Need a little info about combining an old video card with a new LCD

[Hello3]

I'd like to start off by saying that this is my first post and I've read through many helpful threads and replies on this forum. Everyone seems to want to help others here, which is great!

Anyways onto business, I currently use a Leadtek GF4 4400 (Winfast A250 TD). If you goto the link it will show the supported resolutions for DVI-I and VGA (I assume).

I was planning on purchasing a 20" LCD, something like the Dell 2007WFP or Viewsonic VX2025WM which both have native resolutions of 1680x1050. But I have put the purchase on halt because I'm not sure if I can still run the screen off the DVI port or if I have to run off the VGA.

My first question must be, is there a way to make the video card's DVI port display at higher than the posted maximum resolution of 1152x864 off the manufacturer's website? Perhaps those numbers were posted at the time when the drivers didn't support them? I'm grasping at straws here, hoping that somehow some way it may work =(.

Secondly, if the DVI port really can't run any higher than 1152x864 how well will the VGA port display video on such an advanced piece of technology? Will there be noticable difference in color, sharpness (Pictures/Text/Video), brightness, response times, or anything else I should be worried about? Will the VGA refresh rate make any difference on LCD monitors?

 

[mikeford]

If you don't match the native resolution with a pixel type display AFAIK it looks fuzzy and text is kinda worthless.

Whats the problem with just getting a slightly better cheap video card?

 

[Hello3]

I understand about an LCD's native resolution. Buying a new agp video card seems like a waste for me right now because I'm planning on upgrading my entire setup next year with the DX10 technology.

Could the information on the leadtek site possibly be wrong, is it normal for GF4 cards to only support such a low resolution on the DVI port?

 

[mikeford]

I was looking at that chart, and notice the top portion of both tables is the same, so I am taking a wild guess that the bottom half of the table is just missing. I took a look at the manual and all the typical HDTV output modes are supported over a DVI connection.

BTW in case it wasn't clear, those low resolutions were at VERY high max refresh rates, as the res goes up in each table, the max refresh drops.

 

[n7]

I'm 95% sure it will do way higher than that chart lists.

I think they messed up with that list.