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VGA output max resolution

S

stackpointer

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Nov 18, 2008
9
0
Hello folks,

I've recently bought a 23" LCD display from Dell (not at home yet) which optimal resolution is 1920x1080.

Will the new aluminum Macbook be able to provide that resolution through VGA?

I've read that older white/black macbooks had different max resolutions depending on what adapter are you using. I found this information in this manual (page 66) but Alu Macbook's manual does not say anything about that :(

I'm happily using my 17" LCD with the DP->VGA adapter but I'm fearing it won't fit my new LCD's optimal resolution and I will need the DP->DVI adapter as well.

Thanks in advance.
 
First of all, thank you for your reply.

Benjamindaines said:
VGA is VGA so it won't be any different. 1600 X 1200 will be the max, but why would you want to use VGA when you can use DVI?
Click to expand...

Because I don't want to spend extra bucks on a new adapter :(. Where does this limitation come from? AFAIK VGA can carry signals with bigger resolutions than that.

Here somebody says 1920x1080@60Hz is offered in displays preference pane with the VGA adaptor.

Are you sure about that limit?
 
I just hope you know VGA will look like crap you'll wonder why you bothered. Also I believe VGA is 6-bit color only.
 
alphaod said:
I just hope you know VGA will look like crap you'll wonder why you bothered. Also I believe VGA is 6-bit color only.
Click to expand...

VGA can look 99% as good as DVI if the monitor is adjusted correctly. If you think about it, VGA also will display all colors. CRT monitors are all VGA and they still have better colors than most LCDs.

VGA's max resolution is over 2000xsomething pixels, some CRTs could go up to 2560xsomething (but the text was usually really tiny and refresh rates were poor), your graphics card and monitor will probably become the limitation before the VGA itself.

I'd still get the DVI adapter because it makes life just easier. You'll get pixel perfect picture without having to adjust things. Not to mention you can use the DVI adapter at home and keep the VGA adapter with you when you use the laptop elsewhere.
 
alphaod said:
I just hope you know VGA will look like crap you'll wonder why you bothered. Also I believe VGA is 6-bit color only.
Click to expand...

VGA is not 6-bit. I don't know where you got that information. Technically since it is an analog signal it has ~infinite bit colour. The limitation comes from the graphics card, not the VGA connection.

Also the highest resolution is about 2048x1536. However this is limited by the quality of cable you use and the graphics card capabilities.
 
alphaod said:
I just hope you know VGA will look like crap you'll wonder why you bothered. Also I believe VGA is 6-bit color only.
Click to expand...

That's VGA as in the specs for the VGA (640x480) resolution. (which the VGA connector was the first to support that resolution)

When you boot into Windows and it doesn't recognize the video card, that really low-resolution, low-color mode that windows uses until you reinstall the video drivers? That's VGA resolution and specs.
 
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