Help choosing an external display for an M1 Air

[rbf1138]

Haven’t bought a new monitor since around 2013. I’m planning on using this for casual browsing, GeForce Now gaming, and potentially PC gaming next year. I would like to stick with a 1440 27” for budget reasons (would prefer to stay under $300). What do I need to ensure so that the MacBook works well and looks good outputting to it? The monitor shortlist right now is the Dell 2724D and the MSI G274QPF-QD.

The Dell does not have a usb-c port. Do I understand correctly that I’d need to a. Use one usb output from the MacBook to go to the DisplayPort input on the monitor with a special cable and then b. Use the second usb port on the MacBook for a hub to get power, use a mouse, keyboard, etc?

Anything I’m overlooking here? Is there a “budget stretch” monitor option that would be a massive upgrade at not much more cost? Thanks!

 

[ChrisA]

A 4K Dell monitor will fit in your budget. I think you got the rest right.

 

[rbf1138]

A 4K Dell monitor will fit in your budget. I think you got the rest right.

4K in my budget won’t have a refresh rate over 60hz or Gsync, though. Geforce Now can take advantage of those things apparently. So I’m sort of left deciding between 1440/1ms response time/165hz and VRR vs. 4K and just 60hz at that price.

 

[ChrisA]

Refresh only matters for PC games. The Mac will never refresh faster than 60Hz, no matter what monitor you connect to it.

 

[rbf1138]

Refresh only matters for PC games. The Mac will never refresh faster than 60Hz, no matter what monitor you connect to it.

Scrolling and general window movement, video movement, etc wont look smoother on an external monitor that supports a higher refresh rate? Outputting to a monitor connected with DisplayPort 1.4 should allow for 1440/120,144,165hz and 4k at 120hz from the M1 from what I can find.

 

[MBAir2010]

I love my 25” BenQ 2K monitor that features a macbook mode.
the screen is sharp and works great with the mini and ipad.

they have others you might like.
and they ship, slow but no 3rd party vendor.

 

[rbf1138]

I love my 25” BenQ 2K monitor that features a macbook mode.
the screen is sharp and works great with the mini and ipad.

they have others you might like.
and they ship, slow but no 3rd party vendor.

Maybe if I was doing design work but for gaming this doesn’t seem like the right option. 60hz refresh and 25” is less than I’d want for the price. I’m sure the areas it excels like color accuracy are excellent if that’s your priority.

 

[MBAir2010]

Maybe if I was doing design work but for gaming this doesn’t seem like the right option. 60hz refresh and 25” is less than I’d want for the price. I’m sure the areas it excels like color accuracy are excellent if that’s your priority.

they do hav other monitors....and made for Macs!

 

[ChrisA]

Scrolling and general window movement, video movement, etc wont look smoother on an external monitor that supports a higher refresh rate? Outputting to a monitor connected with DisplayPort 1.4 should allow for 1440/120,144,165hz and 4k at 120hz from the M1 from what I can find.

Maybe but your Mac will NEVER refresh faster than 60Hz. The graphic hardware will not go any faster.

It does not matter what the display port standard is, the Macbook air will never drive the refresh faster than 60 Hz

Apple specs say "... five settings: 60 Hz, 59.94 Hz, 50 Hz, 48 Hz, and 47.95 Hz. However, the M1 and M2-equipped 14" and 16" MacBooks Pro can use its ProMotion adaptive refresh rate technology to reach 120 Hz."

So even if you spend $$$ on a gaming monitor there is no option to set the refresh rate above 60Hz. (there is no "120" to click on, on your Mac. That said, you could buy a different Mac, like fhe Studio Mac or the 16" Macbook Pro and then it would go faster.

 

[rbf1138]

I’m getting closer…actually considering a Ben-Q 32” 4k/60hz now. I’m wondering if 32” is gonna be too big for my space. Does 27” 4k work alright or is that gonna just be an odd resolution to size ratio?

 

[ChrisA]

I’m getting closer…actually considering a Ben-Q 32” 4k/60hz now. I’m wondering if 32” is gonna be too big for my space. Does 27” 4k work alright or is that gonna just be an odd resolution to size ratio?

What you care about is "pixels per inch". Just do the math and see that you have about the same as on the notebook's screen. Apple defines "retina" resolution as over about 220pixels per inch for an LCD computer monitor and about 300 for an iPhone. (phones are held closer than monitors) Going by that, a 32" screen needs 6K pixels across the long edge of the screen. A 27" screen is just OK at 4K but 5K is better and that this is what the last 27" iMacs had.

The point of a retina screen is that a person with normal vision can not see the pixels. With my 27" 4K screen I can see the pixels only if I get really close with my nose 6 inches from the screen. But my eyesight is not so good.

So it al depends on pixels per inch and the viewing distance. So TV sets can have lower resolution if you view than from across the room. 4K "works" on those huge screens only because you are 10 feet away

 

[MBAir2010]

I’m getting closer…actually considering a Ben-Q 32” 4k/60hz now. I’m wondering if 32” is gonna be too big for my space. Does 27” 4k work alright or is that gonna just be an odd resolution to size ratio?

My 25” is perfect for the desk, any other larger size would block the ipad, mcbook air.
the desk is 48” wide.

hope this helped, BanQ make great monitors!
slow shipment from them tho, perhaps another vendor?