Using 21" WideScreen External Monitor (1680x1050) with

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thinkpep · #1 Post by **thinkpep** » Sun Mar 05, 2006 10:28 am

I own a T42 with a maximum screen resolution of 1400x1050. I want to buy and connect a wide screen external monitor with an optimum screen resolution of 1680x1050 (specifically, the Gateway FPD2185W 21").

Would this work? That is, can you run an external monitor at an optimum screen resolution greater than your T42 ThinkPad's maximum (and native) screen resolution?

Has anyone actually attempted this? Thank you in advance.

activelink · #2 Post by **activelink** » Sun Mar 05, 2006 10:41 am

i [think] it will works.
1400x1050 is the native resolution for the screen.
the external display support up to 2048x1536.

Happy · #3 Post by **Happy** » Sun Mar 05, 2006 10:44 am

Will work just fine - same combo here from a T41p, though. Running 1600x1200 on my external 21' flat-screen

davidspalding · #4 Post by **davidspalding** » Sun Mar 05, 2006 10:52 am

thinkpep wrote:I own a T42 with a maximum screen resolution of 1400x1050. I want to buy and connect a wide screen external monitor with an optimum screen resolution of 1680x1050 (specifically, the Gateway FPD2185W 21").

Would this work? That is, can you run an external monitor at an optimum screen resolution greater than your T42 ThinkPad's maximum (and native) screen resolution?

Has anyone actually attempted this? Thank you in advance.

It all depends on the video card in your system (you didn't specify), but generally yes and yes. And you can probably go dual-screen with your laptop next to the WS FPD. Windows ought to recognize the PnP monitor and offer the appropriate resolution (run -> DESK.CPL and click the Settings tab).

thinkpep · #5 Post by **thinkpep** » Sun Mar 05, 2006 10:57 am

ATI Mobility Radeon 9600

thinkpep · #6 Post by **thinkpep** » Sun Mar 05, 2006 11:07 am

Follow-up Question:

Will the screen image look distorted? The widescreen resolution is 1680x1050 -- as I now understand it, the ThinkPad appears to be able to handle an external monitor at a 1600x1200 resolution. Will my ThinkPad recognize that the monitor is widescreen and offer me an additional option for a 1680x1050 resolution?

Thanks.

tpforever · #7 Post by **tpforever** » Sun Mar 05, 2006 11:45 am

yes, it will recognize the resolution. i have a dell 2005fpw with the same native resolution (WSXGA+). works fine on my t41p...i have to say though that the vga output quality of thinkpads is horrible...the colors arent too great either...i think a dvi connection through one of the docking solutions would be the best choice!

Delmarco · #8 Post by **Delmarco** » Sun Mar 05, 2006 11:45 am

thinkpep wrote:Follow-up Question:

Will the screen image look distorted? The widescreen resolution is 1680x1050 -- as I now understand it, the ThinkPad appears to be able to handle an external monitor at a 1600x1200 resolution. Will my ThinkPad recognize that the monitor is widescreen and offer me an additional option for a 1680x1050 resolution?

Thanks.

I'm understanding that you have a widescreen 21 inch panel and you want to use it with a non-widescreen laptop?

That may not work. Or rather what will happen is you'll have a horizontally stretched out screen when it projects on the gateway panel, or if you can figure it out and the Gateway panel has specific software & drivers (i doubt that) for non-widecreen resolution transference, what will happen is that you'll get a square screen within the horizontal-widescreen panel of the gateway. Ive seen that on certain Sony native widescreen panels when you put the resolution to the regular square one.

I currently run a Toshiba Satellite (1074x860 XGA) laptop on a 19 inch Samsung 192MP flat panel at a higher res and it works well. But when I try to run a widescreen laptop on it, everything goes crazy because the monitor needs drivers to allow it or something.

aabram · #9 Post by **aabram** » Sun Mar 05, 2006 12:26 pm

I used 20" Philips widescreen with same native resolution of 1680x1050 with my T42. Though for me it didn't detect extrnal display resolution automatically, the resolution was not listed by default and I had to "list all modes" and select from there. It did use native resolution, stretching would've been unacceptable for me.

thinkpep · #10 Post by **thinkpep** » Sun Mar 05, 2006 12:29 pm

[quote="aabram"]I used 20" Philips widescreen with same native resolution of 1680x1050 with my T42. Though for me it didn't detect extrnal display resolution automatically, the resolution was not listed by default and I had to "list all modes" and select from there. It did use native resolution, stretching would've been unacceptable for me.[/quote]

How do you "list all modes"? I didn't see that option in the display pannel. Thanks.

aabram · #11 Post by **aabram** » Sun Mar 05, 2006 1:55 pm

thinkpep wrote:How do you "list all modes"? I didn't see that option in the display pannel. Thanks.

Disp. properties -> settings -> advanced -> adapter -> list all modes.

I don't have my T42 at hand and I don't remember whether ATI settings where located somewhat differently but I doubt it.

davidspalding · #12 Post by **davidspalding** » Sun Mar 05, 2006 11:26 pm

Delmarco wrote: I'm understanding that you have a widescreen 21 inch panel and you want to use it with a non-widescreen laptop?

That may not work. Or rather what will happen is you'll have a horizontally stretched out screen when it projects on the gateway panel, or if you can figure it out and the Gateway panel has specific software & drivers (i doubt that) for non-widecreen resolution transference, what will happen is that you'll get a square screen within the horizontal-widescreen panel of the gateway. Ive seen that on certain Sony native widescreen panels when you put the resolution to the regular square one.

I currently run a Toshiba Satellite (1074x860 XGA) laptop on a 19 inch Samsung 192MP flat panel at a higher res and it works well. But when I try to run a widescreen laptop on it, everything goes crazy because the monitor needs drivers to allow it or something.

Hold your horses.... So long as you install proper drivers or monitor reference files for the display your problem won't happen. Of course, you DO have to specify the right resolution/aspect, if you don't, and the monitor is set to HVE (horizontal/vertical expansion), the 4:3 resolution will be distorted. One sees this in stores all the time, where a single 4:3 output device is being fed to 16:9 monitors.

You may hve to tell Windows in the Advanced area of Display Properties what kind of monitor you have. Once done, the card ought to be able to conform to proper resolutions. As always, having proper, up to date drivers helps.

ryan42 · #13 Post by **ryan42** » Mon Mar 06, 2006 9:33 pm

how about using a 24" widescreen monitor (2304x1440) with mine?

(I already know the answer)

davidspalding · #14 Post by **davidspalding** » Tue Mar 07, 2006 2:37 pm

[deleted of my own volition]

chan_man · #15 Post by **chan_man** » Tue Mar 07, 2006 2:55 pm

It will work, however you will have to boot the machine cold with the monitor plugged in for the system to get it right. I have a T41 with native 1024x768 driving a Dell Ultrasharp 2405 24" display running at 1920x1200, very nice...