Blurry text on 1920x1200 external monitor connected to T400 via VGA

Hi,

I just got an external monitor for my T400. Its native resolution is 1920x1200, and that's what it's set to.

When I connect it to my T400 (running Windows 7 x64) via VGA, I get blurry text even though I have ClearType enabled and ran the ClearType Text Tuner.

Is this because I'm using VGA, or is there some way I can fix this on the software end?

Thanks!

 

this is due to the fact that the analogue suffers from signal degradation. Use DVI on the advanced mini dock or the Lenovo usb2dvi converter. You would need a digital signal to run such a high resolution.

 

Thanks a lot for the quick reply!

Just to make sure, this is the USB-to-DVI converter and this is the Advanced Mini-Dock, correct?

One question - prior to getting this monitor, I was using a 1280x1024 external monitor, which worked fine over VGA. If I were to get the dock, would I be able to connect the 1280x1024 monitor via VGA directly to my T400, and then connect my new monitor to the dock to get a total of 3 monitors (including the built-in one) without any foreseeable problems? And would this be possible with the USB-to-DVI converter as well?

 

The videocard in the T400 (like almost all other ThinkPads) is a DualHead card. This means you can drive at MOST two displays at a single time. This would be either your main LCD and one external. Or two externals w/o your main LCD.

However, I believe the USB-to-DVI converter carries its own video hardware. For this reason, you should be able to run three displays at once. Be advised though that I would not recommend running video or other high motion tasks with the USB-to-DVI converter due to bandwidth limitations of USB.

 

Unless you are strapped for cash, I strongly recommend you buy a dock over the USB adapter.
You can usually get good condition, used docks through eBay from surplus auction items.

 

What about the dock? Does that have its own video hardware? I don't intend to game, but I do intend to watch video (up to 720p) on the 1920x1200 display.

So the dock can do 3 screens at the same time?

 

Not unless you get the Advanced Dock (note requires additional low profile PCI-Express x1 Video Card).

You can read more about the DisplayLink technology used in the USB→DVI adapter here. They claim it does video, but I have my doubts due to the limited bandwidth of USB 2.0.

 

Try adjusting your clock, phase, and sharpness using this web site:

http://www.lagom.nl/lcd-test/clock_phase.php
http://www.lagom.nl/lcd-test/sharpness.php

See if that helps...

 

OK, that's way too expensive. I guess I'll just go with the Mini-Dock then. That should definitely work with one 1920x1200 external monitor, right?

Thanks, I'll give it a shot.

 

You can get a used one in an eBay surplus auction for a lot less..

Though if you intend to use a monitor stand, it's supposedly not compatible with that (though why would you with all those screens).

 

the mini-dock supports dvi out at WUXGA resolution.

 

OK, I just realized I have an extra graphics card; an ATI Radeon X300. Do you know if this would work with the Advanced Dock and allow me to run 3 monitors?

 

the Advanced dock use a half height PCI-express card, the X1300 graphics card is known to work, any other card is a hit and miss affair.

If you really need the support of the extra monitors, just get this (not portable, but it is cheap and easy solution). or get an advanced mini dock with lenovo usb2dvi converter.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?p=5324240

 

Why the X1300?

OK, that looks really ghetto. I think I'll just get the Advanced Mini-Dock if it's really that difficult to get the Advanced Dock working with the graphics card.

 

that was the highest spec card that was recommended by Lenovo for their Advanced Mini Dock.

http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/ThinkPad_Advanced_Dock

 

So it's just that the X1300 is the only card _known_ to work with the dock? It's not that other cards (of the right form factor) are known to be incompatible, right?

 

people have modified the Advanced dock to work with other cards, by using an external power supply, since the card slot is PCI-express 1x and not the 16x version, the power from it will be limited to say the least.

Basically you will be buying the advanced dock not having the full guarantee that it will work with your X300 card.

 

OK, then I guess I'll just go with the Advanced Mini-Dock. Thanks for all the help!

 

It happened when I connect T500 to 24' monitor with VGA.

I hit the autoadjust key on the monitor. And it did the trick.

Now everything is just fine. Can not tell the different between VGA and DVI.

 

I've tried that, it didn't help.

 

My brother gets the same problem with his 20.5" 1920x1080 monitor hooked up to his Dell Mini 10v, and neither hardware auto-adjust nor software adjustments make the text crystal clear (as when he uses the monitor with his Dell Studio XPS 435 minitower).

 

Yeah, I hooked it up to another computer and it worked just fine.