jesper on 31/3/2006 at 05:41
I can not check atm but I do not recall being able to select res higher than 1024x768 in theif, but isnt that the highest resolution available? Or can I play thief 1 & 2 in 1280x1024 resolution?
Otherwise the biggest problem with a LCD seems to be the fixed resolution. If I get a 1280x1024 LCD, thief will look like crap in 1024x768 (isnt that the highest available resolution?). Is there a way to play thief I & II in 1280x1024 resolution? Or alternatively to play it in a window on the desktop?
Also if anyone who reads this is using a 19"+ LCD and plays thief on it please comment on how it works for you.
As said before I would only buy a CRT as a last resort. Mainly cause of the size and weight. Both the transportation problem (no car), and that it will look huge in my very small apartment.
IF a LCD would be a good choice when it comes to all factors included for me, what about the vx922?
242 on 31/3/2006 at 08:28
The best way is to try both - LCD and CRT at your home, switching between them back and forth several times, you'll see all advantages and disadvantages almost immediately. I guess that people who say Thief looks fine on LCD just forgot how it looked on CRT (or didn't see it at all).
Also, I think that if you'll choose CRT, it shouldn't be shadow mask CRT. It's aperture grill CRT or LCD choice in my opinion. I would pick up good CRT, even if cost was equal to LCD, I have enough space on my table and delivery from a store to home is usually free here :)
Luthien on 31/3/2006 at 10:39
Quote Posted by jesper
Otherwise the biggest problem with a LCD seems to be the fixed resolution.
CRTs have exactly the same problem. The screen mask has a certain resolution, and anything else is blurry. It's more difficult to notice though, because the image on a CRT is inherently blurred. There are LCD displays with good and bad scaling algorithms. Wether the picture looks good depends on your screen and the resolution. I found that 800x600 loks much better on my LCD (1280x1024) than 1024x768.
Quote:
Or alternatively to play it in a window on the desktop?
Yes, but only in software mode.
Quote:
Also if anyone who reads this is using a 19"+ LCD and plays thief on it please comment on how it works for you.
I play in 640x480, and the scaling to 1280x960 is no problem (done by the video card). It's a bit difficult to fine tune the display/video card, but I get a decent result. Note that unlike some other people in this thread I spend no more than about 0.1 percent of my time at the computer hanging around in dark corners in Thief games.
Quote:
As said before I would only buy a CRT as a last resort. Mainly cause of the size and weight. Both the transportation problem (no car), and that it will look huge in my very small apartment.
If you're not a hardcore gamers who expects the best image possible, go for an LCD. But don't just buy anything; take your time to chose a good one. A year ago I bought an HP pavilion f1904 (19''), and I'm perfectly happy with it (note that I don't play action games that require 60Hz or more).
The inscrutable po on 31/3/2006 at 17:38
Viewsonic p95f+ professional series - flat CRT. Mine is 19". The blacks are real black not gray. I think it's about $450. The picture is stunning. I had to get mine mail order though.
ffox on 31/3/2006 at 18:46
Quote Posted by Bikerdude
If like me (and most taffers) you play at night in a dark room....
Is this true? I never play in a completely dark room. I wonder what percentage of taffers do?
jtbalogh on 31/3/2006 at 19:51
A darker room is better for me which is why I need true black from a CRT for thief games. In a well lit room, not only do I have to worry about increasing gamma which washes out colors, but I have to worry about my reflection in the monitor and other glare from the room.
Soul Shaker on 31/3/2006 at 21:13
I use a Samsung SyncMaster 955DF. Runs fine, but it's big... 19" flatscreen, and plays great for thief.
You can however get a 30" LCD...
So it's between style and playability. LCD or CRT? And note the response time if you get an LCD, 16ms+ is too slow, and it is in essence, a crappy monitor.
And yes, it's a good idea to play in the dark for thief. Means you don't have to turn the gamma up, and in the cradle...I should do it on a rainy night(just to add to the creep) and with my speakers set up...it's creepin me out right now...even with only headphones.
ben111g on 1/4/2006 at 08:24
hello, im getting a new computer. the screen is described as:
FP/MG - UK/Irish - 19in Value midnight grey flat panel.
i dont know why but that sounds cheap to me. am i not going to be able to go thieving anymore.... :(
Roz on 1/4/2006 at 12:44
A word of advice from somebody who gave up Viewsonic p95f Professional series (19 inch CRT but not flat -- got fed up with it, too big and heavy) and got an LCD Samsung Syncmaster 965F
I lost my beautiful water! :p The old water was fabulous, translucent and crystal clear, shimmering, glimmering... (okay, you get the point). Now it's pretty grainy, in some older missions downright murky (as in the Inverted Manse). The most noticeable difference was in The Greyfeather Gems Part II, the water used be just gorgeous, now it's merely ok. I haven't dared to play HL2 yet...
On the plus side, the fog is now a lot better, as well as texture details. :D
jesper on 2/4/2006 at 13:18
Thank you for your replies again. I am thinking about just getting a samsunc syncmaster 940bf since I can get one in a store here (prefer to deal with stores than onlinestores), it is easy to transport home, got 2ms responstime and I hope, is atleast acceptable when it comes to image-quality. I have not decided yet though. But it looks like I'll get that one. what do you think?
Is just afraid of dead pixels. I will try to open and test it so carefully it wont even show I have tried it and then just return it and say i changed my mind ( ;P ) in case of dead pixels.
Btw... regarding running thief in windowed mode, check this link (
http://www.onrpg.com/ftopic11507.html) about running another game in forced windowed mode. If anyone could try to use the tool they used with thief and tell me the result it would be appreciated. Too bad it is locked to the topleft corner though, but perhaps one can hack the source to make it centered, and somehow make it fill the space to the edge of the screen with black. will try when i get my monitor.
