Aspect correction software?

[Mikeyy00]

Hi, picked up a beat up Mini 1.25.. cleaned it up, hooked up to my main PCs monitor under another input. 

Runs OS9/10 @ 1920x1080. Obviously the 32mb Radeon isn't going to be able to do games at that resolution.. issue is when I pick something like 1024x768 it's stretching it wide.

Since I'm using a DVI input on the monitor, there's no aspect control in the Monitors OSD. There's only 1:1 (which makes it a postage sized stamp), or fullscreen.

Is anyone aware of an application that will let me play stuff at proper 4:3 ratios?

 

[Trash80toHP_Mini]

Interesting question. Unfamiliar with your Mini's video output interfaces and curious about your panel's input availability? Does the Mini's DVI output retain the analog VGA output?

AFAIK, the only solution for using a wide format primary workstation screen like yours would be in hardware. The Extron scaler @cheesestraws has documented is amazingly versatile. It seems there are now inexpensive adapters to hang of either side of the box.



That's two recommendations for this bit of kit in one afternoon.

 

[Cory5412]

Yes, mini can output analog, it's got a DVI-D connector. You'd use a DVI-I to VGA cable or adapter (they were bundled with a cute short one but any will do, this was an extremely common part in the era and they're still all over the place) to make the jump.

1920x1200 wasn't out of the question when the Mini G4 was new. What games are you looking to play? Is this a guess or have you tried and it's bad, but it works better at the lower resolution?

Another option may be to use something like SwitchRes/SwitchResX or just see if the monitors control panel allows you to select, say, 1366x768 or something closer like 1280x800 which should still be easier for the old graphics than 1080p but fill out the display better.

The other-other option here is that if gaming is your primary concern on this system, is to get an old 4:3 or 5:4 display with a native resolution of 1024x768, 1280x1024 or 1600x1200 and then scale down as you feel is appropriate. (you could scale a 20-inch 1600x1200 panel to 800x600 and it should look fine, for example, although there's a balance to be struck here and that might not be suitable, depending on the games. (Especially in like certain simulator/roleplay types of games where a larger field of view or workspace helps.)