Is setting your card to a lower custom resolution dangerous?

3

I have a laptop computer with integrated Core i5 Intel HD graphics..

I want to use the vga output to connect to an old tech CRT tv that has an RGB input port, So I'm using a vga to RGB cable. I heard that the cable will not work until I set the output of the vga port to that compatible with the TV i.e the resolutions and refresh rate..

on opening the custom resolution section of the Intel HD graphics I get a scary warning about possible damages on using custom resolutions etc.. but no proper mention of what conditions will actually cause the damage.

so if i decrease the resolution and refesh rate to say PAL standards will that hamper the hardware??

user1062760

Posted 2012-08-20T14:18:11.087

Reputation: 301

Answers

2

Is that this message ?

"Altering resolutions may (i) reduce system stability and useful life of the system and chip-set; (ii) cause the chip-set and other system components to fail; (iii) cause reductions in system performance; (iv) cause additional heat and other damage; and (v) affect system data integrity"

Source of similar message: http://www.intel.com/support/graphics/sb/CS-029478.htm

Answer:

No, it won't do any harm.

In the past there was some discussion that using a higher refresh-rate / resolution could damage your CRT monitor (the only ones that were used that time). And although it would be possible, nobody showed a monitor who got damaged by those frequencies.

And using smaller resolution won't damage your monitor, nor your Intel graphic chipset.

Edit: if it's that the message taht appears when you change resolutionm, it's (almost) the same message that appears in Intel manuals about tuning:

And those warnings are about problems that might appear when people try to overclock their systems, i. e., using it in frequencies higher than the original ones. It's a simple warning that will eliminate resposability from Intel in case something bad happens.

Using a lower frequency / resolution could only make your chipset work slower.

woliveirajr

Posted 2012-08-20T14:18:11.087

Reputation: 3 820

But, what if I set the resolution higher (i.e. from 1366x768 to 1920x1080)? Will it damage something? – Lloyd Dominic – 2018-06-19T02:50:32.217

Don't think so, specially in modern monitors. This was a problem in earlier analogic electronics, where you could trip over limits or cause damage by using something in the limits for a long time. Nowadays it's very unlikely to cause damages by setting parameters. – woliveirajr – 2018-06-19T14:04:31.890

Is that this message ?....yes it is indeed that one. have you ever tried it yourself? – user1062760 – 2012-08-20T15:04:36.423

Didn't tried that recently, don't have any CRT monitor anymore... in the past, no graphic card gave that message to me. – woliveirajr – 2012-08-20T15:17:33.140

Hmm.. So should I conclude that it wont leave any permanent effect on either TV or Chipset? – user1062760 – 2012-08-20T15:25:53.737

Yes, you can conclude that. Take the specifications of the TV (or if it's the PAL system, take the PAL specifications) and use them on the chipset... – woliveirajr – 2012-08-20T15:38:42.203

Asked: 2012-08-20T14:18:11.087

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Active: 2012-08-20T15:15:34.847