Is this a graphics card question?

Hi,
I've a Presario 2100 with a current max screen resolution of 1024x768. I need to upgrade so that I can use a screen resolution of 1600x1200.

Is this going to be possible (I already have a monitor with the relevant capabilities) or am I going to have to invest in a whole new notebook?

Thanks for any suggestions.

Mike.

 

Well, you're going to have to replace the screen so you have a higher resolution and maybe even replace the GPU so that it supports the higher resolution. I reccommend just investing in a new notebook, as it will not be worth it to replace the screen and possibly the GPU. However, if you can wait for the new mobile CPU from Intel to become more mainstream, Yonah, I reccommend wait for that.

 

I agree with AMDvsINTEL...if it is an external monitor then you don't have to replace the screen, but you would have to replace the Video card, which on an older lappy that would be kinda expensive cause you have to have find a card that will fit. I would buy a new lappy because the prices are going to be dropping on the none Yonah processors, but if you want one, they are not that bad in price. Get a new lappy

 

Why? I have yet to see any modern or semi-modern graphical solution that didn't support 1600x1200.

 

but can you actually replace a graphics card on a notebook?? I would suggest going to the website of the manafacturer of the video card such as ATI or nVidia, and looking for driver updates or just some support on what to do. Good Luck!!

 

Well I was looking online and it should support it after doing some research. You should just be able to hook up the new monitor (external) to the video port in the back and then just turn up the resolution.

 

That's what I was hoping but I've connected the external monitor and wasn't able to turn up the screen resolution. The max allowed has stayed at 1024 so I just assumed I was going to have to upgrade some kind of graphics/video card.

 

Maybe the monitor won't be detected as PnP. Do you have the monitor software? Try to install that. Other than that I have no ideas.

 

Reinstall monitor driver (if available) or video card driver. On my laptops, in the Desktop properties -> Settings I have two choices. The first one seems to be limited by the LCD resolution (1400x1050 or 1024x768, depending on laptop), while the second one is limited by the GPU resolution (2048x1536).

 

OK thanks, this helped. Is there a way I can set the additional screen to be the primary monitor on my notebook? I can see the line "Use this device as primary monitor" but it's 'greyed' out - i,e I can't check or uncheck the box. Does the original LCD attached LCD display always remain the primary monitor?

 

you can just plug in you external monitor and select it as your display, then adjust the resolution accordingly.

once it is selected you should be able to check use as primary monitor