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Nishi100

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
I've just bought a MBP 15" and am wondering if i can connect a 24 inch monitor too make it a extended display.

Can someone make a recommendation on what monitor (24 inch) display to buy?
and
Which connector to get so i get full resolution on the external display?
 
Of course.

What connector you need depends on what monitor you go for. Most monitors now use either DVI or DisplayPort (ones with HDMI should have DVI too).

Apple's 24" Cinema Display requires no adapter, but the likes of Dell and other manufactures that use either DisplayPort or DVI. So you'd need Mini DisplayPort (what your Mac has) to either DVI or DisplayPort.

Most likely, the adapter you'll need will be Mini DisplayPort -> DVI. Apple sells it for $20 or around that.
 
What LCD? You probably should google for suggestions on that question. I ordered a Dell U2410 for my new 15" MBP. You'll need an adapter cable to go from the Mac's mini-displayport to whatever your LCD has. The U2410 has a normal displayport so I ordered a mini-displayport to displayport cable (male-male). There are lots of options out there though.
 
It supports up to 2560 x 1600 on an external monitor which can be looked up at the technical specifications page Apple was so nice to put online for almost everyone to see.





Also the adapter depends on what monitor you get, but most likely you will use the miniDsiplayPort to DVI adapter, which can be had at the Apple Online Store, almost every Apple Authorized Reseller, or www.monoprice.com, which offers a cheaper alternative.


As we don't know what you want to view on that external monitor, we might not recommend you the best one for your needs.
Maybe you can tell us what you want to do with that monitor, or an alternative would be to use MRoogle, as this questions comes up every day or two.

http://mroogle.*************/MRoogle.gif
 
Thanks for the replies,

I would be using the 24" for:

  • a lot of Hd editing in after effects
  • Some Photoshop Work
  • Watching some Hd movies
  • (and casual stuff would be done on my MBP like, web browsing, documents etc.)

I was considering the Apple Cinema display, however I can get a lot of monitors for cheaper. preferably I would like, Samsung, Sony, Dell etc.
 
http://www.amazon.com/Hanns-HH251HPB.../dp/B002TR0M2I

Awesome price and awesome product, the reviews on amazon seem to be about defects out the box and not even about the 25" in question so whatever. I've had my 24.6" and wife uses 22" from them bought both in late December. Great success and quality out of these

Video inputs include 1 VGA port and 2 HDMI ports

To "see" in HD, on this screen, wouldn't I need a Mini Display-Port to HDMI cable, or can i just buy the Mini Display-Port to VGA (keeping in mind I want to "see" in HD).
 
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Check out TechBargains.com. Watch it for a few days because deals come and go. I was able to pick up a Dell 23" LCD for $149 including a 3-year advanced replacement warranty.

The monitor I have is the Dell S2309W, and I like it a lot.
 
To "see" in HD, on this screen, wouldn't I need a Mini Display-Port to HDMI cable, or can i just buy the Mini Display-Port to VGA (keeping in mind I want to "see" in HD).

I wonder this also.

I'm using an adapter to go from mini display to HDMI and am not getting full resolution on my external.
 
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