Dell 2005FPW and older vid card

[MrPunkin]

Hello all. I have a NVidia GeForce4 4800TI SE and am in depserate need of a new monitor. My work computer at the office (I work in the publishing business) is an Apple with a cinema display. I realized how much I use the widescreen aspects and really want them at home for my powerbook and my PC. The powerbook could handle it just fine I am sure (as you can plug it into a cinema display) but the PC is a different story. I know this video card isn't listed as supporting it, and also doesn't seem to support the res that Dell suggests. Does this mean that its either a new video card or standard-ratio monitor for me?

 

[HN]

I have the 24" 2405, and if my video card can handle that, i think you'll be ok

 

[neoreturns]

Originally posted by: HN
I have the 24" 2405, and if my video card can handle that, i think you'll be ok

You're still running a geforce 256? :shocked:

 

[HN]

Originally posted by: neoreturns

Originally posted by: HN
I have the 24" 2405, and if my video card can handle that, i think you'll be ok

You're still running a geforce 256? :shocked:

Yeah, that's an oreegeeenale! It'll be 5 years old next month (received it as a graduation present from some buddies back in 2000). you see that 32 MB memory? it ain't even ddr ram. it was a state of the art card back then (first gpu?) and they bought it for a whopping $200.

i don't think i can even get a happy meal for it now

 

[MrPunkin]

So I just checked MSI's website for my vid card and it states it can run 1920x1200, exaclty what you are running in that pic. The problem is that the Dell's max res is 1680x1050. Will this become an optional res once I get it hooked up or can I run the Dell at a higher res? All the resolutions shown on my video card's spec sheet are standard aspect ratio except the 1920x1200, which is the only 6x10 one. I just want to make sure I will be able to use this Dell LCD and not have to upgrade my video card. Most video cards I have looked at though don't list 1680x1050 as a supported res, so that leads me to believe that you either have to pic up one of a few select cards to run this monitor, or those are just a list of possible resolutions shown on the spec sheet and most video cards can actually run more. Any more information would certainly help me though. Thanks.

 

[EightySix Four]

Almost any card can support any res with the proper tools to force it if drivers don't support. And yes, pretty much any card can handle ANY resolution below it's maximum (decided by the DAC if I'm not mistaken). It's just most cards don't list 16:9 (widesscreen) ratios, as they're not that common. You will have absolutely no problem running the monitor.

 

[MrPunkin]

Thanks so much. Thats exactly what I wanted to hear.

 

[MrPunkin]

Just ordered it today. It was on sale for 25% off on the Home / Home Office portion along with free shipping. Now if only Dell could ship right away and I didn't have to wait a week before it ships from the warehouse.

 

[kmmatney]

I just have to "add" the new resolution to your Nvidia driver. I had to do that to add the 1280 x 960 resolution to my video card. Some older games I had needed that resolution. You shouldn't have any problem.

 

[MrPunkin]

How do you "Add" the resolution to the nvidia driver if it isn't natively supported? Sorry, I am new to this. Can you explain a bit more?

 

[MrPunkin]

Any Quick help? Monitor comes tomorrow AM. Thanks.

 

[TrocD]

I add resolutions with PowerStrip, using "advanced timing options" in Display Profiles. Probably other software to do it too.

 

[MrPunkin]

Thanks. Ill give it a try tomorrow if I need to.

 

[MrPunkin]

Got it and man do I love it. Tested and zero dead pixels. Tiny bit of backlight leak on top-right but not noticable unless pure black background and looking for it. I can't say enough good things about this so far. Anyone who is thinking about it and isn't sure.... just do it. My vid card picked up the res right away without me having to mod anything, HL2 and UT2004 both look great on it, and man those WMDHD videos are stunning in true widescreen fashion.

 

[jldash]

congrats... I've had my eye on that monitor ever since I found it was the same panel that Apple uses....

 

[Peter]

Originally posted by: MrPunkin
How do you "Add" the resolution to the nvidia driver if it isn't natively supported? Sorry, I am new to this. Can you explain a bit more?

When connecting to DVI, the driver will auto-add an LCD's native resolution. Else, you do that from the NVidia "Advanced" properties menus. It's buried somewhere in there, no need for 3rd party tools.