The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    MBP External Monitors?

    Discussion in 'Apple and Mac OS X' started by Douten, Sep 29, 2008.

  1. Douten

    Douten Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    6
    Messages:
    120
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Hi again,
    When I buy the new MBP, assuming prices remain relatively the same (lowered would be nice ;) I would have about $300~$400 left. I think I would like the invest that into an external monitor because mine is an old 17" VGA. Would that amount of money be suitable for a decent~good monitor upgrade?

    I'm looking for a 24" having composite/component input is a plus but by far not required. I've seen Acer P243WAid Black-Silver 24" which fits the bill, does anyone know if that's a good one? Any other recommendations you would give?

    One last question. 15" and 17" MBP performance on external monitor are mostly the same right? as in the 17" doesn't have some type of higher spec that allows faster HD video (like 1080) to render, etc.?
     
    Douten, Sep 29, 2008
    #1
  2. grahamnp

    grahamnp Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    42
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    The 17" MBP and the top spec 15" have a 512mb 8600m GT as compared to the 256 of the base spec 15". The extra memory helps when it needs to drive a higher resolution display, for example: it would run games at higher resolutions better. It also helps if you are using both the MBP's built it screen and ext. monitor simultaneously.
     
    grahamnp, Sep 30, 2008
    #2
  3. agentphish

    agentphish Notebook Geek

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    88
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    You can push a 30" display with a MBP.
     
    agentphish, Sep 30, 2008
    #3
  4. Douten

    Douten Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    6
    Messages:
    120
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Would a 256mb gfx card be able to play 1080hd movie smoothly? I'm not too concern with games. I'll play some yes, but I don't need it to be the max resolution of the 24" screen, I might just play it on the MBP's screen. If the 256 is adequate I'd be happy.
     
    Douten, Sep 30, 2008
    #4
  5. Xirurg

    Xirurg ORLY???

    Reputations:
    3,189
    Messages:
    7,375
    Likes Received:
    3
    Trophy Points:
    206
    yeap,it will,more memory doesn't make any difference with 8600gt since it is not powerful enough to use all memory
     
    Xirurg, Oct 1, 2008
    #5