Apologies, incredibly boring. I want a new screen for my PC – having got used to the nice big screen work gave me which lives on the dining room table, the poxy old one in the office looks way too small so I want to spring for a new one. Just a decent size, decent res, not needed for gaming or anything demanding. Any recommendations? It’s an old Dell Inspiration 3847 tower PC if that matters. Is screen compatibility a thing? Graphics card b*llx etc? Anyone still awake, advice welcome.
ATM – PC screen
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The only practical advice I can offer is even more dull than usual… I {ahem} acquired an old Dell monitor form work to use at home, which had both VGA and DVI inputs. Unfortunately my slightly less old desktop PC only had Display Port or HDMI outputs, so the monitor was useless.
So check what inputs the monitor has. DP is where it’s at nowadays, daddio.
I don’t know what the resolution of the graphics card is, but it is probably 60Hz refresh rate. There are some limitations with old HMDI cables – not all are good enough for 4k at 60Hz.
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz WHAT…oh! Sorry, nodded off there. Yes, it’s a boring subject. I tried my nice new big work screen with my 2013 macMini and it was actually blurred as the Mini couldn’t address the screen or something.
Good points though. I’d better have a look what my PC has. it’ll be a new screen so it should be OK zzzzzzzzzzzzz
Steve: A bit convoluted but you could use an HDMI to DVI cable. I have occasionally found that older DVI inputs don’t like newer inputs, possibly an EDID problem. With switchers, I sometimes have to change the colour space setting.
Yeah, I tried an adaptor cable but it didn’t work. So I sold the monitor on eBay and put the funds towards a new one.
Pretty sure that that Dell has an HDMI port, and that should do the job.
Got a perfectly serviceable Acer 21.5″ monitor (it’s all that would fit on the deskspace) for hundred quid from ao.com.
Larger ones are available (obviously) – was going to get a 23″ (around £120 I think?) but didn’t have enough space.
HDMI connection does the job for me …
Dell about 24 inch, “borrowed” from work, connects just fine to my work laptop (also Dell) or my 2013 Mac Mini using HDMI cable
I bought an Iiyama Pro Lite 27in widescreen monitor to use with a Mac laptop and Mac Mini and I now use it connected to a very elderly – 2006 – but capable Mac Pro. Monitor has HDMI and two other ports to connect to PC or Mac. I’m currently using it connected via HDMI and an adaptor into the Mac’s graphics card’s Mini Display Port. Nice picture, and can use it all day. My Iiyama’s obsolete, but I’ve had two and found them to be very pleasant to use for graphics work.
Oh, and every time you see the maker’s name on the screen, you can go ‘Iiiiiiiiiiiiyammmmaaaaaa’. I do, anyway…