720P Projector downscaling 1080P

[Ducman69]

So, dumb question, and I think I know the answer... but I'll ask anyway:

I have a Dell 720P projector. You can run it at 1920x1080 resolution, but the documentation indicates its a 720P projector w/ a native resolution of 1280x800 only, and is downscaling 1080P content.

I like that setting it to a 1080P resolution drops the icon sizes to a more reasonable size (already huge on a near 100" screen), but is there any advantage to setting my games to 1920x1080, or should I just set them to the native resolution of 1280x800?

 

[brumwald]

Different games behaves differently in different resolutions. Most notably the HUD (head up display, your health-bar or whatever) sometimes change size depending on resolution.

In theory downscaling might actually give a better perceived image. But in practice for 'real' situations running in native gives the best (and most correct) result. And since it's much easier on the computer running 720p you can increase the detail and smoother play.

Thing is though, that just because it has 1280x800 and you feed it 1280x800 doesn't mean that you get a perfect mapping so that might play a role as well (I don't know how common that is for projectors, but since they often are hooked up to a computer I hope that is rare).

 

[sethk]

If there are no GUI issue with the game, it's like trying brute force MSAA (multi-sampled anti-aliasing). Your projector is sampling multiple pixels to create a an average color for the new replacement pixel. Very much like MSAA. Except your video card can do it better.

When it comes to Windows desktop usage, of course you should go with whatever you prefer.

If you have a game where MSAA doesn't work, this is perfect though!

 

[Ducman69]

Damn, what a waste for a 4870x2 to run at such a low resolution. Doh!

It used to be hooked up to a 1920x1200 24" dispay, but once you go 90" projector, you don't go back, heh!

A 1080P LED one is in my future though.