Guide to Resolution

Resolution refers to the number of pixels that the projector is capable of displaying. Pixels are the individual dots that make up the image on a computer.

SVGA, XGA and SXGA are the most common terms that describe resolutions used by computers and projectors.

WVGA, WSVGA and WXGA are terms that describe common resolutions used by Widescreen (16:9 aspect ratio) home cinema projectors.

Application to projectors

Every projector has a 'native' resolution. This refers to the maximum number of pixels it can actually project individually. So for example an SVGA projector can only display 480,000 pixels at a time.

Based on an average projection size of 2 metres wide, each pixel would work out to be 2.5mm wide, whereas with an XGA projector the pixels would be half that size, therefore over 60% more pixels are displayed. Consequently the image will be sharper and less 'blocky' when projecting with an XGA projector.

Projector Guide - Contents

Overview
Resolution
Brightness
Warranty advice
Choosing a Screen
Spare lamps
DLP vs LCD

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How do I find out what resolution my computer is running at?

PC/notebook: Go to Control Panel and select 'Display'. Then, click on the last tab, called 'Settings'. In the bottom right corner of this box is a setting called 'Screen Area'.If this reads '800 x 600' you are running in SVGA mode. If it reads '1024 x 768' you are running in XGA mode.If it reads '1280 x 1024' you are running in SXGA mode.

Mac users: On an Apple Macintosh, go to the 'Monitors' section of your Control Settings. Depending on what type of Mac you are using, you will find a similar setting to that described above.)

If you are running SXGA mode, you will probably find that the price of buying an SXGA projector outweighs the benefit of running your presentations in this resolution. In this case you need to change the resolution setting of your computer when using your projector.