So, yesterday I mentioned I was using DisplayConfigX instead of SwitchResX, but I’ve actually found I need them both.

DisplayConfigX is definitely easier for discovering and limiting the possibly display configurations and I would recommend it to anyone having issues even figuring out where to begin in SwitchResX. The other nice thing DCX does is install the resolutions you want to use in your system display control panel.

The more I started playing with my system last night the more I realized something was off. Video playback seemed to be either cut-off or (worse) shifted to the side… The fix came in the form of SwitchResX which lets you configure diffferent screen resolution profiles for certain activities and then assign these configurations to an application. Now when I play a movie in DVD player or VLC, my screen automatically switches to 720×480 and back again to 960×540 when I am done. This is great since it involves no effort once configured.

I have run into one glitch which is in using the G-Force visualizer in iTunes. I had to set iTunes to 960×540 so that switching back from the full-screen mode returns to a usable display. It works 98% percent of the time so far. The only fix I’ve found for this 2% is unfortunately to manually switch my screen back via Apple Remote Desktop.

By the way - a virtual display (ARA or VNC) is probably required if you plan on trying resolutions you are unsure of…. because without it, you could end up with a screen you simply can’t see or read to switch things back.

–Jonathan Greene

This entry was posted on Thursday, February 10th, 2005 at 4:40 pm and is filed under Software. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.