Stretched deesktop on widescreen monitor

googler

After many years with a 4x3 CRT monitor, I got a Samsung B2430H widescreen flat panel type yesterday.

After installing the Samsun driver, first thing I noticed was that the display properties dialogue (via Win XP) doesn't have the option to set what Samsung say is the optimum resolution for the monitor (1920x1068). Setting the desktop to the highest resolution merely results in a small desktop occupying the central part of the image.

The other point is that everything is now stretched- web pages with 4x3 pictures in them have been expanded to fill the screen, and the pictures are out of proportion. This applies to all programs, not just web browsing. Viewing 4x3 camera pictures in preview, or as a slide show, they're similarly stretched.

My OH has a Dell with wide monitor that was bought from new, and hers has always displayed this stretch symptom. Probably need to find a solution for that machine too.......

What's the solution(s)? I can't find any display options to allow me to switch between 4x3 and widescreen.

Do I need a new graphics card, or a variant on the driver?

HoofeHearted

Have you followed the setup instructions in section 3-5 of the manual available for download here?

Also what screen resolution do you have set in XP?

JasX

Assuming you don't have a graphics card already you'll be using the 'onboard' motherboard graphics drivers, you'll need to make sure those are up to date as well as installing your new 'samsung'driver.

Small chance windows update may be sitting on an 'optional' update that'll help, worth checking that too

googler

HoofeHearted wrote: »

Have you followed the setup instructions in section 3-5 of the manual available for download here?

Also what screen resolution do you have set in XP?

Well, section 3 of the manual on the CD supplied with the monitor says;

"When the PC is turned off, connect the product and the PC and turn the power on.

Right-click over the Desktop and select 'Properties' from the pop-up menu.
In the 'Settings' tab, set the resolution to the optimal resolution."

Take it this is the section you mean?

So, the optimal res is 1920x1068 - I go into the Properties dialogue, and the display properties tell me I have a B2430H on SiS 650_651_M6500_M652_740, and I have a Screen resolution 'slider' below.

This slider offers the choice of four options;

1280x1024
1280x720
1024x768
800x600

I've set it to the first of these, as it's the closest to an acceptable desktop that I can find, but as you can see, none of these are the 'optimal res' for the monitor.....

tomtiddly

I'd agree with JasX that the reason it's not giving you the full range of resolutions is probably because you're missing drivers or not up to date.

If you go Start, Run, devmgmt.msc

to bring up device manager, do you see any yellow triangles?

googler

No yellow triangles in device manager....

JasX

do you have any idea what graphics device (card/chipset/accelerator etc) is currently driving your monitor?

Hers's one way to look it up

open a 'run' box

type "dxdiag"

look under the 'display' tab, what does it list in the 'device' section?

does it also give you your driver version number?

JasX

You might also find these threads useful:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2361479

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2377119

googler

Name: SiS 650_651_M650_M652_740
Manufacturer SiS
Chip Type SiS M650 Rev 00
DAC type Internal
Memory 32Mb
Curr Display Mode 1280 x 1024
Monitor Syncmaster B2430H

Main Driver SiSGRV.dll
Version 6.14.0010.2180
Date 30/5/03
etc

Newer version of SiSGRV.dll required?

HoofeHearted

googler wrote: »

.......
This slider offers the choice of four options;

1280x1024
1280x720
1024x768
800x600

I've set it to the first of these, as it's the closest to an acceptable desktop that I can find, but as you can see, none of these are the 'optimal res' for the monitor.....

Assuming that the widescreen monitor is 16:9 ratio, then the best setting should be 1280x720, to get the correct width/height ratio.

[16/9 = 1.77, 1280/720 = 1.77 ]:)

[1280/1024 = 1.25]:(

:beer:

JasX

googler wrote: »

Newer version of SiSGRV.dll required?

yes in part,

Not come accross SiS chipsets before, best initial bet would be getting the latest drivers from the support section of the manufacturers website which you'll find here:

http://www.sis.com/index.htm

if that doesn't work you start moving into riskier territory trying either trying to flash the BIOS with either the latest official version (from the official site above)

....or track down some 'unauthorised/modified' BIOS that has been hacked to allow more resolutions to be supported, people have had some success here:

http://www.wimsbios.com/forum/topic9748.html

flashing the incorrect/poorly modified BIOS can render your motherboard completly dead, even flashing the correct official one isn;t entirely without risk, if you do kill your motherboard it may or may not be possible to reflash it to fix it.

I'd say start with the safer option of fiddling with software drivers for now and see how far that gets you before deciding if you're brave enough to go for any BIOS updates....