Widescreen TV with non-widescreen resolution

[Mendingo]

I have a problem which I don't think has been addressed here. I have a computer linked up to a widescreen TV. Unfortunately, my GFX card (a geforcre 5200) does not appear to support widescreen resolutions (I've tried various methods to make it, but no luck), so I have the default resolution of 800x600

Now this is causing problems when I view 2.35:1 movies, as they are streached out way too much, as mediaportal thinks it is displaying on a 4:3 display, not a 16:9.

Does anyone know a way round this? would installing a widescreen skin fix this problem? Is it possible to tell mediaportal to scale for a 16:9 display?

Any help would be appreciated.

[Callifo]

There is the ratio key (s or x) to fix that problem but if you still want to change it, you can add a custom resolution in the Nvidia properties page.

[Mendingo]

Changing the zoom in Mediaportal with the ratio key doesn't work for 1:2.35 (cinemascope) movies. My only options are to fill the screen (so the picture is too narrow) or to view it as normal (which, because MP thinks it's a 4:3 display, is too wide a picture). None of the settings cause the video to display at the correct dimensions.

I can't get custom resolutions to work properly. I tried to create a resolution of 1024x576, but it displayed as 768x576, with only a portion of the desktop visible, with the visible window moving as the mouse reached the edge of the screen.

Edit: Fixed it. I managed to get a custom resolution to work. Needed to make some changes in the Advanced Timings.

[Callifo]

Probably wont work but have you set the page borders correctly in the Settings inside MP (that includes both screen edges and a ratio correction)?

[Mendingo]

Through a bit more fiddling around, I've finally managed to get my desktop to display on a 1024x576 resolution, and that's fixed everything else.

Thanks for the help!

[pigboy307]

Originally Posted by Callifo

Probably wont work but have you set the page borders correctly in the Settings inside MP (that includes both screen edges and a ratio correction)?

The settings??? I went in to config screen and just got stuck had to escape out...

[pam123]

Mendingo, I've got exactly the same problem with a Nvidia 6200 - I've tried in vain to set a resolution of 1024 x 576, but although I can set the resolution, I get a 'scrolling screen' effect - ie if I move my mouse to the edge of the screen it scrolls!

Can you tell me the advanced timing settings you used etc.

Thanks.

[Mendingo]

To force a widescreen resolution on an Nvidia board:

First of all, I AM NO EXPERT. IF YOU DAMAGE YOUR EQUIPMENT, IT IS NOT MY FAULT!

1. Right click on the desktop->properties
2. Click Settings Tab
3. If you're using dual monitors, select the monitor you're using
4. Click advanced
5. Click "Geforce xxxxxx" tab (where xxxxx is the name of your card)
6. Clcik "Screen Resolutions and Refresh rates" in the menu down the left
7. Click "Add" button near the bottom
8. For a standard CRT tv, set a width of 1024, and a height of 576, color quality of 32bit and refresh rate of 60 Hz.
9. Click Add, OK to the confirmation box, then OK again.
10. Using the slider select the new resolution and click "apply" agree to the message and you'll have the scrolly screen thing.
11. Click on "Advanced Timing" - In there, make sure the "Front end active" field in the horizonal pixels catagory matches your width (1024) and the Front-end Active in the Virtical lines catagory matches your height (576)
12. Click OK, and you should have your nice, shiny 16:9 resolution!

[pam123]

Thanks for that Mendingo, I'll give it a go (and hopefully my TV won't explode!). :shock:

Cheers.

PAM.

[pigboy307]

I have nice shiny widescreen Acer 26" TV I tried this and it only allows me to select 1280x768.