Hello-

I just received a new widescreen monitor to use both with my PC and XBOX 360, and after getting through the setup process, I'm finding that the video card that came with the PC cannot support the preferred resolution.

My PC: Sony VAIO PCV-RX850
Specs here (hopefully accurate) Sony VAIO Digital Studio PCV-RX850 Specs - DealTime

The Monitor: Acer P244W
Specs here (click Specs tab) Newegg.com - Acer P244Wbii Black 24" 2ms HDMI 16:9 Widescreen LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 20000:1 - LCD Monitors

So basically the whole selling point of the monitor is that it offers a true 1920 x 1080 resolution, but currently my display settings are only allowing me to choose 1600 x 1200. When I go into Acer's display setup, it warns me that I am not using a preferred resolution, and to click the "preferred" button to change to a better resolution, but that button is grayed out, leaving me to believe my PC cannot support a "preferred resolution" (1080).

The Sony RX850 has never had a video card installed so it's working with the factory setup. According to the specs it has AGP4X and PCI expansion slots available.

I want the cheapest card possible to support the proper resolution. I do not care about graphics or gaming, that's what I use XBOX for. I just want a card that will get this monitor running on the right setting. Nothing fancy card-wise, my only concern is supporting the new resolution... and well I'd hope it still has VGA output.

Between figuring out what resolutions a card supports, reminding myself that it needs to be AGP4X or PCI, etc etc, I can't handle it myself and I'm sure I'll order the wrong thing. If anyone can point out a cheap card that will do the job so I can fully enjoy this new monitor, I'd greatly appreciate it.

Thanks in advance.

Hello BlackMetalBuick.

You might consider this one..... Newegg.com - HIS Hightech H365F512ANP Radeon HD 3650 512MB 128-bit GDDR2 AGP 4X/8X HDCP Ready Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards

Says maximum resolution is 2560X1600 for that card.

For what it's worth I'd also seriously consider increasing your system memory to 1GB if you haven't already.

If you have only 512GB that amount was bare minimum requirement for some of the cards I looked at.

You also don't mention what operating system you are using and I noticed XP SP2 was suggested for some of the newer video cards.

Hope that helps.

Thank you for replying.

My OS is Windows XP home and it recently went through an update for Service Pack 3.

I actually have already installed extra memory just for the sake of it a while back, so that will not be an obstacle with purchasing a new card. System currently reads 1.46GB of RAM.

The card you linked me to looks decent, though I was actually hoping to spend even less.

Well, let me ask two brief questions that will simplify my search:

A) Is it safe to assume any card that offers a resolution ABOVE 1080 (such as the one you linked @ 2560 x 1600) will be able to do 1920x1080? Or is it such an unusual resolution for a monitor (most widescreens do 1920x1200) that I'd still be settling for something less than the native resolution? I hope going for this monitor that offers true 1080 doesn't end up complicating things, I thought I did myself a favor!

B) Since my board has PCI and AGP slots available... any preference between the two? Will one type of card usually be cheaper? Will one offer better performance?

For example: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814161011

It fits a PCI slot and has a max resolution that exceeds 1920x1080. Any reason that wouldn't work?

In fairness I'm not a display expert but my understanding is that if the video card is capable of more than what you require it should display the native resolution of the monitor.

Perhaps someone with more expertise will chime in.

As for the card you've chosen it certainly looks like it will give you the resolution you are after but it is a far lesser card than the one I linked.

Granted you've said your only goal is to attain the resolution but I'd venture that if the end result was less than what you were hoping for you'd also be disappointed.

Since you are disappointed by the abilities of your current setup if it were me I'd shell out the little bit extra in order to benefit from the additional capabilities of the card like HDCP, HDMI, far more memory etc.

I mean I'd want not just the resolution but a decent rendering as well.

I also prefer to use the motherboard provisions for graphics which in your case is AGP.

Since the common route now is PCI-Express I'm guessing using just PCI would translate into much slower and it certainly doesn't appear to garner much in the way of praise if feedback I've read is any indicator.

Good to hear you've maximized your memory and XP SP3 will suffice for pretty much any card.

Alright, thanks again for your advice.

You're right, I don't want a completely terrible card, despite trying to spend as little as possible. I'll browse around and see what I can find. I'll focus on AGP cards based on what you said. I'm betting you're correct that anything over the max resolution will be able to support it, just wanted to make sure since most monitors don't come with this true 1080 resolution.

I just thought maybe the card you suggested was a little pricey because of the dual DVI output and I don't need the ability to use 2 monitors or anything like that. But yeah, anything under $100 is do-able, I was just trying to minimize the extra expense.

I think I have a grip in the situation now but if anyone else has comments I'd be glad to hear them.

That Radeon card that was recommended has native setting for your screen, the catalyst drivers now have a 1080p setting as stock, so no other drivers would need to be downloaded.

You can Use any Radeon Card from the X1000 Series upwards to get the native 1080p resolution from catalysts. Anything older you have to do it manually, or install drivers from the screens home page.

What onboard chip, or card do you currently own on your pc?

Because i have a 5 year old X800 Radeon that still happily runs on a high def 1080p screen with vista.