Main Restorations Software Audio/Jukebox/MP3 Everything Else Buy/Sell/Trade
Project Announcements Monitor/Video GroovyMAME Merit/JVL Touchscreen Meet Up Retail Vendors
Driving & Racing Woodworking Software Support Forums Consoles Project Arcade Reviews
Automated Projects Artwork Frontend Support Forums Pinball Forum Discussion Old Boards
Raspberry Pi & Dev Board controls.dat Linux Miscellaneous Arcade Wiki Discussion Old Archives
Lightguns Arcade1Up Try the site in https mode Site News

Unread posts | New Replies | Recent posts | Rules | Chatroom | Wiki | File Repository | RSS | Submit news

  

Author Topic: Monitor Replacement - understanding aspect ratio impact  (Read 2448 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Richardgregory

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 360
  • Last login:November 17, 2021, 01:15:10 pm
  • I want to build my own arcade controls!
Monitor Replacement - understanding aspect ratio impact
« on: October 05, 2021, 02:10:47 pm »
I will need to replace my 4:3 aspect ratio LCD monitor with another, but finding 4:3 ratio monitors are difficult these days.  So if I have to settle with a 16.9 type monitor, what exactly does this mean for the picture?

Ie. does this mean that the picture will be smaller and centered in the middle of the monitor, and I need to make a new bezel for one?

Thanks

slybunda

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 126
  • Last login:October 15, 2024, 05:41:42 pm
  • I want to build my own arcade controls!
Re: Monitor Replacement - understanding aspect ratio impact
« Reply #1 on: October 05, 2021, 02:23:16 pm »
Can maintain aspect ratio via pillar boxing.

javeryh

  • Trade Count: (+1)
  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 7961
  • Last login:Yesterday at 02:35:24 pm
Re: Monitor Replacement - understanding aspect ratio impact
« Reply #2 on: October 05, 2021, 02:46:22 pm »
Ie. does this mean that the picture will be smaller and centered in the middle of the monitor, and I need to make a new bezel for one?

Yes.  You could cover that area with a bezel but people have come up with other solutions.  Take a look at the Bezel Project.  Personally, I think digital bezels look weird but lots and lots and lots of people think I'm wrong so  :dunno

Vocalitus

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 400
  • Last login:October 25, 2021, 06:16:58 pm
  • I want to build my own arcade controls!
Re: Monitor Replacement - understanding aspect ratio impact
« Reply #3 on: October 05, 2021, 07:39:50 pm »
There is an over abundance of 19 and 20 inch 4:3 at newegg.

But I got all mine from Goodwill for $10.

slickam

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 54
  • Last login:July 20, 2025, 03:34:17 pm
  • I want to build my own arcade controls!
Re: Monitor Replacement - understanding aspect ratio impact
« Reply #4 on: October 05, 2021, 08:39:33 pm »
Display Wars is a useful site for comparing screen sizes. You can punch in 2 different sizes and aspect ratios and it will show you 2 rectangles to visually show the difference, and a bunch of measurements, including how big a 4:3 image each one can show.

MartyKong

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 193
  • Last login:July 21, 2025, 05:31:48 pm
  • I want to build my own arcade controls!
Re: Monitor Replacement - understanding aspect ratio impact
« Reply #5 on: October 06, 2021, 12:59:39 pm »
I went with a 16:10 ratio. This way you gain more height so... much better for 4:3 images. The display wars site is a great way to compare. Only issue you might have is the majority of the bezel packs are designed for 4:3 or 16:9 ratio's. But with the extra gaming area, I don't mind.