Home Theater Hacks

Hack #91. Add Custom Resolutions with PowerStrip

Breaking the 640 x 480 display resolution barrier is easier, and more flexible, if you add PowerStrip to your HTPC setup.

Once you've figured out what resolutions you want [Hack #90] , you'll almost certainly need some help in actually getting your display to cooperate. Although preconfigured HTPCs might allow you to use custom resolutions right away, more often you'll want software help in getting beyond 640 x 480. Ever dream of playing DOOM3 at a sharp 1920 x 1080i [Hack #93] from your HTPC? Or playing DVDs upconverted to 960 x 540p? This is when life get very interesting (or complicated)!

You can achieve this and much more via the software known as PowerStrip. PowerStrip is a power-user software program available from EnTech (http:// www.entechtaiwan.com). It allows you to tweak your computer video card to the maximum, set up custom resolutions, and even fiddle with the image in those resolutions.

Tip

You can download a shareware version of PowerStrip from the EnTech web site (see the next section). As of this writing, the latest version available for download is Version 3.52.

Getting PowerStrip

It's a snap to obtain PowerStrip:

1. Download the latest free trial version of PowerStrip from EnTech's web site (http://www.entechtaiwan.com).

2. Install the program by running the downloaded executable.

Once you've got PowerStrip, you're ready to create some custom resolutions for display.

Tip

The trial version is free to test out and works with ...