NVIDIA GeForce FX5200 Card and Widescreen Monitors

Question

I have a Dimension 4600 with a Dell-installed 128MB DDR NVIDIA GeForce FX5200 graphics card with TV-out and DVI. I am currently using a Dell analog E172FP 17inch display with a VGA cable. I have not had a bit of trouble with my Dell system over the past 2 1/2 years. I would like to purchase a 19inch digital widescreen monitor with native resolution of 1440x900 to use with my existing video card. My current monitor has a maximum resolution of 1280x1040. Will I be able to utilize the FX5200 card and be able to get the 1440x900 native resolution of the new monitor or must I upgrade the video card? I realize that my video card is dated and low-end, but I don't want to replace it. I am not a gamer and plan to use the computer for web-surfing and possibly DVD watching. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated. Dell Tech Support sent two automated responses which did not deal at all with my question.

Dimension 4600, Pentium 4 (2.80 GHz, 533 FSB), 256MB SDRAM, 80 GB HD, Win XP Home Edition SP2.

kdmphx · Answer

Good timing for this question. Last week I bought a Viewsonic VX2235wm with a native resolution of 1680x1050. I have the 4600 with the FX5200. It does not have a DVI output, only VGA (analog). After loading the drivers that came with the monitor, it is running it at the full 1680x1050 with a beautiful picture.

terenceotoole · Answer

Thank you very much for your reply to my posting. I'm very pleased to hear that your experience with the Viewsonic widescreen was positive and that you were able to obtain the native resolution. I'm considering the 19inch version of your Viewsonic monitor. In reading various online reviews of widescreen monitors, I have noticed that frequently reviewers have had difficulties in obtaining native resolution with their existing video cards. Unfortunately, the reviews seldom give the card specifics. I'm hoping that there will be other responses to this posting from purchasers of other brands of widescreen monitors.

kdmphx · Answer

I've heard when you use the DVI connection you might not get the same results. I can read specs on cards and they definitely give a lower DVI rating. However, the picture I have using the VGA at full resolution is great. I have a VX922 hooked up to another PC and it's using DVI. I can't see any difference in picture quality between the two.

terenceotoole · Answer

I bought a Viewsonic VX1935wm with 1440x900 native resolution and installed the drivers from its CD. I have it connected to the GeForce FX 5200 on my Dell 4600. I get a maximum resolution of 1280x800 and cannot adjust it to 1440x900. The picture is good, but I would like it to be better. The installed driver for the Nvidia is 4502 dated 11/3/03. Should I upgrade the driver from the Nvidia web site? If so, what upgrade is recommended...the latest or an earlier one? I am sure that the FX5200 can handle resolutions beyond 1280x800. Could it be the driver? Any advice appreciated.

kdmphx · Answer

I'm using 61.77, you can get it from nVidia.

http://www.nvidia.com/object/winxp_2k_61.77.html

Before you try a new driver, make sure your freq is set to 60MHz. VGA resolution for the 5200 is 2048x1536 @ 60MHz. You want 60MHz for an LCD monitor anyway. Most set up instructions will tell you faster can damage it. You don't get the flicker you see on a CRT so you don't need a faster freq.

Newer drivers on older cards can sometimes be a problem. Download that one, save it to your desktop. Remove your old driver from add/remove in control panel, reboot and then double click the new driver. It will install.

Again, I am using a VGA port on the FX5200 to get 1680x1050. If your card has a DVI port and that is what you are using, it might not deliver what you want. I've seen some cards that show lower resolution when using digital output.

Let me know if the freq works ( I think that will do it ) or if you needed to change drivers. When I had the VX922 hooked up to the FX5200, at 60MHz it gave me a max resolution of 1280x1024, the native resolution of the VX922. When I hooked it up to the new VX2235wm, at 60MHz, it then showed 1680x1050 as the max resolution. That was the native resolution for that monitor.

Message Edited by kdmphx on 03-03-2007 04:15 PM

terenceotoole · Answer

I attempted to change the refresh rate as suggested in the previous posting, but the dated Nvidia software didn't allow it. After contacting both Dell and Nvidia, I received advice on how to proceed. The Dell advice was ambiguous and not helpful. Nvidia Customer Care provided very detailed instructions and recommended the driver set 84.21 which was released in March, 2006. They even provided a link for downloading Driver Cleaner Pro, shareware for removing residuals from uninstalling video card drivers. The instructions worked well and I am now able to change the refresh rate and create custom resolutions. For those with Nvidia video card issues I would strongly suggest contacting Nvidia Customer Care instead of Dell.

Locked Topics – Desktops General

NVIDIA GeForce FX5200 Card and Widescreen Monitors

Was this post helpful?