External monitor resolution avice

Hello

I'm trying to turn my laptop into a more desktop kind of set up for gaming. The resolution on the laptop is 1600x900 and I am wondering if the external monitor should match that or if it can run something more? My card is a Geforce GT 445m.

Also I was thinking of buying a laptop docking station but all I want to run is the monitor, keyboard and mouse so maybe I don't need that and can just set the screen to not sleep when closed?

Many thanks for any replies.

 

Choose the monitor resolution accordingly to your GPU. Personally, i'd find a GT445m too weak to push 1080p gaming at what i'd consider decent settings and framerate. There's nothing preventing you from running the monitor at lower resolutions than it's native if you don't mind the pixel interpolation or loosing some pixels to get a crisp image displayed on only a portion of the monitor. In the end the native resolution of the display will be mostly be influenced by the settings you want to game on.

Whatever monitor you do get, i'd worry bout getting a decent panel first. For non gaming, your GPU can definitely push 1080p on one monitor and run the laptop display at the same time, even an IGP could do that .

 

Still a bit ambitious? Are you referring to operating these independent of your laptop's CPU?

 

hmm ok, what about upgrading the card, is that possible? Did it on my old desktop but not sure how it is with laptops.

 

What I was thinking was to use the laptop in place of the desktop so I guess I would be using it's CPU?

 

Nope, you can't upgrade. What games do you play and at what settings at the moment. Any games you intend to purchase?

 

Mainly world of warcraft on 'good' settings. Looking to play the new star wars mmo when that arrives to.