Finally got my hands on this old little guy (Eee PC 701 2G), yet I keep having problems with resolution in games
Posted by Shassk@reddit | retrobattlestations | View on Reddit | 7 comments
Remembered how much I've wanted one back in the day and could't resist getting it when I've got a chance.
However when actually trying to use it I've got a problem: it's hardware thinks the screen is 800x600. Which it isn't, it's 800x480. On desktop Asus' ACPI utility can trick OS into thinking it supports this resolution, but apparently games don't care and try to run at 800x600 regardless. And expectedly don't fit. Now if you set resolution to 800x600 via Asus' software — you can move mouse up and down towards the edge moving viewed area (like in RTS games or something). But then again: it doesn't seem to work in games. Apparently even Diablo defaults to 800x600 even at 1.12a without LoD expansion (which in theory should be the only way to add resolutions higher than 640x480).
So I'm looking for ideas:
- Is there any option left other than using DxWnd etc?
- If not — which one among them is the fastest? Trying to run America: No Peace Beyond The Line in DxWnd was veeeeery slow but it ran just fine FPS wise without it.
- What RPG/platformer/racing games (basically anything active, not RTS/TBS/tactics etc) support 640x480 by default that I could try? Got my first PC back in second half of 2000s so I want to catch up with what was popular in the first half.
ICQME@reddit
How do you deal with the 2G disk size? Do you use the SDcard as a data disk? I have a 701 4GB and ran XP on it for a while then installed a modified Windows 7. I haven't used it for gaming but it did run 3dmark01 no problem. XP has a setting in the display/monitor properties which lists all the capable resolutions/color options beyond what the sliders offer. maybe there's something in there but games will likely override those too. for early '00 games maybe try early Need For Speed games, Baldur's Gate, Diablo I, you can also try emulators.
When I benchmarked mine it was equivalent to about a P3-800 at the default speed
Shassk@reddit (OP)
Both SD and USB, the speed is enough fo older games.
NFS - tried Porsche Unleashed, barely ran at 30 FPS at lowest settings and native resolution (available when enabling widescreen support in settings). D1 was finished on PSP (PS1 version). Baldur's Gate - good idea, will try it, thanks.
rchase@reddit
Just chiming in to say how much I still love my little EEEPC 701. Got it when it first came out and it's so goddamned cute. Still runs great too! Some ancient version of ubuntu I put on it way back when. I still use it as an ssh server so I can access remotely mainly for IRC and downloading to my NAS while I'm at work.
Shassk@reddit (OP)
I do consider using it as a NAS rest of the time, but the fan on mine is quite loud to run 24/7. A new one costs half of the 701's price, so I'm thinking of alternative solutions like using a more generic alternative. The question is only it's pinout: black/red/yellow are expected, but what orange wire is for?
rchase@reddit
huh. I do not know. But it's really nice to see the 701 gettin' some love! <3
ICQME@reddit
connect a vga monitor during gaming an option?
Shassk@reddit (OP)
No because I want to use it on a couch and I wanted to use this specific device.
Using it with a monitor defeats the purpose. For that I could've just used any old office PC of which a bunch went through my hands over the years.