Help needed with widescreen LCD/display resolution/graphics card

[steve_bright1]

I've just bought a new widescreen LCD monitor whose native display

resolution is 1600x1050. I've got a PC running Win 2000 and I had to

replace my old graphics card as it was a bit long in the tooth and

didn't have a DVI interface.

 

Now I puzzled over what graphics card to buy - obviously I wanted one

that can pump out the right resolution images, but I couldn't seem to

find out any information about what display resolutions the available

cards could handle. Anyway, as a pretty arbitrary choice, I bought an

Abit R9550-256Guru (ATI chipset for AGP slot). I figured that as it's

a newish card it's bound to have the right resolution. (You can see

where this is going can't you...).

 

I got the monitor today, and it looks good although I haven't

calibrated it yet. I've installed the .inf file, but the 1600x1050

resolution just doesn't seem to be available. Right now, it's

connected by the VGA lead (the supplied DVI lead wasn't long enough).

 

So, can anyone give me a hint as to a) how to get my graphics card to

display at 1600x1050, or b) advise me on how I can find another

graphics card with the right resolution.

 

Thanks in advance.

[scott_eaton]

That card is capable of 1600x1200, so if the option isn't available, you've likely got the wrong driver installed.

[dave_trayers]

Google for an application called Powerstrip. It may be a more convienent solution than a different graphic card. Powerstrip gives you the ability to force the adapter into non-default resolutions and refresh rates. It's used quite a bit in the HTPC world. I've used it on my Thinkpad to get a 1280x720 resolution to output to my HD television. The native resolution on the Thinkpad is 1400x1050.

 

You can try it before you buy it (about $30). If you don't buy it, you'll continue to get a tips screen at startup that has a count down timer. The longer you go without paying the longer the tips screen persists.

[steve_bright1]

Thanks Scott and Dave. It turned out all I needed was to install the latest ATI Catalyst drivers and that resolution became available. Doh! I've now got it connected by DVI and the picture is rock steady.