a bag of do-do to me but there's little I can do. The graphics chip is onboard and it doesn't support widescreen/16:9. I won't make the same mistake again 