driving a 27" monitor with a mid-2011 11" MBA?

[sir42]

I have a mid 2011 11" MacBook Air. Can this machine drive a modern 27" monitor? I was thinking of purchasing one of the displays recommended by wirecutter (either the HP Z27n or the Dell UltraSharp U2717D).

thanks!

 

[saulinpa]

Specs show your MBA supports up to 2560x1600 pixels so should be fine for either of those monitors.

 

[sir42]

Specs show your MBA supports up to 2560x1600 pixels so should be fine for either of those monitors.

thanks so much, do you know what cable I might need to make the connection between the MBA and monitor?

 

[saulinpa]

Looks like both monitors have a mini-DisplayPort (mDP) and regular DisplayPort
Something like https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B077ZPBM1B should work

 

[sir42]

Looks like both monitors have a mini-DisplayPort (mDP) and regular DisplayPort
Something like https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B077ZPBM1B should work

And is this cable preferable to a Thunderbolt? Sorry, just don't know what the difference is, and if there is one that sends a better signal. Thank you!

 

[saulinpa]

The port on your MBA is a combination mini-DisplayPort/Thunderbolt. Using a Thunderbolt cable you have to go to another Thunderbolt device or converter as there are electronics in the cable. Using a mini-DisplayPort cable it is just wires that go to the other end - that's what you want with a monitor that has a mDP connector.

 

[DeltaMac]

You just need mini DisplayPort to DisplayPort, or mini DisplayPort to mini DisplayPort.
The cable that saulinpa posted should work well.

 

[sir42]

Thanks all, just ordered!