Widescreen monitor.

[Stavros]

I use my widescreen projector as my computer monitor but I can only view at 4:3. This means that to view my converted video properly I have to burn it to a DVD and watch it on my DVD player.

I also would obviously prefer to get the most out of my projector and always have my computer set to 16:9.

I have tried changing the screen resolution to a 16:9 setting but that just squashes the picture and leaves two black bars down the sides.

Could someone please advise if there any way that I could set my computer to output in 16:9?

If it helps I use a Nvidia GForce 440 video card.

[Gees]

HMMM I know nothing about projectors. That said, I don't know if what you want is even possible, but........

Is that Nvidia the same as a "GeForce4"? If so, mine had a Twin View/Dual View that you could at least watch your productions on WS TV (say in PowerDVD).

That'd give you the added benefit of also seeing the difference in resolution and colors at the same time.

Just an idea if you happen to have that ability, but hadn't considered it yet.

[Stavros]

I can watch video in wide screen but only letter boxed in a 4:3 frame.

The 440 is a GeForce 4. How will the twin view give me wide screen video? I don't know much about the funtions of the card.

Thanks.

[Gees]

There is a setting (if it's same as my prior card - I now use GeForce FX5) where you choose a SECOND display.

You can plug a TV into your card and have simultaneous views on both monitor and TV.

Or you can have it span across both, or over/under. But for your purposes the additional full screen may be useful.

If you have it - it is in Display Properites -> GeForce -> Advanced -> nView. Options are not selectable until the TV is connected to the card.

[Stavros]

I appologise if I'm being thick here but I don't understand how this would alow me to view in widescreen. All of the options you mention seem to be for a separate monitor. My projector is my primary monitor connected directly to the VGA in on my PC.

Again- Sorry if I havn't read your reply properly.

[Gees]

I'm afraid you haven't. :c( I did try to be clear. I'll make a guess that you have a widescreen television? And this is why you want to author in widescreen?

If yes - this widescreen TV becomes your second viewing source, giving you the ability (hopefully) to view simultaneously what is also being displayed on your monitor/projector.

So that you could see the results in widescreen while you are working.

Hope that clarifies a bit. :c) I don't know any other way to say it.

Maybe that's no help? Maybe you only want to use soley the projector, but I don't think it's possible to put PC output to 16:9.

[Stavros]

My projector is my widescreen television. The projector is a 16:9 projector and is connected to my computer, sky and my DVD player.

I can see the results of my author in letterbox with two black bars down either side of my 16:9 screen.

The problem is that my screen is 7 feet wide and if the video quality is poor it stands out more than if you are watching on a smaller display.

That is why I was hoping I could view in full screen while the video is still on my PC.

If you can't set your PC to output directly in 16:9 why do manufacturers made 16:9 monitors?

Thanks.

[Suntan]

What are the specs of your projector? Do you have a stretch setting or any setting that will uniformly stretch a 4/3 image to 16/9? If so you should be able to set the resolution that your vid card puts out to something that is natively 16/9. I checked last night and my card (Geforce4 TI 4200) will put out a few different 16/9 resolutions including 1280/720. I didn't check 1024/576 though (in case your projector can't handle resolutions that high.)

Let me know if you were able to get something to work out as I plan to get a projector in a few months and wanted to hook up my computer to it as well.

[Stavros]

Suntan- I have Sony VPL VW10HT. The closest I have gotten so far is by using a software package called Powerstrip. I used this to fool my projector into thinking the signal I was sending it was HDTV.

I set the resolution to 1280*720p and changed my projector from computer to DTV GBR. The projector projected a picture that filled the full screen but unfortunately the resolution was slightly too big. I also lost picture quality.

Apparently the setting to use is 1184*666 but I have not managed to get this to work.

I have had this projector for two years now and if you are willing to spend the money you will not have these problems. You can buy the Sony VPL VW10HT for under £3500. This will accept a computer signal at its native resolution of 1360*768. Unbelievable projector.

Tell me exactly what you want from your projector and if I can't give you any helpful advice myself I will certainly point you in the right direction.

[Suntan]

As I am sure you have already looked at something like this: http://www.thebigpicturedvd.com/vw10ht_faq.shtml#HTPC it seems to be a problem specific to your projector. I guess there is not much that can be done aside from hoping Sony will update the firmware.

The only other thing I could see is to set the computer res to the highest 16/9 res the projector will accept and then use an anamorphic lens to stretch the 4/3 signal the projector puts out to 16/9. It is kind of a round about way which doesn't end up using all of the projectors pixels and you would have to remove the lens when you switch to DVD and such. I think a good lens is probably going to run you a couple hundred as well, but it is one solution.

As for me, I haven't even started finishing the basement/movie theater and I am still up in the air as to the details like DLP vs LCD vs LCOS, what Aspect Ratio and most importantly what price range my wife will allow. I will definitly make sure that the projector I pick will support its native res straight from the vid card though, I just thought they all did.

I have looked over most of the stuff at http://www.projectorcentral.com

If you know of any other good site about projectors please let me know.

[Stavros]

Since you have already found these sites and have started building a home theater then you have already done quite a bit of research into the subject.

The other two sites I would mention are:

www.avsforum.comand www.homecinemachoice.com

Just like this site will come across some very helpful people.

To be quite honest I don't think they will update the firmware for a projector that hasn't been sold for two years but I can always hope.