Unstretched 1024x768 resolution on Widescreen LCD

[huong23]

My Dell Inspiron 8600 has a native resolution of 1280x800 on its 15.4" Widescreen LCD (WXGA). Since the built in GeforceFX Go5200 doesn't have OSx86 driver working, I am stuck on 1024x768 resolution. The VESA bios doesn't support 1280x800 (widescreen)...so only 1024x768 works. In addition, the VESA bios stretches 1024x768 to fill up the whole screen, resulting in blurry / enlarged text under OSX, making everything very hard to read. However, there's an option in my BIOS to set "Video Expansion" mode to Disabled ("Enabled" leaves the video card free to upscale lower resolution to fill up the screen...this looks horrible on a widescreen LCD). Now I am running 1024x768 under OSx86, but it isn't stretched anymore, so texts are sharp and clear. I'd rather have 2 black bars on both sides than blurry text.

 

So for anyone with a widescreen LCD under OSx86 (where lower resolution is stretched and higher than native resolution results in the dock being cut off), you can try to look for an option in the BIOS to disable "Video Expansion." Hope this helps.

[tyrant]

my friends widescreen viao only supports 1024x768 but there is a bios option to stretch lcd screen, doesn't look too bad in osx and doesn't change the res/screen for windows

 

i think i'm pretty lucky with a dell d600 with 1600x1200

[reedog117]

I also have an Inspiron 8600. If you want more screen real estate, you can up the resolution to 1280x1024. I did this with my 1680x1050 LCD, and I do have a bit more room for windows, and it just looks a bit better.

 

Also, as a warning to anyone else, don't try to type up a quick assignment in Word with 1280x1024 stretched on a 1680x1050 LCD. You'll kill your eyes in the process.

[huong23]

I also have an Inspiron 8600.  If you want more screen real estate, you can up the resolution to 1280x1024.  I did this with my 1680x1050 LCD, and I do have a bit more room for windows, and it just looks a bit better.

 

Also, as a warning to anyone else, don't try to type up a quick assignment in Word with 1280x1024 stretched on a 1680x1050 LCD.  You'll kill your eyes in the process.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

My GeforceFX Go5200 won't go up any higher than 1024x768 in VESA mode...and yes, it kills my eye to read text at 1024x768 stretched to 1280x800.

[Dr. Ngogo]

I got Darwin installed on my Dell D600, but no graphics acceleration of USB/PCMCIA/on-board NIC recognized.

 

Any ideas?

 

Thanks.

[Racuerex]

I got Darwin installed on my Dell D600, but no graphics acceleration of USB/PCMCIA/on-board NIC recognized.

 

Any ideas?

 

Thanks.

 

 

ditto.

[holden caulfield]

I have an inspiron 8600 with a Go5200 - - I changed the BIOS option- but it makes it a very small box with black boarders all around. After spending so much time in this "stretched" mode, it surely looks different... but way too small. Any ideas?

[holden caulfield]

Well, I found out what I was doing wrong - - - at the prompt, you need to make sure you use X instead of x when typing "Graphics Mode"="1280X1024X32@85" - - I was typing little x and not getting anything... now im in 1280?1024 with the black bars on he sides (about an inch and a half on both sides) I can't seem to decide whether or not I like this or if I should let it stretch in 1280X1024... I like not having it stretched, but I feel like I am wasting a lot of room on my widescreen display. I'll fool around and let you know if I come up with a solution

[kernalzero]

I've been having some trouble changing the resolution of my Radeon 9000 on my Dell D600. I tried editing the com.apple.Boot.plist file by adding Graphics Mode 1400X1050X32@85 but it won't even let me save it/overwrite it. Anyone have any suggestions. I don't use mac's much...appreciate any input

[silentbob]

I've been having some trouble changing the resolution of my Radeon 9000 on my Dell D600. I tried editing the com.apple.Boot.plist file by adding Graphics Mode 1400X1050X32@85 but it won't even let me save it/overwrite it. Anyone have any suggestions. I don't use mac's much...appreciate any input

 

 

You need to be root to edit com.apple.Boot.plist

[kernalzero]

You need to be root to edit com.apple.Boot.plist

 

 

i tried that, i used sudo -s, then nano com.apple.boot.plist....I plugged in what I wanted to then I tried saving and it told me I didn't have permission....lemme try repairing my permissions and rebooting, i'll see if that helps

[silentbob]

Try "sudo -su

[holden caulfield]

You need to be root to edit com.apple.Boot.plist

 

Here is what I have been doing - - (also not very used to mac)

 

I navigate to the info.plist through finder - then I open the file with text editor (via right click) - then I save a copy of the file on the desktop. Then, I drag the original info.plist to the trash (it will ask for your password) - then open up the info.plist I saved on my desktop and make your changes -- then save- -

Then, open terminal and do this:

 

EDIT:

 

sudo -s

password

cp -R /users/YOURUSERNAME/desktop/Info.plist /(sorry- was laying in bed and realized i gave you the wrong path- - i cant remember the path off the top of my head, but you should be able to see the path through finder.)

sorry for these half assed directions - - I will fix this tomorrow-

 

If you look through finder you should see Info.plist back in there - - (it will be your edited file)

 

hope that helps - -

Edited December 15, 2005 by holden caulfield

[kernalzero]

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>

<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple Computer//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">

<plist version="1.0">

<dict>

<key>Kernel</key>

<string>mach_kernel</string>

<key>Kernel Flags</key>

<string></string>

<key>Boot Graphics</key>

<string>Yes</string>

<key>Graphics Mode</key>

<string>1400X1050X32@85</string>

</dict>

</plist>

 

 

Is the bolded area in the correct location? I don't feel overly confident with tweaking this stuff on a mac so I want to get it right the first time. Thanks

[kernalzero]

Success!! I got impatient for replies and said screw it, i'll just mess it up. Well it worked out, I'm now running at 1400x1050 and loving every second of it.

 

what i did:

 

from terminal, navigated to /Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration

sudo -su

enter password for root access

nano com.apple.Boot.plist

 

added <key>Graphics Mode</key>

<string>1400X1050X32@85</string>

like shown above, save reboot....

 

I have read that you must use uppercase X to seperate the parts of your resolution. Hope this helps someone else

[39thRonin]

Just found out about a very cool program that may help you even more. Sudar - one of the forum members mention a program called DisplayConfigX (google it, please). On his system (a VESA 3 graphics card) her was able to get all the resolutions to show up in System prefs. This aspect did not work for me (still have a VESA 2), but what did work was that this little program allowed me to increase my monitor freq from 60 KHz to 85 KHz. My display is screaming at 1280x1024x32 @ 85 KHz!

 

You folks may want to try this one out just to increase your monitor frequency...

[kday]

Tried this program a few weeks ago with my ATI card. It created some pretty cool psychadelic looking effects on my widescreen laptop, but unfortunately, I couldn't see the GUI. I had to reinstall.

[onefastdriver]

For you guys running 1400X1050 resolution on Dell D600.

 

Are you getting this resolution on the laptop display or on an external display.

 

I'm using 10.4.3 (DVD boot install) and I've tried all of the tips listed above plus deleted all of the ATI*.kext files in /system/library/extensions but the best I can get on the Laptop display is 1024X768.

 

Thanks