Graphic Card Resolution

What size monitor do you have? What model is the laptop?

My laptop is 15in - Dell Inspiron 1520

there are several screens for that laptop

Maximum resolutions:
WXGA 1280 x 800 at 262 K colors
WXGA with TrueLife 1280 x 800 at 262 K colors
WXGA+ with TrueLife 1440 x 900 at 262 K colors
WSXGA+ with TrueLife 1680 x 1050 at 262 K colors

do you mean if you get an external monitor? that should be listed in the specs for the laptop

I've got a WXGA with TrueLife 1280 x 800 at 262 K colors and yes it is for an external monitor.

I believe it is 2560 x 1600 / 60.0 Hz. Someone want to clarify that? Not sure, but does it matter that my laptop monitor is at only 1280 x 800? I will also be using the VGA cable to connect to the external monitor.

With VGA it supports 2048 x 1536 at 85Hz

Display
Type (active-matrix TFT) 15.4-inch WXGA
15.4-inch WXGA with TrueLife
15.4-inch WXGA+ with TrueLife
15.4-inch WSXGA+ with TrueLife
Dimensions:
Height 222.5 mm (8.8 in)
Width 344.5 mm (13.6 in)
Diagonal 391.2 mm (15.4 in)
Maximum resolutions:
WXGA 1280 x 800 at 262 K colors
WXGA with TrueLife 1280 x 800 at 262 K colors
WXGA+ with TrueLife 1440 x 900 at 262 K colors
WSXGA+ with TrueLife 1680 x 1050 at 262 K colors
Refresh rate 60 Hz
Operating angle 0° (closed) to 155°
Viewing angles:
Horizontal ±40° (WXGA)
±40° (WXGA with TrueLife)
±55° (WXGA+ with TrueLife)
±60° (WSXGA+ with TrueLife)
Vertical +15°/–30° (WXGA)
+15°/–30° (WXGA with TrueLife)
±45° (WXGA+ with TrueLife)
+40°/–50° (WSXGA+ with TrueLife)
198 Specifications
Pixel pitch:
WXGA 0.258 mm
WXGA with TrueLife 0.258 mm
WXGA+ with TrueLife 0.2304 mm
WSXGA+ with TrueLife 0.197 mm
Controls brightness can be controlled through
keyboard shortcuts (see "Display Functions"
on page 48)

I was looking into an external monitor there 505090. And wanted to make sure my graphics card would work with it.

More specifically this monitor: http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=9183224&t...

oops

it'll be the same max res as an 8600gt then, but the fps will be one to two steps lower than a card because it is a mobile chip.

It'll run the monitor at that res but I doubt hd movies or games would be worth the effort.

Well even if it doesn't play great at 1080p, it'll be a better picture than my 1280 x 800. lol

i have a radeon mobility x1600, which is an older and slower card then yours, and I play movies @1920x1200 with no lag, but 3d games like cod4 I have to lower to about 1200x1000, can't remember the actual res.

Edit: That probably came out wrong. I can full screen video without a problem, havent tried any HD content.

Good to know. Though, I'm curious as to how your playing movies at that resolution and it's not HD content?

it just makes the pic bigger. you can go full screen with anything in media player or even you tube for that matter.

Yeah. That's what I thought. More or less I'm looking for a nice larger monitor to watch movies (HD or not), play games, and do everyday tasks. Plus, it will be something that I can hold over for a new computer/laptop in the future.

Yes, I know it makes "just" makes the picture bigger. However, it still takes more processing power to drive. Instead of updating 786432 (1024x768) pixels every frame you are updating 2304000 (1920x1200) pixels. If you try to watch flash video (pretty much anything online) at fullscreen on my x1600 it will lag, however youtube HD (non-fullscreen) works flawlessly.

Nate: Pretty much any monitor over 24" will be 1920x(1200 or 1080). You will be able to watch video, but playing games will require you to lower the resolution. Moitors between 19-22" will be 1680x1050.

carickw: I have no problem lowering the resolution at this point in time. I will probably be using it more for watching movies. Seeing as my 15in screen is a bit small haha.

full screen takes more power than a window but not nearly as much as a true hd image

If I were to watch flash video with that external monitor will I be seeing lag from my GeForce 8600M GT?

Also, how do you think watching Netflix (for example) would be on an external monitor?

Anyone have some more input?