Hello, Ive used powerstrip before to create custom resolutions, but does anyone know if I can make a 15inch lcd fake widescreen. I want to be able to do this because the cost of a 15.4 lcd is to much for me now that the cheapo proview's are no longer made. I want to be able to run windows widescreen with black bars at the top and bottom of the lcd. My plan is to then mask off the unused area on the lcd so that the projected image looks like the lcd panel is native widescreen.

I know certain lcd panels themselfs have options like Full, Aspect, and Native. Full will stretch a non native resolution to full screen, Im hoping aspect will make it widescreen?, and native will just only use those pixels the resolution is. Is this is true, What happens if the lcd does not have this in the options? Am I scr*wed? Oh one last thing physically adjusting the resolution with arrows in powerstrip made my 17inch lcd go black. Do all panels have this problem?

!EDIT!

Basically I want to letterbox windows xp Desktop

Yupe, you can do it. Im currently doing it right now.

If your using a 15", youll have to set it to 1024x576.

Some graphic card drivers do not like power strip, but for most it seems to be a software driver. I had to roll back to a driver from about 1.5 years ago in order to do custom resolutions with power strip. I have an ATI card, and if do as well, you will need to.

Do you know if Powerstrip has problems with laptops? I've heard it does.

The only way it would have problems with them would be a software issue.

I know alot of laptops use an ATI graphics engine, and if you run the latest ATI drivers Powerstrip will NOT perform custom resolutions properly.

I had to revert back to CATALYST™ Version 05.1

Any newer versions would not support Custom Resolutions.

I believe its probably a similar approach with Nvidia hardware.

umm, whats powerstrip?

sorry, new guy here..

You can see what is powerstip about at this url

http://www.entechtaiwan.com/util/ps.shtm


Bill

Well I played around with powerstrip a bit and learned how to use the lock geometry feature. I was happy to find my windows desktop being displayed letterboxed on my lcd Now onto my build. I cant cut alot of stuff since Im in college and lack the tools in my apartment. I have 2 options. precut enclosure via diyprojectorcompany or tescorp enclosure, or just use a overhead projector. Hmm decisions decisions.

This is an interesting topic. But I don't understand what is the purpose of faking the aspect ratio? Is this good for only 16:9 content? 4:3 stuff will look stretched I suppose.

*EDIT

I did a search, looks like it's a good way to prevent the letterbox borders from getting brighter if you increase the brightness of your image.

Also for slightly decreasing the throw of your PJ.

In the room my PJ is in now, the PJ sits about 11 feet from the wall. an 11 foot 4:3 screen is blocked off by the couch and entertainment center, however the 16:9 of this throw fits perfectly on the wall..... that is why I do it ...

Thanks, this may help me out too.