Connecting Wide Screen as Display 2

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wongtmn · #1 Post by **wongtmn** » Thu Dec 07, 2006 4:35 am

Hi, everyone,

I am using a T60 1951-A38, running Windows XP.
I am connnecting an external display to the T60 as display 2. (I runs a lot of applications together, and show some on display 1 and others on display 2).

I am thinking of buying a wide screen display to connect to the T60 as display 2. However, I can't find any resolution setting that would support 16x10. Can anyone tell me if this is supported, and how to configure? And driver needed? Thanks a lot.

pianowizard · #2 Post by **pianowizard** » Thu Dec 07, 2006 12:33 pm

I think you can't see those WS settings until the T60 is connected to a WS display. At least that's the case for my T43. My T43 can drive a 24" 1920x1200 Dell monitor very well, so I bet the T60 can do the same.

#3 Post by **RonS** » Thu Dec 07, 2006 1:42 pm

I've never seen a VGA adapter that can drive a widescreen resolution. In order to drive a widescreen display in its native resolution, you'll need a DVI connector.

You best bet is to get either an Thinkpad Advanced Mini Dock or a Thinkpad Advanced Dock. They provide DVI connectors. Note that the Thinkpad Essential Port Replicator does not provide DVI.

Another option, although not a good one, is to drive your widescreen display from the VGA connector anyway. Most LCD displays will scale the 4:3 resolution to widescreen. For example, if you have a 1920x1200 24" Dell monitor connected to your Thinkpad VGA, you can go to Display Properties on your Thinkpad and set screen #2's resolution to 1600x1200. The 24" screen will scale (expand) the 1600 pixels across the full width (1920 pixels), but the picture will have mediocre quality.

I've never been impressed with the quality of Thinkpad VGA output. I only use DVI.

pianowizard · #4 Post by **pianowizard** » Thu Dec 07, 2006 1:48 pm

RonS wrote:I've never seen a VGA adapter that can drive a widescreen resolution. In order to drive a widescreen display in its native resolution, you'll need a DVI connector.

I am using my T43's VGA output to get 1920x1200 on my 24" monitor. I am also using the VGA output of my Dell Dimension B110 desktop to drive the same monitor at its native resolution.

Rose · #5 Post by **Rose** » Thu Dec 07, 2006 2:25 pm

the use of "non standard" resolutions is all about drivers in combination with what the RAMDAC is capable of. Omegadrivers offer a whole bunch of resolutions besides the standrad XGA, SXGA, SXGA+ and so on. If that isnt enough one can always take a glance at powerstrip.

http://www.entechtaiwan.com/util/ps.shtm

On the other hand, a month ago I started a thread about a problem to run a 720p resolution through my VGAport. What happends is that altough my resolution is 1280x720, the VGA outputs a syncsignal of 1280x1024. Because of that, my projector interprets the signal as 4:3, downscales the resolution and shows it on a 4:3box.

With a lot of hassling around, i finally got things working though.

pianowizard · #6 Post by **pianowizard** » Thu Dec 07, 2006 2:38 pm

I just looked up the OP's model:

T1300(1.66GHz), 1GB RAM, 60GB 7200rpm HD, 14.1in 1280x1024 LCD, Intel 950, CDRW/DVDRW, 802.11abg wireless, Modem, 1Gb Ethernet, UltraNav, Secure chip, 9c Li-Ion batt, WinXP Pro

This is the first time I have seen a Thinkpad with 1280x1024 resolution. Anyway, according to http://www.intel.com/products/chipsets/gma950/ , Intel 950 supports widescreen displays, and according to http://forums.mactalk.com.au/showthread.php?p=221354 , one person is using it to drive a 1680 x 1050 monitor.

NRM · #7 Post by **NRM** » Thu Dec 07, 2006 3:01 pm

The T60 doesn't have a DVI port?

pianowizard · #8 Post by **pianowizard** » Thu Dec 07, 2006 3:09 pm

NRM wrote:The T60 doesn't have a DVI port?

Not on the laptop itself.

#9 Post by **RonS** » Thu Dec 07, 2006 4:58 pm

pianowizard wrote:
RonS wrote:I've never seen a VGA adapter that can drive a widescreen resolution. In order to drive a widescreen display in its native resolution, you'll need a DVI connector.
I am using my T43's VGA output to get 1920x1200 on my 24" monitor. I am also using the VGA output of my Dell Dimension B110 desktop to drive the same monitor at its native resolution.

I didn't know that you can get widescreen resolutions with Omega drivers. That's great news. Here is Lenovo's list of VGA resolutions - there are no widescreens on it:

External monitor
Resolution Color Refresh rate (Hz)

640 x 480 256 60, 72, 75, 85, 90, 100, 120, 160
640 x 480 64K 60, 72, 75, 85, 90, 100, 120, 160
640 x 480 16M 60, 72, 75, 85, 90, 100, 120, 160
800 x 600 256 60, 70, 72, 75, 85, 90, 100, 120, 160
800 x 600 64K 60, 70, 72, 75, 85, 90, 100, 120, 160
800 x 600 16M 60, 70, 72, 75, 85, 90, 100, 120, 160
1024 x 768 256 60, 70, 72, 75, 85, 90, 100, 120, 150, 160
1024 x 768 64K 60, 70, 72, 75, 85, 90, 100, 120, 150, 160
1024 x 768 16M 60, 70, 72, 75, 85, 90, 100, 120, 150, 160
1280 x 1024 256 60, 70, 75, 85, 90, 100, 120, 160
1280 x 1024 64K 60, 70, 75, 85, 90, 100, 120, 160
1280 x 1024 16M 60, 70, 75, 85, 90, 100, 120, 160
1600 x 1200 256 60, 75, 85, 100, 120
1600 x 1200 64K 60, 75, 85, 100, 120
1600 x 1200 16M 60, 75, 85, 100, 120
2048 x 1536 256 60, 66, 70, 75
2048 x 1536 64K 60, 66, 70, 75
2048 x 1536 16M 60, 66, 70, 75

Also, I verified that 1280x1024 is spec'd on Lenovo's web site for the 1951-A38, but it must be a typo. 1280:1024 is a 5:4 aspect ratio, but thinkpads support only 4:3 (or 16:10 for the new widescreens). It would take a physical redesign of the Thinkpad chassis to support 1280x1024, or a very strange (non-square-pixel) display.

NRM · #10 Post by **NRM** » Thu Dec 07, 2006 7:48 pm

Does it have a VGA on the system itself? And, if it does, will that give me the same image quality as a DVI port?

#11 Post by **tomh009** » Thu Dec 07, 2006 9:22 pm

RonS wrote:Also, I verified that 1280x1024 is spec'd on Lenovo's web site for the 1951-A38, but it must be a typo. 1280:1024 is a 5:4 aspect ratio, but thinkpads support only 4:3 (or 16:10 for the new widescreens). It would take a physical redesign of the Thinkpad chassis to support 1280x1024, or a very strange (non-square-pixel) display.

No physical redesign required since it's for an external display -- it simply supports the use of 1280x1024 5:4 external monitors.

pianowizard · #12 Post by **pianowizard** » Thu Dec 07, 2006 9:24 pm

tomh009 wrote:No physical redesign required since it's for an external display -- it simply supports the use of 1280x1024 5:4 external monitors.

Lenovo describes the OP's T60 as having a "14.1in 1280x1024 LCD". I think 1280x960, which is 4:3, would be a good idea for 14.1" screens though. Some people want to have more than just XGA (1024x768) on a 14.1" screen, but SXGA+ (1400x1050) makes the text too small for them.

#13 Post by **tomh009** » Thu Dec 07, 2006 9:38 pm

RonS wrote:I've never seen a VGA adapter that can drive a widescreen resolution. In order to drive a widescreen display in its native resolution, you'll need a DVI connector.

There are lots of such adapters around. For example, the ATI Radeon 8500 (yes, I know, not a ThinkPad one but it proves the point):
http://ati.amd.com/products/radeon8500/ ... specs.html

#14 Post by **tomh009** » Thu Dec 07, 2006 9:40 pm

pianowizard wrote:
tomh009 wrote:No physical redesign required since it's for an external display -- it simply supports the use of 1280x1024 5:4 external monitors.
Lenovo describes the OP's T60 as having a "14.1in 1280x1024 LCD". I think 1280x960, which is 4:3, would be a good idea for 14.1" screens though. Some people want to have more than just XGA (1024x768) on a 14.1" screen, but SXGA+ (1400x1050) makes the text too small for them.

Oops, I didn't make the connection between Ron's post and the original one.

#15 Post by **tomh009** » Thu Dec 07, 2006 9:47 pm

RonS wrote:Also, I verified that 1280x1024 is spec'd on Lenovo's web site for the 1951-A38, but it must be a typo.

Why wouldn't the 1951-A38 be listed in the tabook?

All the T60 models in the tabook are either XGA or SXGA+, none are SXGA, so I do support the typo theory (now that I have read the question properly!).

wongtmn · #16 Post by **wongtmn** » Thu Dec 07, 2006 10:09 pm

So, the solution is to find a WS and plug my T60 to try before I buy.

I don't dare to try Omegadrivers anymore, I did that once with my T42, and end up having to reload the whole system.

Thanks.

#17 Post by **tomh009** » Thu Dec 07, 2006 11:01 pm

wongtmn wrote:So, the solution is to find a WS and plug my T60 to try before I buy.

I don't dare to try Omegadrivers anymore, I did that once with my T42, and end up having to reload the whole system.

Visit Best Buy with your T60.

I ended up doing Last Known Good Configuration to get rid of the blue-screening Omega drivers. Others have had better luck, but that scared me away.

PhysicalEd · #18 Post by **PhysicalEd** » Fri Dec 08, 2006 1:09 am

I am running a 1440x900 widescreen external monitor as display 2. In my case I am running VGA from a mini-dock to VGA on the monitor (not having any DVI cables around).

I have a T60P so it has the ATI 5200, if that may make a difference in driver support. But I am running straight ATI drivers (whatever version Lenovo is serving up throught their updater).

I went into Presentation Manager of the ThinkVantage Suite and set up configurations for Widescreen only, dual monitor and laptop monitor only. Pretty nice piece of software!

Good luck!

Connecting Wide Screen as Display 2

Connecting Wide Screen as Display 2

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