diff --git a/dxx-changelog.txt b/dxx-changelog.txt
index b23845961..5ddffca45 100755
--- a/dxx-changelog.txt
+++ b/dxx-changelog.txt
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ D2X-Rebirth Changelog
 main/kconfig.c, main/kmatrix.c, main/newmenu.c, main/scores.c, main/titles.c: introducing kconfig_sub_draw_table() making it possible to redraw configuration tables with OGL swapping and clearing; increased timer_delay for menus and briefings to save more CPU usage
 main/escort.c: making GuideBot Text color palette independent
 main/gameseq.c, main/switch.c: fixing D1 Secret Level routines (thanks to xatmes)
+main/game.c, main/gauges.c: removed use of VR_render_buffer (almost completly)
 
 20070409
 --------
diff --git a/main/game.c b/main/game.c
index 7582b792b..1a45da8f1 100755
--- a/main/game.c
+++ b/main/game.c
@@ -415,12 +415,12 @@ void init_cockpit()
 		break;
 
 	case CM_LETTERBOX:
-		x = 0; w = VR_render_buffer[0].cv_bitmap.bm_w;
-		h = (VR_render_buffer[0].cv_bitmap.bm_h*7)/10;
-		y = (VR_render_buffer[0].cv_bitmap.bm_h-h)/2;
+		x = 0; w = SM_W(Game_screen_mode);
+		h = (SM_H(Game_screen_mode) * 3) / 4; // true letterbox size (16:9)
+		y = (SM_H(Game_screen_mode)-h)/2;
 
-		gr_rect(x,0,w,VR_render_buffer[0].cv_bitmap.bm_h-h);
-		gr_rect(x,VR_render_buffer[0].cv_bitmap.bm_h-h,w,VR_render_buffer[0].cv_bitmap.bm_h);
+		gr_rect(x,0,w,SM_H(Game_screen_mode)-h);
+		gr_rect(x,SM_H(Game_screen_mode)-h,w,SM_H(Game_screen_mode));
 
 		game_init_render_sub_buffers( x, y, w, h );
 		break;
diff --git a/main/gauges.c b/main/gauges.c
index 0ff6b0254..cc42a9548 100755
--- a/main/gauges.c
+++ b/main/gauges.c
@@ -3640,13 +3640,13 @@ abort:;
 				// note: this calculation is taken from do_cockpit_window_view for the full
 				// screen mode case
 		
-				w = (VR_render_buffer[0].cv_bitmap.bm_w) / 6;
+				w = (SM_W(Game_screen_mode)) / 6;
 				h = (i2f(w)) / (grd_curscreen->sc_aspect);
 		
 				dx = (inSubWindowNum==0)?-(w+(w/10)):(w/10);
 		
-				window_x = ((VR_render_buffer[0].cv_bitmap.bm_w) / 2) + dx;
-				window_y = (VR_render_buffer[0].cv_bitmap.bm_h) - h - (h/10);
+				window_x = ((SM_W(Game_screen_mode)) / 2) + dx;
+				window_y = (SM_H(Game_screen_mode)) - h - (h/10);
 				
 				outBoundsRect->top 		= window_x;
 				outBoundsRect->left		= window_y;