widescreen lcd monitor uhhhg!!

wrecko · #1 (**permalink**) 01-10-2008, 04:48 PM

ok so I got a new hp 20" widescreen lcd for my desktop this xmas, but i cant seem to get the screen to not appear streched, when i go to display properties there isnt any options for that profile, it only shows the normal 4:3 screen choices.

I installed the software that came with the lcd but it doesnt let do it either

please help

Cavi Mike · #2 (**permalink**) 01-10-2008, 04:55 PM

That's a video card issue. If your card doesn't support it, you might be able to update the drivers and software. If not, you need another video card.(or A video card if yours is part of the mother board)

wrecko · #3 (**permalink**) 01-10-2008, 05:05 PM

wow thanks for the fast reply, I did update the drivers and installed the factory video software from HP, you must be right, it must not be supported

anyhow since this is all forgien to me, how do i determine what video card is in it? what to upgrade to? and if i can at all?

thanks again!

Cavi Mike · #4 (**permalink**) 01-10-2008, 05:31 PM

If your monitor jack is on the same panel as all of your other jacks like mouse, keyboard, speakers etc., it's part of the motherboard. You'll need buy a separate video card. They're pretty cheap, I think I paid $130 for mine and it was the 2nd best one NVidia had at the time. There's a few things you have to know before you can/should order a video card;

#1: Do you have an AGP slot?
Every computer has PCI slots but they are slower than AGP and since the difference in price of each video card isn't really reflected in the price, go AGP when possible. The best way to find out is to look at your motherboard. You should see some open slots where you would put cards but if the first one is offset by about an inch, you have an AGP slot. It's usually a different color too.

#2: What style case do you have?
If you have a low profile case, you obviously can't use regular size video cards. You can tell just by looking at the back, regular formfactor cases have slots that are about 4" tall and low profile are about 2-1/2."

#3: What do you plan on doing with your computer?
If you don't game and have no desire to, a 128MB ram video card will do. It will be much faster than anything your computer came with, that's for sure. I only have a 128 and I'm running a monitor at 1024x768 and a TV at 640x480 and I watch different full screen videos on both without any lost frames.

I think that's about it