Resolution Issue

[The Good King 3]

  So, I've recently run into a major problem with my old laptop's AC adapter, (the third problem since I bought it in October, but that's just my luck,) and so I've moved my cities onto an HP Netbook for now. The game runs far better than I would have expected, except for one problem: the resolution. This darn thing runs in 1024x576 mode, which constantly creates issues with other programs including SC4. In this case, it cuts off a great deal of the screen. Using a freeware program called NRC, I can change the netbook's res to match the game's res settings, but that creates a small dilemna:

a) I can run it in non-stretch mode and have to pan up and down just to play in 1024x768, or

b) I can run it in 1024 x 768 no pan (downsized) mode, which slows up the gameplay.

 I looked up an alternate solution and found post after post describing this -CustomResolution:enabled trick in the shortcut, which I in turn used. Unfortunately, for my resolution it still shaves a bit off the top, which almost didn't affect my game play until I noticed it cuts off the Residential Zones button. (Why couldn't it just be the terra forming tools...)

 I've looked everywhere for a better solution, but so far I have found nothing. Any suggestions?

EDIT: On a hunch, I used NRC to change my resolution to 1024x600, and with the shortcut still specifying -r1024x576x32, I can now see the whole screen,but still have to pan around to do so. So, same problem in other words, but at least now I know the real problem is that it's assuming 1024x576 as 1024x600.

[Xyloxadoria 1,098]

The reason you are having a problem is becsue your resolution isnt supported by sc4. This is a list of resolutions SimCity4 will accept, you will have to use one of them:

Supported Resolutions

Resolution	Supported
1280 x 800 (16:10)	N
1440 x 900 (16:10)	N
1680 x 1050 (16:10)	N
1920 x 1200 (16:10)	N
1360 x 768 (16:9)	N
1024 x 600 (16:9)	N
1600 x 900 (16:9)	N
1920 x 1080 (16:9)	N
2048 x 1152 (16:9)

[The Good King 3]

I understand that. If it was supported I wouldn't be posting at all. I posted to see if anyone had a suggestion on how to achieve either that resolution or perhaps adjust my netbook's to 1024x600 without panning. (I would actually be ok with stretching in this instance since it's only a 24-pixel difference, but NRC doesn't support switching to 1024x600.)

[Mootilda 76]

That can't be a complete list, since I'm running 1024 x 768, which isn't on your list.

[The Good King 3]

If you look closely at his list, You'll notice that all the resolutions he posted are either a 16:9 or 16:10 ratio, which is the ratio I'm having problems achieving. Yours is a 4:3 and has nothing to do with the issue seeing as it's a SC4 default.

[SC4BOY 21]

SC4 will run on ANY resolution to the best of my knowledge (controlled only by the startup shortcut setup.. any limit will be the limit of your GRAPHIC CARD, NOT SC4) .. only above 1200 vertical it has some problems in map generation which can be solved by rendering the region the in lower res, then going back to high to play it.

WRT your resolution on your netbook (less than 600 vertical) the game's graphics are fixed (pixel size that is) for the "dashboards" and that may create a problem for you.. the only suggestion I have is to turn them off (lower left corner "arrow") while "playing" and back on when you need to see them.. will be a pain in the butt but don't know another way

[kingdiz_55 12]

I agree with SC4BOY. As you said, you're running it on a netbook and netbooks don't have very powerful graphic cards as their main purpose is everyday tasks like word processing, emailing, web browsing, etc.

[The Good King 3]

Indeed, I was pretty sure it was a problem with fixed size dashboards after seeing different resolutions at work, but I was hoping for a downscaling solution. Anyway, I've just been using NRC to run the game in 800x600 with panning, and it hasn't been that terrible. It's slower than normal, and annoyingly sluggish on commands such as zoom, but other than that I've successfully re-created the city of Vault that I lost with my hard drive crash back in November of last year.

[SC4BOY 21]

Sorry about your crash, but it always happens to us all sooner or later!!  Keeping regular backups can help avoid that kind of problem too..  Buy a USB, eSATA or whatever external drive, or enroll in an online backup service such as Carbonite or if you have a home network back up to other pc's. Glad you found something that works for you.

Originally posted by: The Good King

 EDIT: On a hunch, I used NRC to change my resolution to 1024x600, and with the shortcut still specifying -r1024x576x32, I can now see the whole screen,but still have to pan around to do so. So, same problem in other words, but at least now I know the real problem is that it's assuming 1024x576 as 1024x600.
quote>

Would you mind putting a link to this program? I have searched for "NRC" every way I could think of in order to help others with 10" netbooks, but cannot find it. Or perhaps if you gave the full name rather than initials?

[The Good King 3]

It's called the Netbook Resolution Changer, and it's free/legal. This link should work: http://f60s.com/cache/t/485948.aspx

Good luck

EDIT: If the link doesn't work correctly and/or you can't find another good one, I still have the installer and fortunately it's legal to download, so I can upload/give a link if necessary.

[Deathcat001 8]

You might have to live with black outlines around your screen. Because it works in Factorisations I don't think Custom Custom Formats are accepted in Widescreen (16:9) Resolution