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    Gaming on 17 inch MBP unibody resolution question

    Discussion in 'Apple and Mac OS X' started by jackpfree, Jun 10, 2009.

  1. jackpfree

    jackpfree Notebook Consultant

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    I just want to know if games (world of warcraft mainly) look good in 1680 by 1050 resolution, and not fuzzy or distorted.


    My current laptop is a vostro 1700 with a 1440 by 900 resolution and if i use any resolution below that resolution, games dont look too sharp.
     
    jackpfree, Jun 10, 2009
    #1
  2. JMS3096

    JMS3096 Notebook Enthusiast

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    Games fail to look sharp on your Vostro because it has an LCD panel. Unlike the CRT screens of yore, LCDs can only display an image at a certain resolution- the "native" resolution. Most computers have ways around this by interpolating to a higher or lower resolution,but, as you have noticed, it looks like crap. So, while WoW might not look too hot on a 17" MBP at 1680x1050, it will look amazing at 1920x1200.
     
    JMS3096, Jun 10, 2009
    #2
  3. Luke1708

    Luke1708 Notebook Virtuoso NBR Reviewer

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    i read that if it has the same aspect ratio, there would be no distortion.
     
    Luke1708, Jun 10, 2009
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  4. The_Moo™

    The_Moo™ Here we go again.....

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    ^^^^ that is correct
     
    The_Moo™, Jun 10, 2009
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  5. JMS3096

    JMS3096 Notebook Enthusiast

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    No DISTORTION, but there WILL be dithering. It's the same is if you took a 500x500 pixel image and blew it up to fit a 617x617 display. Even with the very best interpolation, the image will not look as good as if it were 617x617 to start out with, or if a display OF THE SAME SIZE were 500x500 to start out with.

    In some cases, a lower resolution than native may be acceptable IF and ONLY if there is a whole number of MONITOR pixels available to each display pixel-e.g., if a monitor has a native 1024x768 resolution, a display of 512x334 resolution may be acceptably sharp.

    If you are dealing in fractional pixels on an LCD screen, display quality will be below optimal. Fact of life.

    If you want to lower the resolution on your Vostro while still retaining sharpness, your best bet is to go to 720x450.
     
    JMS3096, Jun 10, 2009
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