u cannot display such a large resolution on a small monitor because it would be near immpossible to read so the manufactures only allow them to go up to a tested resolution. i have a 20" CRT monitor and i use 1200*1024 - to me it looks exactly the same as on my old monitor, which was a 15" monitor on 1024*768 resolution but its just has more space. The greater the resolution the lower the frequency the monitor can display, personally i like to have atleast 85Hz so it doenst strain my eyes. hope that helps