*MINIMUM* resolution

[dero]

I have an older HP workstation, dual 500mhz p3's and 256megs of ram. Its running windows 2000 and I am looking to put in in a bedroom to use for music, movies, and internet. I want to use the TV as a monitor to keep things integrated and compact. I have a computer that uses a 9200 with s-video out and the lowest I can display is 800x600. If i concentrate, I can read words on the TV from about 3 feet away. The lower the resolution is, the better I can read it. There are so many cheap video cards with tv-output but I want to find one that will let me use a low resolution so I can get a usable image on the tv.

 

[Apokalipse]

the video card is not the problem.

go to start -> run -> regedt32

go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\ControlSet0001\Services\ati2mtag\DALNonStandardModesBCD

or it might be \ControlSet0002 ... 000x

look for ati2mtag

Example for adding the CustomRes 640 x 480:

Add Dword (hexadecimal) value: 0640048000000000

Reboot.

After reboot the new resolution should be available.

 

[dero]

Thanks! I never thought of doing something like that. I just figured it wasn't able to produce that resolution for some reason. Is that pretty universal for all of ati's cards?

 

[Apokalipse]

I think so.

a standard TV's natural resolution is 640 x 480 as well, if I recall correctly.

 

[dero]

thanks again. Time to do some shopping.

 

[TheMajor]

You can adjust the font size.

 

[dero]

heh...good point. But it still wont do any good for words in an image. It will help out pretty much everywhere else though.

 

[dero]

There should be a way to do this with pretty much any card right? I know this stuff is probably much more retro than what is usually discussed but I am looking at radeon 7000's and mx440's. I need something to work in a 3.3v slot.

 

[WorldIndustries]

Using a regular CRT TV for computer use will cause headaches at higher resolutions... I can't even read text from my 360 dashboard for more than 15 minutes without feeling weird.

 

[dero]

Thats why I want to go low. Stuff like this usually doesn't bother me so I think I should be ok. the tv's main use will be just to navigate to music or movies and display the movies. I doubt it will see too much web browsing unless it works out really well.