nvidia control panel settings only work in fullscreen

Unfortunately, the end result is usually poor. For example, a 5:4 game will turn to 16:9, if that’s what your display supports. Full-screen: This setting will force the game to match your monitor’s aspect ratio.The excess space on your screen will be filled out with black bars.

Aspect Ratio: Much like AMD, this will simply keep the game in its original aspect ratio.

If you have an Nvidia card, you can choose between the following GPU scaling options: The remaining parts of your screen will be filled with black bars or a background pattern.

Use Centered Trimmings: This last AMD setting will center the game or the image in its original aspect ratio.

This setting will usually produce poor visuals.

Scale Image to Full Panel Size: This option will stretch the image to fit your screen, forcing it out of its intended aspect ratio.

The excess parts of your monitor will be filled with a black background.

Maintain Aspect Ratio: This setting lets you experience the game with the same aspect ratio as it was intended to be played, so a 5:4 game will remain 5:4.

GPU scaling modes on AMD cardsĪMD users can choose between the following GPU settings: Nvidia and AMD both offer different modes of GPU scaling, allowing you to adjust the experience to your needs. In the case of Nvidia, GPU scaling is enabled through the Nvidia Control Panel, while AMD users can find the setting in either AMD Radeon Settings or the AMD Catalyst Control Center. However, there are two other modes that work around the problem in different ways - we explain them in more detail below. What GPU scaling usually does is simply preserve the game’s original aspect ratio and create a border around it instead of forcing it to fit your monitor. When GPU scaling is enabled, the technology works to remedy that and make your games look their best once again. Most commonly, the games are stretched to fit the native aspect ratio of the screen, and the end result is usually pitiful.

Without GPU scaling, such older games often just look bad.

Nvidia control panel settings only work in fullscreen