Upgrading Monitor Can These Video Cards Do It?

In article <gq30h.66512$Yh7.64925@newsfe21.lga>, Peter van der Goes
says...
> I'm looking at a Viewsonic 20.1 LCD, recommended resolution 1680 x 1050.
> Newegg ad says "Please verify your video card can support the recommended
> resolution".
> I currently have a 19" LCD hooked to 3 PC's via a KVM. All PC's running 1280
> x 1024 resolution.
> Video cards:
> FX5500
> 6200
> 6600LE
>
> The settings for the 6600LE (in XP Device Manager) show as upgradeable past
> 1280 x 1024, but the settings range for the FX5500 and 6200 appear to max
> out at 1280 x 1024.
> When I check hardware specs for FX5500 and 6200, they appear capable of
> resolutions higher that 1280 x 1024. AMOF, specs show max resolution of 2048
> x 1536 for both cards.
>
> So, what's the real limitation here? Drivers, the cards themselves, or...?

Windows will have detected the maximum resolutions of the LCD panels so
will not allow you to select a higher one.

Change the monitor for a higher res one and the problem will go away.


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"Peter van der Goes" <p_vandergoes.RemoveThis@toadstool.u> wrote in message
news:gq30h.66512$Yh7.64925@newsfe21.lga...
> I'm looking at a Viewsonic 20.1 LCD, recommended resolution 1680 x 1050.
> Newegg ad says "Please verify your video card can support the recommended
> resolution". I currently have a 19" LCD hooked to 3 PC's via a KVM. All
> PC's running 1280 x 1024 resolution.

Is this a digital KVM ($100+) that passes through the full DVI signal? What
is the maximum resolution supported by your current 19" monitor?

> The settings for the 6600LE (in XP Device Manager) show as upgradeable
> past 1280 x 1024, but the settings range for the FX5500 and 6200 appear to
> max out at 1280 x 1024.

For most systems, by default the resolution slider tops out at the max
resolution supported by the monitor. There is a checkbox labeled "hide modes
that my monitor cannot display" under Display Properties -> Settings ->
Advanced. Unchecking it should make visible all the resolutions supported by
your card.

> When I check hardware specs for FX5500 and 6200, they appear capable of
> resolutions higher that 1280 x 1024. AMOF, specs show max resolution of
> 2048 x 1536 for both cards.

2048x1536 is what all three cards can achieve when using an analog 15-pin
DSub connection. With DVI, max resolution is limited by the card's TMDS
transmitter (either a separate chip or integrated into the GPU). From what I
remember, 1280x1024 is the maximum resolution that can be driven at full
frequency with single-link DVI. 1680x1050 should still work with reduced
blanking. See: http://www.tomshardware.com/2004/11/29/the_tft_connection/

Reduced blanking should kick in automatically, else you may have to manually
enable it by toggling the monitor timing formulas (GTF, CVT, etc.) in the
nVidia control panel.

--
"War is the continuation of politics by other means.
It can therefore be said that politics is war without
bloodshed while war is politics with bloodshed."
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See responses inline...

"First of One" <daxinfx DeleteThis @yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:KtGdnanZwoL1It_YnZ2dnUVZ_rydnZ2d@giganews.com...
>
> Is this a digital KVM ($100+) that passes through the full DVI signal?
> What
> is the maximum resolution supported by your current 19" monitor?

Max supported resolution is 1280 x 1024. I'm running the analog signal, as
that's the only connector on my "budget" LCD.
>
>
> For most systems, by default the resolution slider tops out at the max
> resolution supported by the monitor. There is a checkbox labeled "hide
> modes
> that my monitor cannot display" under Display Properties -> Settings ->
> Advanced. Unchecking it should make visible all the resolutions supported
> by
> your card.

Didn't find that, but in the Adapter tab, I did find a button "Show All
Modes". The results were not encouraging for the 6200, but for the FX5500, I
see resolutions in the desired range.

>
> 2048x1536 is what all three cards can achieve when using an analog 15-pin
> DSub connection. With DVI, max resolution is limited by the card's TMDS
> transmitter (either a separate chip or integrated into the GPU). From what
> I
> remember, 1280x1024 is the maximum resolution that can be driven at full
> frequency with single-link DVI. 1680x1050 should still work with reduced
> blanking. See: http://www.tomshardware.com/2004/11/29/the_tft_connection/
>
> Reduced blanking should kick in automatically, else you may have to
> manually
> enable it by toggling the monitor timing formulas (GTF, CVT, etc.) in the
> nVidia control panel.

Thank you very much for all the valuable information!
It looks like I may have to purchase one video card, but that may be worth
it for a bigger, better display.

>
> --
> "War is the continuation of politics by other means.
> It can therefore be said that politics is war without
> bloodshed while war is politics with bloodshed."
>
>
>
>
 >> Stay informed about: Upgrading Monitor Can These Video Cards Do It? 

Does your KVM support digital DVI at all?

--
"War is the continuation of politics by other means.
It can therefore be said that politics is war without
bloodshed while war is politics with bloodshed."

"Peter van der Goes" <p_vandergoes.DeleteThis@toadstool.u> wrote in message
news:in31h.1354$Wb2.157@newsfe22.lga...
> Max supported resolution is 1280 x 1024. I'm running the analog signal, as
> that's the only connector on my "budget" LCD.
 >> Stay informed about: Upgrading Monitor Can These Video Cards Do It?