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[Type_Raver]

This is a thread designed for us to discuss modern (or retro) gaming using a 4:3 CRT monitor/tv.

Who here games on a 4:3 CRT monitor or TV, and how do you find gaming while playing modern games designed for 16:9 screens?

Im about to pull the trigger on an old 22' CRT monitor which has a max resolution of 2048x1536 @85hz, which is crazy!
I love the idea of playing modern games like cyberpunk 2077 on a CRT, though i wonder if the games will force 16:9 with black bars on the top/bottom, or will it allow us to play in the screens native aspect ration (4:3)?

Whats have your experiences been like?

 

[uncleslappy]

I would love to get a quality tube TV and have a little retro gaming corner, but I think my wife would shit. Tube TVs do not align with her french industrial decor in our house. I'll just rely on the scanline filter on my emulators.

 

[Type_Raver]

I would love to get a quality tube TV and have a little retro gaming corner, but I think my wife would shit. Tube TVs do not align with her french industrial decor in our house. I'll just rely on the scanline filter on my emulators.

You and I must live parallel lives, as I might face my wifes wrath once she discovers what I got! She even has a similar taste in decor to yours

 

[Allnamestakenlol]

I would love to get a quality tube TV and have a little retro gaming corner, but I think my wife would shit. Tube TVs do not align with her french industrial decor in our house. I'll just rely on the scanline filter on my emulators.

You and I must live parallel lives, as I might face my wifes wrath once she discovers what I got! She even has a similar taste in decor to yours

You guys don't have a man cave?

Would LOVE to get a quality tube tv/monitor. If only I could find one locally and that didn't cost an arm and leg.

 

[TKOFromTokyo]

 

[notseqi]

You and I must live parallel lives, as I might face my wifes wrath once she discovers what I got! She even has a similar taste in decor to yours

Maybe bolt some 'Live Love Laugh'-signs to it.

My N64, SNES and NES are sitting in boxes and I'm thinking about setting them up in the bedroom, there is enough space for a midsize CRT. Gotta find one first tho

 

[Type_Raver]

Cant see any systems connected, but it looks like you're ready to go!

Let us know what your experiences are like.

 

[PleaseDontBanMe]

u can't own a CRT without also owning a few light guns

 

[TKOFromTokyo]

Cant see any systems connected, but it looks like you're ready to go!

Let us know what your experiences are like.

Yeah, I had some minor basement flooding due to a power outage and my game stuff is all kind of tucked away right now. This PVM is a 20L2 from 2001. I use it with my official Nintendo scart cables on my RGHL modded top loader NES and my modded 1chip-03 SNES. I also have a 24 inch flat screen trinitron that I occasionally use as well. Both look pretty fantastic. The geometry on those flat screen trinitrons could be better though.

 

[MeatSafeMurderer]

Who here games on a 4:3 CRT monitor or TV, and how do you find gaming while playing modern games designed for 16:9 screens?

I had a 4:3 TV hooked up to my PC for a while...and I found it incredibly annoying. Most modern games just don't support 4:3 anymore, even when they support "arbitrary aspect ratios" they typically mean arbitrary ratios larger than 16:9. I recently found a 16:9 tube and gave the 4:3 one to my friend to watch VHS on. It needs some work (caps in the deflection circuit is failing, at the very least) but I'd rather have a 16:9 tube these days, it's the best of both worlds IMO. With a PC you can even drive it with a true 16:9 resolution like 856x480, something the old consoles back in the day never did.

 

[Type_Raver]

I had a 4:3 TV hooked up to my PC for a while...and I found it incredibly annoying. Most modern games just don't support 4:3 anymore, even when they support "arbitrary aspect ratios" they typically mean arbitrary ratios larger than 16:9. I recently found a 16:9 tube and gave the 4:3 one to my friend to watch VHS on. It needs some work (caps in the deflection circuit is failing, at the very least) but I'd rather have a 16:9 tube these days, it's the best of both worlds IMO. With a PC you can even drive it with a true 16:9 resolution like 856x480, something the old consoles back in the day never did.

Interesting experience, good to be aware of. Might be a case by case, or game by game situation...
I did a quick search of cyberpunk 2077 at 4:3, and it officially supports it. See picture below (from reddit).

 

[namekuseijin]

living the blurry dream

 

[Bakkus]

I love my 29 inch Sony Trinitron. I only use it for non HD consoles.

 

[Type_Raver]

living the blurry dream

Im not sure I completely agree.

Where you are technically correct, is when the CRT's are maxxed out to the highest resolution which produces a soft supersampled but tasteful look. Text though can be hard to read.
However games in motion look incredible, and this video does a good job at articulating and demonstating it:

 

[StateofMajora]

I will game on crts forever. If I had my way we would have never moved to lcd and just improved crts. Long live trinitron.

 

[TheUsual]

I had a Toshiba flat screen CRT back at my parents house that I had during the Gamecube, PS2, and Xbox days. Then after college and I moved out, they decided to donate it.
That was the one thing I told them not to get rid of but they ignored me. Sigh...was a great TV that I wanted to pick up from them one day when I had space.

 

[fart town usa]

I have a Trinitron with component, but it doesn't go above 480i, I opt for S-Video for my older consoles and I also have played some of the current Resident Evil games on it. It's pretty neat, text is usually hard to read but gameplay wise it's fine. Not something I do often but every now and then. I need to hook the Wii U up to it and try out XBX and some other games. ZombiU would probably be cool, never thought of that until now. Thanks! lol

 

[NeoIkaruGAF]

Growing up with small, square-ish screens, I never fully adapted to gaming on big, 16:9 screens. Always found it easier to keep everything under control with 4:3 or similar proportions.

Been many years since I last tried the 4:3 option on a modern TV with modern games, though.

 

[cireza]

Never was a fan of 16/9 screens. Like everyone, I am forced into using 16/9 TVs now.
16/9 is not good fit for some genres of games.

I still have my 4/3 CRT of course.

 

[Ywap]

 

[DunDunDunpachi]

I have a few CRT tvs and a few crt monitors, because in my area they're usually a free pickup. You just avoid the cheaper brands and keep an eye on offers on various local sites for a few weeks.

 

[Rickyiez]

16:9 or 4:3 ?? Nononono 21:9 please

 

[MeatSafeMurderer]

Interesting experience, good to be aware of. Might be a case by case, or game by game situation...
I did a quick search of cyberpunk 2077 at 4:3, and it officially supports it. See picture below (from reddit).

It really is case by case, game by game. For example, as you pointed out, Cyberpunk works...but The Witcher 3 will just display 16:9 stretched to fill the 4:3 aspect ratio...which, as I'm sure goes without saying, looks atrocious.

16:9 or 4:3 ?? Nononono 21:9 please

Sadly not a CRT. I wish someone made a 21:9 CRT...alas, they did not.

 

[Ywap]

It really is case by case, game by game. For example, as you pointed out, Cyberpunk works...but The Witcher 3 will just display 16:9 stretched to fill the 4:3 aspect ratio...which, as I'm sure goes without saying, looks atrocious.

I think Witcher 3 looked fine. I haven´t played it on a widescreen display but this is how it looked for me:

 

[MeatSafeMurderer]

I think Witcher 3 looked fine. I haven´t played it on a widescreen display but this is how it looked for me:

Weird, maybe it just didn't like the oddball resolution I was using at the time? It was like 1280x896 or something, not quite 4:3 but I had to do that because I couldn't adjust overscan at the time.

 

[Ywap]

But like you said, it´s from game to game. For example the latest two Assassin´s Creed games haven´t got support for 5:4 or 4:3 aspect ratios. Origins had btw, shame it was removed

Titanfall 2 lacked the support too.

 

[Ywap]

Remember that you have to use an active dp-vga adapter (or hdmi-vga) if you decide to go the route of motion perfection on newer graphics cards.

Sadly all the ones i could find only support up to 1080p at 60hz. The two adapters i have used can do 1600x1200 at 85hz

The monitor i have now can do 2048x1536 but i can´t use it due to the limitiations of the adapter

 

[_Ex_]

I still use 4:3 CRT for two of my gaming setups. One is a CRT monitor for my classic PC gaming desktop. The other is a CRT TV for my sixth gen gaming setup (PS2/GC/Xbox). I think using CRTs for games that were designed to be viewed on CRTs is a wise move.

 

[Inanilmaz]

What CRTs are 4:3 & HD? Want to watch mostly old 4:3 anime (hd) on it

 

[intbal]

What CRTs are 4:3 & HD? Want to watch mostly old 4:3 anime (hd) on it

Any PC monitor, obviously, if you're watching on your PC.
As for traditional televisions, here's a list of Sony units that are HD:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FD_Trinitron/WEGA

I don't know about other brands.

 

[MeatSafeMurderer]

Any PC monitor, obviously, if you're watching on your PC.
As for traditional televisions, here's a list of Sony units that are HD:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FD_Trinitron/WEGA

I don't know about other brands.

Something to note: HD CRT TVs are much more like modern flat panels in how they treat signals, especially lower resolutions! They convert analogue to digital and upscale it (meaning lag!) before converting it back to analogue to drive the tube. This means they're fine for HD but are unsuitable for SD content or consoles.

 

[intbal]

Something to note: HD CRT TVs are much more like modern flat panels in how they treat signals, especially lower resolutions! They convert analogue to digital and upscale it (meaning lag!) before converting it back to analogue to drive the tube. This means they're fine for HD but are unsuitable for SD content or consoles.

I wasn't the one inquiring.
Merely answering the question above me.

 

[lukilladog]

I would never go back to crt monitors for PC games, they were very uncomfortable to my eyes. Although native 240p on TV´s gives me no problems at all, the picture seems pretty steady @15Khz and looks beautiful on RGB:

JVC av-20220:

CT-F2125g:

Sharp 20MK10:

 

[PleaseDontBanMe]

living the blurry dream

PS2 games on my crt look more high def than they do on my Bravia

 

[ShirAhava]

Enjoying the Genesis Mini/Battlefront 2015 on a CRT

 

[Rat Rage]

Im about to pull the trigger on an old 22' CRT monitor which has a max resolution of 2048x1536 @85hz, which is crazy!
I love the idea of playing modern games like cyberpunk 2077 on a CRT, though i wonder if the games will force 16:9 with black bars on the top/bottom, or will it allow us to play in the screens native aspect ration (4:3)?

Whats have your experiences been like?

 

[Type_Raver]

For those with CRT's using modern graphics cards with no D-SUB (VGA) connector, how are you connecting it to your pc?
I just ordered Sunix DPU3000, with the hope i will be able to get more that 1600x1200 from it. (from a monitor capable of 2048x1536)

 

[n0razi]

I would love to get a quality tube TV and have a little retro gaming corner, but I think my wife would shit. Tube TVs do not align with her french industrial decor in our house. I'll just rely on the scanline filter on my emulators.

Picked up my 8" PVM for about $100

***
EDIT: Although I would LOVE to be able to find/afford the twin holy grails of CRTs: Sony G400 for PC gaming and Sony BVM D24/D32 for console gaming. (not my pics)

 

[Type_Raver]

This is a thread designed for us to discuss modern (or retro) gaming using a 4:3 CRT monitor/tv.

Who here games on a 4:3 CRT monitor or TV, and how do you find gaming while playing modern games designed for 16:9 screens?

Im about to pull the trigger on an old 22' CRT monitor which has a max resolution of 2048x1536 @85hz, which is crazy!
I love the idea of playing modern games like cyberpunk 2077 on a CRT, though i wonder if the games will force 16:9 with black bars on the top/bottom, or will it allow us to play in the screens native aspect ration (4:3)?

Whats have your experiences been like?

So I narrowly missed out, well let go of the 22' HP CRT monitor when posting this. However, i recently did pick up (for a little more than hoped) a 21' Dell P1130 CRT monitor, exactly like the one in the youtube video I quoted in an earlier post.

It has impressive specs, is in great condition and looked awesome when it was demo'd to me when picking it up! Now I have to make some space and set it up...
I just hope i can get the max performance out of it with my setup.

 

[Spukc]

galaxy fold 2 enters basically 4:3 oled scene
i got it only because of this

 

[subsmoke]

I have one that I use for retro games. It's a newer model that has inputs for component cables and PS2 games look pretty nice on it.

Maybe bolt some 'Live Love Laugh'-signs to it.

My N64, SNES and NES are sitting in boxes and I'm thinking about setting them up in the bedroom, there is enough space for a midsize CRT. Gotta find one first tho

What about a sign that says no cussin' no fussin' and no backtalkin'

 

[HE1NZ]

Gaming has it's own vynil now.

 

[sunnysideup]

Vinyl isnt better than cd though.

Crt screens are superior in every way sans size.

crt>>>oled>plasma>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>other current crap

 

[Spukc]

Gaming has it's own vynil now.

vhynyl*

 

[HE1NZ]

vhynyl*

whinyl

 

[Kupfer]

Spoiler: Sorry, I realized this thread is about modern games on CRTs too late.

My old post from CRT obsession in full gear - let's talk about CRTs!

Got a Bang & Olufsen MX 7000 Type 8700 from 1999.
I saw it on eBay and just couldn't resist. It came complete with it's stand, videorecorder, manual and remote control for like 35€.
It's a great TV I think and even for the late 90's a pretty big and luxury one I guess. At least I knew very few friends that time, who had such a big TV at home. It even has a remote controlled stand which can rotate and it's sound is way better than modern TV's.

To be honest, I don't play much games on it nor use it somehow else, but I just love the thought, that I can always play on my old consoles the way it used to be when I fell in love with videogames as a kid.

Some specifications:

Weight- 40.3 kg
Terminal included - Beo4
Picture tube - 70 cm Black Line-s, Black Matrix
Visible picture - 66 cm
Sound - Stereo, Active speakers
Sound pressure level - 96 dB stereo
Speaker system - Bass-reflex, two way
Power consumption/Minimum - Typical 95W / 2,4 W
Connections:
└» AV Link
└» 2 x 21-pin sockets
└» Super VHS
└» YC playback 4-pin socket
└» Audio AUX Link
└» 7-pin socket
└» Power Link
└» 2 x 8-pin sockets
└» Stereo headphones
└» Jack socket 3.5 mm
Motorized stand operation

 

[Type_Raver]

Update:

Using my Sunix DPU3000 converter, I was able to get 1800x1440 85hz out of the box. (Display port out of 3080, into mini DP, then out using VGA).

I'm hoping to attain the monitors max capabilities of 2048x1536, and I might need to create custom resolutions i think?

I did do a quick sample of a few games, some worked fine while other had weird full screen issues.
But my 2 fav moments where loading Zelda Oot at 640x480, and Black Mesa at 1024x768. I felt like I was back in '98!

 

[Type_Raver]

Update:

Using my Sunix DPU3000 converter, I was able to get 1800x1440 85hz out of the box. (Display port out of 3080, into mini DP, then out using VGA).

I'm hoping to attain the monitors max capabilities of 2048x1536, and I might need to create custom resolutions i think?

UPDATE 2:

I successfully created a load of custom resolutions from 640x480 all the way up to 2048x1536 @75hz; very happy that the Sunix converter adapter worked!

Oddly, while zelda oot worked full screen 640x480 through the emulator, it didnt appear in the list of resolutions under the Display Settings. (only from 800x600 and up was showing).
Any ideas how to sort this out?

 

[noonjam]

Remember that you have to use an active dp-vga adapter (or hdmi-vga) if you decide to go the route of motion perfection on newer graphics cards.

Sadly all the ones i could find only support up to 1080p at 60hz. The two adapters i have used can do 1600x1200 at 85hz

The monitor i have now can do 2048x1536 but i can´t use it due to the limitiations of the adapter

Startech DP2VGAHD20

Seems to work great for me for high res.

Lets me drive my 19" Samsung 997DF at 2048x1536 and 1920x1440 just fine. My monitors more limited clock/bandwidth and horizontal refresh limits it to 60-64hz at those settings however.

For games it's great at those resolutions. for desktop use I use custom res as the "default" recommended is 1280x1024 but that's a 5:3 display ratio which always seemed weird to me to use on a 4:3 display. so I use 1280x960 and that lets me bump the refresh to 95hz as well compared to 85hz at 1280x1024.

 

[Ywap]

Startech DP2VGAHD20

Seems to work great for me for high res.

Lets me drive my 19" Samsung 997DF at 2048x1536 and 1920x1440 just fine. My monitors more limited clock/bandwidth and horizontal refresh limits it to 60-64hz at those settings however.

For games it's great at those resolutions. for desktop use I use custom res as the "default" recommended is 1280x1024 but that's a 5:3 display ratio which always seemed weird to me to use on a 4:3 display. so I use 1280x960 and that lets me bump the refresh to 95hz as well compared to 85hz at 1280x1024.

Thx alot, gonna check that one out