Monitors

[tomwhite1]

How do I decide which LCD monitors can be use effectively for a T21? Isn't there a limitation for screen resolution? More specifically can a Samsung 205BW be used with the T21 graphic card?

[tomh009]

I don't believe the T21's built-in video supports any of the wide-screen resolutions. As a result, your XGA (or similar) resolution would get horizontally stretched across the wide-screen monitor -- not usually a desirable outcome.

Personally I would look for either a 19" or 20" 4:3 (non-widescreen) display, depending on your budget.

[chan_man]

I would agree with Tom.. the T2x do not support wide screens, I have a T23 that I use sometimes with a Dell 24" widescreen, the best that it will do is 1600x1200, but the native on the Dell is 1920x1200 so you end up with a stretched screen.

[tomwhite1]

...to both of you for your replies. How do I find out what the resolution supported by the T21 graphic card is?

[pianowizard]

I don't believe the T21's built-in video supports any of the wide-screen resolutions.

I believe that's correct, but it might be okay if the external monitor is set up as an extension of the T21's internal monitor, right?

[tomh009]

I believe that's correct, but it might be okay if the external monitor is set up as an extension of the T21's internal monitor, right?

Hmmm. It's possible but I think unlikely. Do you have a wide-screen monitor you could test with your X22? (I don't have one to try.)

[rkawakami]

...to both of you for your replies. How do I find out what the resolution supported by the T21 graphic card is?

Generally you can check on the supported video mode by looking at the "Display Properties" window. Assuming you are using Windows, right-click the desktop, select Properties, click the Settings tab, click the Advanced button, click the Adapters tab, then click the List All Modes button. At least that's the way to check it using Windows 2000. I think XP is the same. In either case, I believe that the maximum supported external resolution is 1600x1200 (as per the info from tawbook.pdf).

[pianowizard]

Do you have a wide-screen monitor you could test with your X22? (I don't have one to try.)

I was going to offer to do that but wasn't sure the X22 is similar enough to the T21 to make it worthwhile (would need to bring the X22 home from work). Yes, I have a 24" widescreen LCD monitor. I'll try to test it tomorrow.

[tomh009]

I was going to offer to do that but wasn't sure the X22 is similar enough to the T21 to make it worthwhile (would need to bring the X22 home from work). Yes, I have a 24" widescreen LCD monitor. I'll try to test it tomorrow.

I think it's old enough to give some indication. I'd test on the X31 (which does not list any of the widescreen resolutions either) but I don't have the monitor -- unless I go do some testing at Best Buy!

[pianowizard]

unless I go do some testing at Best Buy!

LOL!

I actually owned two T20's, a T21 and two T23's very briefly about two months ago. If I had kept just one of them, I would be able use it to do the test for the OP.

[pianowizard]

Do you have a wide-screen monitor you could test with your X22?

I just tried it with my X22. Nope, its 8MB ATI Radeon 4X AGP video card can only output 4:3 resolutions (1024x768, 1600x1200, etc.) to my 24" widescreen LCD, even when it's set up as an extension of the primary monitor and even after replacing the generic "plug and play monitor" driver with one specific to the Dell 2407WFP. The T21 also has only 8MB of graphics memory, so it probably can't support widescreen displays either.

[ronbo613]

I use ATI AGP video cards on my PCs. When I was using a 4:3 CRT, I don't recall any wide screen resolutions available on either the older AIW 9800Pro or the newer AIW X800XT. I got a widescreen LCD(a 16:10 Viewsonic) and removed the old display drivers and installed slightly newer, but far from the newest, Catalyst drivers. Lo and behold, there were loads of widescreen resolutions to choose from. I don't know exactly how that came about, perhaps the LCD monitor drivers had something to do with it.
Not saying that's going to happen with the Radeon Mobility in Thinkpads, but with ATI, there's always a surprise around every Catalyst corner, this time, a welcome surprise.

[tomh009]

I just tried it with my X22. Nope, its 8MB ATI Radeon 4X AGP video card can only output 4:3 resolutions (1024x768, 1600x1200, etc.) to my 24" widescreen LCD, even when it's set up as an extension of the primary monitor and even after replacing the generic "plug and play monitor" driver with one specific to the Dell 2407WFP. The T21 also has only 8MB of graphics memory, so it probably can't support widescreen displays either.

As I suspected ... need a 60 series, I think, to do it out of the box. Maybe a 30/40 series might do it with third-party video drivers.

Tom W., I think your best bet is a conventional-shape 19" or 20" display. You can pick up a Dell 2001FP S-IPS panel (the good kind!) on eBay for under $300 ...

[pianowizard]

Tom W., I think your best bet is a conventional-shape 19" or 20" display. You can pick up a Dell 2001FP S-IPS panel (the good kind!) on eBay for under $300 ...

Conventional 19" LCD displays (almost?) always have 1280x1024 resolution, which is pretty low. I have used two of them (a Dell and a Rosewill) and the low resolution didn't work for me. But the advantage is that the icons and text are very big, so it's comfortable to view things from a relatively long distance. Conventional 20" (or 20.1") LCD displays can support either 1400x1050 or 1600x1200, so you get much more real estate. The 1400x1050 models are only slightly more expensive than the 19" monitors, but the 1600x1200 ones are about twice as expensive as the 19" displays.

The Dell 2001FP S-IPS that Tomh009 recommended has 1600x1200. If you find one for under $300, that's a bargain!

[tomh009]

The Dell 2001FP S-IPS that Tomh009 recommended has 1600x1200. If you find one for under $300, that's a bargain!

They can be found under $300 on eBay. I have one on my desk at the office, and it's quite a nice display indeed, so I have been eyeing one for home. And for much less than the $1000 my employer paid for mine!

[ronbo613]

I paid over $500 for the 2001FP about a year ago. S-IPS panels are the best, but I had to send my Dell back due to massive backlight bleeding. If you get a good one, you'll be stoked.

[tomwhite1]

I will look for the Dell 2001FP S-IPS. Thanks to all of you for your thoughts and suggestions. What a great community!

[pianowizard]

I will look for the Dell 2001FP S-IPS.

That's a wise decision. With 1600x1200 pixels, it has 83.3% as many pixels as a 24" widescreen LCD, and 8.8% more pixels than a 20" - 22" widescreen LCD, so it's really not shabby at all.

[tomh009]

That's a wise decision. With 1600x1200 pixels, it has 83.3% as many pixels as a 24" widescreen LCD, and 8.8% more pixels than a 20" - 22" widescreen LCD, so it's really not shabby at all.

And if you use a dock, the T21 should be automatically able to switch to external 1600x1200 when you dock, and back to internal XGA when you undock (this is the way I have my X31 running).

[tomwhite1]

..if the panel is S IPS or PVA?

[tomh009]

For panels other than the 2001FP? Most often the panel type is not specified, but one thing you can look for is that 180-degree field of view; that eliminates the TN panels. However, S-PVA panels have a similar field of view as well.

And worse yet, if you look at Dell monitors, there is no guarantee what type panel will be in any given monitor. The 2007FP initialy shipped with an S-IPS panel but they subsequently switched to S-PVA without any change in model number or specs.

[tomwhite1]

I was asking about the 2001FP. I read that they started shipping with the S-IPS and then shifted to the PVA also. So how do you know which you are buying? and what is the difference? I am using this mostly for graphics and photography so color and resolution is important, gaming not so important.

[tomh009]

For the 2001FP, what you really want is one of the early versions:

From http://aryarya.net/wassyoi/lcdmemo.html:
Dell 2001FP = 20.1 inch 16 ms S-IPS (LG.Philips LM201U04) panel.
Dell 2001FP ver2 = 20.1 inch 16 ms S-IPS (LG.Philips LM201U04-SL02) panel.
Dell 2001FP ver3 = 20.1 inch 12 ms (g2g) S-PVA (Samsung LTM201U1-L01) panel.

Are you shopping on eBay? If you are, you'll need to ask simple questions that sellers are willing to answer. I'll look at my 2001FP in the office today and tell you what the model/serial number label says.

[tomwhite1]

I'm having a hard time getting answers to the question is the 2001FP panel S-IPS or PVA (S-PVA).

What is the difference between the 2001 FP and the 2007 FP monitor? THis seems to be more available.

[tomwhite1]

I finally found one (on ebay) and have been using it for several weeks now. It's great. I have had a difficult time getting the 1600X1200 resolution but at the next lower setting it looks good!
Thanks for all your help.

[tomh009]

Great! Now you just need to train your eyes for 1600x1200 ...