Why 1280x1024?

[GotNoRice]

Most all common resolutions (640x480, 800x600, 1024x768, 1600x1200, etc) are 4:3 ratio resolutions. This is because, duh, most monitors have a 4:3 ratio.

So given that fact, why the hell is 1280x1024 WAY more popular than 1280x960? Why do people run their CRT’s at 1280x1024 when it’s distorting the image? I run my monitor at 1280x960 and whenever people see that they always comment on like “why are you running a non-standard resolution”.

Even in Videocard reviews on this very site, they always have tests running at 1280x1024 but you never see 1280x960.

I just don’t understand. Having a 4:3 monitor and using 4:3 resolutions makes sense, using 1280x1024 which is a 5:4 ratio doesn’t.

 

[bobsaget]

I am the same as you... I run my windows res at 1280x960.

I am hoping to get an answer too!

 

[dariob]

Its because people are silly and don't do the math.

 

[bander]

Ive felt that way too. Noticed that many fps's support 1280 by 960 but not 1280 1024. Whats really annoying is that on my old crt, running at the 4:3 ration degrades the image quality slightly compared to the 5:4. But what I wonder is that that is the native resolution of nearly all 17 and 19" lcd's seems kinda silly to me.

 

[Martin64]

On a CRT I don't know why anyone would run at 1280x1024, but for LCDs it's because it's the native resolution for them and they look best running at 1280x1024. This goes for 17" and 19" LCDs.

 

[kcchan1]

Monitors can display 1.3 million pixels, game makers make use of this and dump the 4:3 ratio because nothing is really messed up. The code was designed for 12x10.

Edit: I measured my 17in CRT and got a 5:4 perpective. Go figure.

 

[googleguy]

i guess another question is why all widescreen panels (for use as monitors) are 16:10 and not 16:9.

 

[Terpfen]

Two reasons I run at 1280x1024:

1) It's the native resolution on my LCD.
2) There is no 1280x960 resolution setting. It goes straight from 1024x768 to 1280x1024.

 

[Roger]

Way too many people are running their CRTs at 1280x1024 without realising that the aspect ratio is wrong. However, all 17" and 19" LCDs have aspect ratio of 5:4 so 1280x1024 looks fine on them.

 

[Moogle Stiltzkin]

I thought for Crt monitors

1024x768

was the best resolution.

Higher or lower distorts the image ? ugh...

 

[Zardoz]

I thought for Crt monitors

1024x768

was the best resolution.

Higher or lower distorts the image ? ugh...

1024x768 is very common with 17" monitors as that res looks the best and does not get to small to read, but as long as you keep with a 4:3 ratio resolution, the image will be ok, 1600x1200 is great as long you have a 19 or 20+ inch the where it does not so smal to read text...

 

[ComputerBox34]

I use 1280x960 on my laptop because it's semi-widescreen and I use 1280x1024 on my desktop because the manual recommends it and It looks best when I go to game.

 

[chuckm1020]

i run 1152by864. i dont know why, i just like it the best for daily usage. is this resolution distorting my resolution? and i cant even notice it. this is on a 2001fp.

 

[DarkenReaper57]

i run 1152by864. i dont know why, i just like it the best for daily usage. is this resolution distorting my resolution? and i cant even notice it. this is on a 2001fp.

No. This is a 4:3 ratio.

 

[lessthanjakejohn]

i run 1152by864. i dont know why, i just like it the best for daily usage. is this resolution distorting my resolution? and i cant even notice it. this is on a 2001fp.

That is still 4:3 aspect ratio.

It may be a tad blurrier than 1600x1200 but if you can't notice that or prefer the bigger text its fine...