New 1920x 1080monitor

<p>I just bought a new LED/LCD monitor. It is designed for 1920 x 1080 resolution. My system only puts out 1280 x 768.Should I take it back and wait until I upgrade my computer. I know I could get a new video card, but I don't want to put any more money into this computer.</p>

<p>If you return it, you will only delay accumulation of wherewithall for a new computer, at least for most of us.<br>

Keep it, and then you'd be ready for a later computer upgrade.</p>

<p>BTW, you could always upgrade just the video card, if it's accessible.</p>

<p>There is nothing to stop you simply using part of the screen as I am doing to write this though when I open my PSP editor it uses the full screen and I can have menus clear of the picture. I am happilly living with the situation :-) And very angry that the manager of a retail outlet advised me I needed a new computer to run another new monitor ... scumbag! I thought I needed a bigger screen to run a graphics programme on and was told I needed an up to date computer which subsequently I have found is incorrect ... URRGH! As a result I have two computers with my old one whose monitor blew up on me recently now feeding an LED/LCD wide screen.<br>

Obviously I know little or nothing about computers and have wasted a ton of money by trusting that guy :-)</p>

<p>If you take the monitor back to exchange it for a lower resolution monitor that is natively compatible with your existing card, then when you upgrade your computer, you'll have less monitor than you really wanted. Personally, I'd pick up the cheapest possible card to support that monitor for the remaining life of your computer. Either that, or I would run the new monitor in the highest resolution mode that your existing card will support, even though the image quality will not be at its best.</p>

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<p>you could always upgrade just the video card</p>

</blockquote>

<p>Assuming you have a computer with some sort of accessible bus, this is by far the best solution. You can upgrade for under $40 with a new card from Amazon for almost any bus, you can probably find a used card for under $20 on Craigslist. Then you can take advantage of the monitor with very little cost.</p>

<p><em>" My system only puts out 1280 x 768." - </em>perhaps there is a video driver setting for a better resolution. Make sure that you explored all options. Most, or all laptops that have VGA or HDMI output, have better resolution on external video output socket<em>.</em> Most of video adapter cards, unless possibly older than 10 years, also have option for a better resolution.</p>

<p>Tell what system exactly you have, and possibly someone will have a solution for you, for your existing system.<br /><em></em></p>

<p>Thanks so much for your help everyone. I did not realize that video cards were inexpensive.<br>

FRANK…. I have a Dell DIM 3000, Pentium 4 CPU 2.80 GHZ, with an Intel 828659 card.<br>

A DVI cable came with the monitor, but there is nothing that marries it on the back of my computer.</p>

<p><a href="http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/dim3000/en/sm/specs.htm">http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/dim3000/en/sm/specs.htm</a></p>

<p>From your computer documentation, is says for video: "<em>15-hole connector</em>" - This is most likely the VGA video output socket that provides analog video output signal. The display processor is also capable to provide 2 digital video outputs, but most likely your Dell is not that sophisticaled, and perhaps would not feed digital DVI through the same VGA socket.<br />The "Integrated Intel Extreme Graphics 2" chip provides up to 2048 x 1536 maximum analog CRT resolution. <br /><a href="http://www.intel.com/design/graphics2/extreme_graphics2_brochure.pdf">http://www.intel.com/design/graphics2/extreme_graphics2_brochure.pdf</a><br>

<br />Perhaps you will need an inexpensive VGA to HDMI converter device like this one:<br /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/HDMI-VGACONVERTER-VGA-Audio-HDMI-Converter/dp/B0015YWV1G/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1320068936&sr=8-8">http://www.amazon.com/HDMI-VGACONVERTER-VGA-Audio-HDMI-Converter/dp/B0015YWV1G/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1320068936&sr=8-8</a><br />This one has limitation, so you will only get 1280 x 1024 HDMI signal.</p>

<p>Another possibility is use of video via USB adapter:<br /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001NG8H9G/ref=cm_cr_asin_lnk">http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001NG8H9G/ref=cm_cr_asin_lnk</a><br />but it also has 1400 x 1050 limitation.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Aluratek-AVH100F-HDMI-Converter-Adapter/dp/tech-data/B002FJLEP4/ref=de_a_smtd">http://www.amazon.com/Aluratek-AVH100F-HDMI-Converter-Adapter/dp/tech-data/B002FJLEP4/ref=de_a_smtd</a></p>

<p> </p>

<p>Frank, Thanks again for your help. I't obvious, that you have already forgotten more about computers than I know. If I can pick up a video card at a reasonable price I will do so. Otherwise, I will just live with what I have and upgrade my computer soon.</p>