Member Avatar for craigr

I have a newbie question, so thanks for your patience with my lack of knowledge:

The Problem (mismatch of monitor & video card)
I'm on Winter Break visiting my father, and his computer (eMachines T1840, it's 5 years old) runs XP-Home, and its original graphics controller (82845G/GL) has 7 settings -- 5 have a width/height ratio of 1.33 (ranging from 1400x1050 to 800x600) plus a 1.25 (1280x1024) and 1.78 (1280/720) -- but none of these matches the native resolution of the LCD monitor (Acer X191W, with 1440x900 for a 1.60 ratio) he bought a few weeks ago, so the monitor doesn't have the crisp text, etc, that is a main benefit of LCD. He is thinking about getting a new PCI video card, but now I'm wondiring...

Is there a software solution?
In a thread from November -- Intel 82845G/GL/GE/PE/GV, http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread96430.html -- disophisis suggested a software solution by downloading a newer video driver at
I followed the link and eventually found a download page for version 14.10.3 from 2005 (newer than the original 2002 version) -- would it have the wide-screen 1440x900 resolution? They also mentioned a "6.14.10.4020" and I've also heard about "6.14.10.4342" (??). I'm confused and uncertain because...

My Confusion (what settings will we see?)
The specs of the original video card say "2048x1536" which is "enough resolution" for the new 1440x900 monitor, but the card has the wrong ratios, because most are 1.33 and none are 1.60. For new video cards I've tried to get specs (in NewEgg and thru Google) but they just say "2048x1536" and don't say what settings will appear in the Control Panel (Appearance --> Display --> Settings) as options for the resolution. What does "2048x1536" mean? The old card has this spec but doesn't have 1440x900, so how do I know what the Control Panel settings will be for the new card, and whether it will include 1440x900?

Craig

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Brief primer: the "2048x1536" figure is a maximum output capability of the graphics hardware, not a promise that Windows will list every possible desktop mode. Windows only offers modes that the graphics driver and the monitor agree on (the monitor usually tells the PC its supported modes via EDID), or modes the driver exposes as presets. That is why updating the Intel driver often fixes missing widescreen modes. As discovered, a driver update plus the monitor's Auto control resolved the centering and let the native mode appear.

Practical troubleshooting (order matters):

  1. Check the connection: when available, use the monitor's digital input (DVI) rather than analog VGA. If only VGA is possible, try a different good cable and use the monitor's Auto/Sync control to align the image.
  2. Make sure Windows knows the monitor model (Device Manager → Monitors). If it shows a generic "Plug and Play Monitor", install the Acer monitor INF so Windows can see the native mode.
  3. Update the Intel graphics driver to a current legacy driver for the 82845 family; the driver or its control panel can add or expose additional resolutions.
  4. Try the driver/Monitor Advanced options (the "hide modes this monitor cannot display" checkbox or the Intel control panel's custom-resolution feature) to reveal or add the widescreen mode—note the risk: selecting an unsupported mode can blank the screen; Windows will usually revert after the timeout, otherwise Safe Mode lets the driver be rolled back.
  5. If drivers and INF cannot produce the native mode, a discrete video card that explicitly lists the monitor's native resolution and has the right connector is the usual hardware fix. Before buying, confirm the machine's available expansion slot and that the card's drivers support the OS.

Short note on expectations: getting a crisp LCD image depends on three things aligning—the monitor reporting its native mode (EDID), the driver supporting/accepting that mode, and a compatible physical connection. If those three are satisfied, the native 1440x900 desktop will be available and text will be crisp.

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Member Avatar for craigr

Is there a software solution?

Yes, the software update is a solution. (but initially the whole screen was off-center, with about 1.5" of black space on the left side of the screen, until I pushed the "AUTO" button at the bottom of the monitor and this centered the display)

Also, I couldn't download it at the URL above, but versiontracker had it,

How do I know what the Control Panel settings will be for the new card?

Unless there is a spec-listing I haven't found, maybe there is no way to know except by installing the new driver and seeing what happens. When the computer is hooked up to an ACER-X191W the listed resolutions are:
800x600, 1024x768, 1152x864,
1280x600, 1280x720, 1280x768, 1280x960, 1280x1024,
1360x764, 1400x1050, 1440x900

I assume the set is different for LCD monitors with different native resolutions -- 1280x1024, 1680x1050, 1920x1200, etc -- with the highest resolution available matching the native resolution.

Member Avatar for sourcez

Yup thats right. It should only display the resolutions up to the native. If it allowed you to choose higher then there would be a risk of someone selecting it and making the mistake of turning the graphics output into high resolution garbage that the screen can't display.

My GPU will only show a resolution of up to 1920x1200 (my screen's native res) unless I go to display properties, settings, advanced, Monitor and untick the "hide modes this monitor cannot display". If you were then to go back to the display properties page you should have a wider choice of resolutions.

Careful though, as selecting an incorrect resolution will result in no picture being displayed - if this happens don't press anything and just wait for XP to change the resolution back.

Good luck!

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