Hi
Apologies is this is answered somewhere else, I just found it difficult to find anything...

My hardware
MBPro 2008 model (not unibody), 2.4GHz, Intel Core 2 Duo, 4GB RAM, running OSX 10.6.8
External monitor - Samsung Syncmaster B2430 capable of full HD (connected with MBPro via DVI to DVI)

Problem
Resolution does not look optimal on external monitor - text is pixelated, images/pictures look fine
Monitor resolution set to 1920x1080
MBPro resolution set to 1440x900, I cannot set it any higher
Currently working with MBPro lid closed and external mouse and keyboard

The monitor is definitely full HD as I tried a windows PC with it and picture is crisp, a great deal better than with the mac.

What am I doing wrong?

Thanks in advance