help understanding resolution options/limitations on lcd

[epicwinter]

I am looking at purchasing a new lcd screen. These days you got all
these screens with different aspect ratios and there is a big emphasis
on a wide aspect ratio. What I don't understand is what the limiting
factors are of using the lcd with certain video cards. Let me try to
summarize this:

Do video cards only have certain resolutions they can produce video at
or is it lcds that only have certain resolutions they can function at?
Or is it a combination of both?


Like if i have 2 computers, one currently is running at 1600x1200 with
a 19" monitor. The other is my laptop and it runs at 1680x1050. If I
buy that dell 24" monitor with a max resolution of 1920x1200. This
sucker:
http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/...age=productlisting.aspx&instock=&refurbished=

Will i be able to use it with both these computers at all and to what
capacity? WIll i be forced to use them at a very low resolution that
is just a waste of that monitor?

Essentially is there a buying strategy where i can purchase a monitor
that will work with both these computers effectively or am i going to
be stuck buying a lcd per video card?

 

[Dave (from the UK)]

I am looking at purchasing a new lcd screen. These days you got all
these screens with different aspect ratios and there is a big emphasis
on a wide aspect ratio. What I don't understand is what the limiting
factors are of using the lcd with certain video cards. Let me try to
summarize this:

Do video cards only have certain resolutions they can produce video at
Yes.

or is it lcds that only have certain resolutions they can function at?
Yes

Or is it a combination of both?

Yes, although in practice, you will find many resolutions will be common to both
your monitor and your graphics card.

Like if i have 2 computers, one currently is running at 1600x1200 with
a 19" monitor. The other is my laptop and it runs at 1680x1050. If I
buy that dell 24" monitor with a max resolution of 1920x1200. This
sucker:
http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/...age=productlisting.aspx&instock=&refurbished=

I don't have time to check, but see if the Dell will run at the resolutions your
laptop and other computer use. If it is not mentioned, ask Dell to be sure.

Be aware that if you run a TFT at anything other than its native resolution, the
results are not as good. Hence on my TFT, which is 21.3", I run at 1600x1200 on
everything I use. It will still function at lower resolution.

Will i be able to use it with both these computers at all and to what
capacity? WIll i be forced to use them at a very low resolution that
is just a waste of that monitor?

You will not be able to run the TFT at 1920 x 1200 on your laptop if it only
supports 1680 x 1050. But hopefully the TFT will interpolate the pixel values
and so fill your screen. It will not be perfect, but you will have to live with
that.

Essentially is there a buying strategy where i can purchase a monitor
that will work with both these computers effectively or am i going to
be stuck buying a lcd per video card?

You don't need one LCD per video card, but be aware you will not get the best
out of a high quality monitor if you drive it with a lower resolution device.

You *might* find your laptop can drive external monitors at more than the
resolution of its inbuilt display.

Don't waste your time running TFTs above 60 Hz. Unlike CRTs, you don't need to,
although there might be some faster TFTs now. But they don't have the flicker
problems a CRT does at low resolution, since the whole display is not switched
on/off 60 times per second.
--
Dave K MCSE.

MCSE = Minefield Consultant and Solitaire Expert.

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