Take a look at our
ThinkPads.com HOME PAGE
For those who might want to contribute to the blog, start here: Editors Alley Topic
Then contact Bill with a Private Message

Increase Max Resolution Lenovo T420: Intel graphics driver

T400/T410/T420 and T500/T510/T520 Series
Post Reply
Message
Author
gshockneo
Posts: 4
Joined: Wed Apr 11, 2012 7:49 pm
Location: Seattle, WA

Increase Max Resolution Lenovo T420: Intel graphics driver

#1 Post by gshockneo » Wed Apr 11, 2012 7:55 pm

Hi,
This is my first question on forum so hoping to get answer.

I just got Lenovo T420 which has intel HD graphics 3000 (Driver version 8.15.10.3542) installed.
But it's max resolution is only 1366*768 which looks really poor. Is there a way to increase this, either by updating graphics driver or any other means but without having to purchase anything extra?

Thanks

AIX
Senior Member
Senior Member
Posts: 503
Joined: Wed Oct 19, 2005 3:10 am
Location: Bucharest, Romania, EU

Re: Increase Max Resolution Lenovo T420: Intel graphics driver

#2 Post by AIX » Thu Apr 12, 2012 4:40 am

What type is your T420? Are you sure your display is HD+ (1600x900) capable?
T480 · i7-8650U · 32GB RAM · 512GB SSD · FHD · NVIDIA MX150 · Fibocom L830-EB
T420s · i5-2520M · 12GB RAM · 480GB SSD · HD+ · HD3000 · F5521gw
Past: T430, T400, T60, T41, T22, 600X, 390X

dr_st
Admin
Admin
Posts: 9691
Joined: Sat Oct 29, 2005 6:20 am
Location: Israel

Re: Increase Max Resolution Lenovo T420: Intel graphics driver

#3 Post by dr_st » Thu Apr 12, 2012 6:59 am

Most likely it's just the 1366x768 being the maximum resolution of the internal display. On an external LCD the driver will support higher resolutions.
Thinkpad 25 (20K7), T490 (20N3), Yoga 14 (20FY), T430s (IPS FHD + Classic Keyboard), X220 4291-4BG
X61 7673-V2V, T60 2007-QPG, T42 2373-F7G, X32 (IPS Screen), A31p w/ Ultrabay Numpad

gshockneo
Posts: 4
Joined: Wed Apr 11, 2012 7:49 pm
Location: Seattle, WA

Re: Increase Max Resolution Lenovo T420: Intel graphics driver

#4 Post by gshockneo » Thu Apr 12, 2012 3:50 pm

My Graphics card is HD not HD+ and seems HD can only support 1366*768 resolution.

pianowizard
Senior ThinkPadder
Senior ThinkPadder
Posts: 8545
Joined: Tue Jun 28, 2005 5:07 am
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Contact:

Re: Increase Max Resolution Lenovo T420: Intel graphics driver

#5 Post by pianowizard » Thu Apr 12, 2012 4:04 pm

gshockneo wrote:My Graphics card is HD not HD+ and seems HD can only support 1366*768 resolution.
There are no laptop graphics cards in the market that support only up to 1366x768. What the guys above asked you to do was to check whether your T420 has a 1366x768 screen or 1600x900 screen. The Intel HD 3000 supports up to at least 1920x1080 (even 2560x1600 on certain computers), but if your screen is only 1366x768, then of course that's the highest you can get. "HD" in "HD 3000" does not refer to the resolution 1366x768.
Dell Latitude 7370 (QHD+, 2.84lb); HP Pavilion x2 12-b096ms (1920x1280, 3.14lb); Microsoft Surface 3 (1920x1280, 2.00lb);
Dell OptiPlex 5040 SFF (Core i5-6600); Acer ET322QK, T272HUL; Crossover 404K; QNIX QHD2410R; Seiki Pro SM40UNP

gshockneo
Posts: 4
Joined: Wed Apr 11, 2012 7:49 pm
Location: Seattle, WA

Re: Increase Max Resolution Lenovo T420: Intel graphics driver

#6 Post by gshockneo » Thu Apr 12, 2012 4:14 pm

How do i check max resolution that my screen can support and type of T420?

In resolution drop down, max is 1366*768.

rabbitz
Posts: 4
Joined: Sat Apr 07, 2012 4:18 pm
Location: Toronto, Canada

Re: Increase Max Resolution Lenovo T420: Intel graphics driver

#7 Post by rabbitz » Thu Apr 12, 2012 5:28 pm

Then you probably have a 1366 x 768 display....

There might be a solution if you want higher resolution though... I've been looking around for programs/hacks that can increase the resolution beyond the hardware, and then scale it down. I see many results for newrez (http://gtk-apps.org/content/show.php/?content=134686) but it isn't for windows if that's what you need. Apparently there is some application that does that for netbooks, but I haven't gotten them to work with my laptop yet.

TTY
Senior Member
Senior Member
Posts: 542
Joined: Tue Aug 28, 2007 7:39 pm
Location: graz, austria

Re: Increase Max Resolution Lenovo T420: Intel graphics driver

#8 Post by TTY » Thu Apr 12, 2012 6:08 pm

gshockneo wrote:How do i check max resolution that my screen can support and type of T420?
To find out what type you have, shut down Windows, disconnect all cables, turn the notebook over. On the bottom you'll find "Type/Model", it's a seven character code plus a hyphen. Then go to the Lenovo support site
http://support.lenovo.com/en_US/
Click "Quick Path", enter your Type/Model. You will then see the notebook's specs, including the display panel's native (and at the same time maximum) resolution.

gshockneo
Posts: 4
Joined: Wed Apr 11, 2012 7:49 pm
Location: Seattle, WA

Re: Increase Max Resolution Lenovo T420: Intel graphics driver

#9 Post by gshockneo » Thu Apr 12, 2012 6:53 pm

It shows following

ThinkPad T420 (4236-BR7)
i5-2520M(2.5GHz) 4GB RAM 320GB 7200rpm HD 14in 1366x768 LCD Intel HD Graphics CDRW/DVDRW Intel 802.11agn wireless WWAN option 1Gb Ethernet UltraNav Secure Chip Camera 6c Li-Ion Win7 Pro 64

pianowizard
Senior ThinkPadder
Senior ThinkPadder
Posts: 8545
Joined: Tue Jun 28, 2005 5:07 am
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Contact:

Re: Increase Max Resolution Lenovo T420: Intel graphics driver

#10 Post by pianowizard » Thu Apr 12, 2012 7:00 pm

gshockneo wrote:14in 1366x768 LCD
Well, you learned a lesson. Next time buy something with a higher resolution.
Dell Latitude 7370 (QHD+, 2.84lb); HP Pavilion x2 12-b096ms (1920x1280, 3.14lb); Microsoft Surface 3 (1920x1280, 2.00lb);
Dell OptiPlex 5040 SFF (Core i5-6600); Acer ET322QK, T272HUL; Crossover 404K; QNIX QHD2410R; Seiki Pro SM40UNP

coghlan
Posts: 2
Joined: Tue May 08, 2012 8:53 am
Location: Ottawa, ON Canada

Re: Increase Max Resolution Lenovo T420: Intel graphics driver

#11 Post by coghlan » Tue May 08, 2012 9:10 am

I just received a T420i for work, which I guess has the 1366x768 display.

However, I also have a SynchMaster 2494HM external monitor, which can support 1920x1080 resolution.

When I hook up the DVI cable, I just get another 1366x768 monitor with the same desktop. Can I extend my desktop to it in a higher resolution, or do I first need another video card?

dr_st
Admin
Admin
Posts: 9691
Joined: Sat Oct 29, 2005 6:20 am
Location: Israel

Re: Increase Max Resolution Lenovo T420: Intel graphics driver

#12 Post by dr_st » Tue May 08, 2012 12:35 pm

Yes, in an extended desktop (not cloned) you can get the maximum resolution of each monitor.

Assuming you run Windows 7, press the Win+P key combination and choose "Extend".
Thinkpad 25 (20K7), T490 (20N3), Yoga 14 (20FY), T430s (IPS FHD + Classic Keyboard), X220 4291-4BG
X61 7673-V2V, T60 2007-QPG, T42 2373-F7G, X32 (IPS Screen), A31p w/ Ultrabay Numpad

coghlan
Posts: 2
Joined: Tue May 08, 2012 8:53 am
Location: Ottawa, ON Canada

Re: Increase Max Resolution Lenovo T420: Intel graphics driver

#13 Post by coghlan » Fri May 18, 2012 9:54 am

Got it. I had to extend the desktop and then make monitor 2 my primary monitor.

Video scrolling performance etc. is not very good, but at least it is sharp.

Post Reply
  • Similar Topics
    Replies
    Views
    Last post

Return to “ThinkPad T400/T410/T420 and T500/T510/T520 Series”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 48 guests