I recently encountered a problem whereby I had a batch of brand new Hewlett Packard DC5700 (small form factor) computers which would not allow me to set a widescreen resolution of 1440×900. The chipset model was an Intel Q963 Express, and the onboard graphics media accelerator was an Intel GMA 3000.
After some research it appeared that the latest driver from Intel was not configured to support the resolution of 1440×900, even though after experimenting with settings within Windows display properties and actually getting it set to 1440×900 on one occasion. A quick Google also revealed the maximum resolution supported was 1680×1050. I was baffled as to why a graphics controller and its driver that allows a resolution as high as 1680×1050 would not allow me to set a resolution at the lower 1440×900.
It turns out that the driver is to blame. It seems Intel do not configure their driver to natively allow a resolution of 1440×900 (as well as other resolutions between 800×600 and the maximum supported resolution of 1680×1050). It seems this has also been a problem with other chipsets that Intel manufactures (from their 915 series upwards).
An inspection of the zip version of the driver (Intel provide 2 drivers, one in the form of a self extracting .exe and the other is a .zip file containing all the driver files) for my graphics controller revealed that a file within the driver- igxp32.inf (a setup information file) would allow me to specify extra resolutions that could be used by the computer after the driver was installed. Opening this file in notepad, one section immediately caught my attention:
[NonEDIDMode_AddSwSettings]
Within this section of igxp32.inf it appeared I could enable up to 5 extra resolutions for use within Windows display properties. The next line of the file has been commented by Intel:
HKR,, TotalDTDCount, %REG_DWORD%, 0 ; This shows number of DTDs to be used. ; 0–>Disable the feature.
Well I wanted to enable all the resolutions I could, so I changed the 0 to a 5 like so:
HKR,, TotalDTDCount, %REG_DWORD%, 5 ; This shows number of DTDs to be used. ; 0–>Disable the feature.
The next 5 lines within the file seemed to be the settings for the extra resolutions that would be added after this driver is installed. The first 4 had been set already to offer 1920×1080@60, 1920×1080@50, 1280×720@60 and 1280×720@50 resolutions. The last, 5th line had no hexadecimal values, and the comment on the end of the setting was blank, so here is where I edited and added the resolution for the screen I was trying to get working. A quick Google of 1440×900@60 revealed the hex values for that resolution to be:
HKR,, DTD_5,%REG_BINARY%, 97,29,A0,D0,51,84,20,30,50,98,13,00,00,00,00,00,00,1C,37,01 ;1440×900@60
So I edited the 5th line to look like that above and saved the file. Upon un-installation of the old driver and installation of the newly modified driver, a quick delve into the settings in display properties revealed all 5 new resolutions selectable. I could now apply the 1440×900 resolution I wanted.
I believe that other Intel graphics drivers may have the setup information file named differently from igxp32.inf, but that they can all be modified in the same way.
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Awesome i love you
i just got a new quad core processor and a mobo with onboard GMA 3100 same problem. Thanks.
Excellent, I have a Toshiba with the Intel 915gm chipset that has the same problem. The changes you’ve suggested work, however I was unable to find the hex values for 1920×1200 at 60Hz which is the native resolution for my monitor. Do you know a good source for the values or the format used?
This is good ive used it a few times now after different windows version and want to say thanks again.
Hey KAS, ive been away for a while, sorry I couldn’t help you sooner. Ive had a quick google for you and think the DTD value you need for your resolution can be found here:
Intel Forums
A better explanation of the meanings of all of the values can be found there as well. Hope it helps.
James
You are most awesome. I reinstalled MCE2005 on my Lenovo to find no more 1440×900 for me. This guide has saved me from grave unhappiness. Thanks!
Brilljant! Thanks for the info and sharing!
Thank you for sharing!
Thanks for this, it was very helpful.
You can also just search for the values in the registry and change them there.
Dave…where did you find them in the registry?
James - I have emailed you a few times but with no response. Where did you find the conversion information for that resolution you wanted. I have the EXACT same PC and a 22″ Dell FP that can run at 1680X1050. It has worked before but I did a driver update and have since lost that ability. Can you help with getting me a working command line that I can put in my .inf.
Thanks!
Hi John, I did reply to your email last week when I received it, and again today. Incase there is a problem with your yahoo account here is what I think you were looking for:
For 1680×1050 at 60hz try this:
HKR,, DTD_5, %REG_BINARY%, 79,39,90,40,62,1A,25,40,68,B8,3,00,00,00,00,00,00,1C,27,00 ;1680×1050@60…Progressive
I haven’t got an exact method for calculating the correct DTD values myself. Apparently these can be obtained through Intel (although I have never attempted this). A quick Google for “1680×1050@60 Intel dtd” or the equivalent usually gives me the result I need when people ask for the values. Let me know the results.
Yea for some reason your email hit the spam folder straight out of the bag, so I guess that is what happened this time. Going to give it a try now and I will let you know in a few minutes!!! Thanks very much!
It works like a charm…thanks much for the help James!
Good work! Thanks a million. Do you think it would be possible to change the value to a 6, then add both 1440X900 and 1680X1050?
Thaks a lot!!!!
Hi Richard, if you would more than one specific resolution within the driver I would suggest modifying one of the pre-set DTDs (one of the first 4 set by Intel that are left disabled by default). I’m not sure that adding a 6th resolution would work but if you try it let me know.
Thankyou for saving my sanity !! Much appreciated.
My ACER E650 runs the Intel 945G chipset with integrated GMA 950 graphics. I’m also using an ACER 1916W monitor with 1440×900 native resolution.
This resolution originally worked out of the box for me… but I came to the computer a couple of days back and one of my young children had been playing around and the 1440×900 mode had simply disappeared !
Reinstalling the original ancient drivers provided with the system also didn’t help.
Your fix was an absolute godsend and I am very very grateful.
Regards,
Michael
Melbourne, Australia
I cannot find this igxp32.inf file from the Intel Driver zip file. There is no Inf as well. My display is 82865G, what could i do?
Ken, look for *.inf in the \Graphics directory after you have unzipped the driver. This is a different chipset to mine, but I suspect the same procedure would apply. There is only a single .inf file in my chipet’s driver’s \Graphics directory and I suspect it likely to be the same for your chipset.
Let us know how you fare.
Regards,
Michael
Melbourne Australia
HI! i have an intel 82865g display adapter and can run in higher resolution like 2048×1536 and some 1600p resolutions but the line to modify that you show here is not at the ialmnt5.inf file of this adapter. i need to run 1440×900 for my new dell flat monitor. what can i do?
Hello James -
Many thanks for the initial solution, and keeping an eye on the comments. Above and beyond…
Unfortunately my gf’s computer just lost the ability to display 1440×900, after being plugged into a different receptacle, of all things. The chipset is the 82865G as well as those above, and I can confirm the apparent lack of any similar entries in the .INF file (in this case ialmnt5.inf) I too have tried the usual things to no effect, and was really hoping that this was the solution.
If anyone here has managed to coax their 82865G chipset into supporting WSXGA please leave a comment - many thanks.
Genius!
Yep, I have the same problem with the 865G. I’ll be popping in to see if someone has found the solution…
Great! Thanks
Thanks a lot.
Really HELPFUL info =)
Hi man ur a genius.Thanx for this great article.I fixed my Samsung 19″ LCD to display 1440×900 resolution with this article.Thanks a lot ones again.
The solution presented here should work for the following intel chipsets:
GMA900 aka 915G/GM
GMA950 aka 945G/GM
GMA3000/3000X aka G965/Q965/946Z
GMA3100X aka GM965
GMA3100 aka G31/G33
GMA3500X aka G35
I found a tool that makes such modifications easier, look at: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=947830
However, the drivers for i852/855 (and probably the i865, too) do not support “custom” resolutions, so the suggestions above do not work. You can try to use the IEGD drivers instead: http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Product_Filter.aspx?ProductID=2159
That worked for a 1920×1200 resolution, but I’m not yet completely happy (I guess I need to install the drivers for both adapters to switch between internal and external display).
Hi. I just got a new PC and for monitor I got the Samsung SyncMaster943 NWX (19″ Wide Screen). I was personally very happy with the performance of this monitor but just out of curiosity was just surfing the web to read reviews and comments about this monitor to get a feel of the general perception and experience of other users. (Just FYI : I bought a G31 - M7 - TE motherboard for my new machine and had absolutely no problem with the display or the resolution). While I was searching for reviews, I came across some threads reporting this problem of resolution that many users faced with certain Display Adapters (I never faced this problem fortunately). One such thread let me to this article. After reading it and the responses I was very impressed indeed - James - your s was a wonderful article and such articles really uphold the spirit of the internet community and knowledge sharing. Fantastic !!! Thanks for such wonderfully helpful info. I really appreciate.
Hello James,
I have a intel 82865 G video adapter, and i was not able to find the .inf file you said.. where can i find this type of file? if you can help it would be very helpful
thank you
varun
i want to marry you!
Hi!
I have same problem
We bought 3 pcs Dell Optiplex GX270 (Intel 82865G) plus 3 pcs Acer AL1916W Wide screen TFT. When I installed Xp Prof., one of them worked with 1440 x 900 resolution. But a couple of hours ago it gone off.
I am so sad. I would like to solve this problem, because 1024*768 resolution isn’t good. But I can’t find good idea.
Please help me, if you can.
Thank you
Szabolcs
“A quick Google of 1440×900@60 revealed the hex values for that resolution to be:”
I want to set resolution to 1440×900@75, and google lots of keywords, but I can’t find the REG_BINARY for it , can you tell me how to find it? thanks
Thank you very much James Clements. It is a perfect solution to intel G31/33 resolution issue. You have solved my 2 month’s long lasting struggle with this article. And the most adorable thing is that you have succeeded where intel customer care itself failed!!!!. And once again thank you very much for saving my nerves and sharing such information to people in distress.
Regards
Omal bose
I sloved the problem. I installed Intel 6.14.10.4544 82865G A10 graphics controller driver and set the monitor type “Plug and play monitor”. After it I shut down the computer, disconected computer and monitor power cable. When I turned on the computer, I saw 1440 x 900 option. The bios version doesn’t matter. It’s worked with A3, A6 and A7 version. The monitors are Acer AL1916W TFT.
Regards,
Szabolcs
Ohhhhh, you’re the MAN!
915GM chipset with Acer w173w as secondary monitor and NOTHING would get the darn thing to display 1440×900. PowerStrip, MonInfo, etc; nothing!
Found your post and voilà!, easy as pie! Thank you very much, I was just about to ditch that monitor and get a “non-widescreen”!
Any chance of forwarding this to our friends at Intel? Can’t believe I was the only one with this problem!
Again, thank you!