How to output 1366x768 from laptop to LCD TV

[music fan SF]

My setup for picture slide shows:
Samsung LN-S3251D LCD TV with 1366x768 resolution

Lenovo laptop with Win XP pro, SP2, Intel Mobile 945GM Express mobile graphics chipset.

There is no DVI connection on the TV, so any link to the TV will be through the analog VGA cable.

I currently have them connected via VGA cable, at 1024x768, which is a 4x3 aspect ratio and thus leaves black bars on the side of the TV. This works OK, and I am very happy with how the pictures look on the TV. My old Canon powershot took 4x3 pictures, but that camera is broken and I am looking for a new one.

Since most new digital cameras take pictures with aspect ratios wider than 4:3, I am wondering what it might take to get my computer to output the natural resolution of the TV over VGA cable. The advanced options of the display control panel offer many screen resolutions and refresh rates, including 1920x1080 (which the TV won't accept), but not 1366x768. Samsung does not appear to offer windows drivers for their TVs. Intel has no answers on their knowledge base. Online forums offer a lot of discussion about this, mostly related to DVI digital connections between computers and screens, which I can't use.

Any out there know anything about this?

 

[mjhamre]

Most video cards (or in the laptop case, integrated video on the motherboard) will have some set of resolutions that are supported. When you say that the "advanced options" of the display control panel shows many resolutions, is that the "List all modes" button on the Adapter tab? If so, that is probably what you are stuck with. There is no easy way that I know of to get your laptop to output a resolution that is not supported by the video circuitry and/or the drivers. The only things I can think of are to try to get new drivers for the Intel chipset and see if they have added that resolution, or e-mail either Intel or Lenovo directly.

As a random note, I checked my Xbox 360 (which is what I use to do slideshows) and it does support 1360x768. I have it hooked up to my home network and it can browse pictures on my PCs (took a bit of work and some swearing in Microsoft's general direction). So if you were looking for an excuse to pick up a new game system...