Faux TH2Go - Try Before You Buy!!!

Discussions about getting games to run in a Multi-Mon setup.
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skipclarke
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Faux TH2Go - Try Before You Buy!!!

Post by skipclarke »

Okay, so I had this idea. See, I loaded up NWN on my nice 30" panel, using Bootcamp on my Mac Pro. I've started the game three times, and for various reasons, never been able to finish. I thought, "Hey, load it up on your 30 inch, get this massive view, and blow through it before NWN2 comes out."

So, I loaded it up, and boy was I disappointed. The max zoom distance was the same as every other install I've done (1280x800, 1680x1050 and 1920x1200) and the game just looked big and blocky. I was hoping for some TH2Go-style detail, but none was to be had.

Then, I had to load some custom resolutions into Windows for my Detailed Reports as the Dell 3007WFP and the Mac Pro driver combination doesn't provide 1680x1050 or 1440x900. And I thought, "I wonder if I can plug in a TH2Go-style res and play centered. I'd want to use the native width, so it didn't scale."

This way I could "try out" TH2Go on my current rig, since I don't currently have the money to buy the three monitors (Mac Pros aren't cheap) and the 7300 in my Mac Pro wouldn't push the max TH2Go res very well. For something near the pixels of 1680x1050, I could try the 3.75:1 or 4:1 of Surround Gaming. (See all the calculations at the end of the post.)

In my mind, this is a great way for people to be able to see if they like playing in TH2Go before laying down all the cash. I think that is one of the biggest fears in TH2Go - laying out the cash for the TH2Go and three monitors, and not knowing if you will like it. And, this could help us in finding games that would support TH2Go, as you can see if (and how) the engine supports the Surround aspect ratios.

I wouldn't recommend using this as a substitution for the TH2Go. The actual screen size is pretty small (even on the 30") and not very immersive. All this has made me want is to get my TH2Go set up ASAP.


Leisure Suit Larry: Magna Cum Laude

2560x1280 = 2:1


2560x853 = 3:1


2560x682 = 3.75:1 (i.e., 3840x1024 TH2Go)


2560x640 = 4:1 (i.e., 3072x768 TH2Go)



NeverWinter Nights

2560x1280 = 2:1


2560x853 = 3:1


2560x682 = 3.75:1 (i.e., 3840x1024 TH2Go)


2560x640 = 4:1 (i.e., 3072x768 TH2Go)




Black & White 2

2560x1280 = 2:1


2560x853 = 3:1


2560x682 = 3.75:1 (i.e., 3840x1024 TH2Go)


2560x640 = 4:1 (i.e., 3072x768 TH2Go)


Resolutions and Ratios:

"Normal Widescreen"
2560x1600 = 16:10 = 1.6:1 = 4,096,000 pixels
1920x1200 = 16:10 = 1.6:1 = 2,304,000 pixels
1920x1080 = 16:9 = 1.78:1 = 2,073,600 pixels
1680x1050 = 16:10 = 1.6:1 = 1,764,000 pixels

"Normal TH2Go"
3840x1024 = 3x5:4 = 15:4 = 3.75:1 = 3,932,160 pixels
3072x768 = 3x4:3 = 12:3 = 4:1 = 2,359,296 pixels

"Wide TH2Go"
3840x768 = 3x15:9 = 15:3 = 5:1 = 2,949,120 pixels
3840x720 = 3x16:9 = 16:3 = 5.33:1 = 2,764,800 pixels

"Faux TH2Go"
2560x1280 = 2:1 = 3,276,800 pixels
2560x853 = 3:1 = 2,183,680 pixels
2560x682 = 3.75:1 = 1,745,920 pixels
2560x640 = 4:1 = 1,638,400 pixels
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Paddy the Wak
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Faux TH2Go - Try Before You Buy!!!

Post by Paddy the Wak »

Hey ... great stuff ... well done ! ... 8)
I had wondered about this myself but didn't think it would work so I dismissed the idea ...

Anyway ... you did it ... and as you say a great way to try before you buy ... all be it without the full scale immersion of 3 screens.

Go get that TH2Go! ... go ... go ... go ! ... :D
Microtia
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Faux TH2Go - Try Before You Buy!!!

Post by Microtia »

That's pretty damn neat :o. I think I may have to try this when I get home.
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skipclarke
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Post by skipclarke »

Thanks. I'm interested to use this trick to see what WSGF solutions will work for TH2Go solutions. Then I can get those of you with real systems to test them.
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Post by skipclarke »

This worked just fine for me. Can someone with a TH2Go download the demo from http://www.warworld.net and see who it runs for you?

WarWorld

2560x1280 = 2:1


2560x853 = 3:1


2560x682 = 3.75:1 (i.e., 3840x1024 TH2Go)


2560x640 = 4:1 (i.e., 3072x768 TH2Go)
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Paddy the Wak
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Post by Paddy the Wak »

Hey buddy ...
I did try this game demo when it first came out and yes it did work with the TH2G ...
I don't know why I didn't post it ... I must have gotten distracted and then forgot ... :roll: :oops:
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Faux TH2Go - Try Before You Buy!!!

Post by Kimmelator »

How can I do this with my ATI Radeon X800GTO?

Thanks.
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skipclarke
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Post by skipclarke »

Dunno. Do you have a 30" panel? Can you set custom resolutions in your ATI control panel?
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Post by Kimmelator »

Right now I have a 21 inch CRT monitor. I was thinking about getting one or two projectors to play rFactor. I have fiddled around with the ATI Catalyst Control Center and could not get any resolutions wider than 16:9. I also read the ATI Catalyst Tweak Guide and a couple other links from there but was unable to find anything on how to get custom resolutions on my ATI card.

Here is my plan: I was hoping to use one (or two) projectors to display rFactor on my white wall (or a DIY screen) with a very wide picture like that of the Triplehead2go. If you have any suggestions I am all ears. Thanks!
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skipclarke
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Post by skipclarke »

You could get a DualHead2Go. That might work. Or, you could get another projector and get a TripleHead2Go.
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Post by JKeefe »

For two projectors you don't need anything from Matrox. Just hook them up to the two outputs on your video card, span your dekstop across them, and select the appropriate resolution in rFactor.

Depending on the resolution of your projectors, you might be limited by your ATI card. I think the max res you will be able to run is 2048x768 (double 1024x768).

This should be in its own thread.
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Faux TH2Go - Try Before You Buy!!!

Post by P-Storm »

Found this topic, and do you think it will work with a 22' widescreen? (native 1680x1050)
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Post by JKeefe »

With a 1680x1050 monitor you could do a faux triplehead test at 1920x480.
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Mergatroid
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Faux TH2Go - Try Before You Buy!!!

Post by Mergatroid »

With a 1680x1050 monitor you could do a faux triplehead test at 1920x480.


How is this possible if the max Horizontal resolution of a 1680x1050 monitor is 1680?

Faux th2go for 1680 is 1680x448
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Post by Tanuki »

I was bored and decided to try this on my CRT.

1920x480

http://img507.imageshack.us/img507/8898/sonicriders200710221932gp6.jpg

http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/9947/sonicriders200710221932iu4.jpg

http://img507.imageshack.us/img507/4189/sonicriders200710221931fz5.jpg

The third happened a few seconds into the race. Do you think it is game specific or is the monitor saying it does not like the resolution? I do not want to boink my monitor.

My native is 1920x1200.

The image outputs at 1920x1080. Should I only see the 480 if it works properly?
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skipclarke
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Post by skipclarke »

What game is that?
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Post by Tanuki »

[url]http://www.widescreengamingforum.com/node/8165]
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Faux TH2Go - Try Before You Buy!!!

Post by ViciousXUSMC »

I have a big monitor 37" but the res is only 1920x1080 so wonder how well this will work.

It would be a good way to "try before I buy" though if I can get it working even just a little bit.

Not sure how to really get started though.
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skipclarke
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Post by skipclarke »

Try setting up a custom resolution for 1920x810 (2:1) or 1920x640 (3:1). 1920x480 is an actual low-end TH2Go resolutions, so you could try that as well.
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Post by ViciousXUSMC »

I cant for the life of me figure out how to get a custom res in the ATI panel.

I did find that ever since I updated to 8.10 a while back I have not had crossfire since!

It lead me to update to the newest 8.12 that still has the issue, but Asus has a bios update that fixes it so I have the new bios for my mobo too.

Up to 60fps pretty constant with vsync on Fallout 3 maxed out now.
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