Hi-Res and/or Dual displays

DiverDan · 10-29-06, 01:01 PM

Ahoy ALL,

I need some guidance on increasing my screen resolution and/or using dual displays. I have a Dell XPS (Gen2) with a bunch of memory and a Nvidia 6800GT. I currently use it a 1024x768 (highest default setting) and am very happy with it, but I would like more screen real estate.

I've read the community manual and followed the instructions for the Compatibilty Program (since I'm using SP2). But upon installation, I cannot find the program, even though a dialog box states it installed correctly. It's not in my START menu.

Eliminating that step and copy the cfg and dll to the SH3 home directory results in an error as soon as the game is started.

I do play Far Cry at 2048 res using two monitors, so I know my system is capable of it. I guess my questions are:

Why can't I find the Windows Application Compatibility Toolkit ?
What needs to be edited in the cfg file?
Can I use one monitor in 2048 mode, or do I need to span the display across two monitors?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

tycho102 · 10-29-06, 01:56 PM

The graphics are "stretched" to fill the display. Everything will be out of proportion in a 16:9 aspect. You are better off using 1600x1200, or using four (!!!) screens in order to keep it 4:3 aspect.

But I believe it's possible to game across two monitors. You absolutely have to install the ACT to be able to do it. You can also play the game at 1600x1200 without installing ACT.

DiverDan · 10-29-06, 03:23 PM

Thanks Tycho,

On the ACT, do you know the name of the executable so that I can run it? It does not appear in my Start Menu, even though a dialog box stated that it installed correctly.

On the cfg file, do I have to edit the RES line to the resolution I'm trying to obtain?

I will probably not use two displays because of the display bezels being in the middle (I use two, 20" LCDs).

I think my biggest problem is finding the ACT program. Did anyone else have this problem?

Thanks in advance!

Inbred Pest · 10-29-06, 08:52 PM

I run dual displays, and would really like to use one display for my TV tuner (for those long rides out to the patrol grid), other web sub data I use while playing, etc., but everytime I run the game with dual displays (through NVIEW) I lock up the game when the mouse gets near the border of the other monitor. So I gave up long ago and just disable my second display every time I play.

Although, I haven't tried trying to span the game over two displays, that may work fine.

OT, if anyone has a workaround for my problem, I would be one happy sailor.

DiverDan · 10-30-06, 01:20 AM

Finally figured it out. I was able to use both displays, but because of the screen bezels (as thin as they were), the game wasn't as enjoyable. Imagine a black line running vertically down the middle of the display.

Maybe I'll eventually upgrade one of these displays to a widescreen with higher res...

Thanks to both of you!

Dantenoc · 10-30-06, 04:50 PM

Having a wide screen will do you no good... It'll just stretch the graphics to fit the screen but will distort the whole game by doing it.

If anything, try the four monitor approach previously suggested so that you maintain aspect ratio.

Anyhow, the game itself doesn't support multiple displays, and it's a real shame too. Very few games cry out for the multiple display support more than this one... It would be great if you could have the nav-map in one monitor and the command room, bridge or periscope in the other.

DiverDan · 10-30-06, 09:07 PM

I agree... few games really benefit from multiple displays, but this would definately be one of them.

Thanks for the info...

10-29-06, 01:01 PM	#1
DiverDan Watch Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: North Carolina, USA Posts: 24 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Hi-Res and/or Dual displays Ahoy ALL, I need some guidance on increasing my screen resolution and/or using dual displays. I have a Dell XPS (Gen2) with a bunch of memory and a Nvidia 6800GT. I currently use it a 1024x768 (highest default setting) and am very happy with it, but I would like more screen real estate. I've read the community manual and followed the instructions for the Compatibilty Program (since I'm using SP2). But upon installation, I cannot find the program, even though a dialog box states it installed correctly. It's not in my START menu. Eliminating that step and copy the cfg and dll to the SH3 home directory results in an error as soon as the game is started. I do play Far Cry at 2048 res using two monitors, so I know my system is capable of it. I guess my questions are: Why can't I find the Windows Application Compatibility Toolkit ? What needs to be edited in the cfg file? Can I use one monitor in 2048 mode, or do I need to span the display across two monitors? Any help would be greatly appreciated!

10-29-06, 01:56 PM	#2
tycho102 Ace of the Deep Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 1,100 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	The graphics are "stretched" to fill the display. Everything will be out of proportion in a 16:9 aspect. You are better off using 1600x1200, or using four (!!!) screens in order to keep it 4:3 aspect. But I believe it's possible to game across two monitors. You absolutely have to install the ACT to be able to do it. You can also play the game at 1600x1200 without installing ACT. __________________ My little Silent Hunter 4 repository

10-30-06, 04:50 PM	#6
Dantenoc Captain Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Ensenada, B.C., Mexico Posts: 504 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Having a wide screen will do you no good... It'll just stretch the graphics to fit the screen but will distort the whole game by doing it. If anything, try the four monitor approach previously suggested so that you maintain aspect ratio. Anyhow, the game itself doesn't support multiple displays, and it's a real shame too. Very few games cry out for the multiple display support more than this one... It would be great if you could have the nav-map in one monitor and the command room, bridge or periscope in the other. __________________ Going to U-boot school : http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=88922 http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=90234 http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=88961 http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=97682

10-29-06, 03:23 PM	#3
DiverDan Watch Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: North Carolina, USA Posts: 24 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Thanks Tycho, On the ACT, do you know the name of the executable so that I can run it? It does not appear in my Start Menu, even though a dialog box stated that it installed correctly. On the cfg file, do I have to edit the RES line to the resolution I'm trying to obtain? I will probably not use two displays because of the display bezels being in the middle (I use two, 20" LCDs). I think my biggest problem is finding the ACT program. Did anyone else have this problem? Thanks in advance!

10-29-06, 08:52 PM	#4
Inbred Pest Swabbie Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Pennsylvania, USA Posts: 6 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I run dual displays, and would really like to use one display for my TV tuner (for those long rides out to the patrol grid), other web sub data I use while playing, etc., but everytime I run the game with dual displays (through NVIEW) I lock up the game when the mouse gets near the border of the other monitor. So I gave up long ago and just disable my second display every time I play. Although, I haven't tried trying to span the game over two displays, that may work fine. OT, if anyone has a workaround for my problem, I would be one happy sailor.

10-30-06, 01:20 AM	#5
DiverDan Watch Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: North Carolina, USA Posts: 24 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Finally figured it out. I was able to use both displays, but because of the screen bezels (as thin as they were), the game wasn't as enjoyable. Imagine a black line running vertically down the middle of the display. Maybe I'll eventually upgrade one of these displays to a widescreen with higher res... Thanks to both of you!

10-30-06, 09:07 PM	#7
DiverDan Watch Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: North Carolina, USA Posts: 24 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I agree... few games really benefit from multiple displays, but this would definately be one of them. Thanks for the info...