Display’s "Change Settings" preferences?

[Makkia]

Using v.5.043 Free for connecting an iMac 10.6.6 to a Windows7 x64 PC. Trying to control the “remote” (actually, same room) Win machine from the Mac: a trivial task with old version of MS RDC client for Mac, but a dog slow solution when it comes at streaming multimedia to the client.
NoMachine gives a far better multimedia experience, but graphics are terrible: iMac’s monitor is 1650×1050, Window’s monitor is 1280×1024. NoMachine seems unable to adjust resolution (which RDC does whithout a hitch, just occasionally rearranges a few icons on remote PC’s desktop). NoMachine sturdly sets itself on 1280×1024 — windowed or surrounded by huge black bars, scaled/stretched or scrollbarred — whatever the settings are. Thus, NoMachine is not a feasible alternative to the outdated RDC, which I’m forced to keep using for most tasks.
I get that the PC monitor’s max resolution is 1280×1024 (graphic card’s range is far wider and “knows” 1650×1050 res). And I reckon that NoMachine’s standard Display adjustments are not able to cope with a 4:3 -> 16:10 conversion. Now, in the “Change Settings” preferences (Mac side) there seemed to be a solution… whose options are ineffective, though:

“Match the client resolution upon connecting”  does nothing.

“Use custom resolution  W:1650 H:1050 ” does nothing.

Checking BOTH (why?) does nothing either.
What are those two checkboxes there for?

 

p.s.: I think I recall that those two checkboxes weren’t there in NoMachine 4, so I hoped they were going to do some magic.

p.p.s: tried restarting both Mac and PC between every change.

[fra81]

Hi Makkia,

when you say the graphics card “knows” 1650×1050 resolution, do you mean that such resolution is available if you open the system resolution settings on your Windows machine?

Does the RDC client connect to the physical desktop of your Windows machine, or does it connect to a virtual desktop (which is possible with Professional Windows versions)?

Regarding the two checkboxes, “Match the client resolution upon connecting” will make the remote desktop resize to the biggest resolution, among available ones, that would fit in your client monitor. This is done every time you connect to the remote desktop.
“Use custom resolution” will make the remote desktop immediately resize to the given resolution or to the nearest one.

[Makkia]

Thnx for the interest in my question 🙂

when you say the graphics card “knows” 1650×1050 resolution, do you mean that such resolution is available if you open the system resolution settings on your Windows machine?

First of all, I GOOFED for the whole OP: it’s 1680×1050! Not 1650×1050. Apologies.

To the point: No. Settings show only the monitor’s legit resolutions. Being a 4:3, it doesn’t allow 1680×1050, which is a 16:10 res. Besides it’s simply too high res for the 17″ I’m using. Card specs say 1680×1050 is available, though (with the correct monitor), and I could force it in the advanced cards controls (don’t try this at home).

Does the RDC client connect to the physical desktop of your Windows machine, or does it connect to a virtual desktop (which is possible with Professional Windows versions)?

Using Free on a Mac as a client and Free on Windows as host/streamer, as per OP.

Regarding the two checkboxes, “Match the client resolution upon connecting” will make the remote desktop resize to the biggest resolution, among available ones, that would fit in your client monitor. This is done every time you connect to the remote desktop.
“Use custom resolution” will make the remote desktop immediately resize to the given resolution or to the nearest one.

Ah, this makes sense! Thanks for the insight 🙂

So, no joy 🙁 either with NoMachine Free and NoMachine Pro (virtual desktops are unavalable for Macs, isn’t it?).
Pity: adjusting to client’s resolution works so seamlessly in MS RDC… this could have me ruling NoMachine out.

Wondering what would it happen if I disconnect the monitor from the PC. Would the Mac client force 1680×1050 on a non-existent monitor? Or would the PC just stick to the last used resolution? Mhhh… will give a try.

[Tor]

Wondering what would it happen if I disconnect the monitor from the PC. Would the Mac client force 1680×1050 on a non-existent monitor? Or would the PC just stick to the last used resolution? Mhhh… will give a try.

When you detach the monitor you can select as output your graphic adapter, and both the OS and NoMachine would report more supported resolutions than those limited by the monitor capabilities. A reboot may be required.

[Makkia]

Just to let you know:
As Tor hinted, disconnecting the monitor from the PC allows choosing whatever legit resolution on the host. Reboot required, yes.

Problem solved. Can trash MS RDC.

Thanks to everyone who helped.

[Author]

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