# Can my video card handle a larger monitor? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 11, 2009, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-my-video-card-handle-a-larger-monitor/520916 "2009-12-11T21:31:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![gladtobeblazed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/85f322/32.png) [@gladtobeblazed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gladtobeblazed)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2009, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-my-video-card-handle-a-larger-monitor/520916/1 "2009-12-11T21:31:03Z")
So one of my monitors appears to be busted so I’m looking to buy a new one. I’ve got an Nvidia GeForce 8300 GS 128 MB, and I’ve been running dual-monitors at 1440 x 900 and 1280 x 1024 with no problems at all. I could watch 720p video on both monitors at the same time without any problems. I like to watch movies on one monitor and surf the web on the other. The 19’’ 1280 x 1024 monitor is busted and I’m looking to replace it. I’ve been wondering if going to a higher resolution would be possible. In particular, I’m looking at a 21.5’’ 1920 x 1080. Would my video card be able to handle this? ---
**Author:** ![pan1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e495f1/32.png) [@pan1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pan1)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2009, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-my-video-card-handle-a-larger-monitor/520916/2 "2009-12-11T21:42:21Z")
That’s a subjective question. If all you are doing is watching videos it should be fine. I wouldn’t want to play a modern FPS or MMOPG at that resolution on that card. ---
**Author:** ![Telperion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telperion/32/509_2.png) [@Telperion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telperion)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2009, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-my-video-card-handle-a-larger-monitor/520916/3 "2009-12-11T21:45:42Z")
As long as it has a DVI port it should be able to output 2560\*1600 resolutions, and 720p video would just be scaled up to fill the screen so performance shouldn’t suffer much even at that resolution. 1080p video might be a different matter however, since that’s about twice the pixel count. ---
**Author:** ![gladtobeblazed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/85f322/32.png) [@gladtobeblazed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gladtobeblazed)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2009, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-my-video-card-handle-a-larger-monitor/520916/4 "2009-12-11T21:59:22Z")
No, I’m not playing any games on this machine, just watching videos and web surfing and some light office work. I’m in front of my computer all day, so it’s nice to be able to work and watch videos at the same time. The video card has one VGA and one DVI output. So it should be fine running dual-monitors at 1440x900 and 1920x1080, correct? If so, then great, I’ll order the monitor tommorow. ---
**Author:** ![Telperion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telperion/32/509_2.png) [@Telperion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telperion)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2009, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-my-video-card-handle-a-larger-monitor/520916/5 "2009-12-11T22:07:14Z")
> [@gladtobeblazed](#): > > No, I’m not playing any games on this machine, just watching videos and web surfing and some light office work. I’m in front of my computer all day, so it’s nice to be able to work and watch videos at the same time. The video card has one VGA and one DVI output. So it should be fine running dual-monitors at 1440x900 and 1920x1080, correct? If so, then great, I’ll order the monitor tommorow. Yes, that should work, even single-link DVI will output up to 1920\*1200 at 60 Hz.