Increasing display resolution on Thinkpad SL500

[tonydoss]

Hi,

does anyone know if it's possible to further increase the display resolution on the Thinkpad SL500. I have Windows XP SP3 and the maximum display I get is 1280x800 on Mobile Intel 4 Series Express Chipset Family.

Thanks

[Marin85]

Depending on your model, the native resolution of your screen is either WXGA (1280x800) or WSXGA. It´s not possible to increase the display resolution over the native one. If you have a model with WSXGA, you may consider following things:
1. Go to Display Properties;
2. (Re)Install the video driver;
3. Check out nVidia control center if this applies to your model (i.e. if you have nVidia graphics).


EDIT: typo..

[tonydoss]

thanks. How do I know if I have a WXGA or WSXGA screen?
thanks

[Marin85]

Check out your model number and refer to the Tabook available as a sticky in this subforum. If you don´t find your model in the Tabook, Lenovo parts lookup may turn useful to you. BTW, if the image on the screen is sharp, clear, not blurry, then it´s very probable that you are running at native screen resolution.

[dr_st]

If you had a WSXGA+ screen, Windows would know it and set the resolution to that by default. So 99% you have a WXGA screen. The fact that it's an Intel integrated video is also strong evidence of that, since I am not aware of any SL models being offered with integrated graphics and higher resolutions than WXGA.

[Marin85]

If you had a WSXGA+ screen, Windows would know it and set the resolution to that by default.

BTW, for mysterious reasons that´s not always the case. On a clean install of Vista or Win 7 (and probably Win XP), after installing the video driver and rebooting, it´s sometimes necessary to adjust the resolution under display properties/graphics control center.

[dr_st]

Indeed, but then at least it recognizes the maximum supported. Here we are talking about the case where the slider won't let you go above 1280x800.

[Marin85]

Indeed, but then at least it recognizes the maximum supported. Here we are talking about the case where the slider won't let you go above 1280x800.

True. My point was only that Windows doesn´t always cope well with video drivers. But even if the driver is not properly recognized, 1600x1200 is the maximum supported resolution in VGA mode, which exceeds WXGA. So, I think you are right that the OP´s display is WXGA.

[tonydoss]

It looks like I can't find my model (SL500 2746-4VM) in the specification book!
I had a look, my processor is a P8400. I could narrow it down with that. I don't seem to have NVidia (I should see NVidia in "Display Adapters" of the Device Manager, right? I see Intel instead) so conclusion is that it's a WXGA scree... so I'm stucked at 1280x800?? No chance to go to 1600x1200??

[Marin85]

No, unfortunately not. BTW, the max res would have been 1680x1050, not 1600x1200...

[dr_st]

Indeed.

Product: ThinkPad SL500 2746-4VM

Operating system: All

Original description: P8400(2.26GHz), 2GB RAM, 160GB 5400rpm HD, 15.4in 1280x800 LCD, Intel X4500HD, CDRW/DVDRW, Intel 802.11agn wireless, Bluetooth, Modem, 1Gb Ethernet, UltraNav, Secure chip, Camera, 6c Li-Ion, WinVista Home Premium 32