Newbie: Widescreen resolution and compatibility question

[Jay]

I guess I'm pretty novice in the area of the computer hardware and
compatibility so I have what is probably a simple question for
someone...

I've got a Dell Dimension 2350 with an integrated video card on the
mother board with a 15" LCD monitor currently attached. Resolution on
my "properties" dialog indicated 1024X768.

I want to upgrade to a 19" Widescreen LCD monitor (Proview 19" LCD
Monitor (PL916S2)) or something similar. Resolution on this monitor
is 1280X1024.

The question is can my current computer and video setup handle the
higher resolution of a new monitor or will I need to start looking at
new video cards. That would be a problem because my PC apparently
doesn't have AGP slots (whatever they are) so I hear it's difficult or
maybe not possible to improve the video.

I just don't feel like buying a new monitor if it's not going to work
or cost me a bunch in other upgrades. Thanks...

 

[Ed Light]

1280 X 1024 isn't usually wide screen. In fact it's a bit taller than
the 4 x 3 standard ratio, which is neat for watching videos full screen
because popup control panels almost fit into the letter boxing without
crossing over onto the screen. However older video apps may stretch a 4
x 3 video out vertically to full screen.

---
Ed Light

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Send spam to the FTC at
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Thanks, robots.

 

[Mike Ruskai]

I guess I'm pretty novice in the area of the computer hardware and
compatibility so I have what is probably a simple question for
someone...

I've got a Dell Dimension 2350 with an integrated video card on the
mother board with a 15" LCD monitor currently attached. Resolution on
my "properties" dialog indicated 1024X768.

I want to upgrade to a 19" Widescreen LCD monitor (Proview 19" LCD
Monitor (PL916S2)) or something similar. Resolution on this monitor
is 1280X1024.

The question is can my current computer and video setup handle the
higher resolution of a new monitor or will I need to start looking at
new video cards. That would be a problem because my PC apparently
doesn't have AGP slots (whatever they are) so I hear it's difficult or
maybe not possible to improve the video.

I just don't feel like buying a new monitor if it's not going to work
or cost me a bunch in other upgrades. Thanks...

As the other reply pointed out, 1280x1024 is the opposite of
widescreen. That's a 5:4 aspect ratio resolution, as opposed to the
4:3 ratio of 1024x768. Widescreen is either 16:10 or 16:9 (the latter
being basically HDTV displays).

It's extremely unlikely that your onboard video would be incapable of
driving a 1280x1024 display. Just make sure the panel supports analog
input, since it's also rather unlikely that your onboard video
supports digital output.

 

[Eric Gisin]

As the other reply pointed out, 1280x1024 is the opposite of
widescreen. That's a 5:4 aspect ratio resolution, as opposed to the
4:3 ratio of 1024x768. Widescreen is either 16:10 or 16:9 (the latter
being basically HDTV displays).

I have only seen 8:5 = 16:10 on computer LCDs.

It's extremely unlikely that your onboard video would be incapable of
driving a 1280x1024 display. Just make sure the panel supports analog
input, since it's also rather unlikely that your onboard video
supports digital output.

Bullshit. Anything from the last 8 years does 1280x1024, often 1600x1200.

Just google the chipset name along with 1440-900 and XP.

 

[Yousuf Khan]

I guess I'm pretty novice in the area of the computer hardware and
compatibility so I have what is probably a simple question for
someone...

I've got a Dell Dimension 2350 with an integrated video card on the
mother board with a 15" LCD monitor currently attached. Resolution on
my "properties" dialog indicated 1024X768.

I want to upgrade to a 19" Widescreen LCD monitor (Proview 19" LCD
Monitor (PL916S2)) or something similar. Resolution on this monitor
is 1280X1024.

The question is can my current computer and video setup handle the
higher resolution of a new monitor or will I need to start looking at
new video cards. That would be a problem because my PC apparently
doesn't have AGP slots (whatever they are) so I hear it's difficult or
maybe not possible to improve the video.

I just don't feel like buying a new monitor if it's not going to work
or cost me a bunch in other upgrades. Thanks...

Widescreen ratios are usually 1440x900 or 1280x800, so that's what I
assume you mean. Your existing video card should be fine for displaying
those resolutions. The resolutions are dependent only on the amount of
video ram you have available for it.

Yousuf Khan

 

[Mike Ruskai]

Bullshit. Anything from the last 8 years does 1280x1024, often 1600x1200.

Maybe you should read the above paragraph again. This time try to
actually understand it.