How much extended desktop can I get out of a G3 iBook?

May 22, 2006 7:46 AM

What external resolution can an old 800Mhz G3 iBook with 32 MB VRAM drive?

If I were to use Screen Spanning Doctor on the iBook, what resolution could I expect out of the ol' dog? What size monitor can the Radeon 7500 Mobility 32 MB drive?

I'm thinking of getting a new LCD as part of a piecemeal new system purchase, and am hoping that the increased screen real-estate will suffice for a time.

posted by cramer to computers & internet (5 comments total)

I've hooked up my iBook (800 mhz G3, Radeon 32mb) to a Dell 2405 24" LCD at full resolution (1920x1200) without any problems.
posted by scalespace at 8:00 AM on May 22, 2006

Since you need a hack to do more than 1024x768, yhe nearest thing to an official indication you'll get from Apple is this spec sheet for the PowerBook G4 model that had a Radeon 7500. It says 2048x1536 at 75Hz - ie any LCD you're likely to buy.

I don't think there's any reason to doubt you wouldn't be able to do this with your iBook. When I had an iBook, I used the screen spanning hack and don't remember being constrained by resolution.
posted by cillit bang at 8:00 AM on May 22, 2006

The 500mHz G3 with 8MB VRAM I'm using right now can handle 1280x1024. With a faster system and more VRAM you should be fine.
posted by caution live frogs at 10:39 AM on May 22, 2006

This is from the developer of Screen Spanning Doctor:

"i´m not sure what the max resolution is but it´s way beyond anything most people would use. if you´re getting a new screen it´s probably a flat panel so refresh rates aren´t a big concern (the ibook can´t do more than 60 or 75 hz for some very high resolutions but 60hz is all you need for a flat panel). the highest commonly used resolution for flat panels is 1920*1200 which works fine with your ibook. on tubes you could get even higher resolutions but with low refresh rates so this wouldn´t make much sense (and who want´s a tube today
anyways :)).

you can check what resolutions are available by simply connecting the vga adapter to your ibook without a screen attached. if you have the patch installed you should be able to see a long list of resolutions in the displays control panel."

So, there's that. Thanks, all
posted by cramer at 1:40 PM on May 22, 2006

I have that exact ibook and it can handle 1920 x 1200 like others have said.
posted by meta87 at 1:42 PM on May 22, 2006