Hi Guys,I want to get a new bigger monitor for use with FSX, at the moment I have a 19" LCD but would like a 24", now the problem is I like the 2d screens but understand they dont work well with a widescreen monitor?Can anyone suggest which monitor to get, my budget is

I'm using a 24" screen with the resolution 1900x1200. I can't say that I have any problems with 2D panels. Here is a picture of the default C172.

Good Day.Running two ViewSonic LCDs a 22 inch at 1680x1050 and my main monitor a 26 inch at 1920x1200. No major issues for me, they look great. You can always adjust the window size from the sides if this look appears distorted to you.In any case you will not regret going widescreen.............Pic is approach to KPSP with MegaSceneryX Southern California.JayDub

VC's look great on really widescreens :)

VC's look great on really widescreens :)

John(Apologies for the thread creep)I have TH2Go Digital with 4:3 19" screens currently, but have wanted to upgrade to 22" widescreens, so that I can go to 5040x1050. However, after reading on the Matrox site, I'm a bit nervous of opening a can of worms. Nothing worse than changing your system, and spending days trying to get things sorted out. It can leave a person wondering why they messed with it in the first place.I have an earlier TH2go D, so I think I'd need to do a firmware upgrade. Did you have to do this as well, or was yours capable out of the box?I also realize that I'll need more horsepower to drive the higher resolution. Which means a new box to go with the new screens.I've seen a post, or posts, that list which monitors can do 57 hz. The monitors I'm considering are on the 'good' list. Still, seems like there are a lot of posts where people have problems getting the higher resolution, some games work, some don't...just sounds messy. Any thoughts on this?ThanksNoel W

John(Apologies for the thread creep)I have TH2Go Digital with 4:3 19" screens currently, but have wanted to upgrade to 22" widescreens, so that I can go to 5040x1050. However, after reading on the Matrox site, I'm a bit nervous of opening a can of worms. Nothing worse than changing your system, and spending days trying to get things sorted out. It can leave a person wondering why they messed with it in the first place.I have an earlier TH2go D, so I think I'd need to do a firmware upgrade. Did you have to do this as well, or was yours capable out of the box?I also realize that I'll need more horsepower to drive the higher resolution. Which means a new box to go with the new screens.I've seen a post, or posts, that list which monitors can do 57 hz. The monitors I'm considering are on the 'good' list. Still, seems like there are a lot of posts where people have problems getting the higher resolution, some games work, some don't...just sounds messy. Any thoughts on this?ThanksNoel W

I bought mine TH2GD used, so I needed the firmware upgrade. That was painless.I started with an ACER 23" and a Samsung 23" (2333), when I added the other Samsung I found the ACER wouldn't do 57hz, so replaced it with the third Sammy. All was well there.I'm still using 182.5 drivers as the newer ones had issues, though reading at widescreenforums it looks to be fixed or has a workaround.I have issues only on a few games (older ones) and Blackshark which wants the desktop at the same res as the game or I would get nothing.The only other thing I have had issues with are the Samsungs are 1920 x 1080 and don't like the in between resolutions (43xx x 900, etc...) so I get a nag screen when I go to them.Just grab the lastest firmware, driver from Matrox and the Utility program and all should be fine. For the problem games (if you have any) I have found great help at the widescreenforums.Best of luck!

I can't say that I have any problems with 2D panels. Here is a picture of the default C172.

Are we supposed to like it? This is a rather badly distorted 172 panel.

2d panels will stretch at widescreen resolutions, unless the devs included a widescreen option (a few have it).You have a few options:-Run windowed mode and only use part of the screen so things don't stretch-Deal with the stretching (some people are fine with it, but it looks goofy to me)-Switch to virtual cockpitsFor me, I hated VCs when I was on a regular monitor. I could never read anything and even the "best" cockpits were still tough to scroll around. Once I got a 23" widescreen monitor though, suddenly my opinion on VCs changed 180 degrees. Flying traffic patterns in GA planes is a totally different experience. I have not touched a 2d cockpit since (literally).

2d panels will stretch at widescreen resolutions, unless the devs included a widescreen option (a few have it).You have a few options:-Run windowed mode and only use part of the screen so things don't stretch-Deal with the stretching (some people are fine with it, but it looks goofy to me)-Switch to virtual cockpitsFor me, I hated VCs when I was on a regular monitor. I could never read anything and even the "best" cockpits were still tough to scroll around. Once I got a 23" widescreen monitor though, suddenly my opinion on VCs changed 180 degrees. Flying traffic patterns in GA planes is a totally different experience. I have not touched a 2d cockpit since (literally).

Or another option is to take advantage of all that extra real estate and rework your panels in a 16x9 aspect ratio. Here is the C119 panel that I'm currently working on. That is a Samsung 23" monitor on top and an Acer 22" below. The 22" is actually 16x10 so it gave me lots more room for the GPS.The original main panel was 1024 x768 and ended just to the right of the engine gauges. The redesigned panel is 1360x850 and has room for the radio stack and more.R-

Dear All,Thank-you so much for your replies, it was interesting to see the 2d panels on a WS monitor and also the coment regarding only using "VC since moving over to a WS monitor", I have tried to get on board (pardon the pun) with flying with VC but could not as they are not clear enough for me, although I do need new glasses ;)But maybe with a new 24" WS monitor VC might be better.Again thanks to all who replied its nice to belong to a more mature forum.All the best.Riker13Oh and thanks for the pictures they do speak a 1000 words ;)

Ok now that you have convinced me to get a WS monitor, my next question is which one?I would like a 23" or 24", Black, DVI input, no speakers as I like using earphones, budget

Are we supposed to like it? This is a rather badly distorted 172 panel.

We don't have to like it. Everybody, including we, may their own opinion. But we happen to not bother that much about the distorsion.Best regards fromWe

Perhaps you all know this, but I didn't see it mentioned...For distorted 2D panels on widescreens...a person can always undock the panel in Windowed Mode, resize it to the proper perspective so that all round items are...round, and go back to Full Screen. I use multiple monitors and undock various panels, drag them to other screens, resize and reshape them mainly going by the roundness of the knobs or instruments. In the case of the main panel on a widescreen (only using one monitor), a person can shrink it horizontally, undock another smaller panel (like the radio stack for instance), and use it to 'plug' the open area. This is one of the good things about Microsoft Windows, and FSX (and FS9) in particular - the ability to undock and resize all of the panels.Good discussion.Noel W

Just to add to Noel's reply- here is a pic of the PMDG 747 panel on a (simulated) Wide Screen. Main panel is dragged to the left with Lower EICAS, EICAS SW Panel & Misc SW Panel added on the right to fill the gap. I think it is an improvement- certainly more functional. Or if you wish, insert the CDU.Black areas are unused portions of my (4:3 ratio) monitors for this experiment.Alex Reid