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[flsh]

I decided to give Half Life 2 a second chance (The first time I played it a few years ago, the fps was unstable and sometimes unplayable) the other day and bought it off of steam.
After 36 hours it finally finished. Happy to finally be able to play something that is not guitar hero, I launched the game only to be faced with a resolution of 640*480.
At this point I had a feeling something was not quite right, but I continued, clicking the options button and moving into the video tab.

I scroll down the resolution bar and see the highest resolution option is 1024*768. Oh sh*t.
I then stumble upon the 4:3 ratio option, hoping the reason for the low resolution was the monitor's native resolution (a 32" LCD TV) of 1366*768.
I switch to 16:9. Oh god no...
The only resolution I could choose was 854*480.

I search the web, hoping there is some obscure explanation. I find one thread on another forum, where the guy had the same question only to be scold upon. After a few more searches I decided to go and ask the steampowered forums, only to be faced with a page announcing my account has not yet been authorized. I then see a page explaining how to force a resolution, as it's apparently a known issue. No.. as it seems, the engine hates me enough that it ignores what I force upon it.
At this point I asked friends on MSN, only to waste my time as none knows.
Now I come to you, GAF. Please help me



I hate you source engine, too.
Anyone knows how to solve this problem?

My video card is a 8600GT 512MB with the latest drivers.

 

[dark10x]

Are you able to select that resolution while using Windows? Are you using VGA (if not, you should be) input?

 

[Raiden]

Check your start options for HL2.

 

[rezuth]

Try forcing the resolution via console or start options?

 

[flsh]

I'm using VGA. The resolution in windows IS 1366*768.

What are the commands in the console? I tried using the commands on the troubleshooting page on steampowered but they are not recognized.
And what do you mean by start options? (I'm pretty sure you're referring to the option in steam, to add a command to the game from startup?)

 

[Raiden]

I'm using VGA. The resolution in windows IS 1366*768.

What are the commands in the console? I tried using the commands on the troubleshooting page on steampowered but they are not recognized.
And what do you mean by start options? (I'm pretty sure you're referring to the option in steam, to add a command to the game from startup?)

I once had a problem where i couldnt get a highter resolution with BF2, right click your HL2 icon, go to property(i think thats the english term for it)then compatabilty(again, my windows is dutch, but i think this is the term) and look if 640*480 is unchecked.

 

[ShinNL]

Oh, I had something like that in Oblivion, but I'm not sure if it helps.

8600GT is nVidia right? If so, download coolbits and install it, it unlocks a few extra options for your ForceWare driver.

Then go to your Windows screen resolution screen and go to Advanced and then click on your GeForce tab. Choose Screen Resolutions and add extra screen resolutions yourself (I added lower wide screen resolutions so I could play Oblivion smoother).

Well, it's a long shot but I hope that will work. Install coolbits anyhow if you haven't already though.

 

[flsh]

It is unchecked.

 

[flsh]

Sorry for the bump but I've tried using a different monitor with a native resolution of 1280*1024 and still nothing.
I'm sure now that the problem is the game and not a hardware\windows issue.

 

[Zaraki_Kenpachi]

Sorry for the bump but I've tried using a different monitor with a native resolution of 1280*1024 and still nothing.
I'm sure now that the problem is the game and not a hardware\windows issue.

What do you mean by still nothing? Is it still at 640 or whatever you said or nothing shows up?

 

[flsh]

Default is 640*480, maximum is 1024*768.

 

[The M.O.B]

Default is 640*480, maximum is 1024*768.

1280 x 720 is the highest widescreen resolution, just to let you know which setting you should be seeing.

 

[ShinNL]

1280 x 720 is the highest widescreen resolution, just to let you know which setting you should be seeing.

1280 x 800.

Edit: Now that I think about it, what the hell is 1366*768 for a resolution? Super wide?

 

[LCGeek]

Look for this program, powerstrip, once you get it go to display options and add that resolution in manually restart your machine and you should be done. Steam sucks but I like cs too much to start playing an other fps besides ut seriously.

 

[Aalyx]

I don't have Half Life 2 but...

http://www.tweakguides.com/HL2_7.html

Create a shortcut to Half Life 2, and under the shortcut tab, look at the Target. At the end of the text, (Outside of the quotation marks) paste this at the end

-width 1366 -height 768

If this doesn't work, you probably have a driver issue. Whats your Operating System and driver version?

 

[brain_stew]

1280 x 800.

Edit: Now that I think about it, what the hell is 1366*768 for a resolution? Super wide?

Its the native resolution of a great majority of 720P LCD HDTVs.

I don't know if this will be any help but I do know that I have to use 1360x768 when using my PC with my HDTV, and yes I've played Half Life 2 at this resolution and it looks great.

 

[The M.O.B]

1280 x 800.

That's 16:10 not 16:9

 

[flsh]

I'm running on XP with the latest nVidia drivers (6.14.11.6218).

I have powerstrip and it doesn't do anything to help me :\
I've tried adding -width 1366 and -height 768, but, that too didn't help.

 

[Aalyx]

Hmm...very odd

The only thing I can recommend is do a clean uninstall and then installation of the drivers following this guide: http://www.tweakguides.com/NVFORCE_3.html using Driver Cleaner Pro.

There have been times when the Control Panel refused to load etc. that I solved by removing all traces of the drivers and then installing them again, hopefully this will work for you...

 

[Jacobi]

I always played it on 1650*1000 or something. I just checked it out, the highest res in Ep1 is 1600x900 for me... hum. Weird.

 

[Jacobi]

I'm running on XP with the latest nVidia drivers (6.14.11.6218).

I have powerstrip and it doesn't do anything to help me :\
I've tried adding -width 1366 and -height 768, but, that too didn't help.

Have you tried 1280x720 ? i mean it wouldn't make that much of a difference

 

[ex0du5]

The problem is 1366x768 is neither 16:10 or 16:9, though it's close. I suppose HL2 doesn't support a non-standard resolution.

BTW, is there a reason most LCD HDTVs use 1366x768 instead of native 720p (1280x720)?

 

[dark10x]

The problem is 1366x768 is neither 16:10 or 16:9, though it's close. I suppose HL2 doesn't support a non-standard resolution.

BTW, is there a reason most LCD HDTVs use 1366x768 instead of native 720p (1280x720)?

I use 1360x768 with the game and have had no issues. HL2 *SHOULD* support that resolution.

 

[flsh]

I've tried 1360*768 as well, doesn't help.
I've also done a fresh install (Making sure to delete the older one properly).

This is getting ridiculous.

 

[Jacobi]

The problem is 1366x768 is neither 16:10 or 16:9, though it's close. I suppose HL2 doesn't support a non-standard resolution.

BTW, is there a reason most LCD HDTVs use 1366x768 instead of native 720p (1280x720)?

It's probably cheaper...