[SOLVED] Using a new 2560 x 1440 monitor with an older CPU and motherboard

[Azvaquero]

Question: I currently have an Intel DH67CL motherboard running an Intel Corei3 CPU.

I recently purchased an Asus PA 278QV monitor (which features 2560 x 1440 max resolution).

In "Display Settings", a 2048 x 1152 resolution is the highest resolution available. 2560 x 1080 is also offered, but this distorts the picture.

In my motherboard's manual, it mentions under "Intel High Definition Graphics" that "HD content up to 1080p" is available.

I do not understand this very well. Questions 1 and 2 below are just for me to understand what is happening. Questions 3 and 4 are what I am really after:

1) Is my motherboard a bottleneck? Is it only capable of rendering 1080p?

2) If so, then why would my Display Settings let me set resolution at 1152, which is higher than 1080p?

3) If I install a dedicated graphics card in my PCI express slot, will this allow me to achieve the full 1440 resolution of my monitor?

4) If a graphics card will fix the problem, can anyone recommend a good, cheap one that will do the job? Used is OK (i.e., it need not be currently available new). I'm not doing gaming -- just looking for the best picture my monitor can display. My motherboard and CPU are both about a decade old, so I don't want to install a hugely expensive card at this time -- I need only something good enough to display 1440p.

Thanks!

 

[Koekieezz]

Question: I currently have an Intel DH67CL motherboard running an Intel Corei3 CPU.

I recently purchased an Asus PA 278QV monitor (which features 2560 x 1440 max resolution).

In "Display Settings", a 2048 x 1152 resolution is the highest resolution available. 2560 x 1080 is also offered, but this distorts the picture.

In my motherboard's manual, it mentions under "Intel High Definition Graphics" that "HD content up to 1080p" is available.

I do not understand this very well. Questions 1 and 2 below are just for me to understand what is happening. Questions 3 and 4 are what I am really after:

1) Is my motherboard a bottleneck? Is it only capable of rendering 1080p?

2) If so, then why would my Display Settings let me set resolution at 1152, which is higher than 1080p?

3) If I install a dedicated graphics card in my PCI express slot, will this allow me to achieve the full 1440 resolution of my monitor?

4) If a graphics card will fix the problem, can anyone recommend a good, cheap one that will do the job? Used is OK (i.e., it need not be currently available new). I'm not doing gaming -- just looking for the best picture my monitor can display. My motherboard and CPU are both about a decade old, so I don't want to install a hugely expensive card at this time -- I need only something good enough to display 1440p.

Thanks!

1. yes, you could say it bottlenecks, but to be clear, the motherboard didn't support that resolution
2. usually, the resolution is up to the motherboard support and/or driver support.
3. yes, a gt 710 or 1030 would be enough to display the resolution in HDMI.

 

[Eximo]

1) More the iGPU on the CPU, but yes, there are limits on supported resolutions depending on the connector type, standard revision, and the GPU.

2) 1920x1080 = ~2million pixels 2048x1152 ~2.36 million pixels, 1440p = 3.68 million pixels.

3) Yes, many cheap GPUs that will let you output 1440p.

What connector type are you wanting to use for the monitor? HDMI or Display Port?

 

[Azvaquero]

HDMI is what I usually use. Is that a problem?

 

[Azvaquero]

HDMI is what I usually use. Is that a problem?

If my understanding is correct, getting a dedicated graphics card will have its own GPU, thereby bypassing any GPU limitation on the integrated CPU/GPU. Am I understanding that correctly?

 

[Eximo]

I would not recommend a GT1030 for older systems. There is a chance of non-compatibility with a non-UEFI BIOS.

GT710 is about the cheapest you could get away with, these generally have HDMI, VGA, and DVI still. Around $60-70 new. You can pick up used GT730 for that on ebay though.

 

[Eximo]

If my understanding is correct, getting a dedicated graphics card will have its own GPU, thereby bypassing any GPU limitation on the integrated CPU/GPU. Am I understanding that correctly?

Yes, it would be an independent GPU with its own drivers and internal memory.

 

[Azvaquero]

Thank you all, much appreciated.

I am now watching ebay for either a GT 710 or 730. They seem to be about the same price. Does the 730 have an advantage over the 710?

 

[Eximo]

Just a faster GPU, but I figure if you are buying a GPU, might as well get the best you can for the money. GT710 is barely a graphics card, more like a display output card.

 

[Azvaquero]

OK, thank you Eximo. I'll watch for a 730 then.

 

[Eximo]

I should add that the faster GPUs will be better at hardware acceleration for browsers and video decoding, taking that burden away from your CPU. There is a potential for some desktop performance improvement from that angle.

 

[Azvaquero]

Great, thank you! I really appreciate the help and advice.