TFT monitors. I am getting confused :(

Dark_Angel · 14 Apr 2006 at 12:49

Ok, I am sorry for being a pain in the butt, however there are a few things I am not certain with on TFT's... and really want to know what it is I have to look for

I understand that the higher the contrast ratio, the better... same goes for resolution and so on. The things that bug me though are aspect rations are the whole "stretch to fit" thing.

For example, with the viewsonic VX2025, I have been told that the screen doesnt allow you to manually stretch the image, and so the entire image just fills the screen with NO borders.. In other words, an xbox 360 outputting at 1366x768 will have NO borders at all, and the entire screen shall be filled... (which obviously means that it is ignoring that the image is not 1680x1050, and making it fit the entire screen anyway).

So this would make the same thing happen with a 640x480 image to? It would basically say, sod the ratio, and convert it to a 16:10 format image, with no borders on the monitor at all? Also, what would happen if a film (for example star wars, episode 3) was played on the screen? since it has the "borders" on top and bottom, because it is a widescreen film? would it simply remove all the borders and stretch the image, or would it keep the borders how they are?

The Phillips 20" wide though, has aspect ration functions... which means that you can: Stretch the entire image to fit the entire screen, so it would act as it would on the Viewsonic, Fit image to screen, so in other words, you may have small borders around the image, but it wont stretch the image horribly. And finally you have the perserve pixels. So if it is 640x480, only that amount of pixels on the screen are used?

Once again, I am sorry for asking what are probablly dumb questions, but I am not really certain on TFT's... I really love the look of the viewsonic, but before I order it I need to know what kind of experience I will have with it and my 360... like is it just a case of pressing a button and inputs change between DVI and VGA? I understand a DVI is supplied with the Viewsonic, so if it really does stretch everything and just makes it full screen and no bars, it would be a PERFECT monitor for me. (BTW< I am using an ATI graphics card, just so you know).

Thanks again all, once again sorry for being a pain.

Baddass · 14 Apr 2006 at 12:55

In other words, an xbox 360 outputting at 1366x768 will have NO borders at all, and the entire screen shall be filled.

If the screen won't support 1:1 pixel mapping then yes, any resolution you display will automatically fill the screen and stretch it to fit the full screen. Some screens allow you to use 1:1 pixel mapping to show the exact res with borders, or even "aspect" which fills as much of the screen as possible but keeping the same aspect ratio., eg the Dell 2405FPW does all this. You can sometimes do this with graphics card software as wwll, but doesn't seem to work on all screens like the VX2025WM

So this would make the same thing happen with a 640x480 image to? It would basically say, sod the ratio, and convert it to a 16:10 format image, with no borders on the monitor at all?

yep, it would fill the screen and stretch the image where necessary

Also, what would happen if a film (for example star wars, episode 3) was played on the screen? since it has the "borders" on top and bottom, because it is a widescreen film? would it simply remove all the borders and stretch the image, or would it keep the borders how they are?

the borders on films would remain as they should be.

The Phillips 20" wide though, has aspect ration functions... which means that you can: Stretch the entire image to fit the entire screen, so it would act as it would on the Viewsonic, Fit image to screen, so in other words, you may have small borders around the image, but it wont stretch the image horribly. And finally you have the perserve pixels. So if it is 640x480, only that amount of pixels on the screen are used?

yep, it has this function as do some other models.

it's a shame the VX2025WM doesn't do this pixel mapping or allow you to keep the image non stretched. Other models do though so if it might bother you for gaming then maybe best to look at some other models.

Dark_Angel · 14 Apr 2006 at 13:04

Well.. I am actually someone who hates borders (they are the spawn of evil

) so if the viewsonic has no borders when playing 1366x768.... that would make me a very VERY happy camper...

So basically, am I right in saying that the viewsonic VX2025 will make any image full screen, using every single screen pixel no matter what the original size of input, so an xbox 360 and so on will give me no borders? I do like the phillips screen, but the viewsonic I have heard is just a bit better from reviews and so on.

Baddass · 15 Apr 2006 at 17:17

afaik it just fills the whole screen, but losing the aspect ratio may or may not be an issue.

Dark_Angel · 15 Apr 2006 at 19:40

Well, I just grabbed a philips screen and am loving it so far. I must admit though... I feel bad for my poor CRT monitor each time I look at it, and then the TFT