Dual Monitor = Less Resolution?

[X0d1@k]

Ok, i was trying to explain to a friend of mine at my second job (hes kind of a blow hard when it comes to hardware), i usually just nod and say ahh or ok, but I was telling him that too bad LCDs dont have as high a resolution as CRT's YET, and he tells me, well there are some that are just as high.

I let that go, and then I told him, he should try playing WOW on 2 monitors, and he tells me, no the pixels will get bigger to support the game. WTF? If you have 2 high resolution monitors, in a game that supports that resolution (for arguments sake lets say 1600 x 1200), wont the game still be in 1600 x 1200 on BOTH monitors, but you will just be able to see more area, like in your peripheral vision?

Im confused. Thanks all.

[jivetrky]

I'm trying to understand exactly what you are saying here. I'll try to answer as best as I understand your question.

Say you had 2 LCD's that had a native resolution of 1600x1200

You would either set your drivers to display in Cloned view (Both LCD's are displaying the same image) or spanned (Dual) view. In which case, the entire display is stretched across both displays.

But in Dualview, you wouldn't have a resolution of 1600x1200, it would be 3200x1200

But say, for some reason, it DID display 1600x1200 with the Dualview (Spanned). Then, what the dude at work says it correct, the pixels would become larger because they are being stretched across the screen.

And he's also correct in saying that LCD's have resolutions as high or higher than many/most CRTs

19" LCD's usually have a native res of 1280x1024, 20-21" often have 1600x1200

Widescreen LCDs have resolutions of 1920x1200 or even 2560x1600 as is the case with Dell's 30" LCD, the 3007WFP.


Does that answer your questions?

[Neuromancer]

ACtually the pixels will same the same size.. .just the resolution gets stretched :)

(jk ;))

But I wouldnt use 2 monitors for an FPS game since your crosshair is going to be right where the monitors meet. 3 monitors however wit hthe the matrox box would be neat :)

Check out the widescreen gamers website to see what games have WS, multimon support :)

[Maviryk]

Ok, i was trying to explain to a friend of mine at my second job (hes kind of a blow hard when it comes to hardware), i usually just nod and say ahh or ok, but I was telling him that too bad LCDs dont have as high a resolution as CRT's YET, and he tells me, well there are some that are just as high.

I let that go, and then I told him, he should try playing WOW on 2 monitors, and he tells me, no the pixels will get bigger to support the game. WTF? If you have 2 high resolution monitors, in a game that supports that resolution (for arguments sake lets say 1600 x 1200), wont the game still be in 1600 x 1200 on BOTH monitors, but you will just be able to see more area, like in your peripheral vision?

Im confused. Thanks all.

For WoW to see both monitors as one huge monitor, you would need a device like the Matrox Triplehead Go.

Otherwise the game stretches the resolution across both monitors for a "stretched" look.

[Burdman27911]

Jive, actually I still think CRTs have a higher resolution (per inch) than the majority of LCDs. I had an old cheap 19" CRT (around 18" viewable) which had a resolution of 1600x1200, with LCD you have to get at least a 20" (viewable) to get the same resolution... now the amount of pixels they put out is the same, but not the pixels per inch.

[X0d1@k]

You guys answered my question. Like always, the resources and involvement on this website is excellent.

I guess I got a lesson in Monitors now. I was under the assumption that CRTS were still higher in the resolution sense, but now it seems they are old tech compared to the newer LCD's.

As much as I would LOVE to own the Dell 30" LCD, its not going to happen anytime soon. Man, that would be sooooooo sweet though! Mayby, ill treat myself to one, after I pay off all my credit card debt. They go for around 1200 US$ iirc.

[SuperFarStucker]

Most CRTs do not have a 1:1 mapping of phosphor triads to pixels at their maximum supported resolution. To find out the maximal resolution of a CRT you must know the horizontal and vertical spacing between phosphor triads among other things (though this is the absolute limit). Most tubes allow you to draw a significantly greater number of lines then can actually be resolved. Chances are 1600x1200 doesn't provide a 1:1 or better mapping on a tube smaller than 20-21". I'd think the 30" panels with 2560x1600 resolution win out with respect to resolvability on consumer gear.