Project 64 Version 1.6 Aspect Ratio Wrong - Large Black Bars on Widescreen Monitor

[dsilvahub]

Hello,

I'm using Project 64 Version 1.6 with a Samsung 16:10 Widescreen Monitor and cannot get rid of the black-bars at the bottom and top of the screen, even when pj64 is windowed they are present. Was hoping to get rid of them as I don't want them to burn into my lovely tft-lcd.

Pc is a XP Home machine, 1gig ram etc, Pj 1.6 as mentioned with Jabo's Direct3d8 1.6 Video (graphics) plugin, GPU is a Nvidia Geforce 7300se/7200gs.
Windowed resolution is 400 x 300 full screen resolution is 1280 x 768 32 bit 60hz (same as windows desktop resolution). No AF or AA nor any super2xsal textures or texture filters, oh and the rom I'm using is Super Mario 64 (U) (you knew that ).

Strange thing is that when I increase the full screen resolution in pj 64 to 1280x960 the bar at the top disappears but the one at the bottom is twice as thick - doh.

I've searched Google and Emutalk but most I could find was something on youtube non-relevant although the comments were useful as it mentioned Jabo's plugin version 1.7.0.53 ()

Any ideas anyone? I've tried both increasing and decreasing pj64's resolution.

Thanks in advance.

Kind regards,

Hub.

 

[Agozer]

LCD's don't get burn-in, AFAIK.

 

[dsilvahub]

I wish, but the Samsung manual warns about image retention / burn in and it not being covered by warranty blah blah blah.

For some reason, I have the black bars on Super Mario 64 but not Mario Kart64????

Thanks,

Hub.

 

[PsyMan]

It's normal. Some games were made with black bars on the top or bottom.

The bars on the sides (and the top/bottom too sometimes) are also there because of the resolutions you use if you don't use the native resolution of your monitor. There should be an option on your video card drivers to stretch the image however.

 

[dsilvahub]

I suppose now I should be asking if there is a way to stretch the rom screen so the black bars disappear.

I've tried fiddling with pj64's graphics configuration menu (options > configure graphics plugin), specifically the emulated width and height but when I input a screen resolution say 1280 x 768 I get a really small image??? - Does anyone have experience with this?

Thanks.

 

[Clements]

Try Direct64's overscan simulation for now until a plugin with better aspect ratio handling comes out.

 

[dsilvahub]

Thanks Clements the bars have gone.

Kind regards,

Hub.

 

[Toasty]

LCD's don't suffer from burn-in. The technology just doesn't work that way. They can be affected by what's called image persistence, which has some similar symptoms to burn-in, but is not typically permanent.

 

[dsilvahub]

Thanks Toasty, appreciate the advice but all things considered I'd rather not have image persistence either so I'll avoid static images by using screen savers and overscan simulation.

I was looking forward to owning an LCD and not having to faff around with screensavers but the manual says (cue deep booming voice) 'Burn-in is not covered by the warranty'. Samsung call it 'image retention'.

 

[p_025]

For a 16:10 monitor, you'll want to use 1280x800, it's a 16:10 resolution. Though it isn't actually a problem, it helps you get the most of your screen.

Also, to play Mario64 or Mario Kart in widescreen (so everything isn't streched horizontally) check the "Adjust game aspect ratio to match yours" box in the advanced tab of Jabo's video plugin config, if you're going to use that plugin...

 

[Krusha]

As has been said already LCDs can not get burn-in because it doesn't simply project images on to glass like normal screens

however image retention is a problem, its rare enough however and isn't usually permanent, I personally have only had one problem with burn-in and that was when I left my Gamecube on for 3 days straight for my chao garden in SA2B (yes I left the screen on, I was young, I didn't know burn-in was a problem back then)

On a side note does anyone remember me? I was the Gameshark master intent on hacking the living daylights out of super mario 64 , im not very good with hex editing or gameshark codes anymore

 

[dsilvahub]

Thanks p_025 I tried that but I got one big black bar at the top so I'll stick with the Direct64 video plugin (although I prefer Jabo's it seems smoother with better options).

 

[Toasty]

I was looking forward to owning an LCD and not having to faff around with screensavers but the manual says (cue deep booming voice) 'Burn-in is not covered by the warranty'. Samsung call it 'image retention'.

I know the feeling. But in all honesty, I really don't think you need to worry about it. In the horribly unlikely event that you have a problem with image persistence, it should easily be cleared up just by turning off the display for a little while. Technically, I don't think that black bars can even cause image persistence, since black is the crystals' natural state. (I could be wrong about that though.)

We have three LCDs in our house and many more among our friends and none of us have ever had a problem with image persistence, even though pretty much everything we watch on our LCD TV has black bars on the sides. Anyway, do what you will, but I'm sure you have nothing to worry about.

 

[dsilvahub]

For sure, it's all for fun.

 

[Agozer]

Black does not cause burn-in. Bright, stationary (for an extended period of time) colors cause burn-in. If black bars would cause burn-in, I'd probably be using my 10 + nth TV by now.

Like it was said before, LCDs don't suffer from burn-in.

 

[dsilvahub]

sweet good to know, still mario64 looks better without the bars.

 

[p_025]

Could you post a screenshot? I'd like to see this, I've never had this problem before.