Perfect resolution for 23"

cozm01 · 16 Mar 2009 at 08:23

Hi, I am finding the resolution too small on my new 23" monitor. (Dell SP2309w)

2048x1152 (optimal) - but things are tiny.
1920x1080 (1080p) - things are still small, websites take up just 50% of screen and Win7 start bar is pain to use.
1280x720 (720p)- Things are slightly too big.

I notice the monitor sells itself as "view two browsers at once", so I'm not sure how much can be done to fix this. The resolutions in between 1080 and 720 are grey'd out. I know you can magnify things in control panel and browser, but then they seem blurred and jagged.

Any idea's?
On monitor menu I have Wide mode: Aspect, 1:1 or Fill(default), not sure which I should use?
I game, so was hoping to get over 60hz. 85hz is at 720p, but shape changes when enabled, so I guess I'm stuck with 60hz?

Preset Display Modes
Display Mode / Horizontal Frequency (kHz) /Vertical Frequency (Hz) / Pixel Clock (MHz) /Sync Polarity (Horizontal/Vertical)
VESA, 720 x 400 31.5 70.0 28.3 -/+
VESA, 640 x 480 31.5 60.0 25.2 -/-
VESA, 640 x 480 37.5 75.0 31.5 -/-
VESA, 800 x 600 37.9 60.3 40.0 +/+
VESA, 800 x 600 46.9 75.0 49.5 +/+
VESA, 1024 x 768 48.4 60.0 65.0 -/-
VESA, 1024 x 768 60.0 75.0 78.8 +/+
VESA, 1152 x 864 67.5 75.0 108.0 +/+
VESA, 1280 x 1024 64.0 60.0 108.0 +/+
VESA, 1280 x 1024 80.0 75.0 135.0 +/+
VESA, 1680 x 1050 65.3 60.0 146.3 -/+
VESA, 1680 x 1050 64.7 59.9 119.0 +/-
VESA, 1920 x 1200 74.04 59.9 154.0 +/-
VESA, 2048 x 1152 70.99 59.9 156.75 +/-

cozm01 · 16 Mar 2009 at 11:38

updated

str · 16 Mar 2009 at 12:12

What about having the monitor closer to you?

R.O.S.S.I · 16 Mar 2009 at 12:14

Use 2048x1152. The 2 browsers thing is referring to if you had a screen with the resolution1024x768 you could effectively get 2 full screen browsers in the width of your 2048x1152 screen.

cozm01 · 16 Mar 2009 at 13:00

CDj-Rossi said:
Use 2048x1152. The 2 browsers thing is referring to if you had a screen with the resolution1024x768 you could effectively get 2 full screen browsers in the width of your 2048x1152 screen.

Yes I understand, but I'd rather one page. I didn't buy a 23" to view 2x 11.5" screens.

Useless for me and hard to see how its good for anyone since 2x50% size gives headache small writing in a browser. Increase the font size and webpage error's occur, you also then need to scroll, which wastes having a large monitor. Besides that, Windows taskbar, etc, remains a problem being small, especially in Win7 where its used a lot more.

and ye, doesn't matter how far/close from monitor, still the same size

coupe69 · 16 Mar 2009 at 13:53

Maybe time to take a trip to the opticians?

cozm01 · 16 Mar 2009 at 14:04

coupe69 said:
Maybe time to take a trip to the opticians?

Nothing to do with eyesight, things are crystal clear, even better than before, it's the size. I've been using a 10" netbook screen up to now and could see it perfectly, 23" should not give me problems!

keyser · 16 Mar 2009 at 14:34

Since 2048x1152 is native you should use that, in 1:1. If text is too small try increasing the size and enable cleartype. All LCDs work at 60Hz, unless its a 120Hz one (its not). For that res you should be using either HDMI or dual link DVI.

cozm01 · 16 Mar 2009 at 15:12

keyser said:
Since 2048x1152 is native you should use that, in 1:1. If text is too small try increasing the size and enable cleartype. All LCDs work at 60Hz, unless its a 120Hz one (its not). For that res you should be using either HDMI or dual link DVI.

Increasing the size(windows or browser) is a quick fix which gives error's such as website incompatibility and blurred views, sometimes even window buttons don't work.

I've read more on this here;
http://www.mathies.com/weblog/?p=908

cozm01 · 16 Mar 2009 at 15:23

Think I'll have to stick with 1280x720

str · 16 Mar 2009 at 15:47

You are probably better off selling the Dell and buying a 27" 1920x1200 monitor for the bigger pixel size?

What size/res did you use before getting the Dell?

cozm01 · 16 Mar 2009 at 16:00

str said:
You are probably better off selling the Dell and buying a 27" 1920x1200 monitor for the bigger pixel size?

What size/res did you use before getting the Dell?

I just bought this and I'm don't want a 27" for PC use. Had lots of different res.

I see in this chart that there's a 16:9 resolution between 720 and 1080, should this work;
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Vector_Video_Standards2.svg

reflux · 16 Mar 2009 at 16:05

Sell it and buy a 28'' job.

/end thread.

str · 16 Mar 2009 at 16:16

cozm01 said:
I just bought this and I'm don't want a 27" for PC use. Had lots of different res.

I see in this chart that there's a 16:9 resolution between 720 and 1080, should this work;
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Vector_Video_Standards2.svg

If you don't mind the problems associated with using a non-native resolution you should check out a program called PowerStrip and create the resolution you want to use.

Ben M · 16 Mar 2009 at 16:49

Well the perfect res for a 23" is 1920*1200

why did you buy a monitor with such a high native res if you don't like high res/low text size?

JonJ678 · 16 Mar 2009 at 17:27

Ben M said:
why did you buy a monitor with such a high native res if you don't like high res/low text size?

^what he said. I'm very confused by this thread

ViRuS2k · 16 Mar 2009 at 17:29

lol

if text is to small at your native resolution, all you need to do is up the dpi setting in windows 7 of vista.

fixes it perfectly but you need to reboot after making changes.

cozm01 · 17 Mar 2009 at 01:56

Obviously I didn't expect things to be this small and have to use faulty hacks to get things perfect.

ViRuS2k · 17 Mar 2009 at 02:03

Faulty hacks ??? changeing DPI settings is a built in vista, win7 feature. infact its on every os lol

Aod · 17 Mar 2009 at 05:34

bear in mind, any resolution other than the native res of 2048x1152 will look blurry and, frankly, rubbish.

if you're having problems seeing the text at this res, INCREASE THE DPI AND MAKE IT BIGGER YOU NONCE.