Possible to display a standard (4:3) resolution on a widescreen monitor?

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Level 1

5 points

Possible to display a standard (4:3) resolution on a widescreen monitor?

So I just got myself a mac pro and a non-apple 20" widescreen LCD. I'm very satisfied with both, and 99% of my software is ideally suited to the widescreen setup. However... I have some really old software (a couple games to be specific) that pre-date widescreen formats, and have no option to be run in a window either. They insist on running full screen at some ridiculously tiny resolution (640x480 I assume) which naturally causes the image to be stretched horizontally.

So my question: is there a way to force my mac to display in a standard aspect ratio, with black bars on the sides? If it's relevent, I have the radeon x1900 xt card.

Mac OS X (10.4.8)

Posted on Feb 22, 2007 11:52 AM

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Answer 1

Baryo

Level 1

55 points

Feb 22, 2007 12:55 PM in response to Noah Bordner

Sure, you just need to go to the "Displays" pane in the "System Preferences" choose a ridicules resolution (640X480, 800X600 or whatever) stretched or not (not for the black bars), and then launch your game.

If its cool, you can easily use the Automator application (under applications and very intuitive) to make a script that will change the resolution and then automatically run the game so you won't have to do it yourself every time.

If you need any help with Automator or can't see the low resolutions in Displays for some reason just write.

Have Fun, Baryo.

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Answer 2

Noah Bordner Author

Level 1

5 points

Feb 22, 2007 1:27 PM in response to Baryo

Hmm, well, when I go to displays, I can set it to 640x480, but I don't recall seeing an option for stretched or not. At any res, it just automatically stretches to fit the 16:9 ratio. I'm not at home to test it out right now, but is there something I would have to do in order to make an unstretched 640x480 an option?

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Answer 3

Feb 22, 2007 1:43 PM in response to Noah Bordner

Like Baryo said, my menu lists both normal and stretched for 640x480 etc.

Michael

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Answer 4

Noah Bordner Author

Level 1

5 points

Feb 22, 2007 2:13 PM in response to Michaelworks

Well, I just checked and I'm not being given an option between stretched or not. I see 640x480, 800x500, 800x600, 832x624, etc.... I normally run it at 1680x1050, the monitor's native res. I know on my PC there's an option for displaying ALL resolutions, not just recommended ones. Are some of my options being hidden for some reason?

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Answer 5

Noah Bordner Author

Level 1

5 points

Feb 22, 2007 2:39 PM in response to Michaelworks

Something occurred to me... would it matter that I'm connecting my monitor via an analog cable? Perhaps its totally unrelated.

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Answer 6

Feb 22, 2007 4:40 PM in response to Noah Bordner

I think it is because it is a non-Apple display. Mine is a ACD 23" and it has those settings with an ATI 1900.

Michael

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