more trouble with external display on macbook (late 2009)

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Level 1

6 points

more trouble with external display on macbook (late 2009)

I bought a Dell 23" wide screen monitor (SP2309W) with a Full HD 2048 x 1152 resolution. When I connect my macbook to it with the dvi connector, I can use the dell's native resolution in side by side mode. But if I switch it to mirror mode, it does not fill the whole monitor and gives an option of 2048x1152 but says below "usable resolution 1280x800". I just want to use the external monitor and not side by side mode. is there a way to do that and still get the full resolution? I would think its possible since the full resolution of the monitor is available in side by side mode. I also tried closing the laptop using an external keyboard and using mirrored mode but still get limited on the resolution.

macbook late 2009, Mac OS X (10.6.3)

Posted on Sep 2, 2010 4:41 AM

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Answer 1

Fortuny

Level 7

21,455 points

Sep 2, 2010 6:15 AM in response to kleck

Hi and welcome to Discussions,

using an external display in 'extended mode' (your side-by-side) allows the external display to be in its native resolution.

Using an external display in 'mirror mode' limits the resolution of both the internal and the external to the one with the lowest resolution.
In this case it's the MacBooks internal display native resolution of 1280x800.

This can't be changed.

For using the external display only (which Apple calls closed clamshell mode) have a read here http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3131

Regards

Stefan

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Answer 2

Sep 2, 2010 9:39 AM in response to kleck

To make the external display the main screen open System Preferences. In the Display pane click on the Arrangement Tab when in side by side arrangement. Then move the menu bar from the MacBook screen to the external screen on the arrangment picture. Then close the lid on the MacBook and strike a key on the external keyboard and your external display will be your main screen (Menu bar, Dock, etc...)and you can choose the highest resolution for it.

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