Want higher screen resolution on separate monitor

Suppose I purchased a laptop where the default screen resolution is 1280x800. Is there anyway I could attach a monitor to it, so that it displays 1920x1200?

And if this is possible - what laptops / extra hardware are able to do this?

 

yes. you can run displays with separate resolutions. a dedicated graphics card might be better if you want to display anything graphics intensive. if you are not a gamer, integrated graphics on any modern laptop should be plenty. any laptop that has a vga or dvi out can do this, and practically all modern laptops have this capability.

you will also be able to extend your windows laptop onto the large display, so you can use both monitors at the same time. dual monitor setups are awesome.

 

and which laptops would do this? can you suggest?

nothing graphics intensive - i'm not playing games. i will be using laptop for software development so prefer to be able to have 2 windows side by side.

 

All laptops have a VGA Out. Most notebooks dont have DVI, but alot of new ones do have HDMI, which you can get a converter to a DVI Monitor.

 

sorry, perhaps i wasnt clear - but i'm not talking about dual monitor setup. the laptop will be closed, and the only screen visible will be that of a separate monitor. using the laptop screen as one half of two, would be distracting as they would be unequal sizes and at different heights.

 

Ok, you still need a VGA or HDMI out to hook a monitor up to do so. Then just close the laptop lid.

 

You will need a special graphics card for this. Probably a workstation laptop such as the dell precision series with the graphics card built in.

 

You need a special GPU to connect a monitor? Am I missing something?

 

2048x1536 is typically the max resolution unless you get a dual link graphics card...unless im totally off on this.

 

Oh, i didnt know that...

Anyway, according to OP, he wants to run it at 1920x1200. So then he wouldnt need a special GPU, right? Neither of us are sure...

lol.

 

Okay. I guess noone is absolutely sure about this...

 

I believe Nizzy is right. My dell has a X1400 graphics card and its max output is 2048x1536. My D900K has a high end Quadro FX2500M which can support higher output resolutions than that. I believe up to 3840x2880.
No LCD on the market in normal budget ranges cannot go above 1920x1200 resolution, so the situation should not be a problem.

All you need is an external screen with a 1920x1200 resolution, and a video cable to connect it to your laptop.

I have my Dell E248WFP 24" 1920x1200 monitor hooked up to my E1505 and it works great.
If my X1400 can do that, all graphics cards on the market today can (excluding integrated solutions)

K-TRON

 

Thanks! That makes my life a lot cheaper.

 

You dont need a dedicated card integrated is fine.

Even if you did have non integrated you are still limited to 1920x1200 on most notebooks (non workstations) as the output is single-link DVI. You need dual DVI for higher resolution. You are looking at 30in LCDs then, if you are not giong that high you have nothing to worry about.

 

How about VGA as said?

 

VGA is fine too. My E1505 has VGA, and I can output 1920x 1200 resolution.

K-TRON

 

Get a program called Powerstrip - use it to force your resolutions.