need a PCI video card that supports 1920x1200@60Hz [SOLVED]

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pianowizard · #1 Post by **pianowizard** » Wed Nov 29, 2006 8:17 pm

I just bought a Dell 2407WFP A03 LCD monitor, and have a problem. In order to achieve its native resolution of 1920x1200, the signal needs to be at 60Hz. My T43 can do that and so it drives this monitor perfectly fine - hooray! Unfortunately, the onboard video card of my Dell Dimension B110 can only provide 1920x1200 @ 75Hz, and at 60Hz, the highest resolution supported is 1600x1200. So I need to upgrade the graphics card.

Several threads on the Dell forum recommended 6200, FX5500, FX5200 or X1300 as being compatible with the B110 (which can only use PCI cards, not AGP or PCI Express), but I am not sure if they support 1920x1200 @ 60Hz. Does anyone know of a specific PCI card that can do that? It would be great if it can also run Vista'a Aero interface. FYI, the power supply in my B110 is rated at 250W.

Stargate199 · #2 Post by **Stargate199** » Wed Nov 29, 2006 9:39 pm

I am not sure there is such thing as a PCI graphics card that can do that high of a resolution, there is not enough bandwidth with PCI to do something like that. Anyone else know if there is such a card in existence?

leoblob · #3 Post by **leoblob** » Thu Nov 30, 2006 12:51 am

Matrox makes some rather serious video cards. I suspect that one of these would do the job...

http://www.matrox.com/graphics/en/crepr ... l256mb.php

http://www.matrox.com/graphics/en/crepr ... i256mb.php

I think the refresh rates shown are the maximum possible. Based on my experience, you can set a lower refresh rate. It says that either card requires a 300W power supply, so that could be a problem... ?

pianowizard · #4 Post by **pianowizard** » Thu Nov 30, 2006 1:20 am

Leo, thanks for suggesting those, but the 300W requirement is a problem. I would rather not upgrade the power supply.

leoblob · #5 Post by **leoblob** » Thu Nov 30, 2006 10:49 am

I read about this utility on the Matrox support forum: http://www.entechtaiwan.com/util/ps.shtm

I have not used it myself, but it sounds like it adds a tremendous amount of control over almost any video card.

pianowizard · #6 Post by **pianowizard** » Thu Nov 30, 2006 3:11 pm

leoblob wrote:I read about this utility on the Matrox support forum: http://www.entechtaiwan.com/util/ps.shtm

That's a very interesting utility! I played with it for 2 hours this morning and found an option to force the onboard video card to send out a 1920x1200@60Hz signal, but somehow the display still didn't like it. I also tried 1600x1200 but the stupid display automatically stretches the screen to fill the whole screen. I wish Powerstrip had a 1:1 option.

Anyway, I am now looking into getting a 256MB nVidia GeForce FX5500 PCI card. It's kind of risky because most people on the Dell forums had trouble installing it on the B110 desktop, but one person succeeded, so there is hope.

leoblob · #7 Post by **leoblob** » Thu Nov 30, 2006 5:09 pm

I have an older NEC 1830 LCD that lets me turn off the "stretch" mode. Does your monitor have that option somewhere in its set-up menu?

pianowizard · #8 Post by **pianowizard** » Thu Nov 30, 2006 7:08 pm

My monitor allows one to disable the stretch mode for 1024x768 and 1280x768, but not for 1600x1200. That's why I called it a stupid monitor!

Stargate199 · #9 Post by **Stargate199** » Thu Nov 30, 2006 8:00 pm

I really hate these computers with onboard video and no AGP slot. My desktop uses the crappy intel integrated graphics chip and it really sucks. I don' t think it can do over 1200x1024. It uses the system ram for memory and it just plain out sucks. Keeping the res at 1024x768 makes it work quite well and can do most video task easily, but I wish it had a AGP slot so I can install my GeForce 4 MX420. It is only 32MB, but it works great for all I do. Its the reason i got by with a PII 333Mhz computer for a while. I looked at those video card and I can't use them because my psu is puny 185 watts

in my PIII.

#10 Post by **tomh009** » Thu Nov 30, 2006 8:29 pm

Stargate199 wrote:I am not sure there is such thing as a PCI graphics card that can do that high of a resolution, there is not enough bandwidth with PCI to do something like that. Anyone else know if there is such a card in existence?

PCI is not an issue from the bandwidth point of view.

In any case, a Matrox P650 is available for PCI and will do 1920x1200 -- but it is definitely not cheap. It might be worth looking on eBay, though.

leoblob · #11 Post by **leoblob** » Thu Nov 30, 2006 11:27 pm

nevermind.

pianowizard · #12 Post by **pianowizard** » Wed Dec 06, 2006 5:19 pm

Problem solved. pkiff sold a 256MB NVidia GeForce FX5500 PCI card to me and it can drive the 24" monitor at 1920x1200@60Hz. Thanks Phil!

Wow, it's great to watch widescreen DVDs on this thing! Much better than the 19" 4:3 LCD that I just sold on Craigslist for $150.

need a PCI video card that supports 1920x1200@60Hz [SOLVED]

need a PCI video card that supports 1920x1200@60Hz [SOLVED]

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