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Help!!! with external monitor

3

3dflyboy1

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Jun 27, 2011
486
6
California, USA
I'm looking for an external monitor for my MBA, and so far I've narrowed it down to these three:

$180 23" http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236059
$140 23" http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824009266
$260 27" http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824116455

My question is this: which one will work best with the MBA? I'm leaning towards the 27", but will it work with a mini displayport->DVI adapter? Is the thunderbolt port the same as the mini displayport? This adapter: http://store.apple.com/us/product/MB570Z/A?fnode=MTY1NDA3Ng

If anyone knows of a 27" monitor for a better price, please let me know!! :D

Thanks!!!;)
 
A 260$ 27" monitor will always look grainy/pixelated. 1920x1200 or 1080p on 27" is atrociously low PPI.

Heck, even on 24" monitors, I find the PPI too low at 1920x1200 or 1080p.
 
Hp led 25"

I just bought the HP 2511x 25" LED HD monitor. It is incredible and a real value at $229.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/HP+-+25"+LED+HD+Monitor/1791143.p?id=1218291944678&skuId=1791143

Check out the reviews online and you will see that it is generally well regarded.

My comments: even illumination, instant on, great rich color representation, exceptional clarity, and my panel is pristine (no dead or stuck pixels). I think 25" is the perfect size - not overwhelming but not too small either.

I've used this monitor to play several games and the response time is excellent. Easy to assemble, sturdy base and attractive thin design that does not use a large footprint.

I've been lusting for the Apple 27" thunderbolt display and have visited it many times in the apple store :). I generally don't mind paying for quality products but couldn't justify the price of the TB display especially because I wouldn't use the built-in Gb ethernet, TB or USB ports. The HP is a fraction of the cost. I truly do not feel like I settled getting the HP - it has exceed my expectations in every way.

Hope this helps.
 
3dflyboy1 said:
thanks!!! :D I will look into that. Does the resolution seem ok? not grainy?
Click to expand...

I think the resolution is fine. It is not as good as the apple TB or iPhone 4S retina display ;-). Some grain visible but not enough to cause any eye strain whatsoever. To my eyes - it is very crisp overall. Maybe the good contrast level, glossy panel and LED backlight help. It is also very bright. I had to turn the brightness down from its factory default. Overall, I find the resolution of 1920x1080 in this size monitor to be very acceptable.

A side note - I had some concerns over the ability of the HD 3000 integrated graphics to power a display of this size. No issues or lag of any kind. It is quite capable of driving a display of this size.
 
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KnightWRX said:
A 260$ 27" monitor will always look grainy/pixelated. 1920x1200 or 1080p on 27" is atrociously low PPI.
Click to expand...

This is completely inaccurate. If you use the display's native resolution it will look fine.

It could definitely look a sharper at a higher resolution, but there is absolutely nothing wrong with 1080p @ 27".

Does your HDTV look grainy and blurry? No.
 
ezramoore said:
This is completely inaccurate. If you use the display's native resolution it will look fine.

It could definitely look a sharper at a higher resolution, but there is absolutely nothing wrong with 1080p @ 27".

Does your HDTV look grainy and blurry? No.
Click to expand...

I would not agree with the absolute statements either of you made, but there is a big and very noticeable difference between a 2560 x 1440 27" panel and a 27" 1920 x 1080 panel, and the relative costs reflect that.

If the OP has a way to go somewhere and look at monitors in both resolutions before buying that might be a good idea. Although, from his comment it sounds like the higher end monitor might be out of his price range.

You don't watch HDTV three feet from the screen like you do a computer monitor, so that is not really a valid comparison.
 
ezramoore said:
This is completely inaccurate. If you use the display's native resolution it will look fine.
Click to expand...

If you use the display's native resolution, it's still atrociously low PPI which is what leads to the "grainy/pixelated" look. Using another resoution than the monitor's native one results in blurriness.

ezramoore said:
It could definitely look a sharper at a higher resolution, but there is absolutely nothing wrong with 1080p @ 27".
Click to expand...

Sure, if you're half-blind. 83 PPI is just low and that's pretty awful to a lot of us.

ezramoore said:
Does your HDTV look grainy and blurry? No.
Click to expand...

That's because I don't sit 2 feet away from it and use it at native resolution (notice you're the first one to talk about blurry, I said pixelated and grainy). I sit much farther away from my TV than I do my monitor. This comparison is completely ridiculous.

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Weaselboy said:
I would not agree with the absolute statements either of you made, but there is a big and very noticeable difference between a 2560 x 1440 27" panel and a 27" 1920 x 1080 panel, and the relative costs reflect that.
Click to expand...

I don't think the OP is wanting a 2560x1440 monitor. Though at 1920x1080, there is really no advantage to a 27" monitor unless you plan to also use it as a HDTV for your room. Frankly, I'd rather get a 21" monitor at the same 1920x1080 resolution and just get that much better sharpness out of the added PPI.

----------
mrdm said:
A side note - I had some concerns over the ability of the HD 3000 integrated graphics to power a display of this size. No issues or lag of any kind. It is quite capable of driving a display of this size.
Click to expand...

GPUs don't know about the size of your monitor, only the number of pixels it needs to push out. And as far as pixel pushing goes, it's been years since GPUs have actually been challenged at displaying a desktop and its app's frame buffer.

Unless you're talking about running demanding 3D games at a monitor's native resolution, there is just no issue with GPUs today.
 
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KnightWRX said:
Frankly, I'd rather get a 21" monitor at the same 1920x1080 resolution and just get that much better sharpness out of the added PPI.
Click to expand...

I think your advice is sound here. OP can get a better quality display at 21" and it will look better than the low res. 27".
 
I agree the DPI is low, but I guess the OP should just go take a look at some of the monitors he is interested in side by side. There is a huge market for large 1080p, and not a lot of complaints from general consumers.

If you are a nitpicker, a videophile, or graphically-oriented professional, I am sure that most consumer screens are sub-par.
 
Yes, I am on a budget here. A $1000 Thunderbolt display is not really an option. ;)

On another note, how is streaming for these monitors? Most of the ones I'm looking at have 2ms or 5ms response times, but will it work for a game? That's one of my concerns, as it will be much better to play Assassin's Creed on a 22-24" screen. :D

----------------
Edit: I'm looking at all these monitors:
Viewsonic 22" #1: http://www.amazon.com/Viewsonic-VA2...Monitor/dp/tech-data/B005B9A2DU/ref=de_a_smtd
Viewsonic 22" #2: http://www.amazon.com/ViewSonic-VX2...2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1323723802&sr=1-2

what's the difference? Is one better? :confused:

These too:
Viewsonic 24" #1: http://www.amazon.com/ViewSonic-VA2...1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1323723802&sr=1-1
Viewsonic 24" #2: http://www.amazon.com/Viewsonic-VX2...3?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1323724363&sr=1-3

Same question, which is better? :confused:
 
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At the price you're shopping, all you're looking at are TN panel monitors. Frankly, they all "suck" equally. Poor angles, discoloration when not viewing the monitor dead center but good response time for games, etc..

Go look at them in a store but do keep in mind that they aren't calibrated and in the end, pretty much all of them can be made to look the same. Don't over think such a purchase.
 
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3dflyboy1 said:
All I want is a simple monitor...I can't really justify spending more than $200. :eek:
Click to expand...

I wasn't saying you should. I was saying you're over thinking such a purchase. Just go ahead and buy whatever, it's all pretty much the same in the end.

My current external monitor cost me about 250$, though it has 2048x1156 resolution on a 23" screen (which is not too bad PPI wise, though I'd much prefer dual 1920x1080 21.5" monitors).
 
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