How to tell if an integrated video card supports widescreen.

[juicelooser]

Hi all,

My uncle is setting up a "kiosk" type system where he works, which basically is just going to be a computer displaying a web browser. I had an old system lying around that I'm going to ship out to him, but I'm confused about what the video card will support.

He has a widescreen monitor at a resolution of 1440x900 that he is going to connect it to. When I check the available resolutions in windows, they are all the standard resolutions all the way up to 1600x1200. Does this mean that when he plugs in the new monitor, it will know that it's widescreen and work, or will I have to put a new graphics card in?

Thanks,
Kyle

[flanzig1]

If the video is on-board, go to the maker of the motherboard and down load the latest video drivers for the on-board video. That should bring the video up to wide screen.
If your uncle is going to use this PC in public, I would do a zero fill and put a fresh Windows install on it. This will erase any of your personal data and give him a clean system.

[juicelooser]

So, if it supported widescreen, those resolutions would be shown, even if a normal monitor were plugged in?

[flanzig1]

Since most new monitors are Plug & Play, the monitor tells the video card what resolutions are supported.

[glc]

Originally Posted by juicelooser So, if it supported widescreen, those resolutions would be shown, even if a normal monitor were plugged in?

No, only supported resolutions will be shown.

[juicelooser]

Great, thanks guys--I ended up just going and grabbing a new video card that I know will work.

Thanks for all your help!

[juicelooser]

glc--just double checking--are you saying I should see all resolutions, even if my monitor doesn't support it, or just the ones my monitor will support?

[glc]

You will only see the resolutions the monitor will support.