# New Monitor Question: display resolution **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 29, 2021, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-monitor-question-display-resolution/951593 "2021-09-29T17:57:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2021, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-monitor-question-display-resolution/951593/1 "2021-09-29T17:57:44Z")
I have a HUGE new monitor (LG 43UN700T-B) with a much higher resolution (max 3840 x 2160) than the one I was using (also LG, but a 32" with 2560x1080). The graphics support for the work laptop (Dell 5510) and in my personal laptop (Asus, NVIDIA GTX 1070) apparently doesn’t support this (max 2560 x 1080) and the screen looks a bit distorted. I’m pretty damned happy with the screen size (43"! OMG, it’s HUGE), but I’m wondering if there’s something I can do to make it look less … stretched. Anyone? ---
**Author:** ![Folly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folly/32/3219_2.png) [@Folly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folly)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2021, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-monitor-question-display-resolution/951593/2 "2021-09-29T18:57:08Z")
That’s 16 by 9 ratio monitor it looks like. Is 1920 x 1080 an option? ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2021, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-monitor-question-display-resolution/951593/3 "2021-09-29T19:01:18Z")
It’s available. Would I have to shrink the screen 50% or something? The biggest reason I wanted the bigger monitor was because I wanted more room to work on. ---
**Author:** ![Folly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folly/32/3219_2.png) [@Folly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folly)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2021, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-monitor-question-display-resolution/951593/4 "2021-09-29T19:15:10Z")
It wouldn’t shrink the screen, but everything would be lower resolution. Sort of goes against the purpose of having a bigger monitor. A laptop dock might be able to drive the bigger monitor. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2021, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-monitor-question-display-resolution/951593/5 "2021-09-29T19:20:12Z")
The NVIDIA GTX 1070 can support a max resolution of 7680x4320, according to Google. According to the Dell website, your work laptop can also handle 4k. Maybe you have to update your video drivers? What output are you using? ---
**Author:** ![Folly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folly/32/3219_2.png) [@Folly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folly)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2021, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-monitor-question-display-resolution/951593/6 "2021-09-29T19:26:20Z")
> [@RitterSport](#): > > What output are you using? That’s a good point DVI ports for instance are apparently limited to 2560 x 1600. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2021, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-monitor-question-display-resolution/951593/7 "2021-09-29T19:32:16Z")
It looks like the Dell, for example, has a HDMI 1.4b and DisplayPort 1.2 (over USB-C), both of which can handle 4k. Maybe check the refresh rate? Limiting it to 60 Hz might let you choose the higher resolution. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2021, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-monitor-question-display-resolution/951593/8 "2021-09-29T19:36:14Z")
Monitor and laptop hooked up via docking station? That can potentially limit max resolution ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2021, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-monitor-question-display-resolution/951593/9 "2021-09-29T19:46:27Z")
Monitor, keyboard, and trackball hooked up to the two laptops via a KVM to let me switch between them. HDMI for both. The monitor would accept DisplayPort and both laptops have that as an output, but I would need to get a new KVM (which isn’t a bad thing necessarily, just an added expense). The refresh rate is already set to 60 Hz. Apparently, there’s nothing preset beyond the 2560x1080. The Nvidia provides me with the option to create a custom configuration, the Dell doesn’t seem to. I’ll see if there are updated drivers. The Nvidia regularly downloads those, though. Hrmmm. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2021, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-monitor-question-display-resolution/951593/10 "2021-09-29T19:47:40Z")
Maybe try connecting them directly, rather than through the KVM switch. It’s possible (maybe?) that the KVM is telling the computer that it can’t handle higher resolutions. ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2021, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-monitor-question-display-resolution/951593/11 "2021-09-29T19:51:37Z")
Oh, that would be a bummer if so. I suppose I could use the KVM to handle switching just the keyboard and trackball between the two laptops and have them directly go into the monitor, but it’ll be a pain in the ass to switch between computers. According to the manufacturer information, the [KVM](https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B087NMTBDF) will handle up to 3840 x 2160. I must be missing something somewhere. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2021, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-monitor-question-display-resolution/951593/12 "2021-09-29T19:53:48Z")
According to the Amazon page, it handles 3840 x 2160 at 30Hz. For 60Hz, that’s only 1920 x 1080 ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2021, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-monitor-question-display-resolution/951593/13 "2021-09-29T19:55:23Z")
That would explain why setting a custom using NVIDIA gave me much smaller icons and text but also two big black bars on the sides. Bother. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2021, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-monitor-question-display-resolution/951593/14 "2021-09-29T20:01:30Z")
I guess first try setting the refresh rate to 30 Hz and see if you can get the higher res, then try the direct connection and see if you can get to 60 Hz and 4k. ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2021, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-monitor-question-display-resolution/951593/15 "2021-09-29T20:02:35Z")
OK, so it’s possible the issue is the KVM switch not being able to handle that resolution at the refresh rate. Certainly the video cards can’t, they don’t like 30 at all! Luckily, there are KVMs that can handle the resolution I want at 60Hz. Always an adventure. ETA: I can fiddle the NVIDIA easily enough. Looks as if I’d have to get tech support for the work laptop. But first I’ll order the KVM and see if that works with the personal laptop, because otherwise there’s no point in pestering tech support. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2021, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-monitor-question-display-resolution/951593/16 "2021-09-29T20:07:07Z")
Does it work with a direct connection? ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2021, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-monitor-question-display-resolution/951593/17 "2021-09-29T20:30:36Z")
It’s possible the KVM will allow the higher resolution, but just doesn’t advertise itself to the GPU. That’s the case for a device I have. The way I wound up resolving it was to plug the monitor directly into the computer, and used [Custom Resolution Utility](https://www.monitortests.com/forum/Thread-Custom-Resolution-Utility-CRU) to copy over the exact settings for that resolution. Then I plugged in the device, and pasted that custom resolution as an option. I ran the “reset” utility provided, and it then offered the higher resolution as an option, and it worked. That said, finding a 4k compatible KVM might be the simper solution if you have the money. ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2021, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-monitor-question-display-resolution/951593/18 "2021-09-29T20:45:44Z")
It DOES work with the direct connection! The display automagically updated to the 3840x2160. Holy crap, this thing is huge, and the icons and text are teeeny … ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2021, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-monitor-question-display-resolution/951593/19 "2021-09-29T20:52:55Z")
Changed display size from 3840 x 2160 to 2560 x 1440. Icons and text are readable while still giving me lots of extra work room. Or I may try scaling things larger at the higher resolution, but I think that plays hobb with some of my programs so maybe not. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2021, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-monitor-question-display-resolution/951593/20 "2021-09-29T21:01:31Z")
Scaling’s going to give much nicer-looking fonts and such than just lowering the resolution. But yes, there are a few apps that don’t work very well. Most monitors have multiple inputs. You can use the KVM for your mouse/keyboard, and switch video via button on the monitor. You might have to, for instance, use DisplayPort for your main system and HDMI for the secondary. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-monitor-question-display-resolution/951593.md?page=2)