Out of Range

I

indycoder_bucket

New Member
I am an avid gamer. Recently purchased a new iBuyPower computer and have been playing every game fine. I finished Half Life 2, and was going to move onto Episode 1. I started up the game but when it tried to load the menu screen the monitor went black and a small message came up that said "Out of Range". It's a pretty old Acer monitor, couldn't tell you the exact model.

I'm limited in experience with monitors, but my guess is the old monitor drivers and hardware just can't take my updated Nvidia cards requirements for the game?

Does this mean I need a new monitor to play, or can I still use the old Acer?
 
The Steam engine itself is fussy about seeing the latest vidia drivers on. Is that a crt or lcd made by Acer there? Generally you first have to go into the options menu to set up both audio and vidio as well as assigning the key changes if not using the default layout. The detect current system tool is supposed auto detect what the current hardwares will support.

The monitor itself does seem like the real problem there however with that type of message coming up. It doesn't or simply no longer will support the output to it. The game's resolution setting may be set too high or other detail settings are not being supported.
 
It's a crt. Like I said, it's pretty old so I'm thinkin the monitor just can't support the graphics my machine can spit out. Sadly, I'm low on the cash and I'm trying to milk the thing for all its worth before it bites the big one.
 
The only thing you can actually try until seeing a new monitor would be lowering all the game settings down where you will suffer from the low detail quality just to see the game run. What that means is lowering from 1280 x 1024 down to 800 x 600 max and also looking over the image details and disabling some things there.

It stinks! But this is all you can do for the time being in order to run any of the more recent games out. The demand for graphic details requires a good monitor that will support it along with the newer video cards seen in the last few years. The action games in particular will be the ones with the more intense graphics as well as some of the role players like Oblivion.
 
It's weird that it does this, because it runs every other game I have on high, perfectly, including Oblivion!

How can I change the video settings outside of the game? Because it's as soon as I start up the game that the monitor won't show anything, so I can't even find the options button on the menu screen. I think I might just have to scrape for a new monitor. :(
 
buy yourself a lcd
old crt cant support high resolution or refresh frequ
further more it may "explode" someday
 
evil-xxx said:
buy yourself a lcd
old crt cant support high resolution or refresh frequ
further more it may "explode" someday
Click to expand...

Explode? Likely go doa and simply not display anything would be far more likely.

Going into the display properties>advanced settings will show what the refresh rate is set at and can also provide information on what resolutions are supported. Generally the old crts maxed at 1024x768 if not less at 800x600 depending on age. If the game is set at 1280x1024 and the crt only supports upto 1024x768 oops!
 
Edit the Half Life configuration file. That's all it is. Do a search on Google (or ask our resident Google expert) and you'll find it.
 
Thanks PC, I'll check out what this monitors specs are. SirKenin, thanks for reminding me to use the config file, I completely forgot about that, guess I should have just messed with that in the first place before I came here, woops.
 
If you are running an old 14" or 15" time for an upgrade for sure there. The later 17" and 19" crts offered better support for the higher resolutions games see by default.

Here I'll be looking at a new 19" lcd to replace the current one seeing problems when first starting the system. When booting into Vista I have to hit the power button a good dozen times before the display remains active. Try about 50 times for XP! :rolleyes: But this was one of the earlier 17" models now about 4 1/2yrs. old. Time for an upgrade. :D
 
Ah, guess I should upgrade. It's about a 15" so I'll start looking for a new lcd.

I have a few ideas picked out on newegg, is there a thread around here that will help me choose specifically, or could you offer a few tips yourself?

Thanks for the help guys.
 
Go for a 17" LCD. I don't think you will need to pay the extra money for anything larger than a 17 since you are used to a smaller 15" screen. This acer is something you may be interested in.
 
I ran a 15" first when changing from crt to lcd and then the 17" still in use but about to see a 19" model when found. For wide screen models the actual prices seen are lower then those for a standard square shaped display. If I ever find the need for 22" wide screen I can get that at a local retail store easy enough. :rolleyes:

For a 17" lcd, NEC and Viewsonic make some great models. The hgiher price is the drawback for Nec mainly. Pricewise any good model will clear the $200 mark no matter what make and model. The 19" Asus model seeing a 5ms can be looked over at http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236010

Why 19" over 17"? When going from a crt seeing 800x600 upto the average 1280x1024 everything will shrink in size including text. While that allow for far more desktop shortcuts it can be a little tiresome for reading small print for many. Plus the selections are greater too.
 
I see nothing wrong with it besides preferring the non widescreen lcds here. The 5ns is certainly one thing to look at especially for any gaming. The older 17" BenQ here that sees 12ms is about to see the 4 1/2yr. old lcd go into retirement since it is showing signs of age(and a few other things lately :eek: :P )
 
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