2405FPW resolution issue

Question

Hello all!

I just received a 2405FPW. Gorgeous monitor...

I chatted with Dell sales before I purchased because I was concerned if it would be compatible with my Gateway laptop..especially since the integrated video solution was listed as not being compatible with it! After giving my specs to two different agents they both said it would work. My specs are:

Gateway M675 laptop with an ATI Mobility Radeon 9600 video card
1440 x 900 display resolution at 32 bit color
Display Properties in XP are showing as "(Multiple Monitors) on Mobility Radeon 9600"

My problem is when I hooked up the monitor, it insists on displaying at 1152 x 864 so everthing looks like garbage and it crops 1 inch of my desktop off the bottom of the screen. This happens when the monitor uses Auto Adjust. No amount of manula adjustment works. Dell sales insisted that although optimal resolution is 1920 x 1080, the monitor would support 1440 x 900. I tried fiddling with the Display Settings in XP but I got nowhere. Is there supposed to be a single monitor setting?

Dell phone support was unsuccessful after 90 minutes of trying. They suggested I call Gateway! I simply want to know if I can get this monitor to display in 1440 x 900.

Any help would be appreciated.

Message Edited by landsmarra on 05-04-2005 07:31 AM

SR45 · Answer

Not sure if this will solve the problem with your notebook and video card, monitor question, but, try to install another updated video driver after uninstalling the older one to see if this will give you a higher resolution option...Worth a try...

http://laptopvideo2go.com/ Here are some drivers that you may wish to try...Good luck

Dim 4400 ( June 2002 )
2.6 Ghz
Bios A06
1 Gb DDR 2100
Windows XP Home
SP-2
1703 FP LCD monitor
PC-Cillin Internet Security

Message Edited by SR45 on 05-04-2005 09:00 AM

landsmarra · Answer

Thanks SR for the link...I see that it's mostly an nVidia-related site (I'm running an ATI Mobility Radeon 9600) but I did see a few ATI drivers.

I did a little more digging and apparently 1440 x 900 is not a preset resolution in the 2405FPW (nor in the 2005FPW).

I think what I'll try to do is take the laptop out of clone mode and try to set the external monitor resolution separately to what it wants and see if it works.

Anyone have any other suggestions?

Thanks,

Steve

landsmarra · Answer

SR, I'm just using a good ol' analog D-Sub cable...   I decided to call ATI to see what they had to say.  They agreed it was a resolution compatibility issue in that the monitor wants 1920 x 1200 but the LCD panel maxes out at 1440 x 900 which isn't supported in the Dell monitor.   He also mentioned that taking the laptop out of 'clone mode' in the ATI settings in Display Settings/Advanced wouldn't work as he wasn't sure if 1920 x 1200 would be an available resolution to select.  His 'unofficial' suggestion was to download 'powerstrip' which can apparently customize the resolution going to the external LCD.  His claim is the card can support the 1920 x 1200 resolution the monitor is optimized for...just not on the laptop's LCD panel.   Any thoughts?

SR45 · Answer

Are you running the digital cable or are you using the analog ?  This might make a difference

SR45 · Answer

I could be wrong, but I also ( Think I ) heard that using the DVI ( Digital connection ) , and not analog, will unlock the other resolutions...Not sure, but may look into this.  Give it a try if you can to see if it does...Good luck

landsmarra · Answer

SR, I have it half licked anyway...   I had to take the laptop out of clone mode and I have the laptop displaying at 1440 x 900 and the external Dell monitor at 1920 x 1200 but it's in extended mode...meaning that when I move the mouse pointer off the edge of the laptop screen, it appears on the Dell monitor.  I simply want to get the same desktop on both displays.   In Display Properties under Settings, the two listed displays (number 1 and number 2) are both '(Multiple Monitors) on Mobility Radeon 9600.'  Is that correct?  Shouldn't number 1 display be my LCD panel (Default Monitor) and monitor 2 be the external screen (Dell 2405FPW (Analog))?   I feel I'm getting close but can't lick it.   Thanks, Steve

SR45 · Answer

Sorry for your troubles, and that I cannot help further, but if you do find a fix, come back here to post it so other's, including myself can assist others.  Good luck

landsmarra · Answer

I found out the solution...there is none!

After a chat with an ATI customer service rep, he conceded that you cannot clone your desktop at two different resolutions with their product/software. In fact, the rep said he has the same issue and simply switches resolutions in the Display Properties depending on which display he wants to look at.

I guess that's what I'll be doing unless anyone is familiar with a third-party application that can do it.

Thanks,

Steve

Monitors

2405FPW resolution issue

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