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    Using a flat panel LCD TV as a monitor?

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by AtLarge, Aug 6, 2010.

  1. AtLarge

    AtLarge Notebook Geek

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    Hi all, I have a Dell D800 laptop and I need a second monitor to use at the same time. Before I expensed the cash, I tried using my 20'' LCD Toshiba TV using the VGA connection. I have the GE Force 5200 (I think) video card. It worked fine but the screen does fill the entire area. How do I get rid of the large black margins on the left and the right? I think that is called 4:3 vs Letterbox? Changing resolution only makes everything smaller :confused:
     
    AtLarge, Aug 6, 2010
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  2. Krane

    Krane Notebook Prophet

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    No, actually that's called "pillarboxing" actually. And it could be due to the 4:3 aspect ratio signal you're feeding the television. If the signal is 4:3 and you use the TV to change the ratio, it will fill the screen, but will also incur some measure of distortion since the picture will be "stretched" to fill the space. This may or may not be something you can live with?

    Check the user manual or the menu of your TV for the switch to change to wide-screen.
     
    Krane, Aug 6, 2010
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  3. AtLarge

    AtLarge Notebook Geek

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    DOH! Your right. I didn't think of that. I'll have to try it. Thanks.
     
    AtLarge, Aug 6, 2010
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  4. AtLarge

    AtLarge Notebook Geek

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    Well, bummer. I can get it to fill the screen completely but yeah, it's stretches everything. Any way to fix that?
     
    AtLarge, Aug 6, 2010
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  5. Thierry19

    Thierry19 Coffee enthusiast

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    Do you use the monitor as the primary screen, do you stretch the desktop to second screen or do you duplicate the desktop on both monitors?
     
    Thierry19, Aug 6, 2010
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