help and advice with external monitor

[DJohn049]

Hi,

I have an acer aspire 5742 laptop.

Win 7 64 bit, 8gb ram
Intel HD graphics i3
Driver version 8.15.10.2622
Native resolution on the laptop screen runs at 1366x768
VGA and HDMI outs
 I want to connect an external monitor to use for photo editing applications. There are external monitors with resolutions of 1920x1080, 1920x1200, and 2560x1640.
My questions

Will I be able to use the higher resolution monitors or will I have a default resolution of 1366x768?

Does anyone have specific monitor recommendations?

Thanks in advance,

DJ

[patio]

Check the Vid chip specs on the laptop ...it should tell you what ranges are supported.

[DJohn049]

Thanks.....but how? When I go to the intel graphics and media control panel, it only gives me info for the primary display- showing a range from 800X600 to 1366x768 with the current resolution shown as 1366x768, video bios 1994.0.  There is a custom resolution button, which opens a warning box. It just seems that I have to physically attach a second display to get any info.

[patio]

Laptop manuf. site...or your Manual.

[Salmon Trout]

Usually when an external monitor is connected you can change the resolution to match the monitor.

[Computer_Commando]

Intel i3 mobile Graphics HD 3000 will support all with the amount of RAM you have, but only 1920x1080 has the same aspect ratio as 1366x768 (16:9).  For monitors, you would like to use their native resolutions for the best picture.

[DJohn049]

Intel i3 mobile Graphics HD 3000 will support all with the amount of RAM you have, but only 1920x1080 has the same aspect ratio as 1366x768 (16:9).  For monitors, you would like to use their native resolutions for the best picture.

Thanks, I was looking at some 1920x1080  ( 16:9) monitors. There was aslo a monitor at 2560x1440 that was also supposed to be 16:9. Could I run that one with my i3 370m ??

(I'm just interested in image quality- Photoshop, Lightroom, not speed for VGaming)

[Computer_Commando]

Thanks, I was looking at some 1920x1080  ( 16:9) monitors. There was aslo a monitor at 2560x1440 that was also supposed to be 16:9. Could I run that one with my i3 370m ??

(I'm just interested in image quality- Photoshop, Lightroom, not speed for VGaming)

16/9 = 1.77
1920/1080 = 1.77
2560/1440 = 1.77

AFAIK, the i3 w/HD3000 is not resolution limited if you have enough RAM.  It may be more a limitation of the HDMI port.
http://communities.intel.com/message/152158