My new monitor's native screen resolution is not an option

[HerrBug]

I installed a new widescreen LCD monitor this weekend and unfortunately
my "Display Properties" does not list the monitor's native Screen
resolution as an option. The available choices are mostly 4:3
resolutions ranging up to 1600x1200. But I need 1600x1050 for the
widescreen monitor.

I have updated the video card driver and monitor driver. Is there any
software trick to make the correct mode available or do I need to buy a
new graphics card?

 

[Robert Gault]

I installed a new widescreen LCD monitor this weekend and unfortunately
my "Display Properties" does not list the monitor's native Screen
resolution as an option. The available choices are mostly 4:3
resolutions ranging up to 1600x1200. But I need 1600x1050 for the
widescreen monitor.

I have updated the video card driver and monitor driver. Is there any
software trick to make the correct mode available or do I need to buy a
new graphics card?

Depends on the video card and drivers. For example, nVidia does not
include 1600x1050 in the .inf file. However, the nVidia control panel
has an option for custom resolutions and I was able to add 1600x1050 and
have it displayed on a Ti-4200 video card.

I'm running the nVidia 84.21 drivers. You should be able to find the
equivalent for whatever your card is.

 

[HerrBug]

I'm using a an on-board video card on a 3-4-year old motherboard. It
seems to be called "SiS 650_651_M650_M652_740". I updated the driver
from the Windows site to a version 6.14.10.3730 dated 3/9/2006. It
doesn't list the 1600x1050 resolution though it also curiously list the
monitor as "Default Monitor" even though in the Device Manager it
correctly shows my monitor as "BenQ FP202W (Analog)" after I installed
the monitor's drivers.

I'm not sure if I should play with the drivers and configurations a bit
more or give up and buy a modern video card. I hate to buy a video card
now because the motherboard is old and doesn't support newer
technologies like PCIe. And I'm not quite ready to updrade my
motherboard yet.

 

[Robert Gault]

I'm using a an on-board video card on a 3-4-year old motherboard. It
seems to be called "SiS 650_651_M650_M652_740". I updated the driver
from the Windows site to a version 6.14.10.3730 dated 3/9/2006. It
doesn't list the 1600x1050 resolution though it also curiously list the
monitor as "Default Monitor" even though in the Device Manager it
correctly shows my monitor as "BenQ FP202W (Analog)" after I installed
the monitor's drivers.

I'm not sure if I should play with the drivers and configurations a bit
more or give up and buy a modern video card. I hate to buy a video card
now because the motherboard is old and doesn't support newer
technologies like PCIe. And I'm not quite ready to updrade my
motherboard yet.

It can't hurt to play with your drivers. If don't have success you can
always buy new hardware in the future.

A look at the SiS site suggests that you may need to upgrade your BIOS
for improved video functionality. It may be better to use the SiS video
drivers rather than Microsoft.

http://www.sis.com/support/support_faqs_4.htm

 

[HerrBug]

Thanks. I've tried a variety of drivers now without any luck, so I'll
just get a new graphics card. The solution in the FAQ seems to only
apply to a slightly newer moterboard/IGP.