Best video card for Windows 98 16:9 widescreen Desktop

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cricket
Posts: 17
Joined: Mon 18 Apr, 2022 9:33 pm

Best video card for Windows 98 16:9 widescreen Desktop

Post by cricket »

What's the best choice for a video card for a Win98 widescreen system on PCem? is it even possible?
Any help and suggestions would be greatly appreciated
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leilei
Posts: 1039
Joined: Fri 25 Apr, 2014 4:47 pm

Re: Best video card for Windows 98 16:9 widescreen Desktop

Post by leilei »

Banshee/Voodoo3 have the VRAM necessary to handle contemporary widescreen resolutions (1280x720, 1600x900, 1920x1080), however Win9x monitor drivers don't expose them. You'll have to Powerstrip them in, probably.
cricket
Posts: 17
Joined: Mon 18 Apr, 2022 9:33 pm

Re: Best video card for Windows 98 16:9 widescreen Desktop

Post by cricket »

Hi, thanks for your suggestion.

I tried, but I couldn't get it to work right.

I managed to add the desired resolution (i.e. 1280x720) but when I set it it looks stretched and out of proportions. It's as if it's trying to show a 4:3 res but it stretches it.

I tried 1280x720 (LCD) Any, Lock Total Geometry, and "16:9"
As much as I tried, none of the different options made a difference, maybe I'm missing something (hopefully).

You can get an idea of how it looks by the preview. Here's the comparison:

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tr.StEalTH
Posts: 55
Joined: Sun 12 Feb, 2017 5:58 pm

Re: Best video card for Windows 98 16:9 widescreen Desktop

Post by tr.StEalTH »

pcem will stretch 640x480 and all other 4-3 rez to 16-9 and it looks good. I've never tried to change that, but if I was to think along those lines. I'd think about turning that off first. Most games will still run in 4.3 anyways So you would have black bars inside of pcem. :shock:
tr.StEalTH
Posts: 55
Joined: Sun 12 Feb, 2017 5:58 pm

Re: Best video card for Windows 98 16:9 widescreen Desktop

Post by tr.StEalTH »

Or maybe I'm just thinking about what happens with wide screens. I say if its not broke don't fix it. Lower rez is faster on most older computers, just stick with that and let pcem do what it does best!
cricket
Posts: 17
Joined: Mon 18 Apr, 2022 9:33 pm

Re: Best video card for Windows 98 16:9 widescreen Desktop

Post by cricket »

Amazing tip TR!
On PCem I set the resolution as "Custom" and 1280x720 and now it looks normal!
Thank you very much!
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