XGA resolution enough for Age of Conan?

Hey Gang,
I searched the site for a resolution guide for notebooks, but couldn't find the answer I was looking for.
I found this link: http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=141185 but still couldn't formulate a decision.

I am buying a Dell Vostro 1500 in the next couple weeks and am on a very strict budget for my gaming notebook. When looking at the Vostro 1500, I am torn between the these 3 options:
1) 15.4" Wide Screen XGA LCD Display with TrueLife™ [Included in Price]
2) 15.4" Wide Screen XGA+LCD Display w/TrueLife™ [add $50]
3) 15.4" Wide Screen SXGA+LCD Display w/TrueLife™ [add $100]

Q#1) I know it's only $100 more for the best I can get for that model, but is it worth it for playing games? I will only use this notebook for internet browsing and Age of Conan. Any intensive editing/processing will be done on my main PC.
Q#2) I know the native resolution for XGA is 1024x768, but what is the max resolution I can go up to while running Windows?

 

I'm confused, I thought naitive means max?

 

I thought WSXGA is 1280 x 800, WSXGA+ is 1440 x 900 and WSSXGS+ is 1650 x 1065.

 

I took the description to be XGA / XGA+ / SXGA+.
Not WSXGA / WSXGA+ / WSSXGA+.

Am I mistaken?

 

Yes. We're talking about different aspect ratios here

4:3 aspect ratio (non widescreen laptops) use XGA (1024 x 768), SXGA (1280 x 1024), SXGA+ (1400 x 1050) and UXGA (1600 x 1200)

16:10 aspect ratio (widescreen) uses WXGA (1280 x 800), WXGA+ (1440 x 900), WSXGA+ (1680 x 1050) and WUXGA (1920 x 1200)

The laptop you're looking at is a widescreen laptop, and thus uses the second configuration

And now to your questions:

1) That's personal preference. I always buy the largest resolution i can get, i currently use 1680 x 1050 and couldn't be happier.

2)The maximum resolution you can go in windows is the maximum resolution of the screen you're using, in this case 1280 x 800 if you buy the WXGA screen.

 

I have the m1530 and the 1280x800 screen is perfectly matched to the 8600gt.

I can run Source games (Hl2,CS:S,TF2 etc.) at max settings and get ~35 fps

 

FANTASTIC!
Thank you for the info Leo_S & Eggnugg.
This definitely helps me make my decision.
I will go with the 15.4" Wide Screen XGA LCD Display with TrueLife™ to give me the 1280x800 resolution. I think this will match well with Age of Conan and any other games I choose to play the next couple of years.

{I'll be sure to post my results when I order and receive my notebook}

~Syn