Should I move to wide screen for gaming?

xerin7 · Post by **xerin7** » 12 Feb 2007, 21:12

I'm thinking about upgrading my 4:3 CRT to an LCD and need to decide whether to move to widescreen or not. I have no plans to watch movies on my pc, so widescreen is irrelevant there.

Could someone explain to me the pros/cons to widescreen gaming? I realize I'm asking for feedback from a group that is already sold on widescreen, but I would appreciate any insights you may have. Thanks!

mustangdelta · Post by **mustangdelta** » 12 Feb 2007, 21:28

Pros
[list]More deskspace
Great improvement in LCD Technology = great picture
See more of the game
(This works really well with RTS or any games that has sidebars)
[/list:u]

Con
[list]Expensive for good quality large LCD's
Not all games support widescreen
(but then again thats where this forum is a godsend) [/list:u]

el presidente · Post by **el presidente** » 12 Feb 2007, 21:52

i would go for it, the only problem I can see is if your video card isn't up to par with the native resolutions you'll lag like crazy [not good for gaming obviously]

TigerClaw · Post by **TigerClaw** » 12 Feb 2007, 22:17

I definitely recommend going with a widescreen monitor. Besides gaming, You'll be able to watch HD videos the way they were meant to be seen.

xerin7 · Post by **xerin7** » 12 Feb 2007, 22:25

I won't be watching any movies on my monitor, since I have a home theater system for that. The pc will be used ONLY for gaming, so I'm trying to understand if there are any compelling reasons for getting a wide screen LCD vs. a 4:3 LCD.

The only pro I've heard so far that is unique to wide screen (as opposed to LCDs in general) is that you can sometimes see more of the game. But looking through the list here, it seems that the opposite is the case for most games (since they are Vert- or stretched ugly).

I can definitely see going for a wide screen if there were more games supporting hor+, but the games I would currently want to play (WOW, Vanguard, Heroes of M&M 5, etc.) don't support that.

Given that, is there any real reason to get a wide screen at this point? Any sense on how long, if ever, it will take for games to generally provide hor+ support?

DaFox · Post by **DaFox** » 12 Feb 2007, 22:29

Go for it, once you go widescreen you never go back.

Besides theres no such thing as a 4:3 LCD ;)

Gecko · Post by **Gecko** » 13 Feb 2007, 03:05

Yes, you should.

It's a bit more expensive and you need a decent video card, but hey, if you want to enjoy the benefits, there's always a price, isn't there? :wink:

It's worth it, IMHO.

JohnnyWakko · Post by **JohnnyWakko** » 13 Feb 2007, 03:37

I say turn your 4:3 monitor on its side (even if your GPU won't turn the image just stare at it like that for a minute) so its in Portrait mode, then after a a few minutes, turn it back to it's normal position and get a sense of how much better a screen it to view when it is WIDE then when it is tall.

This should give you a sneak preview of the sensation you will get when your screen goes wide.

Remember, your normal vision is about 270degrees, and is wide, not tall. You don't see many humans with thier eyes above the other do you...well maybe a few people in the Whitehouse, but hey.

CodE-E · Post by **CodE-E** » 13 Feb 2007, 15:42

I can definitely see going for a wide screen if there were more games supporting hor+, but the games I would currently want to play (WOW, Vanguard, Heroes of M&M 5, etc.) don't support that.

Pay no attention to the few critiques on this forum about WoW's widescreen implementation. Anyone who has actually played WoW in widescreen will tell you that it's much better than at 4:3.

I bought my widescreen monitor over 2 years ago particularly for WoW. Back then my Dell 2005FPW was damn expensive (and I don't make much money and am generally a bit stingy), but it was definitely worth it, imho. Widescreen's great in WoW as it lets you use lots of UI addons and chat windows without blocking up your view.

Post by **Abram** » 13 Feb 2007, 16:02

Yes.

The only thing I've been able to bitch about uswing widescreen is that not ALL my games support it. Though thatnks to sq1zzy (right?) that list is getting smaller.

mitcharf · Post by **mitcharf** » 13 Feb 2007, 20:11

Pay no attention to the few critiques on this forum about WoW's widescreen implementation. Anyone who has actually played WoW in widescreen will tell you that it's much better than at 4:3.

I bought my widescreen monitor over 2 years ago particularly for WoW. Back then my Dell 2005FPW was damn expensive (and I don't make much money and am generally a bit stingy), but it was definitely worth it, imho. Widescreen's great in WoW as it lets you use lots of UI addons and chat windows without blocking up your view.

Yeah, I was about to chime in with the same thing. WoW is one game where the vert- nature doesn't bother me, for exactly the reasons outlined above. Even though you're seeing slightly less of the world, you have a lot more room for UI stuff. I always felt like a large percentage of my screen was occupied by UI junk before I went to widescreen. Now I have enough real estate for it to properly spread out and not obstruct my view.

Gabbo · Post by **Gabbo** » 14 Feb 2007, 02:46

Bah...

Stick with a 4:3. They are supported by EVERY game out there! Widescreen is just a fad... like parachute pants and bell bottoms. Within 2 years, we will all be going back to 4:3 or 5:4 monitors and we will be like "wow! I can see so much more ground and sky!"

Mark my words...

Post by **Paddy the Wak** » 14 Feb 2007, 16:33

Bah...

Stick with a 4:3. They are supported by EVERY game out there! Widescreen is just a fad... like parachute pants and bell bottoms. Within 2 years, we will all be going back to 4:3 or 5:4 monitors and we will be like "wow! I can see so much more ground and sky!"

Mark my words...

:w00t ... I love it ... :lol:

Post by **g00seberry** » 14 Feb 2007, 16:47

Yea, you shouldn't really ask a question like that here. You're bound to get a biased reply. No one here really likes widescreen at all.

thechemist · Post by **thechemist** » 14 Feb 2007, 16:52

Off course you should make the jump to widescreen. I personally think it'll become the new standard.

misadlouhy · Post by **misadlouhy** » 14 Feb 2007, 20:39

buy huge 4:3 for gaming

however, i am glad i choosed 16:10 over 4:3

thedeadguy · Post by **thedeadguy** » 14 Feb 2007, 22:02

i used to have a square screen and i thought it was awesome, then i went to widescreen dell 24, and i got to tell you that looking threw this to a square = annoying. it's just so small looking.

JetSonic · Post by **JetSonic** » 15 Feb 2007, 00:13

Bah...

Stick with a 4:3. They are supported by EVERY game out there! Widescreen is just a fad... like parachute pants and bell bottoms. Within 2 years, we will all be going back to 4:3 or 5:4 monitors and we will be like "wow! I can see so much more ground and sky!"

Mark my words...

This is the same guy who said TV was just a fad... stick to Radio!!! lol

Same guy who said automobiles are a fad, dont worry in ten years we will all be riding horse and buggies still.

Why don't you save us all the agony of future posts and just write your manifesto on how you hate technology and how it is corrupting the world

Gabbo · Post by **Gabbo** » 16 Feb 2007, 01:11

[quote]Bah...

Stick with a 4:3. They are supported by EVERY game out there! Widescreen is just a fad... like parachute pants and bell bottoms. Within 2 years, we will all be going back to 4:3 or 5:4 monitors and we will be like "wow! I can see so much more ground and sky!"

Mark my words...

This is the same guy who said TV was just a fad... stick to Radio!!! lol

Same guy who said automobiles are a fad, dont worry in ten years we will all be riding horse and buggies still.

Why don't you save us all the agony of future posts and just write your manifesto on how you hate technology and how it is corrupting the world

Wow...

you are pretty thick Jetsonic.

It's called sarcasm you twit.

Seriously... this is the second time in a short period where you are attacking my posts. You honestly can't be this stupid can you?

JohnnyWakko · Post by **JohnnyWakko** » 16 Feb 2007, 01:28

Poor Gabbo. :lol:

We really are trying to overcome our bigotism together aren't we Gabbo.

So, how iare you going with the AASTA group? (Antitechnology-Antisamentic-Stuckin-yesteryear-Technophobics-Anonymous.) I hear the Doctor said we will be learning how to embrace the Futa this week. Which ward are we meeting in this week? I hope its the one near the medicine store, again, we found of heaps of cool stuff in thier last time, until we saw the infurnal techno-evil type writer in the corner...oh how scary was that. Didn't we run!

Widescreen Gaming Forum