c0burn wrote on 2025-06-14, 19:55:

Looking a modern monitor that does the following: […]
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Looking a modern monitor that does the following:

Must support refresh rates 60hz, ideally has gsync/freesync and high refresh
Must support forcing 4:3 on all content (so I can use with an OSSC)
There's a Philips mentioned on here but it's only 60hz.

I like my OSSC but its only perfect when the above two features exist.

Any ideas?

I use a Philips 252B9. Mine definitely handles at least up to 75Hz without skipping frames.
Re: Purchasing a 4:3 LCD for DOS/DOSBOX/MISTER/OSSC games?

According to the manual, https://www.documents.philips.com/assets/2023 … 02000c472f0.pdf , up to 1920x1200 at 75Hz is supported (works without frameskip according to my tests), but 1920x1200 at 60Hz is "optimal". I suspect that has to do with this monitor using a 6bit+FRC IPS panel (potential for visual artefacts like texture dithering on some colors) at higher refresh rates).

My Asus ProArt PA248QV works great. It auto switches to 4:3 as long as the signal is coming through the HDMI port.

darry wrote on 2025-06-14, 21:01:

I use a Philips 252B9. Mine definitely handles at least up to 75Hz without skipping frames. Re: Purchasing a 4:3 LCD for DOS/DO […]
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c0burn wrote on 2025-06-14, 19:55:

Looking a modern monitor that does the following: […]
Show full quote

Looking a modern monitor that does the following:

Must support refresh rates 60hz, ideally has gsync/freesync and high refresh
Must support forcing 4:3 on all content (so I can use with an OSSC)
There's a Philips mentioned on here but it's only 60hz.

I like my OSSC but its only perfect when the above two features exist.

Any ideas?

I use a Philips 252B9. Mine definitely handles at least up to 75Hz without skipping frames.
Re: Purchasing a 4:3 LCD for DOS/DOSBOX/MISTER/OSSC games?

According to the manual, https://www.documents.philips.com/assets/2023 … 02000c472f0.pdf , up to 1920x1200 at 75Hz is supported (works without frameskip according to my tests), but 1920x1200 at 60Hz is "optimal". I suspect that has to do with this monitor using a 6bit+FRC IPS panel (potential for visual artefacts like texture dithering on some colors) at higher refresh rates).

Does the 4:3 setting stick?

zuldan wrote on 2025-06-14, 21:08:

My Asus ProArt PA248QV works great. It auto switches to 4:3 as long as the signal is coming through the HDMI port.

Many monitors interpret VGA 320x200/720x400/640x400 as widescreen and can't force 4:3. Is this the case with this one?

zuldan wrote on 2025-06-14, 21:08:

My Asus ProArt PA248QV works great. It auto switches to 4:3 as long as the signal is coming through the HDMI port.

Does it do so even in DOS, when displaying 320x200 mode 13h (line doubled to 640x400 by the VGA card) ? AFAIK, it does NOT.

Many monitors, including that specific one, AFAIK, only treat as 4:3 resolutions whose active pixel counts for the x and y axes have a 4/3 (1.33) ratio. I.E. 640/480=1.33 , so the monitor will "see" it as 4:3 , but 640/400=1.6 , so the monitor WILL NOT display it as 4:3. In other words, the monitor will assume that all modes have square pixels AND "deduce" the aspect ratio from active pixel count ratios for x and y axes, which does not work for 320x200 because it does NOT have square pixels.

You will not have encountered that issue IF you use the native HDMI or DVI output of most (probably all) Nvidia and ATI based video cards because, by default, those video cards, in DOS, upscale 320x200 mode 13h to a 4:3 square pixel mode resolution that is then pillarboxed into a 16:10 resolution (exact resolution will depend on monitor EDID and VGA BIOS logic, but often the monitor's native resolution), so the black bars on each side of the image will be generated by the video card.

If one uses a VGA card's analogue output and digitizes it with an OSSC, the resulting 640x400 resolution, sent over DVI/HDMI, will require a monitor that allows forcing 4:3 mode to have a proper 4:3 aspect ratio, which the PA248QV cannot do (unless newer revisions/monitor firmwares have added that feature), but the 252B9 and a few other monitors can do.

c0burn wrote on 2025-06-14, 21:16:

Does the 4:3 setting stick? […]
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darry wrote on 2025-06-14, 21:01:

I use a Philips 252B9. Mine definitely handles at least up to 75Hz without skipping frames. Re: Purchasing a 4:3 LCD for DOS/DO […]
Show full quote

c0burn wrote on 2025-06-14, 19:55:

Looking a modern monitor that does the following: […]
Show full quote

Looking a modern monitor that does the following:

Must support refresh rates 60hz, ideally has gsync/freesync and high refresh
Must support forcing 4:3 on all content (so I can use with an OSSC)
There's a Philips mentioned on here but it's only 60hz.

I like my OSSC but its only perfect when the above two features exist.

Any ideas?

I use a Philips 252B9. Mine definitely handles at least up to 75Hz without skipping frames.
Re: Purchasing a 4:3 LCD for DOS/DOSBOX/MISTER/OSSC games?

According to the manual, https://www.documents.philips.com/assets/2023 … 02000c472f0.pdf , up to 1920x1200 at 75Hz is supported (works without frameskip according to my tests), but 1920x1200 at 60Hz is "optimal". I suspect that has to do with this monitor using a 6bit+FRC IPS panel (potential for visual artefacts like texture dithering on some colors) at higher refresh rates).

Does the 4:3 setting stick?

zuldan wrote on 2025-06-14, 21:08:

My Asus ProArt PA248QV works great. It auto switches to 4:3 as long as the signal is coming through the HDMI port.

Many monitors interpret VGA 320x200/720x400/640x400 as widescreen and can't force 4:3. Is this the case with this one?

On my 252B9, the forced 4:3 mode is persistent accross monitor power cycles.

For the PA248QV, see my response to Zuldan and the thread link in my first response to you. The PA248QV is specifically discussed there.

darry wrote on 2025-06-14, 21:50:

c0burn wrote on 2025-06-14, 21:16:

Does the 4:3 setting stick? […]
Show full quote

darry wrote on 2025-06-14, 21:01:

I use a Philips 252B9. Mine definitely handles at least up to 75Hz without skipping frames.
Re: Purchasing a 4:3 LCD for DOS/DOSBOX/MISTER/OSSC games?

According to the manual, https://www.documents.philips.com/assets/2023 … 02000c472f0.pdf , up to 1920x1200 at 75Hz is supported (works without frameskip according to my tests), but 1920x1200 at 60Hz is "optimal". I suspect that has to do with this monitor using a 6bit+FRC IPS panel (potential for visual artefacts like texture dithering on some colors) at higher refresh rates).

Does the 4:3 setting stick?

zuldan wrote on 2025-06-14, 21:08:

My Asus ProArt PA248QV works great. It auto switches to 4:3 as long as the signal is coming through the HDMI port.

Many monitors interpret VGA 320x200/720x400/640x400 as widescreen and can't force 4:3. Is this the case with this one?

On my 252B9, the forced 4:3 mode is persistent accross monitor power cycles.

For the PA248QV, see my response to Zuldan and the thread link in my first response to you. The PA248QV is specifically discussed there.

Many thanks for all you insightful and helpful comments. I think this is going on my shopping list!

c0burn wrote on 2025-06-15, 07:20:

darry wrote on 2025-06-14, 21:50:

c0burn wrote on 2025-06-14, 21:16:

Does the 4:3 setting stick?

Many monitors interpret VGA 320x200/720x400/640x400 as widescreen and can't force 4:3. Is this the case with this one?

On my 252B9, the forced 4:3 mode is persistent accross monitor power cycles.

For the PA248QV, see my response to Zuldan and the thread link in my first response to you. The PA248QV is specifically discussed there.

Many thanks for all you insightful and helpful comments. I think this is going on my shopping list!

Unfortunately, it appears it is discontinued, I have just now realized looking at the Philips website, though I still see some for sale. Maybe others here will be able to suggest easier to find and possibly even better options.

IMHO, the most significant difficulty in finding a decent monitor is the frequent lack of a forced 4:3 mode. This is something that might be made moot with an OSSC Pro or one of the Retrotink models, for example, but those are expensive and I personally cannot confirm that either of those could actually be effective for that (I did read more about the OSSC Pro while it was still in dev and it seemed promising, but I have not checked up on it further since due to its cost and the fact I have a working setup already).

darry wrote on 2025-06-15, 10:22:

c0burn wrote on 2025-06-15, 07:20:

darry wrote on 2025-06-14, 21:50:

On my 252B9, the forced 4:3 mode is persistent accross monitor power cycles.

For the PA248QV, see my response to Zuldan and the thread link in my first response to you. The PA248QV is specifically discussed there.

Many thanks for all you insightful and helpful comments. I think this is going on my shopping list!

Unfortunately, it appears it is discontinued, I have just now realized looking at the Philips website, though I still see some for sale. Maybe others here will be able to suggest easier to find and possibly even better options.

IMHO, the most significant difficulty in finding a decent monitor is the frequent lack of a forced 4:3 mode. This is something that might be made moot with an OSSC Pro or one of the Retrotink models, for example, but those are expensive and I personally cannot confirm that either of those could actually be effective for that (I did read more about the OSSC Pro while it was still in dev and it seemed promising, but I have not checked up on it further since due to its cost and the fact I have a working setup already).

They are thankfully newly available still on Amazon UK, so we have stock here at least 😀

I agree, if the OSSC Pro can force 4:3 it would be a lifesaver.

I suppose what would be really interesting to me is a 1440 or 4k monitor that does high refresh and allows forcing 4:3. I wonder if other Philips models have the same software so will also work.

I use a Dell S2721DGF with my OSSC and it is absolutely great. It's 1440p and it supports 144 Hz over HDMI (165 Hz over DP), FreeSync/GSync, and has forced 4:3 that persists.

Caveat: it's a few years old and might be discontinued, but still seems available in the US at least. I wonder if there's an updated version (probably 4K).

I haven't throw every odd resolution or refresh rate at it, but I've tried a lot. I can set it to 100 Hz in Windows 98 and it works wonderfully (but you need a good VGA cable to do this without degradation). For regular 320x200 or 640x480 with 2x on the OSSC it looks beautiful. Its scaling of 800x600 and 1024x768 is also good, to my eyes at least.

I run two inputs into it: one Windows 11 PC via DisplayPort, and one retro PC via HDMI/OSSC. It automatically detects whichever PC the signal is coming from and switches to it, and maintains the 16:9 or forced 4:3 setting depending on the input. Basically, I never have to touch the monitor settings.

Note that there are other Dell monitors with similar model numbers, but they have very different features, so be careful.

My 32inch LCD (LG 32GK650F-B) only supports maintaining aspect ratio, but I just adjust the OSSC settings until I get a 4:3 image on the screen.
It's a bit of a pain having to make adjustments fairly often when changing systems, but still a lot better than forking out hundreds of $$$ more.
It's unfortunate the RGB2HDMI doesn't support 256 colours as that would have been a good cheap alternative.

Fun discovery today: my MSI MP275Q monitor has a forced 4:3 mode that is persistent across monitor power cycles.

https://www.msi.com/Business-Productivity-Monitor/PRO-MP275Q

darry wrote on 2025-06-16, 02:32:

Fun discovery today: my MSI MP275Q monitor has a forced 4:3 mode that is persistent across monitor power cycles.

https://www.msi.com/Business-Productivity-Monitor/PRO-MP275Q

Will it force content it think is widescreen into 4:3?

c0burn wrote on 2025-06-28, 20:07:

darry wrote on 2025-06-16, 02:32:

Fun discovery today: my MSI MP275Q monitor has a forced 4:3 mode that is persistent across monitor power cycles.

https://www.msi.com/Business-Productivity-Monitor/PRO-MP275Q

Will it force content it think is widescreen into 4:3?

There is no "thinking" or analysis involved when forced 4:3 mode is enabled. Everything gets displayed as 4:3 in that mode, including any 16:9 or 16:10 content. This is also the way the 252B9 works (and, I suspect, most all other monitors with a forced 4:3 mode). Think of such a forced 4:3 mode as a manual override that must be engaged for non square pixel 4:3 resolutions (such as 320x200 and 640x400) to be displayed properly AND that must be disengaged fot any widescreen resolutions to be displayed properly. While there may be monitors that can apply as presets things like aspect ratio on a per "set of timings" (resolution) basis, I know of none.

I use an MSI MP273A (in White). It's only 1080p, but that's my preferred resolution. It has 1 VGA, 1 DP, and 1 HDMI port as well as audio-in (which I don't use). It will force 4:3 aspect ratio on all inputs at the same time even for widescreen resolutions over HDMI/DP. The setting does persist as I recall. I usually just leave the monitor in "Auto" mode unless I'm doing some DOS gaming (anything lower than 640x480 VGA) since I use the monitor with my main system as well as all of my retro builds (with a KVM). Auto mode will sync-up to higher resolution 4:3 (640x480 and above) and display the correct aspect ratio without forcing that mode.

If I had one complaint, it takes a really long time to sync inputs. My retro computers get pretty far into the boot cycle by the time the monitor begins to display a picture.

Overall, I'm pretty happy with the MSI monitor. Best of all, it came in white to complete my main PC's aesthetic (white Fractal case, white Creative Pebble speakers, white Microsoft mouse, and white/silver Turtle Beach mechanical keyboard).

It also has VESA mount points if that matters to you.

fosterwj03 wrote on 2025-06-29, 15:06:

I use an MSI MP273A (in White). It's only 1080p, but that's my preferred resolution. It has 1 VGA, 1 DP, and 1 HDMI port as we […]
Show full quote

I use an MSI MP273A (in White). It's only 1080p, but that's my preferred resolution. It has 1 VGA, 1 DP, and 1 HDMI port as well as audio-in (which I don't use). It will force 4:3 aspect ratio on all inputs at the same time even for widescreen resolutions over HDMI/DP. The setting does persist as I recall. I usually just leave the monitor in "Auto" mode unless I'm doing some DOS gaming (anything lower than 640x480 VGA) since I use the monitor with my main system as well as all of my retro builds (with a KVM). Auto mode will sync-up to higher resolution 4:3 (640x480 and above) and display the correct aspect ratio without forcing that mode.

If I had one complaint, it takes a really long time to sync inputs. My retro computers get pretty far into the boot cycle by the time the monitor begins to display a picture.

Overall, I'm pretty happy with the MSI monitor. Best of all, it came in white to complete my main PC's aesthetic (white Fractal case, white Creative Pebble speakers, white Microsoft mouse, and white/silver Turtle Beach mechanical keyboard).

It also has VESA mount points if that matters to you.

My MP275Q does not feel slow on input switching, also has a VESA mount and is surprisingly well calibrated (SRGB) out of the box. It's an 8-bit+FRC IPS monitor that is really quite inexpensive, IMHO.

darry wrote on 2025-06-30, 00:15:

fosterwj03 wrote on 2025-06-29, 15:06:

I use an MSI MP273A (in White). It's only 1080p, but that's my preferred resolution. It has 1 VGA, 1 DP, and 1 HDMI port as we […]
Show full quote

I use an MSI MP273A (in White). It's only 1080p, but that's my preferred resolution. It has 1 VGA, 1 DP, and 1 HDMI port as well as audio-in (which I don't use). It will force 4:3 aspect ratio on all inputs at the same time even for widescreen resolutions over HDMI/DP. The setting does persist as I recall. I usually just leave the monitor in "Auto" mode unless I'm doing some DOS gaming (anything lower than 640x480 VGA) since I use the monitor with my main system as well as all of my retro builds (with a KVM). Auto mode will sync-up to higher resolution 4:3 (640x480 and above) and display the correct aspect ratio without forcing that mode.

If I had one complaint, it takes a really long time to sync inputs. My retro computers get pretty far into the boot cycle by the time the monitor begins to display a picture.

Overall, I'm pretty happy with the MSI monitor. Best of all, it came in white to complete my main PC's aesthetic (white Fractal case, white Creative Pebble speakers, white Microsoft mouse, and white/silver Turtle Beach mechanical keyboard).

It also has VESA mount points if that matters to you.

My MP275Q does not feel slow on input switching, also has a VESA mount and is surprisingly well calibrated (SRGB) out of the box. It's an 8-bit+FRC IPS monitor that is really quite inexpensive, IMHO.

I should have mentioned that I only notice the lag on the VGA input, so that might explain my experience given many of the other monitors discussed in this thread may not have analog inputs. I need VGA to use my monitor with older computers without the need for some sort of analog-to-digital conversion outside of the monitor.

fosterwj03 wrote on 2025-06-30, 00:58:

darry wrote on 2025-06-30, 00:15:

fosterwj03 wrote on 2025-06-29, 15:06:

I use an MSI MP273A (in White). It's only 1080p, but that's my preferred resolution. It has 1 VGA, 1 DP, and 1 HDMI port as we […]
Show full quote

I use an MSI MP273A (in White). It's only 1080p, but that's my preferred resolution. It has 1 VGA, 1 DP, and 1 HDMI port as well as audio-in (which I don't use). It will force 4:3 aspect ratio on all inputs at the same time even for widescreen resolutions over HDMI/DP. The setting does persist as I recall. I usually just leave the monitor in "Auto" mode unless I'm doing some DOS gaming (anything lower than 640x480 VGA) since I use the monitor with my main system as well as all of my retro builds (with a KVM). Auto mode will sync-up to higher resolution 4:3 (640x480 and above) and display the correct aspect ratio without forcing that mode.

If I had one complaint, it takes a really long time to sync inputs. My retro computers get pretty far into the boot cycle by the time the monitor begins to display a picture.

Overall, I'm pretty happy with the MSI monitor. Best of all, it came in white to complete my main PC's aesthetic (white Fractal case, white Creative Pebble speakers, white Microsoft mouse, and white/silver Turtle Beach mechanical keyboard).

It also has VESA mount points if that matters to you.

My MP275Q does not feel slow on input switching, also has a VESA mount and is surprisingly well calibrated (SRGB) out of the box. It's an 8-bit+FRC IPS monitor that is really quite inexpensive, IMHO.

I should have mentioned that I only notice the lag on the VGA input, so that might explain my experience given many of the other monitors discussed in this thread may not have analog inputs. I need VGA to use my monitor with older computers without the need for some sort of analog-to-digital conversion outside of the monitor.

The MP275Q does not even have analogue VGA input. Considering the fact that practically all LCD monitors, when using VGA input (if present), interpret line doubled 320x200@70Hz (effectively 640x400@70Hz) as 720x400@70Hz, I would much rather use something like an OSSC (or an Extron RGB-DVI 300 or similar) than live with improperly (irregularly) sampled pixels on the horizontal axis. I do understand that not everyone shares that opinion.

Bought a MP275Q for only £118 - very happy. Thanks!