Graphics output from vpcZ12

[Hardrada1066]

Hello,
I bought a vpcz12 laptop a while ago, and I'm very happy with it. But I do have a problem I'd like to fix.

I have a large monitor at home (Dell U2711) which takes a native resolution of 2.560 x 1.440. The Z12 does not seem to offer this resolution, but I wonder why the Z12 screen is running at 1920x1080 and at the same time the Z12 can support a second monitor at 1920x1200. Is it not possible to somehow get 2.560 x 1.440 pixels, even by deactivating the laptop screen through software? Must I use some other hardware (i.e ViDock, if those things are still around)?

I have the corresponding docking station, which has a DVI-D connector. But I guess this isn't for "real" DVI-D digital signals but just for converted VGA signals, as it also does not handle the higher resolution.
So HDMI, VGA and DVI-D (on docking station) ports all provide lower res signals that look nice on a monitor with 1920x1200 native resolution, but quite honestly, pretty awful on the Dell monitor (at lower res than 2.560 x 1.440).

the specs:

Product name found under laptop is VPCZ12C5E
(however the order confirmation says VPCZ12V5E, what is the difference?)
Model: PCG-31112M
Display: 33,3 cm LCD, 1920x1080
processor: Intel Core i7-620M
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M 1GB
operating system: Windows 7 Pro.
Ram. 8 GB 1066MHz DDR3-SDRAM
Bios version: INSYDE R3030C3, 30.07.2010
SMBios version 2.4

would appreciate your help!

many thanks,

David

[Blencogo]

Hi David,

Looking at the Specifiations for the Z12-Series 1920 X 1080 screen, it looks like the maximum external resolution is 2048 X 1536 with the nVidia Graphics.

It is not possible to disable the on-board screen, so it will only support a single external monitor without buying additional hardware.

Screen

• Screen TypeVAIO Display Premium
• Diagonal Size (in)13.1
• Diagonal Size (cm)33
• Aspect Ratio16:9
• Resolution1920 x 1080
• Max Resolution External Display2048 x 1536

[Hardrada1066]

Blencogo, thanks!

I wasn't sure if the graphics specs were still accurate - I read on other forums that Sony is very slow in updating graphics drivers, if at all, so I hoped there was a chance. I use 1920x 1200 for an external monitor at work - great resolution, but 2048x1536 does not work on the Dell, and the step down from the optimum supported by the Dell looks really terrible.

So I guess hardware (external graphics solution) is the only way - just that I can't really find a vendor. AMDs AGP (?) isn't anywhere to be found, but maybe I can import from the states.

Thanks for your input!

David

[Geir.Horn]

I am rather frustrated to say the least as my old monitor broke down, and I have a VPCZ12Z9E for which I verified the graphical card to be GeForce GT 330M, and on NVIDA's own page, http://www.geforce.com/hardware/notebook-gpus/geforce-gt-330m/specifications, I happily read that it is capable of supporting 2560x1600 as the maximum digital resolution. This is better than the U2711 capable of supporting 2560x1440, so I went out and bought a U2711.

To my enourmous dissappointment it does not work with my wonderful Vaio!!! Can you please explain why it does not work so that a computer scientist is able to understand why we cannot get the full power out of the graphical card the computer is equipped with?

Thanks...

Message was edited by: Geir.Horn

Typo in the max resolution for the GT 300M chip.