Convert 16:9 to 16:10 with letterboxing hardware

[JesterMania]

Currently, I have a Samsung 2443BW LCD monitor which does 1920x1200 (16:10 native). I would like to purchase a PS3 and use this LCD as my display, but the issue is that the PS3 outputs in 16:9 aspect ratio through 720p/1080p. Therefore, output to my 16:10 LCD will stretch the image vertically. As my LCD does not support hardware scaling/1:1 pixel mapping, this is going to be an issue.

My question is whether anyone knows of some converter which can convert the 16:9 output of the PS3 to 16:10, adding letterboxing and then output this to my LCD. That way, I can still use my 16:10 LCD but have letterboxing through this "converter". My bad for not checking my LCD monitor for 1:1 pixel mapping when buying, but just didn't want to have to buy a 1920x1080 LCD monitor to replace this!

[manono]

Therefore, output to my 16:10 LCD will stretch the image vertically.

How do you know that? You haven't tried yet personally, so is this something you've read? I'm not doing what you want to do, but when I play 16:9 DVDs on my 16:10 monitor it adds the black bars above and below automatically. Nothing gets stretched.

My question is whether anyone knows of some converter which can convert the 16:9 output of the PS3 to 16:10, adding letterboxing and then output this to my LCD.

You're not talking about a complete reencode, right? You want some sort of on-the-fly solution if the problem crops up? FFDShow can probably do this (add black bars above and below), but others more knowledgeable than I will have to chime in.

[JesterMania]

@Manono: At this point, I am not 100% sure as I don't own a PS3 yet, but I am quite certain as I have done a test by setting my Windows desktop resolution to 1920x1080 and selecting the option of using my display's built-in scaling versus any help from the display driver. Sure enough, the image was stretched vertically, and nothing in the monitor options could resolve this.

Yes, I am looking for an on-the-fly solution. Thanks for the suggestion on FFDShow, but as the PS3 will be directly connected to the LCD monitor (versus going through the computer/OS), I will probably need some hardware solution. Hopefully, some sort of adapter/box exists out there that is relatively cheap but if not, I'll probably have to settle for a second monitor just for gaming.

[edDV]

If you hook a cable box (DVI-D or HDMI 1280x720p/59.94) to a 16x10 computer monitor (HDCP required), then you do get a vertical stretch (16x9 input to 16x10 aspect for 1680x1050 native resolution).

I can't speak to PS3.

From experience with my Samsung 226BW computer monitor, you will never get an acceptable TV black on a computer monitor. You really need an HDTV. That said, conversion to 16x10 is a waste of time.

[JesterMania]

Thanks for the responses. I believe I will probably end up buying a 1920x1080 16:9 LCD monitor (with HDMI) sometime next year along with my PS3 purchase. It will actually complement my current monitor well on a dual-head display setup and monitor prices appear to be dropping every month.