Gaming at none Native resolution on TFT - Is it really that bad?

Gimpymoo · 6 Sep 2007 at 09:50

I have fallen in love with the HP W2207 after seeing it in the flesh and am hoping to get two of them to use as dual screens.

Now, my only concern is that the monitor has a native resolution of 1680x1050, I have a an ATI x1950 PRO 512MB.

If playing below the native res for games to play smooth, will the image still look OK?

Also, if a 22" is the same resolution as a 20", how is it bigger? Sorry if that sounds stupid.

Am currently using an OEM 17" CRT. Will I notice a difference going to 2 x 22" TFT's ?

Edit:

A quick search found this:
http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=17763276&highlight=w2207&page=2

Nullvoid said:
People make a big fuss of using anything other than native res, but have a look here: http://www.prad.de/en/monitore/review/2007/review-hp-w2207-part11.html#Interpolation

It goes all the way down to 800x600 if you look on the next page. That's for a 22" monitor equipped with a TN panel.

Here's one for a 24" HP which will be much like you're looking to buy (near the bottom of the page): http://www.prad.de/en/monitore/review-hp-lp2465-part12.html

They only show 1024x768 but again, it's hardly a disastrous drop in image quality is it?

Oh and to answer your earlier question, I believe there are only a handful of monitors that actively try to tackle blurring:

The fp241wz & fp241vw from Benq both have 'PerfectMotion' technology and then there is the soon to be released Samsung 245t with 'Motion Picture Acceleration'.

Nice post.

Thanks.

HEADRAT · 6 Sep 2007 at 09:59

I've always found this to be a non issue TBH, I have Dell 2407's and the scaling seems pretty good .

Wizardskills · 6 Sep 2007 at 12:14

I have never found it much of an issue. Just wack up the AA and it can sometimes be hard to tell IMO

fish99 · 6 Sep 2007 at 12:22

I use 1280*800 for games regularly on my Dell 2007WFP (native res 1680*1050, same as the HP) and it looks fine, just a little less sharp. Playing Bioshock like that at the moment and it still looks amazing.

Mr_Orange · 6 Sep 2007 at 12:27

As said before, there is some loss in quality but its nowhere near terrible.

Amnesia · 6 Sep 2007 at 12:28

i have a 226bw and can cleary tell when its not in its native res when on desktop or anyplace where there is small text.....games can be ok ..some show it more than others.

btw your 1950pro should be ok for 1680*1050...just knock a bit of the detail level/AA/AF down when needed.

toxic · 6 Sep 2007 at 12:30

I have found it hard to tell sometimes!

james.miller · 6 Sep 2007 at 12:30

depends how good the scaling is, and how sensitive to it you are lol. its not that bad gaming out of native res but it is distracting, on some games more than others. they only took pictures of a gun, rmember the entire screen will look like that.

you have to wonder why people buy the expensive pin sharp LCD's and expensive graphics cards if they are quite happy gaming with blurry lines and textures.