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Getting an Inspiron 8600 - but what resoloution?

post #1 of 14
3/1/04 at 7:22pm
Thread Starter 
Ok, I've decided that I will be buying an i8600 within 2 or 3 days. Now, before I order, I want to make sure I order a screen of the right resloution.

I am going to be doing a lot of programming (Unix, C, Java in Eclipse, C# in VS.NET), so the higher the rsoloution, the better from an applications perspective.

But I'm also intending to game a lot on this machine. Considering I'll be running most of my games in 1024x768, should I just get the WXGA screen, or should I aim for more resoloution? What's a high resoloution which scales down acceptably to 1024x768. Keep in mind I'm going to be playing in 4:3 unless the game natively supports widecreen displays.

Thanks.
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post #2 of 14
3/1/04 at 7:38pm
I'm not sure how bad things scale down, but the XPS - designed for gaming - has the WUXGA screen...
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post #3 of 14
3/1/04 at 9:26pm
I had many of the same questions and ultimately decided to get the WUXGA. I truly wanted a 17" screen but there are none out yet that will hold a battery charge wirth a hoot. So I went with the 8600 with it in mind that I may sell it when/if a Dothan 17" machine comes around.

I was scared of the 1920X1200 but I am very happy with it. I play a lot of Warcraft TFT and it is absolutely gorgeous on the screen. I also sclaed the video down to a 4x3 and it took up most of the screen, say 2 inches on each side were blacked out. I would recommend the WUXGA ... hey you always have the 30 day return thingy
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post #4 of 14
3/1/04 at 10:25pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks for the input : ).

Actually, I wanted to run some games (like NWN, HL2, Doom3) in 1024x768 because they probably won't run very smoothly on WUXGA native.

So my question is actually about what resoloutions scale down resonably well to 1024x768. Of course, I do realize I'll be seeing those black bars in the sides : (.
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post #5 of 14
3/1/04 at 10:42pm
NWN ran sweet on my 8600, I had the WUXGA screen. I liked that it actually had a setting for 1920x1200. I think a lot more games are going to be including this resolution, hopefully DOOM 3 and HL2 will.
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post #6 of 14
3/1/04 at 11:18pm
True. Keep in mind, that just because Doom 3 and HL2 may support WUXGA doesn't mean the video card has the horsepower to run it. Likewise NWN waas primitive even when it came out several years ago. I seriously doubt the first D3 and HL2 @ 1920x1200 will be playable on our books with the 9600 video card.

If you plan on gaming a lot the WXGA will give you a lot of breathing room as obviously lower res will be easier to drive. You want a middle of the road solution, go for WSXGA+. That said, the best advice I can give you is to go ahead and check out these resolutions on a laptop at Bestbuy or something and see how you like it. Who knows, you may be in love with the WUXGA as a lot of my 8600 brothers who have it do so check it out.


Quote:
Originally Posted by natedog81
NWN ran sweet on my 8600, I had the WUXGA screen. I liked that it actually had a setting for 1920x1200. I think a lot more games are going to be including this resolution, hopefully DOOM 3 and HL2 will.
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post #7 of 14
3/1/04 at 11:36pm
I wish i had an 5650 nwn runs much better on it.
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post #8 of 14
3/2/04 at 2:41am
If you can, go out and look at the WUXGA screen. Some love it, I do, however some hate it like my wife. I have had no probs playing games at lower res and if fact can't tell from my Home pc.

Go take a look at it and if you can't they do have a 30 day return. It's a great screen but it's not for everybody.
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post #9 of 14
3/2/04 at 10:58am
Thread Starter 
Guys, I'm about to make a buying decision very soon. Can anyone offer their expereince of playing games at 1024x768 with a screen that has higher resoloution than the WXGA. Preferably the WSXGA resoloution.
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post #10 of 14
3/2/04 at 11:09pm
I cant say you'll like the stretching especially with the WUXGA screen. WSXGA should offer better results but WXGA will offer the best
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post #11 of 14
3/2/04 at 11:15pm
I am very happy with My WSXGA+ screen. It seems to me to be just about the right size--fits two pages nicely.. I think WUXGA is just a little too small fontwise for my tast.
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post #12 of 14
3/2/04 at 11:34pm
you can increase the DPI so the fotns look normal
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post #13 of 14
3/3/04 at 12:43am

Screen Sizes

This has been my hang up for a long time... XGA or SXGA ?

I drove a 35 min the other day to go to a best buy to see if i could see a
1280 x 800(xga) and a 1680 x 1050(sxga).

The only thing they had was a zt3000 at 1280 x 800, i would love to see a
1680 x 1050 but have been unable to find one. Im worried that the text will be
too small....


So im still unsure which to get..

There were some postings here at sometime about the sxga screen having some problems.. Not sure what it was all about.. was this because of the sxga or is it because of the manufacturer of the screen.?

What display is the one to get? and how do i know what im getting?
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post #14 of 14
3/3/04 at 12:58am
Well you can see these issues marked Screen Issues it sa sticky thread please go read it
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