PC advice

[LeeEAS]

My internet is with Virgin, both my router and dongle are Netgear. On my XP computer the dongle tended to disconnect 3 times every month or so. Touch wood, I have not had any problems on Windows 7 and so far have not had any connection problems at all.

As for MSTS the only way to get around the resolution, and prevent MSTS from being 'stretched' to fit the screen it to run it in widowed mode. I have downloaded OpenRails but so far not been successful in getting it to load anything, but it does support 1920x1080 according to the list of resolution settings.

[kieranhardy]

As for MSTS the only way to get around the resolution, and prevent MSTS from being 'stretched' to fit the screen it to run it in widowed mode. I have downloaded OpenRails but so far not been successful in getting it to load anything, but it does support 1920x1080 according to the list of resolution settings.

Will this stretched issue be apparent with any sized wide screen monitor or will it just be the 22" at 1920x1080 causing it? I could not bother with the monitor in that package and buy one elsewhere but as the majority of monitors are widescreen i don't know how msts will look. The monitor i am using is non widescreen 17", would a 19" widescreen monitor be fine for msts?

[LeeEAS]

I suppose it would depend on how your monitor deals with the old 4:3 ratio, my new widescreen is a 23" monitor, my 4:3 monitor is 17". The widescreen one switches from 1920x1080 to 800x600 automatically when I load MSTS, causing it to be stretched across to fill the screen. Unfortunately the highest resolution MSTS deals with is 1600x1200, which means part of the program disappears off the button of the screen. Running it in Windowed mode also causes Windows 7 to change to the 'Windows Basic' setting due to 'compatibly issues'. I can get the game to run fine, it just gives me 9-10fps rather than the 12-15fps I had on my XP computer (Using MT Irish Enterprise).

[dkightley]

Both NVidia and ATI control panels have an option to "Force native resolution" ...or some similar phrase that automatically changes the display to a 4:3 format for legacy software such as MSTS.....leaving a black strip down each side of the screen. Search the forum for details of each of them.

The monitor i am using is non widescreen 17", would a 19" widescreen monitor be fine for msts?

Note that a 19" widescreen monitor might be actually smaller vertically than a 17" 4:3 ratio monitor! So MSTS framed as described above will actually appear smaller!

The screen dimension is the diagonal dimension of the viewing area...and different screen pixel ratios result in wide differences in vertical and horizontal dimensions.

[LeeEAS]

Force native resolution

Thanks Doug, something I didn't know!

[gswindale]

The other thing to note is that whilst the control panels for both ATI & Nvidia have these options you must be connecting by a DVI or HDMI cable for them to be enabled. The traditional analogue connection will not work and the only option is to run MSTS in a window.

[andyw823]

Both NVidia and ATI control panels have an option to "Force native resolution" ...or some similar phrase that automatically changes the display to a 4:3 format for legacy software such as MSTS.....leaving a black strip down each side of the screen. Search the forum for details of each of them.

The monitor i am using is non widescreen 17", would a 19" widescreen monitor be fine for msts?

Note that a 19" widescreen monitor might be actually smaller vertically than a 17" 4:3 ratio monitor! So MSTS framed as described above will actually appear smaller!

The screen dimension is the diagonal dimension of the viewing area...and different screen pixel ratios result in wide differences in vertical and horizontal dimensions.

I have an ATI HD5750 and i can`t find the option "Force native resolution" in CCC, any ideas where it might be?

[LeeEAS]

I don't have it on my Nvidia graphics card, but thanks to Doug suggestion I've discovered my monitor has a 4:3 mode.

[ianmacmillan]

My LG monitor has a 4:3in - Wide button on the front.
Thats why I chose it. (it was also cheapest )

I serched several computer shops for a 4:3 monitor and finally gave up and got the LG.
When I went to the paydesk, guess what size the till monitor was.

When I started my new HP laptop for the first time I clicked on the desktop and found that it offered a resolotion of 1024 x 768.
This produced a 4:3 display with black bars at the side.

MSTS runs without problems.
Suppose I'm just lucky in my choices.

[kieranhardy]

Ian,

Out of curiosity is it this monitor?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/LG-Flatron-W1952S ... 500wt_1156

Cheers,

[ianmacmillan]

My monitor is a Flatron W2242S

If you google Flatron W1952S you will find a video in Spanish which shows it displaying in 4:3.
But I don't understand a word of it.
My Spanish is limited to "Una creveza por favor"

[Tonysmedley]

http://www.lg.com/uk/support/product/su ... ct-profile#


This long link will let you download the users manual for Ian's monitor; you will see how you select the 4/3 ratio

Tony

[MoonKid47]

Just a side note on the monitors and resolutions:

I'm using an Acer X223W (22") which runs at 1680x1050 IIRC, and when I run MSTS I use it in 1600x1200 and the resolution auto-correct and doesnt look stretched.

As for the new PC, always depends on your budget. I'd highly recommend replaceing a modem with a full Wireless router, they are smashing little things. Best I can recommend here is the TP-Link TD-W8901G. Its a bog-standard WIreless G ADSL Router and works a charm, setup is easy and they run for ages, ive set loads up for both home and business customers in the past on all sorts of ISPs and they run fine.

For monitors, I know that AOC have their 21.5" wide models flying around cheap at the moment as they are looking for market share, BenQ and LG too. Heres some links:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showprodu ... 49&subcat=
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showprodu ... 49&subcat=

Overclockers are an ace website for prices, and great with customer service too, i use them alot for all my gaming kit...

[kieranhardy]

Cheers for the advice,

I have chosen the monitor i want at Currys, it's a rather smart LG 18.5" with the option to change from wide to standard for £89.99

I went in today and saw the ticket said £94.99 (the price it was till last week). I queried it with the chap and he said it was that price. Now i worked for Currys rivals Comet a couple of years back so i know the tickets will have dates on so i said 'that ticket is dated the 5th of this month, the price changed last week'. So he checks and yes, it is now £89.99.

I asked if he had it in stock and i knew before he even told me that he was going to say they had 3.

Why?

Because they had 3 of them on display and no boxed ones.

What a waste of stock when they have 3 of the same item out, we were never allowed to do that at Comet. He said if i came back and they still had none i could have one off display slightly cheaper. Trouble is i wont know they have any in stock unless i go in as their website says they do have it in stock when (thanks to some simple individuals) they no longer do!

[andyw823]

I don't have it on my Nvidia graphics card, but thanks to Doug suggestion I've discovered my monitor has a 4:3 mode.

Well i`ve routed deep in my ATI card settings and have finaly come accross a setting to allow non stretched "basic screen mode" i run 1400x1050 and this performs better than running in window`d mode. So all i have todo is sellect the screen resolution then run train store