Your Dell monitor will (probably) keep correct aspect ratio for 640x480, 800x600, 1024x768 etc (with setting 'original'). - as those modes are 4:3. (just like mine 2405FPW and 2407WFP)
320x200 isn't 🙁 Pixel aspect ratio is 16:10 - just like 1680x1050, 1920x1200 etc.
BTW. In 320x200 mode pixels aren't square. (In 32x240 used in ModeX they are, and this mode should be properly displayed on your Dell).

Probably some Samsung monitors do not try to detect graphic mode but force aspect ratio just like TV'sets. But I don't have any of those to confirm.

zyga64 wrote on 2023-11-14, 07:25:

Your Dell monitor will (probably) keep correct aspect ratio for 640x480, 800x600, 1024x768 etc (with setting 'original'). - as t […]
Show full quote

Your Dell monitor will (probably) keep correct aspect ratio for 640x480, 800x600, 1024x768 etc (with setting 'original'). - as those modes are 4:3. (just like mine 2405FPW and 2407WFP)
320x200 isn't 🙁 Pixel aspect ratio is 16:10 - just like 1680x1050, 1920x1200 etc.
BTW. In 320x200 mode pixels aren't square. (In 32x240 used in ModeX they are, and this mode should be properly displayed on your Dell).

Probably some Samsung monitors do not try to detect graphic mode but force aspect ratio just like TV'sets. But I don't have any of those to confirm.

My Philips 252B9 can force a 4x3 aspect ratio on any resolution. This was the reason for buying it.

Typically, monitors that have a 4x3 mode will have it identified as such with an explicit mention of "4x3" whereas the term "Aspect" is often used to describe a mode where the monitor "guesses" at the aspect ratio to use based on vertical versus horizontal resolution (it always assumes square pixels for digital feeds and just looks at the timings for analogue feeds, AFAIK and AFAICR).

@cde has an AOC monitor with an explicit 4x3 mode. The Acer units I own do not have such a mode, neither did the Asus units that I considered purchasing new in the last few years. I have never owned a 16x9 Samsung monitor, So I cannot comment on those. This likely varies from model to model for at least dome manufacturers, so I would avoid generalizitions about any given manufacturer.

zyga64 wrote on 2023-11-14, 07:25:

Your Dell monitor will (probably) keep correct aspect ratio for 640x480, 800x600, 1024x768 etc (with setting 'original'). - as t […]
Show full quote

Your Dell monitor will (probably) keep correct aspect ratio for 640x480, 800x600, 1024x768 etc (with setting 'original'). - as those modes are 4:3. (just like mine 2405FPW and 2407WFP)
320x200 isn't 🙁 Pixel aspect ratio is 16:10 - just like 1680x1050, 1920x1200 etc.
BTW. In 320x200 mode pixels aren't square. (In 32x240 used in ModeX they are, and this mode should be properly displayed on your Dell).

Probably some Samsung monitors do not try to detect graphic mode but force aspect ratio just like TV'sets. But I don't have any of those to confirm.

There is a 4:3 setting you can use to force the screen to display all input in 4:3 format. I use this screen for my Windows 98/Win XP dual boot machine and it works very nice.

EDIT: Confused it with U2412M

vetz wrote on 2023-11-14, 08:51:

zyga64 wrote on 2023-11-14, 07:25:

Your Dell monitor will (probably) keep correct aspect ratio for 640x480, 800x600, 1024x768 etc (with setting 'original'). - as t […]
Show full quote

Your Dell monitor will (probably) keep correct aspect ratio for 640x480, 800x600, 1024x768 etc (with setting 'original'). - as those modes are 4:3. (just like mine 2405FPW and 2407WFP)
320x200 isn't 🙁 Pixel aspect ratio is 16:10 - just like 1680x1050, 1920x1200 etc.
BTW. In 320x200 mode pixels aren't square. (In 32x240 used in ModeX they are, and this mode should be properly displayed on your Dell).

Probably some Samsung monitors do not try to detect graphic mode but force aspect ratio just like TV'sets. But I don't have any of those to confirm.

There is a 4:3 setting you can use to force the screen to display all input in 4:3 format. I use this screen for my Windows 98/Win XP dual boot machine and it works very nice.

Are you perhaps thinking of the U2412M or another Dell model ?

The U2410 user guide that I have looked at does not mention a 4x3 mode, whereas the U2412M does .

Unless maybe that user guide is wrong or the U2410 and U2410F are different monitors and I was looking at the wrong docs.

darry wrote on 2023-11-14, 09:24:

Are you perhaps thinking of the U2412M or another Dell model ? […]
Show full quote

vetz wrote on 2023-11-14, 08:51:

zyga64 wrote on 2023-11-14, 07:25:

Your Dell monitor will (probably) keep correct aspect ratio for 640x480, 800x600, 1024x768 etc (with setting 'original'). - as t […]
Show full quote

Your Dell monitor will (probably) keep correct aspect ratio for 640x480, 800x600, 1024x768 etc (with setting 'original'). - as those modes are 4:3. (just like mine 2405FPW and 2407WFP)
320x200 isn't 🙁 Pixel aspect ratio is 16:10 - just like 1680x1050, 1920x1200 etc.
BTW. In 320x200 mode pixels aren't square. (In 32x240 used in ModeX they are, and this mode should be properly displayed on your Dell).

Probably some Samsung monitors do not try to detect graphic mode but force aspect ratio just like TV'sets. But I don't have any of those to confirm.

There is a 4:3 setting you can use to force the screen to display all input in 4:3 format. I use this screen for my Windows 98/Win XP dual boot machine and it works very nice.

Are you perhaps thinking of the U2412M or another Dell model ?

The U2410 user guide that I have looked at does not mention a 4x3 mode, whereas the U2412M does .

Unless maybe that user guide is wrong or the U2410 and U2410F are different monitors and I was looking at the wrong docs.

You're right, I'm confusing it with U2412M

vetz wrote on 2023-11-14, 09:35:

darry wrote on 2023-11-14, 09:24:

Are you perhaps thinking of the U2412M or another Dell model ? […]
Show full quote

vetz wrote on 2023-11-14, 08:51:

There is a 4:3 setting you can use to force the screen to display all input in 4:3 format. I use this screen for my Windows 98/Win XP dual boot machine and it works very nice.

Are you perhaps thinking of the U2412M or another Dell model ?

The U2410 user guide that I have looked at does not mention a 4x3 mode, whereas the U2412M does .

Unless maybe that user guide is wrong or the U2410 and U2410F are different monitors and I was looking at the wrong docs.

You're right, I'm confusing it with U2412M

Thank you for that info ! I will look for it.

As an owner of a U2410 I've been through this exact problem before:
Re: Widescreen monitors and 4:3 aspect ratio compatibility thread

Its "Aspect" setting is only good if the GPU outputs exactly the correct resolution with square pixels. For reliable 4:3 output regardless of resolution, a "simpler" monitor with a 4:3 option like U2412M is preferred.