Monitor doesn't look good at lower resolutions.

[KevinAr18]

I had a DOS game where one of the video modes was interlaced. Basically it looked like a row of lit pixels. a row of dark (off pixels) a row of lit ones, a row of off ones, etc..., etc...

Anyways, this is how my monitor is acting. It is capable of 1600x1200 resolution. However, as you lower the resolution, you will notice that it has the effect of black lines across the monitor just like the interlaced images from that game I remember.
This is mostly only noticeable as you turn down the resolution further and further, like 640x480

The question is why does the monitor do this. Is this normal for ALL monitors? And if so, why is it necessary? I do not recall my older monitor doing this, but maybe it just didn't support a high enough resolution that it was noticeable at lower ones.

 

[gargouille]

Make sure you have the right video drivers installed...no, it's not normal.
It IS normal for the picture to be less defined with lower resolution...but sounds like you have noise in the signal.
Visit your video card mfr.'s site...and get the drivers...if it's onboard with the motherboard you can get them from that mfr. online.
If that doesn't help I'd start suspecting the monitor...have the old one to try?

 

[Enkrypted]

Defintely check for the latest drivers for you video card and you might also want to adjust your refresh rate to see if that resolves the problem. Enkrypted
A+
Let others know how much help they are by marking the helpful posts.

 

[KevinAr18]

It's not the video card since the screen looks fine on my old monitor. Also, I've used two different cards on this monitor as well as several driver versions over the months.

I'm still thinking this might be something normal, but I don't know why it's supposed to be that way.

Question: Do you have a 19" or larger monitor that supports 1600x1200?

If so, when you switch to 640x480 do you not get this kind of an effect?

 

[gargouille]

It's bound, that's true to "pixellate"...but not with what you describe...yeah, mine supports above that...and 640 by 480 I wouldn't ever see (don't game)...except that a lot of my customers don't understand the higher settings and never go there.
Last thing I have to do to a box before I send it out the door is "dumb down" the vid settings on most of them.

In your case, whatever differences (quality-wise) are present at higher res, you're just not able to perceive them.
Too, the game takes you down there...overriding your native res, too. And of course that performance can't be expected in DOS...
But I came here in trouble-shooting mode and d_____it there must be something wrong! LOL

Yeah, I could be mistaking a comment for a problem/question and it may be natural...but I was thinking not.
There could be a minute problem with it...have you flashed it's BIOS?
(naw, I'm playin' with ya'!)

 

[KevinAr18]

You can see a screenshot of it here:

http://www.xp-erience.org/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=24383

The issue is not related to my machine since it does the same thing with two computers I've connected to the monitor. The video card on one is a TNT and the other has a Vanta (kind of similar cards).

 

[gargouille]

There are 2 kinds (basically) of CRT's..."shadow mask" (less definition, muddier, more subject to signal noise, mottling) and grilled aperture. Grilled aperture monitors have razor-thin strands of Invar, an iron-nickel alloy used in the monitor's screen, to "guide" the electron gun into alignment to the precise phosphor dots it needs to illuminate. They do show, on close examination, these lines (which some ppl consider distracting).
I've used one of these monitors for almost 10 years now, including doing CAD, and never notice them.

 

[KevinAr18]

One thing keeps me from thinking that is the reason.

The thin horizontal lines I see get larger as I lower the resolution. Once I get around 1024x768 and higher, I don't see these lines. Thus, if it's a mechanical limitation, then why can higher resolutions overcome it and not lower ones.

It's almost like (if you can imagine) the monitor doesn't use a few of the rows of pixels when you are at lower resolutions, but when you get to higer resulutions it uses more rows of pixels.

 

[KevinAr18]

According to the specs, my monitor has a 0.24 - 0.25mm Aperture Grille pitce (variable).

 

[gargouille]

Why do some people argue with sound reason and refuse good advice?
I don't know, they just do.
The lines are thin strips of metal right inside the glass.
'Zactly as I described to you.
Use the Internet to find out/prove me wrong...don't take my word for it.
You've asked. I've told you.
Do some original thinking...independent of what you've read and been told and heard. Reason it out.
I could tell you more...but you wouldn't believe that either.
So why bother?

 

[KevinAr18]

The lines are thin strips of metal right inside the glass.

I understand there are razor thin strands and I wasn't saying you were wrong.

Perhaps I worded my first phrase wrongly. Here's what I should have said:
"Although I understand there are razor thin strands, there is one reason that I am unsure if that is really the cause of the lines in my situation."


The thing that get's me, is if I "could" see the thin strands at 640x480, why can't I see them at 1600x1200? If the strands are "physically" there then shouldn't I be able to see them no matter what resolution I'm at?

 

[gargouille]

Awright,Kevin, make you a deal.
I've gone to some trouble trying to help you...NOW YOU tell me why you don't see them at higher res! Reason it out, look it up (prolly someone will come along and tell you) but I'd really like for YOU to solve that 1...

 

[KevinAr18]

I don't know why I don't see it at higher resolutions. That's my question.
I can come up with theories, but I don't know enough to know the real reason why.