Curse

moriz · Feb 05, 2008, 04:39 PM // 16:39

i have a 19" monitor with a native resolution of 1280x1024. unfortunately, guild wars runs like crap at that resolution due to a weak video card, so i currently run it in window mode at 1024x768.

i want to run it full screen. however, it looks distorted (1024x768 is 4:3, 1280x1024 is 5:4). i want to eliminate the distortion by forcing either my monitor or my video card to maintain aspect ratio, however, i can't seem to find the option for it.

here are the relevant specs:
geforce FX5500 256mb PCI
19" LCD monitor, with VGA input
driver version 169.21

i've checked my monitor settings and nvidia control panel. i can't find "maintain aspect ratio" anywhere. i wonder if there's a 3rd party program that i can run to force it.

thanks in advance.

FXCW · Feb 05, 2008, 04:46 PM // 16:46

I just checked my Nvidia control panel and under the display section you can find "change flat panel scaling" then you can set it so that it maintains the aspect ratio.

moriz · Feb 05, 2008, 05:10 PM // 17:10

mine doesn't have a "change flat panel scaling" option :S

Zodiak · Feb 05, 2008, 05:24 PM // 17:24

If your monitor's naitive resolution aspect is that of 5:4 no matter what you do, trying to play something fullscreen that isnt 5:4 will not look right

Since 1280x1084 is the lowest available 5:4 aspect resolution, your options are either

1. Go into your video card settings under custom resolution and try to enter a custom resolution lower then 1280x1024 that retains the 5:4 aspect ratio. May not be great for your monitor or video card but I cant be sure.

2. Play in Windowed mode with the width of the guildwars screen to fit your monitor and height adjusted not to make things look too squished.

moriz · Feb 05, 2008, 05:43 PM // 17:43

on my laptop, it does allow for "maintain aspect ration". if i run anything that's not at native resolution, the ratios will be correct, but the two sides are filled by black bars.

i'm trying to achieve the same thing on my desktop. instead of black bars on the sides, it should have bars on top and bottom.

it's kinda strange. my laptop's nvidia control panel DOES have a "change flat panel scaling" option, but there isn't one on my desktop. i thought nvidia use the same driver software for everything :S

lordpwn · Feb 05, 2008, 07:42 PM // 19:42

They may use the same driver code, but the feature may depend somehow on the hardware as I don't think it was in the driver control panel a few years back when the GeForce FX 5 series was new. Maybe they added it in the GeForce 6 series?

At least with Nvidia the control panel usually only shows stuff the hardware supports; I once spent hours figuring out how to get ATI's equivalent feature to work on a friend's computer. I don't think ATI ever fixed it on that particular card.

Chthon · Feb 05, 2008, 08:44 PM // 20:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by moriz

mine doesn't have a "change flat panel scaling" option :S

I looked this one up. I'm going to guess that you're not using DVI output, are you?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Some Person @ forums.guru3d.com

Using the PC input (which is a standard VGA connection) on your TV means that you are going through an analogue connection not a digital one. i.e. you are converting from digital to analogue on your graphics card then going back from analogue to digital in your TV. As well as loosing signal quality this stops the graphics card from recognising the TV as a flat panel, and as you've discovered, stops the driver scaling from working.

You might try looking
here
and
here
to see if you can find anything that will help.

moriz · Feb 05, 2008, 10:35 PM // 22:35

yes, i'm using a VGA output.

i wonder if there's a way to force the driver to use "maintain aspect ratio"...

Chthon · Feb 06, 2008, 01:40 AM // 01:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by moriz

yes, i'm using a VGA output.

i wonder if there's a way to force the driver to use "maintain aspect ratio"...

I'm sure that there must be a registry tweak to do it, but I don't know what it is.