Graphics cards

shabba

shabba

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Ok probably a silly question but....

Does the graphics card used have any bearing on the quality of the image on the monitor?

I'm looking to get a new 22" IPS monitor as I run a small Dell XPS laptop and its 11" screen isn't ideal for editing photos with. Thing is I wondered if the display would be better if used with a desktop PC with a decent graphics card in it?

I'm not fussed about power/speed of the card, the Dell is perfectly fine for my basic Photoshop needs. I probbaly need to check the max resolution it runs at though, as I guess the new screen will be 1600.

Thoughts?
 
If it's a digital connection (HDMI/DVI/Display port) no. If analogue yes potentially.
 
Do you know what graphics card is in the Dell? (It's probably a Geforce, but which one?).
 
Ah yes of course, didnt't think about digital vs analogue, it will need to be VGA as that is all my laptop has.

Not got it on me to check, but from the Dell site its 'Intel Graphic Media Accelerator 3100'.

I'm now thinking it won't support the monitors resolution.

Thanks all.
 
I have tried my Dell 20'' IPS on old M$ laptop with the original VGA cable. I really wasn't pleased even for Office work. It affected the colours and the pictures was unstable and flickering. Your mileage may vary, but as far as I know high resolution is really problematic with VGA connection.
 
Oh dear!

Thanks for your info. Ideally I wanted to avoid having to get a desktop PC just for photo editing. I already have a media PC for the TV, a work laptop and a home laptop. This is alot of PC's for a flat.

I can't use the media PC as its a couple of rooms away from the office, and I don't want a PC desk etc in my lounge.
 
It does have a HDMI port......... maybe I could use that with HDMI to DVI lead, still not sure on the resolution though.
 
shabba said:
Ah yes of course, didnt't think about digital vs analogue, it will need to be VGA as that is all my laptop has.

Not got it on me to check, but from the Dell site its 'Intel Graphic Media Accelerator 3100'.

I'm now thinking it won't support the monitors resolution.

Thanks all.
Click to expand...

Looks like the Intel GMA 3100 is an onboard graphics chip and will only go to 1024x768 maximum.
 
Resolution on VGA at 1600 will be fine, its as stable as DVI.

It will be a bit less sharp as the digital signal has to be converted in your laptop to analogue, and transmitted to the monitor down the cable, once at the monitor it then gets converted back to digital.

You can get HDMI->DVI convertors, they are basically the same and both support resolutions higher than 1600x1200.

Hope this helps
 
It will work fine through either connection, although using HDMI to DVI may give a more consistent image.
 
Brilliant, thanks for the info - much appreciated!

Will grab a HDMI to DVI lead and the 22" monitor, should make editing photos a little better. :)
 
Steve W said:
Resolution on VGA at 1600 will be fine, its as stable as DVI.
Click to expand...
I beg to differ. Whilst it may look as good, on close inspection (particularly on fine vertical lines) you are likely to get Moire patterns as the clocks on the laptop and monitor will never quite match perfectly. Whilst you may be able to minimise this, it will drift over time. The only way to ensure 1:1 pixel mapping is to go digital.
 
Ah according to device manager its a Mobile intel 965 express.......not good I'm thinking.
 
hmmm just says

Name Generic PnP Monitor on Mobile Intel 965 Express Chipset Family (Microsoft Corporation - WDDM 1.1)
Current Resolution 1280x800 pixels
Work Resolution 1280x800 pixel
 
Looks like the max resolution of your laptop is 1280x800 then. Not enough to drive a really good 22" IMO.
 
Does Windows setting give you a higher option than 1280? Speccy should give you the highest/current.
 
Last edited:
It only lets me do 1280 but surely that is the limit of the laptop screen? I don;t think it displays resolutions that the screens its using cannot take? I don't yet have the new monitor to try it with.
 
Hmm. If I reset my monitor to say 1680, Speccy says max is 1920 (which is correct) and current is 1680.

If I were you I'd take the laptop to a shop and try hooking it up to a 22" - if it'll go to the native resolution of the monitor then you're ok.
 
shabba said:
Oh dear!

Thanks for your info. Ideally I wanted to avoid having to get a desktop PC just for photo editing. I already have a media PC for the TV, a work laptop and a home laptop. This is alot of PC's for a flat.

I can't use the media PC as its a couple of rooms away from the office, and I don't want a PC desk etc in my lounge.
Click to expand...

I only ever photo edit in my lounge and don't have a desk (spend all day sat at a desk so no way when i'm at home as well!), just a glass coffee table an comfy leather sofa with my feet up. I previously just used a Vaio Laptop but now have a 21.5" 1920x1080 IPS screen on the coffee table and a compact Phenom II quad core PC on the floor and I could never go back to editing on a laptop now!
 
shabba said:
Ah according to device manager its a Mobile intel 965 express.......not good I'm thinking.
Click to expand...
Intels datasheet (http://www.intel.com/Assets/PDF/datasheet/313053.pdf) says this:

Analog Display (82Q965, 82Q963, 82G965 GMCH only)
...
Up to 2048x1536 @ 75 Hz refresh
...

You should be OK when you connect an external monitor to the VGA port, with the caveat that you may get Moire fringing. This will also be dependent on the VGA cable quality and you really need a decent one that is correctly terminated at these frequencies. You can normally tell if they are, as they have a small cylindrical lump at each end of the cable just by the connectors.
 
boliston said:
I only ever photo edit in my lounge and don't have a desk (spend all day sat at a desk so no way when i'm at home as well!), just a glass coffee table an comfy leather sofa with my feet up. I previously just used a Vaio Laptop but now have a 21.5" 1920x1080 IPS screen on the coffee table and a compact Phenom II quad core PC on the floor and I could never go back to editing on a laptop now!
Click to expand...


Got a photo of your set up? I'm just one for minimal clutter! :)
 
arad85 said:
Intels datasheet (http://www.intel.com/Assets/PDF/datasheet/313053.pdf) says this:

Analog Display (82Q965, 82Q963, 82G965 GMCH only)
...
Up to 2048x1536 @ 75 Hz refresh
...

You should be OK when you connect an external monitor to the VGA port, with the caveat that you may get Moire fringing. This will also be dependent on the VGA cable quality and you really need a decent one that is correctly terminated at these frequencies. You can normally tell if they are, as they have a small cylindrical lump at each end of the cable just by the connectors.
Click to expand...

Or just use DVI-HDMI I guess, thanks for the info - much appreciated.
 
Just a thought but if your laptop has an express port you could always use a docking station and run the graphics of of that, its what i`ll be doing for a dvi connection when my laptop comes.
 
Nice idea, but no docking station available for this laptop - not idea why but there isn't :(
 
shabba said:
Nice idea, but no docking station available for this laptop - not idea why but there isn't :(
Click to expand...

If you run XP or Vista you can get a Belkin docking station that connects into the express port and has built in graphics with dvi, audio, ethernet and usb ports.
Im currently setting up a latop to use with one so should know how well they actually work by tonight.
 
I don't think it has an express port. Will bring it in and try it out on a screen at work.

Also I run Win7.
 
Ok I hooked it up to a Dell screen that has a max resolution of 1440x900 and it run at that resoltuion, I think it should be fine for the bigger screen, nice Dell 2209WA as seems to be regarded highly on here.

Should make sorting the photos a little easier.
 
Just thought id add that i tried the docking station i mentioned and the graphic controller is awful, handy for all the other connectiosn though so just plug the express card and monitor straight into laptop.
 
Ok my Dell 2209WA has landed, seems pretty good, only had a quick look with my laptop so far. I need to Calibrate it, it only runs at 60hz but I think that is right for the setup I have (1600x1050). Connected it via HDMI to DVI lead.

I might have the option of obtaining a old HP desktop, spec is

- P4 3.4ghz
- 1gb Ram
- Nvidia Quadro NVS 280

Hmmmm, any idea if I'm better off getting this PC, adding more RAM and changing the graphics card? or should I stick to the laptop.

Appreciate any comments.
 
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