I'm having trouble displaying anything above 800x600. I have the slider bar in Settings that can go up to 1240xwhatever and stuff, but when I actually set it that high and "test view" it, it doesn't come out quite right (kinda looks like a blurry vision of one of those wide-screen movies). So is this a problem with my monitor, my adaptor, or what?
Question about display resolution
- Thread starter Spiderman
- Start date
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rkoelsch
Guest
I think most likely it is your monitor. I know that some of the older 15" monitors couldn't handle any higher resolution. But hardware is not my strong suit so I could be wrong.
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Hetemti
Guest
Adjust your monitor with those happy buttons and knobs.
Iff that doesn't work, get new drivers for the monitor and video card.
Iff that doesn't work, consider a new video card, or monitor.
Iff that doesn't work, get new drivers for the monitor and video card.
Iff that doesn't work, consider a new video card, or monitor.
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Rando
Guest
Just sacrifice an old modem to the computer gods and everything will be cool.
Thou shall have good resolution...
Thou shall have good resolution...
Rando: I've sacrificed a modem AND a joystick 
Hetemti: Well, here's the thing. I got this "new" (i.e. about 6 months now) computer and used my monitor from my old computer. My old computer had a Diamond Stealth Video card (I'm guessing since I have the CD drivers for it). Now this new computer, it says it has "Integrated Intel AGP graphics" but no actual mention of the card itself and I don't have the CD drivers with it. So I have no idea what actual video card is in there. So I'm trying all of the "Change Adaptor" options and nothing really fits with the monitor (it doesn't help that my monitor brand doesn't actually come up either and I'm using "Standard Monitor" types).
So basically I'm not sure my monitor and video "work" together very happily. I'm pretty sure they at least like each other as in the Star Wars: Galactic Battleground demo, there's an option to test all the DirectX/DirectDraw/3D stuff and everything is coming out okay, I just don't know if my monitor can actually handle resolutions past 800x600.
Hetemti: Well, here's the thing. I got this "new" (i.e. about 6 months now) computer and used my monitor from my old computer. My old computer had a Diamond Stealth Video card (I'm guessing since I have the CD drivers for it). Now this new computer, it says it has "Integrated Intel AGP graphics" but no actual mention of the card itself and I don't have the CD drivers with it. So I have no idea what actual video card is in there. So I'm trying all of the "Change Adaptor" options and nothing really fits with the monitor (it doesn't help that my monitor brand doesn't actually come up either and I'm using "Standard Monitor" types).
So basically I'm not sure my monitor and video "work" together very happily. I'm pretty sure they at least like each other as in the Star Wars: Galactic Battleground demo, there's an option to test all the DirectX/DirectDraw/3D stuff and everything is coming out okay, I just don't know if my monitor can actually handle resolutions past 800x600.
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Rando
Guest
Just gut the machine and look on your video card to see what brand it is. That's what I had to do once while on the phone with a Gateway technician. When I checked the hardware properties, all it said for the video card was that it was "compatable" or something along those lines. so. It did not actually give me that name of the card. I had to perform "exploritory surgery".
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Zadok001
Guest
Go into your Control Panel (start button). Hit "System." Open the "Hardware" tab. Failing that, find the tab with "Device Manager." From there, find the Display section. Under that should be a listing for your hardware video card. Likely you have a standard 2D-3D card straight from Intel. Tell us what card you have. That will at least let us figure whether its the card or the monitor (though from your description, it's almost certainly the monitor). If you have the box or drivers from the monitor, pull 'em out. Somewhere on those, it should tell you your maximum resolution. Past that, it'll start looking real funky.
Chances are, a new monitor is in order, if you want a higher resolution. (My new tricked-out system runs at 1600x1200. *grin*)
Chances are, a new monitor is in order, if you want a higher resolution. (My new tricked-out system runs at 1600x1200. *grin*)
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Ura
Guest
Spidey:
The problem is your refresh rate most likely. Older monitors can't handle higher resolution settings due to this. From what you've described above this is whats happening is usually the cause of it in about 90% of cases when dealing with older hardware, not including production flaws in various components.
If you get picture and its fine on 800 X 600 then your video card is working fine and isn't having a conflict with your monitor, otherwise you'd get no picture at all, or at least one thats been scrambled in some fashion.
Now if your computer is saying that is has "Integrated Intel AGP graphics" then you may want to check inside the box or call the dealer to make sure your video "card" isn't built directly into the motherboard. If it is then damn. . . For the most part built in sound and video cards really kinda suck. Not that intel stand alones are all that hot either.
How many years old is your monitor and does it have a maufacturer sticker or plate on the back or bottom. This should tell you the make and model number and then its much easier to find out what the exact problem is if it goes back several years.
I've built more then enough franken-puters to be familiar with this type or problem.
The problem is your refresh rate most likely. Older monitors can't handle higher resolution settings due to this. From what you've described above this is whats happening is usually the cause of it in about 90% of cases when dealing with older hardware, not including production flaws in various components.
If you get picture and its fine on 800 X 600 then your video card is working fine and isn't having a conflict with your monitor, otherwise you'd get no picture at all, or at least one thats been scrambled in some fashion.
Now if your computer is saying that is has "Integrated Intel AGP graphics" then you may want to check inside the box or call the dealer to make sure your video "card" isn't built directly into the motherboard. If it is then damn. . . For the most part built in sound and video cards really kinda suck.
Not that intel stand alones are all that hot either. How many years old is your monitor and does it have a maufacturer sticker or plate on the back or bottom. This should tell you the make and model number and then its much easier to find out what the exact problem is if it goes back several years.
I've built more then enough franken-puters to be familiar with this type or problem.
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EricBess
Guest
Wow!!! Trust a Gateway tech to tell you to do that. As Zadok says, there are much easier ways to determine your video card make and model. Once you know that, search the internet to see if you can find the company web site. Make sure you have the most recent drivers for your video card. Unless you have a REALLY old monitor (4-5 years I would think), you shouldn't be having compatibility issues.
Actually, I think my monitor IS 4-5 years old (as I said, it came from my last system). Heck, even the Diamond Stealth video drivers from my old system are not "really supported" anymore (I think the company moved on or stopped making that line, the last time I checked the website for updates with my old computer).
Anyway, the monitor says "AuroraVision" on it; I'm at work so I can't check model or make. The unfortunate thing is that with the Windows 98 "built-in driver list", it doesn't have AuroraVision listed as a manufacturer or in any of the other lists. So I'm thinking my monitor isn't made or supported anymore either
So basically I'm probably going to be looking for a 19" soon.
Anyway, the monitor says "AuroraVision" on it; I'm at work so I can't check model or make. The unfortunate thing is that with the Windows 98 "built-in driver list", it doesn't have AuroraVision listed as a manufacturer or in any of the other lists. So I'm thinking my monitor isn't made or supported anymore either
So basically I'm probably going to be looking for a 19" soon.
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Rando
Guest
Gut it! Gut it like a pig!
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Zadok001
Guest
He's normally bloodthirsty.
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Rando
Guest
Maybe I just read Lord of the Flies one too many times...
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Zadok001
Guest
That book has ceased to be particularly disturbing to the modern generation. Ten to twenty years ago, people were shocked by it - Today, my high school English class barely blinked. Kinda depressing.
I followed Zadok's advice about going to Settings and Device Manager but the tabs I'm checking show the video card drivers the same ones as I set before when doing Display/Settings/Advanced/Change Drivers. In other words, it shows what I set, so I don't know what the exact make/model/type of video card I have. I do think it's built in, like Ura suggests... haven't gutted it yet
The monitor manual looks like it says it can display up to 1024x760 but on a setting called "Ultra VGA". Mine is currently set to Super VGA which only goes up to 800x600, so maybe that's my problem; I have to change it to "Ultra". I'll fool around with it and open it up over the weekend.
The monitor manual looks like it says it can display up to 1024x760 but on a setting called "Ultra VGA". Mine is currently set to Super VGA which only goes up to 800x600, so maybe that's my problem; I have to change it to "Ultra". I'll fool around with it and open it up over the weekend.
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Rando
Guest
I told ya to gut it, but no, no one listens to Rando, he's a fool, he has no idea what he's talking about...
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EricBess
Guest
The built-in driver list wouldn't list the monitor manufacturer. It would list the video card manufacturer. I really wish I could remember when it was that everything standardized. If your monitor is that old, it probably just can't handle the refresh rate at that resolution. I'd still figure out what your video card is and see if there are new drivers. If that doesn't help, you will just need to be satisfied with the lower resolution or purchase a new monitor. Unless you want a larger monitor, you can get them for relatively inexpensive. I think 15" monitors run $100 and 17" a couple, but I haven't priced for a while, so they might even be less than that.Originally posted by Spiderman
Actually, I think my monitor IS 4-5 years old (as I said, it came from my last system). Heck, even the Diamond Stealth video drivers from my old system are not "really supported" anymore (I think the company moved on or stopped making that line, the last time I checked the website for updates with my old computer).
Anyway, the monitor says "AuroraVision" on it; I'm at work so I can't check model or make. The unfortunate thing is that with the Windows 98 "built-in driver list", it doesn't have AuroraVision listed as a manufacturer or in any of the other lists. So I'm thinking my monitor isn't made or supported anymore either
So basically I'm probably going to be looking for a 19" soon.
Edit - Just saw you were talking about a 19". Seems to me they were about $300 - $500. Like I said, haven't priced for a while, so I'm probably way off.
There's also a monitor list that goes by manufacturer (in the Hardware, I believe).
I've been looking at Best Buy and CompUSA ads and gaming magazine for their "Lean Machine/Dream Machine" specs and it looks like a 19" is around $300, give or take a sale or two
I've been looking at Best Buy and CompUSA ads and gaming magazine for their "Lean Machine/Dream Machine" specs and it looks like a 19" is around $300, give or take a sale or two