How to Keep the Aspect Ratio Correct With a Widescreen Monitor

Set the right aspect ratio for a widescreen monitor.

The physical dimensions of a widescreen monitor determine the device's ideal aspect ratio. The native resolution of the monitor refers to the amount of horizontal and vertical pixels the monitor is capable of displaying. This number is expressed in a value called the aspect ratio. For instance, a standard monitor with a native resolution of 1,024x768 features an aspect ratio of 4:3. Widescreen monitors differ from standard size. In addition, the aspect ratio in widescreen monitors varies. Determine the exact specifications of the widescreen monitor to calculate its proper aspect ratio.

Instructions

1. Click "Start." Type "Display" in the Windows search bar. Press "Enter."

2. Click "Adjust resolution" in the left-hand pane.

3. Click on the "Resolution" list on the Screen Resolution menu. Locate the dimension that specifies "recommended" in parenthesis. This dimension is the native resolution, which is the correct aspect ratio that you should be using on your monitor. By using the default aspect ratio, other software or games also will default to this aspect ratio. The computer will change resolution only if you manually adjust the settings for that particular game or software.

References

• Windows 7: Change Your Screen Resolution
• Video Technology: Computer Display Formats