Video Card Resolution Support Question

[lafinfil]

I'm trying to help my brother in law out here and need some info about video card resolutions.

He has a Quick Silver 867 that has the NVIDIA GeForce2 MX graphics card with 32 MB of RAM

He is looking at 20" LCD's and is interested in a wide screen version (1680x1050)

Apple advertised that this system could support up to 1920 x 1200 pixel resolution at 32 bits.

I'm assuming (yeah - I know) that since the Apple 22" LCD (1600x1024) predated the QS867
that the GeForce2 MX wouldn't have any problem supporting other letterbox resolutions - correct ?

TIA

[Harbourmaster]

Unless he is planning on buying an older Apple display with the ADC he might have problems getting 1680 x 1050 out of the VGA connector, then again he might not.

It would be better for him if he had a video card with DVI out and an LCD with a DVI connection.

[lafinfil]

Thanks Ken

Probably not worth upgrading the video card on this older computer.

Sounds like he should stick to a 4:3 analog monitor if he wants a new monitor.

[deckeda]

Well, if 4:3 is what that card does best, he doesn't need a CRT.

I use a very nice Planar 20" I bought at buy.com for like $256 a year ago. Native resolution is 1600x1200. http://www.buy.com/prod/planar-pl2010m-2...63384.html

Higher now but if it's of interest look around.

Not widescreen, but not LESS total pixels either ... dunno about him but most of my work (and play) involves Web and docs to view. A wider screen isn't a bonus IMO. Just fashionable. I'm tellin' ya --- it's a mindset, unless he's a Photoshop jock who needs room on the sides for pallets.

[lafinfil]

Thanks for the additional info deckeda

He doesn't need a wide screen - just some more room. He sent me a link for a Veiwsonic VA2026w Widescreen
which is what got this started.

He is an illustrator and had been working with a 19" CRT and now has a 17" LCD but would like a little more space.

How do you like the Planar ? I was looking at it at Newegg ($265) when you posted.
It got good marks in the four reviews it got

The ViewSonic Graphic Series VG2030M looks good too for about the same money.

It seems like the 20" 4:3 analogs have gotten hard to find or are expensive for crappy specs.

[hal]

now hold on there...

I had a QS 733 running a dell 20" @ 1680x1050 just fine over the vga cable

if you're gonna run tiger (like I was) it'll be no prob - probably panther would be fine too

[lafinfil]

[quote hal]now hold on there...

I had a QS 733 running a dell 20" @ 1680x1050 just fine over the vga cable

if you're gonna run tiger (like I was) it'll be no prob - probably panther would be fine too
hmmm - both the 733 & 867 have the same video card

so the GeForce2 MX will support an analog 20" widescreen ?

[deckeda]

Looks like that 22" will work after all? But to answer your question I like the Planar just fine. It's my first LCD so I can't really compare. At work I have an older Phillips 200P (or something) that's similar but not as clear and bright, but that could just be because the Planar is newer/less worn?

When I was shopping, it seemed you had a better chance of getting more total pixels (1600x1200) and 8-bit? color (true "millions" of colors) if you went with a 20". They were definately NOT the cheesier of the two ways to go IMO.

[lafinfil]

Well after sifting through NVIDIA's website's knowledge base and FAQ's I sent them an email and
I honestly didn't expect much even though I was told via a email that I would have an answer in 24 hrs.

Well color me impressed - I had an answer in about 3 hrs -

Thank you for contacting NVIDIA Customer Care.

I understand that you wish to know if GeForce 2 MX MAC graphics card would support a resolution of 1680 x 1050.

The GeForce 2 MX MAC graphics card would support the wide screen resolution of 1680 x 1050 only if it is
connected to VGA port of the graphics card.

Please feel free to contact us, if you have any questions.

Regards,
NVIDIA Customer Care


That's pretty good support considering that it is a fairly old product - nice job

Thanks to everyone else here as well !

Now the HARD part. I have to email my brother-in-law and tell him my last email was WRONG !

:- )

[Harbourmaster]

well I'll be dog gone....