[no 56k] 1280x600 is my new favorite resolution!

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Edited By Emilio

So I've been playing through my Steam games a lot lately, and I've been really enjoying the 16:9 1280x600 on my 16:10 screen.
I first stumbled upon this res when I saw videos of an "Ultra Widescreen" option for Burnout Paradise. Since then, I loaded up TF2 one day, and started messing around with its resolutions. My screen is 16:10 so I didn't really know I could use 16:9 settings. When I would pop in the highest 16:9 res, it would just look stretched or bloated. But if I chose 1280x600, I would get this: 
    

So, since my TF2 looked so nice, I thought the "cinematic" experience would go well with Episode 2. 

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Best part about this res is that I can somehow run L4D with better graphics. At my desktop res of 1280x800, the game would run poorly if I tried to put any settings on high. Now, the game looks well and plays well, but the game won't run as smooth if I have my flashlight on. I have to say that the colors/contrast on the PC version don't look as nice as when I play the game on the 360. I'm guessing its just my TV settings.
 

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Knowing that my game runs well now is making me consider buying the PC version of L4D2 over the 360 version.
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#1  Edited By Emilio

So I've been playing through my Steam games a lot lately, and I've been really enjoying the 16:9 1280x600 on my 16:10 screen.
I first stumbled upon this res when I saw videos of an "Ultra Widescreen" option for Burnout Paradise. Since then, I loaded up TF2 one day, and started messing around with its resolutions. My screen is 16:10 so I didn't really know I could use 16:9 settings. When I would pop in the highest 16:9 res, it would just look stretched or bloated. But if I chose 1280x600, I would get this: 
    

So, since my TF2 looked so nice, I thought the "cinematic" experience would go well with Episode 2. 

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Best part about this res is that I can somehow run L4D with better graphics. At my desktop res of 1280x800, the game would run poorly if I tried to put any settings on high. Now, the game looks well and plays well, but the game won't run as smooth if I have my flashlight on. I have to say that the colors/contrast on the PC version don't look as nice as when I play the game on the 360. I'm guessing its just my TV settings.
 

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Knowing that my game runs well now is making me consider buying the PC version of L4D2 over the 360 version.
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stephengotlost

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#2  Edited By stephengotlost

Do you run the resolution windowed or in full screen?

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Emilio

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#3  Edited By Emilio
@stephengotlost:  
Full screen, my boy. I get mega letter box bars and I love it.
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ThePhantomnaut

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#4  Edited By ThePhantomnaut

Now games on consoles should pursue this format.

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JoelTGM

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#5  Edited By JoelTGM

why would you not use the highest resolution that your monitor is capable of?  seems a bit weird to intentionally give yourself the letterbox bars when you don't have to

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#6  Edited By bed

dayum, that looks great 

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Emilio

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#7  Edited By Emilio
@DOUBLESHOCK:  
COS IT OWNSZ!! BOOM HEAD SHOT!! 
 
 
Nah, I just looks great to me. It makes me believe I have a wider view (maybe I do) and keeps me focused on the center of the screen. 
 
Plus for a game like HL2 or Portal, it just makes the game feel so much more epic.
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ThePhantomnaut

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#8  Edited By ThePhantomnaut
@DOUBLESHOCK said:
" why would you not use the highest resolution that your monitor is capable of?  seems a bit weird to intentionally give yourself the letterbox bars when you don't have to "
Performance purposes and there are no extra widescreen TVs on the market yet.
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TheMustacheHero

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#9  Edited By TheMustacheHero

My TF2 doesn't have that resolution D:?!
 
@DOUBLESHOCK said:

" why would you not use the highest resolution that your monitor is capable of?  seems a bit weird to intentionally give yourself the letterbox bars when you don't have to "

Windowed mode and lower resolutions make the games run faster...
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#10  Edited By iam3green

why wouldn't u get left 4 dead on the PC. i made the mistake of getting it for the 360 and learned to get it for the PC next time. u should get it for the pC. great job on that discovery :)

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buzz_killington

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#11  Edited By buzz_killington

Hahaha... no 56k? What is this, 2002

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#12  Edited By AndrewB

Those 200 fewer pixels would give you a bit of a framerate boost.
 
The thing about LCD monitors is that they must be run at their intended resolution, else the picture looks off from scaling the pixels to fit. But then, if it's your card/monitor scaling the resolution and just putting the black bars there, that shouldn't be a problem. 
 
If 16:9 widescreen blows your mind, you should try using a 3 monitor setup. Talk about peripheral vision. Wish I could afford a setup like that.

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Emilio

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#13  Edited By Emilio
@TheMustacheHero:  
Are you sure? Go into vidjeo settings, then choose from 4:3, 16:9, and 16:10! Quickly! The screens are meaningless unless you actually see teh game for yourself. 
 
@buzz_killington:  
It brings back good memories from GameSpot forums. :D    
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#14  Edited By CL60

No thank you. I will stick to 1680x1050.

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#15  Edited By jkz

If you want a wider field of view in single-player games running on Steam, you can just use fov (90-120). It will give you a bigger field of view without letterboxing...just a tip

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#16  Edited By ThePhantomnaut
@jukezypoo said:
" If you want a wider field of view in single-player games running on Steam, you can just use fov (90-120). It will give you a bigger field of view without letterboxing...just a tip "
But it wouldn't look widescreen (especially in a 4:3 case) as opposed to using that and having the resolution.
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#17  Edited By Scooper

Who says Scource games don't look good. That looks great!

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#18  Edited By Giantsquirrel

1920x1200 :)

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#19  Edited By solviper

1920x1080

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#20  Edited By agent_lost

Widescreen always look good
 
also how many people are still in a 56k connection?

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#21  Edited By RHCPfan24

Wow, that looks very slick. I need to first upgrade my computer to even play Left 4 Dead (yes, it sucks that much) but I like the cinematic, widescreen feel.

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Emilio

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#22  Edited By Emilio
@stephengotlost:  
I play in full screen, so I get massive letterbox bars. Ah Love itt!
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#23  Edited By Willy105

Neat! it's like a movie screen!

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Emilio

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#24  Edited By Emilio
@Agent_Lost:  
Like a million jillion people still have 56k.
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#25  Edited By Johnny5

Or like me being australian and going over my dl limit.
 
You know what I get from those screenshots? It feels a LOT more like the area the eyes see so it actually felt very comfortable just looking at it.  Im currently using 1680x1050 but I would like if it got even wider.

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#26  Edited By zolika

I use 2048×1152 for HL2 :D

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citizenkane

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#27  Edited By citizenkane

Screw that.  1920x1200 is where it's at. 

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#28  Edited By Afroman269
@RHCPfan24 said:
" Wow, that looks very slick. I need to first upgrade my computer to even play Left 4 Dead (yes, it sucks that much) but I like the cinematic, widescreen feel. "
Your not alone. I'm conserving the money to finally hunker down and buy a good rig that should last me for a good bit.
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#29  Edited By joelalfaro

I used to love playing half life 2 in letterbox, back when it came out...

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#30  Edited By tebbit
@CitizenKane said:
" Screw that.  1920x1200 is where it's at.  "
Sir...  
 
This is truly the highest of definitions.
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#31  Edited By citizenkane
@Tebbit said:
" @CitizenKane said:
" Screw that.  1920x1200 is where it's at.  "
Sir...   This is truly the highest of definitions. "
I only indulge in the finest of things. 
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#32  Edited By Bioderm

yeah srew your low res man I will never play game on my pc at that low res lol

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#33  Edited By flaminghobo
@CitizenKane said:
" Screw that.  1920x1200 is where it's at.  "
I'm with you there Kane, high five!
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#34  Edited By m1k3
@Giantsquirrel said:
" 1920x1200 :) "
Hell yea.... :)
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stephengotlost

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#35  Edited By stephengotlost

Truly, this is the age of high resolutions.
 
Truly.
 
 
 
 
Hold on, to all those who say that this grants him a great performance boost, I beg to differ.
If he has the ultra-wide resolution, this will increase his FOV and thus, cause more objects to be on screen and to be rendered.
I played Crysis with this method, and the resolution did not increase my FPS.

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#36  Edited By MrKlorox

Actually 2560x1600 is the highest regular resolution. And 1280x600 is not 16:9.
 
I usually use 1920x1080 16:9 on my 1920x1200 16:10 monitor. This is because of the extra field of view, unless the game doesn't properly support the right AR/FOV combo. I don't use any aspect ratios wider than that.

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Emilio

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#37  Edited By Emilio
@Fragstoff:  
No way, dawg, check it! Also, I only have a 12.1" Widescreen monitor on this laptop, so I can't really get massive resolutions like these other guys.
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#38  Edited By Dalai

I'll stick to my 1920x1080 resolution.

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stephengotlost

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#39  Edited By stephengotlost

Check out those jagged edges.
 
I remember suffering from more of those when I ran a similar resolution.

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#40  Edited By Alexander

Resolution-dick-measureing YAY!

I have to say it looks rather nice in 16:9, I'll have to give it a go some time and double check if you do, in fact, get any extra side view. Because it's either that or you're getting less vertical.

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Emilio

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#41  Edited By Emilio
@stephengotlost:  
Well I could pop up the AA, but that would mean I'd get less frames. 
I usually never play any games with AA because I've never really owned a very nice computer.
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#42  Edited By natetodamax

Dude, nice.

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#43  Edited By ShaunassNZ
@AndrewB: Amen to that, The new 5870 will do suffice with it being twice performance of a GTX295.