LCD Advice

[moviefan]

Hey guys-
I want to get my first LCD to replace my Sony 200sf CRT monitor (I know--it's about time!). The one I was looking at has a maximum res. of 1600x1200. I have an older Mac G4 Sawtooth 500mhz (with AGP card) and the max. res. I can achieve now is 1280x1084. The new LCD has both Analog and Digital interface. When I get the new LCD, will I need to get a DVI card to achieve the 1600x1200 res or will the existing AGP card do it? If I wanted to get a DVI card, could someone recommend a good, inexpensive one?

Also, speaking of LCD's, I need some advice. I am looking at the Viewsonics. Since my usage comes mainly from doing web surfing and Photoshop/Illustrator work (no gaming) I was wondering what's the most important combination of features to look for. Contrast ratio, dot pitch, viewing angle and brightness are what I need help on deciding which one is more important; based on what I'll be doing. I heard these can be really bright so do I look for a 250 brightness versus a 300? A contrast ratio of 1000:1 vs. a 600:1? Viewing angle of 178x178 vs. 160x160? And last but not least .255 dot pitch over .294? I know what these all mean and do, it's just that I need help deciding on what's best. For example, should I sacrifice dot pitch to get better contrast ratio (or vice-versa) and so on...

Thanks in advance!!!

[eric2006]

Assuming that you have the right ports, your graphics card can easily power a 1600 x 1200 display. I've done it with an older 450 mhz AGP machine, and it worked great. You won't be able to power the 30-inch cinema display, but most other displays you can.

[Lt Major Burns]

yeah, the maximum you can get to now is the maximum of the monitor. nearly every graphics adaptor for the last 8 years or so can exceed 1280x1024, and often go all the way up to 1920x1200.

what's the exact card, do you know?

[moviefan]

The one in my Mac now? I'm looking in my System Profiler but all I see is Bus: AGP, Chipset model: ATY Rage 128 Pro, Vendor: ATI 0x1002, Device ID, Revision ID etc. Would any of this tell what kind it is? If not, all I can say is it's probably the one that came with the Mac. Sorry, I'm not video card saavy!

[Lt Major Burns]

yeah should do it. in fact, it should have DVI-D already onboard.

there should be two graphics (monitor) slots on it. one should look

/::::::::\

the other should look

| ::::::::: + |

that second one is DVI, the first vga.

[eric2006]

The Apple Store actually has "Power Mac G4" listed as a compatible computer with the 23-incher, which has a 1920 x 1200 resolution. It'll defiantly work.

[moviefan]

Great work guys!! Thanks everyone!

[moviefan]

Any advice about my original LCD buying advice questions in my second paragraph??