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gto47 · Jun 11, 2003, 05:56 PM

The 12" Powerbook is capable of displaying 1024x768 resolution on its built in display. The unit is capable of vga mirroring - that much I know. Is it possible by either built-in or 3rd party software to disable the Powerbook's internal display and enable video output in resolutions higher than 1024x768 on an external monitor? Optimally, I would like to run a resolution ~1280x960 on an external CRT display.

tooki · Jun 11, 2003, 06:15 PM

The PowerBook supports dual displays -- both the internal and external displays will show an extended desktop. The mouse pointer will move from one screen to the other. It has enough VRAM to support your desired resolution on the external display while also running the internal display.

from the Specs page for the PowerBook line:

Video and graphics support
- NVIDIA GeForce4 420 Go graphics processor with AGP 4X support and 32MB of DDR SDRAM video memory (12-inch model)
--Dual display and video mirroring: Simultaneously supports up to 1024 by 768 pixels on the built-in display and up to 1600 by 1200 pixels on an external display, both at millions of colors

tooki

gto47 · Jun 11, 2003, 06:36 PM

Thanks tooki.

Now i wonder if using this mirroring method to support an external display will cause video performance to take a hit, since the video card is wasting video memory and resources on running two displays. I assume it would, but its graphics card is quite decent, and it should at least be bearable.

Hozie · Jun 11, 2003, 06:47 PM

Originally posted by gto47:
Thanks tooki.

Now i wonder if using this mirroring method to support an external display will cause video performance to take a hit, since the video card is wasting video memory and resources on running two displays. I assume it would, but its graphics card is quite decent, and it should at least be bearable.

Yes, it'll use up half the VRAM, but it won't be noticeable at all for any non-gaming and/or 3D tasks. Trust me, I run a 12" w/ 17" CRT every day at a high refresh and resolution and I don't notice ANY difference when I unplug the external monitor. In fact, I play Warcraft III on the external CRT while the internal LCD is on as well. So you've got no problem at all there...

icruise · Jun 11, 2003, 07:31 PM

Originally posted by Hozie:
Yes, it'll use up half the VRAM, but it won't be noticeable at all for any non-gaming and/or 3D tasks. Trust me, I run a 12" w/ 17" CRT every day at a high refresh and resolution and I don't notice ANY difference when I unplug the external monitor. In fact, I play Warcraft III on the external CRT while the internal LCD is on as well. So you've got no problem at all there...

I definitely agree, which is why I don't understand why so many people seem to want to run the Powerbook in clamshell mode. Having two screens is so much more convenient.

Hozie · Jun 12, 2003, 02:06 AM

Originally posted by Icruise:
I definitely agree, which is why I don't understand why so many people seem to want to run the Powerbook in clamshell mode. Having two screens is so much more convenient.

Yeah, and by the way, some ppl have reported that running in clamshell mode actually still causes the VRAM to be halved , even though the internal display isn't used. Now I don't know whether that's accurate or not, but it goes to show that mirroring is the way to go...

crypt0 · Jun 12, 2003, 02:16 AM

I think the original poster's possibly looking for a way to make the bigger display the primary display.

I have encountered similar situations in that I wish the menu bar is on the big display and not the small one. (I have a 12" as well).

If I do mirroring, then both displays are at 1024x768. If I don't, my big display can run 1600x1200 but I don't get the menu bar on top, which is quite inconvenient as I keep having to go back to the small display all of the time.

Is there anyway to fix that?

Originally posted by tooki:
The PowerBook supports dual displays -- both the internal and external displays will show an extended desktop. The mouse pointer will move from one screen to the other. It has enough VRAM to support your desired resolution on the external display while also running the internal display.

from the Specs page for the PowerBook line:

tooki

icruise · Jun 12, 2003, 05:19 AM

Boy this is a common question -- Apple must not be doing a good job in explaining how extended desktop works. Just go into the Display preferences and then to Arrangement. From there you can not only move the positions of the individual screens around to match their actual physical positions, but you can also drag the menu bar on the little preview to the screen that you want to be the main one. The dock and menu will show up there.

Hozie · Jun 12, 2003, 06:44 AM

Originally posted by Icruise:
The dock and menu will show up there.

Not even necessarily: you can even split the dock and the menu bar on two screens. ( I know you know that Icruise, just specifying for the other folk). That's how I have my screens set up. My big screen (CRT) is on a tiltable rotating foot and my PB is located underneath it. The Dock is on the lower LCD and the menu bar on the upper CRT. That gives me massive vertical space. Now if only Safari recognized that it needs to expand all the way down when the two screens are active...

crypt0 · Jun 12, 2003, 11:54 AM

Originally posted by Icruise:
Boy this is a common question -- Apple must not be doing a good job in explaining how extended desktop works. Just go into the Display preferences and then to Arrangement. From there you can not only move the positions of the individual screens around to match their actual physical positions, but you can also drag the menu bar on the little preview to the screen that you want to be the main one. The dock and menu will show up there.

The little things that we learn everyday.

Thx for ur help, especially Hozie and Icruise.