Problems using a Samsung LCD TV as a monitor

[kennyrh]

I have a Samsung 2032MW Syncmaster 20" TV for HD gaming - which is great for playing close-up. More recently I've tried using it as a monitor to play my doujin shmups etc but, unlike my ageing Sony Trinitron 17" monitor, I get some annoying problem where the game is too big for the display.

I assume this is because the LCD is widescreen and, no matter what resolution i try i have been unable to resolve the loss of part of the screen.

So . . .what if I bought a widescreen PC monitor ?? Would i have the same problem ?

Or maybe there's a solution that I've overlooked . . .

[antron]

how are you connecting?
when using HDMI my samsung has a true-scan option that shows the entire screen.

[kennyrh]

Yep . . .I'm using HDMI lead too. I have to use some weird resolution to get desktop right but, despite fiddling about with the NVidia control panel, I've had no luck with the games.

I'm not much of an expert in these matters, so if you can give me any hints or tips it would be appreciated.

[antron]

Yep . . .I'm using HDMI lead too. I have to use some weird resolution to get desktop right but, despite fiddling about with the NVidia control panel, I've had no luck with the games.

I'm not much of an expert in these matters, so if you can give me any hints or tips it would be appreciated.

what view is the TV in? normal, wide, 3:4, 9:16, zoom? do you have "just scan"? (sorry, I stated "true scan" before)

edit:
your manual says:
Component / HDMI mode : Wide / 16:9 / Zoom1 / Zoom2 / 4:3

what is it set to? try 16:9, set it with the 'P.SIZE' button.

[kennyrh]

Okay . . .I never thought to tweak the TV options. Yes . . .I have all those options in the menu but "wide" gives me slightly more viewing area than 16:9.

I can find nothing in my picture menu that relates to any kind of "scan" options.

As i said. I'm running an Nvidia card and have it set for dual screen "clone" setting in the setup options. Of course, the Sony 17" monitor looks a bit "squashed" but my desktop display and web pages fit perfectly on the Samsung TV.

The resolution I'm using is 1152 x 692 which, I assume, is the native resolution of the TV. But i'm probably wrong there because it seems low.

[antron]

your manual:
http://downloadcenter.samsung.com/conte ... -01Eng.pdf

says the optimum res is: 1680 x 1050 @ 60 Hz

[kennyrh]

Thanks for the link, antron. Very handy because, for some strange reason, I didn't get a proper manual with mine - just an installation guiide.

Having read it, I've tried a few things but no luck yet. I think the problem could be related to the way my TV and monitor are set up in the Nvidia controls . . .so i'm going to set up the Samsung on it's own and see what happens.

Anyway, thanks for all your help - much appreciated.

[antron]

you may want to try the VGA input too.

[kennyrh]

Yeah . . .I only use HDMI for the PC because I have the XB 360 connected via VGA. Failing all else, I'll certainly give it a bash . . .