Convert 16:9 to 16:10 or otherway round?

[DevourDarkness]

I have a 16:10 1680x1050 monitor right now and I want to get another to get dual screen. I am finding it hard to find these monitors in my country though. I found an ideal monitor that is 16:9. Is there someway to convert the 16:10 one to 16:9 or the 16:9 one to 16:10 so they can have equal resolutions.

If not, when using dualscreen, is there a noticeable difference with 16:10 and 16:9? Both 20inch.

 

[Zomby88]

You may have unused space, a small amount ( not black bars ) although people love to call them this, on the sides.

 

[DevourDarkness]

Ok thanks. And is it noticeable to have a 16:9 and 16:10 side by side?

 

[Zomby88]

Possibly , althogh I`ve never seen a 16 x 10 monitor. You may be able to fix it with the monitor menu buttons. Just hook them both up and go from there. What video card are you hooking them to?

 

[DevourDarkness]

Hd 5770

 

[Zomby88]

Here`s a better question , do you need 2 screens ? Do you have the $ for another ? Spend your money on ram instead

 

[Wishmaster]

Assuming Both are the same size (Such as a 22")
16x10 displaying a 16x9 image will have black strips across the top and bottom of the screen.

the 16x9 will be slightly wider

Also, the 16x9 will ikely be displaying at a native higehr resolution such as 1080P.
That and a tight pixel pitch may make it look sharper & clearer side by side.

A visual comparison of 22" 16x9 VS 16x10
Visual TV Size Comparison : 21.5 inch 16x9 display vs 22 inch 16x10 display


A 24" 16x9 will be the same hieght wise as a 22" 16x10, but will be wider.
You still face black bars on top and bottom of the 16x10 however.

Some GPUS will not like running 2 different resolutions though. Be better off having the same size/resolution IMO.

 

[Zepher]

I have a 20" 1680x1050 and a 19" 1440x900.
Works great and doesn't bother me much. I have the top of the screens aligned in Windows so when you move the mouse from left to right at the top of the 20 it moves right across to the top of the 19.
When moving left to right on the bottom you have to move the mouse up about 25% to get to the other screen.

What GPU's have issues running 2 different resolutions? I've never heard of any or encountered any issues with running different resolutions, and I've used ATI and Nvidia with duals over the past 10 years with mixed resolutions.

Once you go dual screen (or more) it makes using a machine with 1 screen frustrating.

 

[Wishmaster]

Thanks for the input Zepher.
Perhaps I am wrong or misunderstood, if so apologies.

1440x900 and 1680x1050 are both 16x10 ratios though.

I was refering to 2 different ratios such as 1 at 16x10 and 1 at 16x9.

Wont there always be alignment issues or aspect is off to match it up?

I remember my old 3870 wanted both the same ratio for some reason ... however, it could have just been user error

 

[Zepher]

Aspect ratio won't matter.
I ran my HTPC (onboard Nvidia 9300 chipset) at 1920x1080 to my 42" Plasma and 1440x900 to my 19" LCD and it worked fine, no issues at all.

There will be alignment mismatch using 2 different resolutions, but that isn't a problem, you just get used to it.

here is what my desktop looks like (with Vista) and 1680 and 1440 resolutions.
http://transamws6.com/pics/pc/2009/desktop-2009.jpg

and Win 7,
http://transamws6.com/pics/pc/2009/desktop-10-2009.jpg

and the desk with the screens,
http://transamws6.com/pics/pc/2009/lg-screens.jpg