how big a monitor can my macbook run?

Jayhawk85 · Mar 4, 2008, 04:00 PM

I have the very first gen 2.0 ghz Core Duo Macbook. I'm thinking about getting a monitor because I'll be working from home soon and the Macbook is great but a little too small for all-day use. I'm looking at 22 inch sizes, most seem to be 1680x1050. Obviously, this is way bigger than the 1280x800 native, so at what point will I start to run into graphics issues? I mostly use it for work, music, and a few games.

How big can I go before I have display problems, and does anybody have any strong recommendations? Here's what I'm looking at on Newegg:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16824001240

Thanks!

AliensAreFuzzy · Mar 4, 2008, 04:02 PM

The MacBook can run an extended desktop monitor up to 1920x1200 (Typical for 23"-27" monitors)

siurpeeman · Mar 4, 2008, 04:03 PM

i use to use a macbook with an external 20" acd with a 1680x1050 resolution. with the lid closed, it ran all right, but when using both displays at once (extended desktop), things like exposé and dashboard would become really choppy. it got so annoying i had to get rid of the macbook (for a mbp).

Eidorian · Mar 4, 2008, 04:04 PM

I don't have my huge Sony 22" (Or was it 24"...) CRT around but you should be able to push 2048 x 1536 over VGA. I'm not sure what mess you get into since it's Mini-DVI to begin with.

On DVI your capped at 1920 x 1200.

Jayhawk85 · Mar 5, 2008, 08:45 PM

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU like Mac OS X; en) AppleWebKit/420.1 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/3.0 Mobile/4A102 Safari/419.3)

Alright thanks for the info. I hadnt realized that VGA and dvi had different resolution limits. Dvi is supposed to be higher quality right? So which should I use on a 22in monitor that has both?

xraydoc · Mar 5, 2008, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jayhawk85

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU like Mac OS X; en) AppleWebKit/420.1 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/3.0 Mobile/4A102 Safari/419.3)

Alright thanks for the info. I hadnt realized that VGA and dvi had different resolution limits. Dvi is supposed to be higher quality right? So which should I use on a 22in monitor that has both?

DVI.

Mar 4, 2008, 04:00 PM	#1
Jayhawk85 macrumors member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Jackson, Mississippi	how big a monitor can my macbook run? I have the very first gen 2.0 ghz Core Duo Macbook. I'm thinking about getting a monitor because I'll be working from home soon and the Macbook is great but a little too small for all-day use. I'm looking at 22 inch sizes, most seem to be 1680x1050. Obviously, this is way bigger than the 1280x800 native, so at what point will I start to run into graphics issues? I mostly use it for work, music, and a few games. How big can I go before I have display problems, and does anybody have any strong recommendations? Here's what I'm looking at on Newegg: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16824001240 Thanks! __________________ waiting for a MBP update so i can have a faster computer than my girlfriend
	0

Mar 4, 2008, 04:03 PM	#3
siurpeeman macrumors 603 Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: the OC	i use to use a macbook with an external 20" acd with a 1680x1050 resolution. with the lid closed, it ran all right, but when using both displays at once (extended desktop), things like exposé and dashboard would become really choppy. it got so annoying i had to get rid of the macbook (for a mbp). __________________ grr...argh...
	0

Mar 4, 2008, 04:04 PM	#4
Eidorian macrumors Penryn Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Indiana	I don't have my huge Sony 22" (Or was it 24"...) CRT around but you should be able to push 2048 x 1536 over VGA. I'm not sure what mess you get into since it's Mini-DVI to begin with. On DVI your capped at 1920 x 1200. __________________ Core i5 750 / 16 GB RAM / SSD / HD 7950 / Windows 8 MRoogle it!
	0

Mar 5, 2008, 08:45 PM	#5
Jayhawk85 Thread Starter macrumors member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Jackson, Mississippi	Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU like Mac OS X; en) AppleWebKit/420.1 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/3.0 Mobile/4A102 Safari/419.3) Alright thanks for the info. I hadnt realized that VGA and dvi had different resolution limits. Dvi is supposed to be higher quality right? So which should I use on a 22in monitor that has both? __________________ waiting for a MBP update so i can have a faster computer than my girlfriend
	0

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Mar 4, 2008, 04:02 PM	#2
AliensAreFuzzy macrumors 68000 Join Date: May 2004 Location: Madison, WI	The MacBook can run an extended desktop monitor up to 1920x1200 (Typical for 23"-27" monitors)
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