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Games are scaling widescreen even if laptop screen resolution is 4:3

Anonymous
2022-03-30T19:49:07+00:00

I have a potato laptop with Intel UHD 620 graphics and a 940MX GPU.

So if you know, you don't have NVIDIA scaling options in the NVIDIA control panel when you are not using any external monitor. It shows only a limited options.

So I can control scaling using Intel GPU settings only.

I tried to play a game like NFSMW (2005) in 1024x768 resolution but it stretches it widescreen instead playing into 4:3 aspect ratio.

Same happens in earlier COD games.

But if a game have a dedicated option to play in 4:3, there's no problem. Example is Condition Zero and probably CSGO too. I can play it both widescreen and 4:3.

And it happens irrespective of what resolution I set on my laptop. It feels like games don't care my screen resolution and scaling.

I tried to set my laptop resolution in 1024x768 with maintain aspect ratio - which works fine on laptop screen (I can see black bars on my screen) but as soon as I launch any game in 1024x768, it will stretch it into 16:9. Which I don't want.

One possible reason could be:

Intel's GPU drivers for Windows 11 don't allow "Maintain Aspect Ratio" feature for 1920x1080 resolution of your laptop. It only accepts "Maintain Display Scaling".

So maybe that is the reason. But it would only make sense if I were trying to play game in 1920x1080. So I'm skeptic about this.

One way to "fix" this issue is play games in windowed mode as it respects the aspect ratio. But I don't like windowed mode.

I play only 3-4 games but I want to play all of them at 1024x768 and 4:3 ratio. So all of them have this problem.

Given all that, what could be the reason for this? And is there any workaround for this?

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Gaming

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  1. Anonymous
    2022-04-04T10:13:28+00:00

    There's a huge difference between criticism and facts.

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  2. Anonymous
    2022-04-03T10:01:03+00:00

    Hi vikaskumar2299,

    Thanks for your post in Microsoft Community.

    I understand that you have encountered a situation where the screen cannot be forced to a 4:3 ratio when playing a game.

    I noticed you mentioned that you use Intel GPU settings to control scaling. Unfortunately, this may not work. When you run the game, you can't use this GPU to calculate the image, the computer will automatically choose to use the 940MX for calculation and output.

    So your settings on Intel are actually meaningless, the Intel GPU program does not control the Nvidia GPU, only the settings in the Nvidia driver will work.

    So, to force the computer to run the game in 4:3 mode, one of two conditions needs to be met:

    1- The game itself has a 4:3 option

    2- Nvidia control panel can force the resolution

    So, these settings are actually not controlled by Windows, nor by Intel programs, only by Nvidia programs, but according to your description, they don't seem to provide this function.

    Thanks for understanding and stay safe!

    Kirk | Microsoft Community Support Specialist

    * Beware of scammers posting fake support numbers here.

    * If your problem is not solved, you could reply to the post again and we would continue to provide technical support for you.

    * Please check and vote this answer if it helps as it will be beneficial to more community members reading here.

    I found the culprit. I removed windows 11. Reverted back to Windows 10. And problem is fixed!

    Next time do not post a claim which is not backed by any proof. What you wrote is incorrect and misleading. I request you to edit your comment.

    There's something in Windows 11 itself which forces the game to NOT follow Intel resolution. Windows 7 and 10 have no such issues.

    And if you still want to post an incorrect claim, at least learn to respond to the users. We will appreciate it.

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  3. Anonymous
    2022-03-31T10:52:56+00:00

    Hi I am still waiting for a better response.

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  4. Anonymous
    2022-03-31T04:19:26+00:00

    I am skeptic about this: **the Intel GPU program does not control the Nvidia GPU, only the settings in the Nvidia driver will work.**I have seen many people posting in different forums posting issues like they don't see display scaling options in their NVIDIA control panel (just like me). And then people suggesting them that you have to control it using Intel scaling options instead.

    See this: Why does Nvidia Control Panel only show 3d options and nothing else on the Helios 300? — Acer Community

    And this: No 'display' tab in nVidia control p | NVIDIA GeForce Forums

    So I wonder why would they suggest that? Certainly it helped the users who were facing scaling issues in game.

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  5. Anonymous
    2022-03-31T03:24:30+00:00

    Hi vikaskumar2299,

    Thanks for your post in Microsoft Community.

    I understand that you have encountered a situation where the screen cannot be forced to a 4:3 ratio when playing a game.

    I noticed you mentioned that you use Intel GPU settings to control scaling. Unfortunately, this may not work. When you run the game, you can't use this GPU to calculate the image, the computer will automatically choose to use the 940MX for calculation and output.

    So your settings on Intel are actually meaningless, the Intel GPU program does not control the Nvidia GPU, only the settings in the Nvidia driver will work.

    So, to force the computer to run the game in 4:3 mode, one of two conditions needs to be met:

    1- The game itself has a 4:3 option

    2- Nvidia control panel can force the resolution

    So, these settings are actually not controlled by Windows, nor by Intel programs, only by Nvidia programs, but according to your description, they don't seem to provide this function.

    Thanks for understanding and stay safe!

    Kirk | Microsoft Community Support Specialist

    * Beware of scammers posting fake support numbers here.

    * If your problem is not solved, you could reply to the post again and we would continue to provide technical support for you.

    * Please check and vote this answer if it helps as it will be beneficial to more community members reading here.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments