[Dean Martin]

I just picked up this Samsung LT-P227W LCD TV with the idea of being able to run my pc and other gaming device to it.

Now here's the deal, the max resolution it has is 1280 x 720. Everything looks really great on it but my issue is that 720 isn't really the most common PC resolution. In fact, the only choices I get for resolution are 1280 x 720 or 800 x 600 in my menu, unlike a monitor which allows for more points in between. So my problem is for some games, they don't really have options for 720 but it seems the most common option is 768 for the screen height.

Now theoretically I guess I could use power strip and/or tweak the resolution game by game but I'm thinking I should have just gotten a monitor with 768 for a resolution to begin with.

Since I'm new to using a display of this type I'm hoping for some clarity here and wondering if I should return this display.

 

[martyj19]

Only you can decide if you can live with the resolution.


Typically displays designed as TV sets do not have as much support for PC connectivity as displays designed as PC monitors. It can be all the way to nonexistent. The Samsung you have is one of the better ones in that regard. If that is going to be important to you, research before you buy.

 

[Dean Martin]

Well I already bought. I guess it technically is a TV display but I thought if there was a display that had a resolution that was more common I would be better off.

 

[TauRus]

Dean, it is also an issue with your video card drivers. I used to have an LCD TV with 1280x768 resolution and it was perfectly supported by my Radeon 9700Pro card. Some people with Nvidia cards needed certain tweaks to perform to be able to support such a resolution.

In the worst case there is PowerStrip software that allows you to tweak the output resolution as well.

 

[Dean Martin]

I currently have an Ati radeon 9800xt I am able to get the resolution for the monitor and with a DVI cable the picturer looks beautiful. Unfortunately as i am finding out, not all of the games will support that particular resolution so either you have to play them at 800x600 or find out how to alter them manually.

My desktop res looks grea. I also have Far Cry and Unreal 2004, both of which support my resoution and both games are absolutely stunning.

XBOX and PS2 games look awesome too. i think I have finally found a good all around/monitor gaming screen but my resolution choices are just a tad limited.

 

[Ann]

Dean,

I am running a HP Media PC with a Radeon X300SE (new PCI Express slot card) on the ByDsign 2232 LCD (Costco). The monitor supports 5 different res's from 640x480 up to 1280x1024 (VGA&DVI). The video card is capable of a few more settings....but for gaming, DVD watching, and regular tasks, what is available on the card, and the 5 supported by the monitor is more than ample. I suppose 2 resolutions would be limiting, but I'm confused as to whether it's your card that has only 2, or your monitor that supports only two. That card as I remember should have way more than 2 settings available. If it's the monitor, I would rethink it. That would seem to be too limiting for future. Just for thought, I got the 2232 from Costco, because I use it as a BR TV also, and when run with the same source/connections it looked better than the Sharp, Maxent, and others of 22" or greater size. There is what looks like a piece of floating glass over the screen that seems to improve the contrast, and the clarity is just breathtaking. It also has Farouda DCDI which I have not found in too many lower end LCD's.


Ann

 

[Dean Martin]

Thanks for your reply. My current resolutions that are available to me are 640x480

800x600

1280x720 MAX


My current card is an ATI radeon 9800 XT.


I'm not sure why it does not have another setting in between. When I try to select another resolution from a game menu it doesn't really change.


The only drawback I can really see here is if I have a game that i cannot input a custom resolution and I don't want to run widescreen I would have to run it 4:3 but even then the max I will get is 800x600.

 

[kharvel]

Dean Martin, have you downloaded the Rage3d tweak from Rage3d.com? You can enable custom resolutions easily on your video card without having to use Powerstrip.


However, even if 1024x768 is enabled through the rage3d tweak, it is questionable whether the LCD will accept that resolution. It may just remain blank.

 

[Dean Martin]

Thanks, I will take a look at that. I did however, keep trying various previous drivers from the ATI site because the problem was, I recently downloaded the newest ATI driver and a couple of games crashed during play on a very consistent basis. Well I just re-downloaded the newest driver for the third try and this time I think it installed properly this time.


I now have NINE resolutions to choose from and my two games aren't crashing.

As far as video image goes, this monitor is really awesome. i also have a PS2 and XBox connected to it as well. The size is just right for a PC environment.