How high can my new monitor's resolution be?

Trite · 10-11-2009, 06:19 PM

Thanks for taking the time to take a look at this. For video card's full specs: nVidia Quadro NVS 140m card (you need to scroll down a bit) http://www.nvidia.com/object/quadro_...techspecs.html

Question 1: With my video card am I limited to a 1600 x 1200 (max digital display) native resolution for my 2nd monitor if I want a decent picture?

Question 2: I have only 1 dvi out on my computer. Do I need DVI-D (1) to DVI-I(2) splitter cable to pull this off, provided I go with > 1600x1200 resolution on my new monitor? If not, then what?

Question 3: Will adding a second monitor increase load on my CPU or will all processing be done by the GPU?

Interesting Info: I currently have a FP202W monitor, which I have at its native resolution of 1680x1050, which is obviously > the max digital display of my video card (1600x1200) and it looks great (better than with any other res. in fact). Can I expect the same quality if I was to get a 2nd 23" monitor on both of them?

Thanks again

-Trite

**emosun** · 10-11-2009, 09:17 PM

If you have only one dvi output then it'll only support 1 monitor. Splitters only duplicate the same image , and only when the monitors are identical.

Trite · 10-12-2009, 11:27 AM

Damn! I bought the monitor last night after speaking with Dell's support who told me everything would be fine.

On nVidia's site here http://www.nvidia.com/object/quadro_...techspecs.html it includes "HDMI" under display connectors, but there is no port on my laptop or docking station. I assume the ability to use hdmi is there - can I drill a hole in my laptop and soder a port to a connector - what are my options??

If I don't do the above (I assume I can't) what is the best setup here. I have two large monitors, one dvi out, and one vga out.

Thanks.

trite

**emosun** · 10-12-2009, 12:55 PM

Wait this is a laptop?

Well your kinda stuck there , the really are no gpu options for laptops. Laptops use fixed gpu to the motherboard and are not changeable or removable. You basically are stuck with whatever you bought. The option would be a mini usb videocard.

Trite · 10-12-2009, 01:48 PM

It's a laptop.

So will I have to go DVI -> DVI for the 24", then use a VGA -> DVI converter for the 21" if I want both?

**emosun** · 10-12-2009, 02:23 PM

No you would need a usb video card for the third monitor. The laptop may have two ports but it definitely cannot support 2 external monitors and it's own screen.

Trite · 10-12-2009, 02:36 PM

I do not use the laptop screen at all when I am using the monitors - the lid is always closed and in the display properties it shows only using 1 screen with my current 21".

Is what I have above the best solution then?

**emosun** · 10-12-2009, 09:14 PM

I can't guaranty that the laptop will support two external monitors. It may just have two port option for a single display. I also can't guaranty a vga to dvi adapter will work either and support the monitors res through the vga output.

10-11-2009, 06:19 PM	#1 (permalink)
Trite Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 4 OS: Vista	How high can my new monitor's resolution be? Thanks for taking the time to take a look at this. For video card's full specs: nVidia Quadro NVS 140m card (you need to scroll down a bit) http://www.nvidia.com/object/quadro_...techspecs.html Question 1: With my video card am I limited to a 1600 x 1200 (max digital display) native resolution for my 2nd monitor if I want a decent picture? Question 2: I have only 1 dvi out on my computer. Do I need DVI-D (1) to DVI-I(2) splitter cable to pull this off, provided I go with > 1600x1200 resolution on my new monitor? If not, then what? Question 3: Will adding a second monitor increase load on my CPU or will all processing be done by the GPU? Interesting Info: I currently have a FP202W monitor, which I have at its native resolution of 1680x1050, which is obviously > the max digital display of my video card (1600x1200) and it looks great (better than with any other res. in fact). Can I expect the same quality if I was to get a 2nd 23" monitor on both of them? *Thanks again* -Trite

10-11-2009, 09:17 PM	#2 (permalink)
emosun Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: usa Posts: 6,988 OS: xp pro sp2 My System	Re: How high can my new monitor's resolution be? If you have only one dvi output then it'll only support 1 monitor. Splitters only duplicate the same image , and only when the monitors are identical. __________________ Gpu Benchmarks Cpu-Z Power supply information and selection Gpu-Z Video card quick list

10-12-2009, 11:27 AM	#3 (permalink)
Trite Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 4 OS: Vista	Re: How high can my new monitor's resolution be? Damn! I bought the monitor last night after speaking with Dell's support who told me everything would be fine. On nVidia's site here http://www.nvidia.com/object/quadro_...techspecs.html it includes "HDMI" under display connectors, but there is no port on my laptop or docking station. I assume the ability to use hdmi is there - can I drill a hole in my laptop and soder a port to a connector - what are my options?? If I don't do the above (I assume I can't) what is the best setup here. I have two large monitors, one dvi out, and one vga out. Thanks. trite

10-12-2009, 12:55 PM	#4 (permalink)
emosun Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: usa Posts: 6,988 OS: xp pro sp2 My System	Re: How high can my new monitor's resolution be? Wait this is a laptop? Well your kinda stuck there , the really are no gpu options for laptops. Laptops use fixed gpu to the motherboard and are not changeable or removable. You basically are stuck with whatever you bought. The option would be a mini usb videocard. __________________ Gpu Benchmarks Cpu-Z Power supply information and selection Gpu-Z Video card quick list

10-12-2009, 01:48 PM	#5 (permalink)
Trite Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 4 OS: Vista	Re: How high can my new monitor's resolution be? It's a laptop. So will I have to go DVI -> DVI for the 24", then use a VGA -> DVI converter for the 21" if I want both?

10-12-2009, 02:23 PM	#6 (permalink)
emosun Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: usa Posts: 6,988 OS: xp pro sp2 My System	Re: How high can my new monitor's resolution be? No you would need a usb video card for the third monitor. The laptop may have two ports but it definitely cannot support 2 external monitors and it's own screen. __________________ Gpu Benchmarks Cpu-Z Power supply information and selection Gpu-Z Video card quick list

10-12-2009, 02:36 PM	#7 (permalink)
Trite Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 4 OS: Vista	Re: How high can my new monitor's resolution be? I do not use the laptop screen at all when I am using the monitors - the lid is always closed and in the display properties it shows only using 1 screen with my current 21". Is what I have above the best solution then?

10-12-2009, 09:14 PM	#8 (permalink)
emosun Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: usa Posts: 6,988 OS: xp pro sp2 My System	Re: How high can my new monitor's resolution be? I can't guaranty that the laptop will support two external monitors. It may just have two port option for a single display. I also can't guaranty a vga to dvi adapter will work either and support the monitors res through the vga output. __________________ Gpu Benchmarks Cpu-Z Power supply information and selection Gpu-Z Video card quick list