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    Minimum requirements for 1080p

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by Urgannagru, Mar 20, 2009.

  1. Urgannagru

    Urgannagru Newbie

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    Hoping to buy a small laptop that i can use to play h264 video files on an external 24" monitor. The obvious spec to go for is a laptop with onboard intel 4500 graphics or better and a HDMI port. However this will push the price up to roughly £500. I'm wondering if it is possible to play 1080p h264 files(not blu-rays) over a VGA port with a lower specced machine as this will open up cheaper possabilities.

    Thanks for any help. Also I know this is the wrong section but as an aside if anyone has any suitable suggestions for a cheap latop 13" or smaller that could fill this role I'd be grateful.
     
    Urgannagru, Mar 20, 2009
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  2. BM2KTom

    BM2KTom Notebook Enthusiast

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    it is possible but you will be hard pressed to find a monitor that will support 1080p over vga. The vga standard can carry 1080p signals however most monitor manfactuers lock out that high of resolution over vga especially tv's. Your best bet is to go somewhere like Fry's or best buy and pretend your intrested in buying from there and have them hook up a laptop your intrested in over the VGA to their display monitors to be sure it will do it before you commit to buying one, also if they are good salesman they should have no problem doing this for you if you feign enough interest.
     
    BM2KTom, Mar 20, 2009
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  3. BM2KTom

    BM2KTom Notebook Enthusiast

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    Sorry forgot to add that some video cards also lock out 1080p over vga, I had a ati hd2900 xt do this and I could not force it to run 1920 x 1080 over vga even though the monitor reported it would support that resolution.
     
    BM2KTom, Mar 20, 2009
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  4. Urgannagru

    Urgannagru Newbie

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    Ah thanks for the repliesthink I may have to justkeep saving and be patient for more news on the HP DV2 then :)
     
    Urgannagru, Mar 20, 2009
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  5. Silvr6

    Silvr6 Notebook Evangelist

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    I have 2 samsung 24" lcd monitors both with vga and dvi inputs. I've run 1900x1200 via vga on bother monitors without problems. I've also used the intel gma 950 (integrated) and ran 1900x1200 without issues.
    As for videocards locking out 1080P I can't say
    ive ever heard of that, it probably was an issue with your drivers.

    Most videocards can run 2048x1536 as their max resolution anyways.


    I do like the Hp DV2 so that would be a good option, BUT you can get a lower spec'd machine, just make sure it's videocard supports decoding of HD material, most ATI and Nvidia cards do this.
     
    Silvr6, Mar 20, 2009
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