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    Dell U2711 Monitor - questions

    Discussion in 'Accessories' started by TSE, Dec 27, 2010.

  1. TSE

    TSE Notebook Deity

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    Alright, so I'm planning on buying the new refreshed Thinkpad X201 this summer along with a U2711 Monitor for college.

    Is the GMA HD in Sandy Bridge powerful enough to drive a monitor of this caliber? What exactly would I need (cables, adapters, etc.) to run this monitor, assuming:

    -The refreshed X201 still has JUST VGA

    or

    -The refreshed X201 has HDMI


    or

    -I buy an external graphics card that links to the expansion slot of the X201
    And also, if anyone knows, when is the best time/where to buy a new Dell monitor? I realized that on Black Friday the U2711 was going for $600, but I didn't have enough money then.

    Thank you!
     
    TSE, Dec 27, 2010
    #1
  2. mjbfyb

    mjbfyb Notebook Enthusiast

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    The only way to run a monitor with a resolution greater than 1920x1200 is displayport or dual link dvi. HDMI and VGA will not work. I'm pretty sure the Sandy Bridge GPU will be fine as long as there is displayport. I currently run 2 24 inch monitors at 1920x1200 with the non Sandy Bridge Intel HD without issue.

    Just a word of warning in the U2711. The pixel pitch is very small. Look at the 27 inch 16x9 vs 24 inch 16x10.
    http://www.displaywars.com/27-inch-16x9-vs-24-inch-16x10
     
    mjbfyb, Dec 27, 2010
    #2
  3. MidnightSun

    MidnightSun Emodicon

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    The refreshed X-series has a good chance of having digital video out, and that would almost certainly be DisplayPort, not HDMI. HDMI's max resolution is 1920x1200, I believe, while DisplayPort can handle higher resolutions. The current Intel GMA as well as the last-generation 4500MHD can handle 1920x1200+ resolutions just fine, so the new Sandy Bridge Intel GMA should output to that screen with no problems, assuming the output interface can handle it, as mentioned earlier.
     
    MidnightSun, Dec 27, 2010
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  4. FXi

    FXi Notebook Deity

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    While I have a U2711 and it is very good, I would think for college you'd appreciate something a bit smaller in the 24" category. The extra money can be saved for the many other needs you'll have being away at school.

    Is there some particular reason you have gravitated to something quite this large?
     
    FXi, Dec 27, 2010
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  5. TSE

    TSE Notebook Deity

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    Well....

    the 27" iMacs that are at my school with their gigantic resolutions have spoiled me... using other monitors is a PITA now.

    I am also going for a design degree, so good quality screens + as much resolution as you can get is needed.
     
    TSE, Dec 27, 2010
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