Dell Vostro 3450 (i5) does not run external monitors at 1920 x 1080

I was thrilled with my new Vostro 14inch 3450 i5, I could write here about all the things I really like about it, BUT...

I need to run it alot of the time with an external screen, mouse and keyboard and found to my surprise that the VGA port does not support 1920 x 1080 (which is the native res of my 24inch display).  I have had 3 other laptops in the last 3 years (long story) and they all have supported 1920 x 1080 fine, but not my new Vostro it seems.

There is patch on the Intel web-site for the Graphics chip which apparently fixes this, but even after carefully checking I was downloading the right patch, it would not install

There is the option in the factory installed controller (opened from the taskbar) to create custom resolutions but even after creating 1920 x 1080 and applying the screen res does not change and when I check later from the desktop (right click) it is still at 1600 x 900

Have had a fruitless day trying to contact someone in Dell about it (even though I have ProSupport package I could not talk to anyone)

Any ideas from the forum members?

Thanks

Guy Gampell

Well all my previous 3 laptops have been able to support 1920 x 1080, and weren't anything special, plus all Dells own 22 - 24 inch displays run at 1920 x 1080 (or x 1200), which means their own laptop does not support their own display devices

For me this is a deal breaker!  it never occurred to me that this would not work (driving my external display) since I have used so many laptops the same way and never given it a second thought, nor is a spec of supported display resolutions given anywhere in the Dell site for this laptop model.  1920 x 1080 is not an esoteric resolution that might need a high end laptop, the last few laptops I had were nothing special, and if this info is not given on the spec sheet, how am I to know when chosing one.

Don't know what to do now, Dell are impossible to talk to, despite paying for "prosupport" I could not find a single number yesterday to speak to someone one,  tried 3 different numbers, a) lines closed b) cut off after selecting menu for laptop/vostro  c) cut off a few seconds in to speaking to a person, mid sentence, and it happened twice!

Indeed that will be myt strategy, but today the three numbers I have result in as follows:

normal support line closed (only Monday/Friday)
Pro Support Line not working still (should be 24/7)

Pro Support Line (2) given to me yesterday that did get to Vostro support close (Monday to Saturday opening)

So this will be one I will pick up tomorrow morning

I will contact the sales team, it is such a shame because apart from this one issue, (a big one for me) this laptop has everything I could wish for, well made, high processor (i5), non reflective screen, 14 inch  (or 13.3 would be fine),  lots of USBs, DVD Writer, anti reflective screen, back lit keyboard, and may other great features.  People not using external display devices will never know of this limitation, but one thing I do is edit a lot of photos and running my external monitor at native resolution is a no brainer!

Guy