Laptops driving Dell's widescreen resolutions (IBM T42, etc.)

edwardtsai

Member
Apr 22, 2004
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Hi guys,

I normally use a laptop, so I am trying to figure out whether or not to buy one of the widescreen dell lcds (20 inch or 24 inch)... the problem is that I'm not sure if my IBM T42 can handle that... if not, I'm stuck with getting a regular 19 or 20 incher...

Thanks

-Edward
 

Peter

Elite Member
Oct 15, 1999
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The question is, does the graphics driver support the required resolution? And the answer is found in a simple way. In display properties, Advanced, Graphics Card tab, click List All Modes and browse for 1680x1050 and 1920x1200.
 

JBT

Lifer
Nov 28, 2001
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Originally posted by: Peter
The question is, does the graphics driver support the required resolution? And the answer is found in a simple way. In display properties, Advanced, Graphics Card tab, click List All Modes and browse for 1680x1050 and 1920x1200.

Not quite true... On my work PC I've got a Radeon X600 Pro. When I do this it says I am limited to 1280x1024 @75hz and below. The X600 can easily run 1920x1200 etc.... but what the list all modes button is listing what the MONITOR can support not the video card.

At any rate I would take a wild guess and say the T42 can push 1920x1200 via analog. No idea how the quality would look though...
 

Peter

Elite Member
Oct 15, 1999
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Ah. Forgot to mention that if you want to have a look BEFORE connecting the big monitor, you need to uncheck "Hide modes that this monitor doesn't support" right above the "List..." button, else you'll indeed see only those that your current monitor supports.
 

JBT

Lifer
Nov 28, 2001
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Originally posted by: Peter
Ah. Forgot to mention that if you want to have a look BEFORE connecting the big monitor, you need to uncheck "Hide modes that this monitor doesn't support" right above the "List..." button, else you'll indeed see only those that your current monitor supports.

Yep that works for me. Mind you this monitor button for me is on the monitor tab while the list modes button is on the adapter tab.

Another note: Mine doesn't list 1680x1050 but does list 1920x1200. I foudn that sort of strange but I would think it should suppot 1680x1050 just fine anyways.
 

Peter

Elite Member
Oct 15, 1999
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1680x1050 is an oddball, introduced by an Apple CinemaDisplay and now made popular by the Dell monitor that uses the exact same panel. You're not the first to lack that resolution.
On the other hand, notebooks with the popular SiS chipset graphics have 1680x1050 but no 1920x1200 (yet?).

The problem with analog VGA is that unlike on DVI, graphics card drivers don't usually auto-detect and auto-add the connected display's "preferred" resolution.
 

edwardtsai

Member
Apr 22, 2004
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Hi Peter,

Thanks - that worked for me - looks like I can go to 1600x1200 and 2048x1536 but not the widescreen inbetween mode.

-Edward
 

Peter

Elite Member
Oct 15, 1999
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Just out of interest: What graphics engine? SiS? If so, you might want to poke your laptop vendor so they in turn poke SiS to add the missing resolution.
 

Peter

Elite Member
Oct 15, 1999
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This old chip might have a tighter limit on DVI than on the analog port. Report back!
 

DanTMWTMP

Lifer
Oct 7, 2001
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<--- currently using ATI mobility 7500 on laptop w/ 2005 fpw as 2ndary monitor when I want my main computer off. Resolution isn't high however. I'm running @ 1280 @ 768, but hey, it works.
 

edwardtsai

Member
Apr 22, 2004
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I think I might spring for one of the ibm dock ii (the ones that let you insert a half-height pci card to get DVI working for my t42.