New Widescreen Monitor, But It doesn't Look Right

[canonloader]

I just got an Acer 19" widescreen format monitor, and it says the best resolution is at 1680x1050. But this card I have doesn't have that size option available. Is there some other way to get around that?

I have the old one set up as the second monitor, and it's the same as ever.

I use XP Pro and it's up to SP4 now. I also did an update of the Video card drivers earlier.

[Vulcan58]

What is the max resolution/size option you have on your video card Mitch?

[canonloader]

It goes to 1600x1280, but when I try that one, text looks kind of jagged. I have it set at 1600x1200 right now, and it looks almost normal, but very wide. :)

I thouight there might we some other way to get there. Kind of weird the card can't do it.

[Moppie]

What video card have you got?
Some of the basic ones have a very limited range of resolutions.

[Box Brownie]

Not some arcane limitation with dual monitors i.e. the primary or original one "rules". Just shooting in the dark???

PS First I have heard of XP SP4, after all the issues with SP3 is SP4 better???

:)

[neil_g]

sp4???

in your graphics card blurb does it state a maximum supported res?

[canonloader]

In the settings dialog box, the max settings are 1600x1280. The card is a Matrox Millennium G450, dual head card. Probably not top of the line. I am running dual monitors, one a 17" Viewsonic that looks normal at 1280x1024. The monitor is capable of higher resolution, but the card apparently isn't, or at least does not cover the wide screen resolutions. Just never ran into this before and thought there was some way around it. I have it set at 1600x1200 right now, and the text seems a little stretched and some images are definitely stretched, depending on what program I view them in. It's just weird. I'd like to find a resolution that things look normal in, even if the card doesn't go to the maximum the monitor is capable of. I can just set the window to a size that looks right, but that leaves unused real estate on the monitor, which looks dorky.

SP4 is trash. As was SP3 and SP2, and these are coming from automatic updates from Windows. Something else I resisted for years, and would still be running SP1 if it weren't for CS3, which won't install on an SP1 machine. While the computer wont crash, the damn IE7 does several times a day, just locks up, and so does Outlook Express. I'm thoroughly fed up with it all, but I need CS3. FFFfffftttttt...... :(

[Box Brownie]

Hi Mitch

1) check out the Matrox site here http://matrox.com/graphics/en/products/graphics_cards/g_series/g450/ scroll to the end see reso info hence my shot in the dark ref dual displays - you should be able to get
Main display: 2048 x 1536
Secondary display: 1600 x 1200
Looks like you are stuck at 2nd display settings ???

EDIT: if you are using a single display perhaps the two physical outputs are not created equal i.e. one is designated primary and the otehr secondary?

2) ref XP Service Packs - hmmm! I have my OEM XP SP2 ready for a new build and SP3 downloaded in readiness :( or maybe OK :) if from fresh install?

[neil_g]

time for a new card then..

um either youre on win2000 sp4 or winxp sp3.. unless youre part of an xp beta program?

[canonloader]

Box Brownie, your link was the charm. I downloaded the latest drivers and installed them and now I have the Acer recommended monitor resolutoion of 1680x1050 in the options and using it. Everything looks perfect. Thanks for that link. ;)

Against my better judgement, I have allowed automatic downloads from Windows. SP3 was an automatic upgrade, although I did have to allow it. Must have been in a moment of insanity, cause I clicked Yes and let it rip. Neil. In Windows About, it does say XP Pro SP3, but the other day, one of those updates went through and I was able to read SP4 on it before the little window flashed off. I just assumed it was for XP.

Unless your a bank, or really need the ultimate in security, beyond the best anti-virus software money can buy, then I see no reason other than what I mentioned before, to have any security packs beyond SP1. It's all about security, and only then if a hacker can get in past the AV software and the Firewall. From what I have experienced, I have had nothing but trouble from Windows since I allowed SP2 to be installed, and only cause I had bought CS3 and it wouldn't install without it. Which sux, IMO.

[Box Brownie]

Box Brownie, your link was the charm. I downloaded the latest drivers and installed them and now I have the Acer recommended monitor resolutoion of 1680x1050 in the options and using it. Everything looks perfect. Thanks for that link. ;)

Against my better judgement, I have allowed automatic downloads from Windows. SP3 was an automatic upgrade, although I did have to allow it. Must have been in a moment of insanity, cause I clicked Yes and let it rip. Neil. In Windows About, it does say XP Pro SP3, but the other day, one of those updates went through and I was able to read SP4 on it before the little window flashed off. I just assumed it was for XP.

Unless your a bank, or really need the ultimate in security, beyond the best anti-virus software money can buy, then I see no reason other than what I mentioned before, to have any security packs beyond SP1. It's all about security, and only then if a hacker can get in past the AV software and the Firewall. From what I have experienced, I have had nothing but trouble from Windows since I allowed SP2 to be installed, and only cause I had bought CS3 and it wouldn't install without it. Which sux, IMO.

Glad you got it sorted with a driver update :D

As for XP updates, eventually (?) I will get XP SP2 installed on a new build and having not read of any recent disasters re SP3 and some guidance about loading on a fresh SP2 install being the best idea I think I will likely go with that! And for the record I have a hardware firewall, AV & Internet Security running with a couple of other layers of protection.

:)

[canonloader]

I know there is the original disc with Windows XP Pro on it, and I think, there is a later version of XP Pro with SP2 on the disc and this version was modified to work with SP2. Is that right? And if it is, is the later XP Pro version more stable? I am wondering if all my problems with SP3 is because I have a very early version of XP Pro and it needs to download and update a bunch of patches when I do a new install. I'm thinking a version of XP Pro built around the extra security of SP2 would be more stable.

[Jimmer411]

Every 19 inch monitor ive seen is 1440x900 resolution.


What do the papers that came with your monitor say?


Its possible that your display isnt being detected right and thats causing your grapics card to show resolutions that arent supported. Try 1440x900 and see if its any clearer.

[canonloader]

Check out Post #10 above. I downloaded new drivers and got the recommended resolution for this monitor, which is 1680x1050. works and looks beautiful. :)

[Bobster]

Every 19 inch monitor ive seen is 1440x900 resolution.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824009127

[canonloader]

That's the model I have.