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The Ultimate MacBook+PC Monitor Showdown

jamejone.github.io

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Re: The Ultimate MacBook+PC Monitor Showdown

#91

Post by ohm »

insertnickname wrote: post #26

I have an old Dell U2713HM, but text looks terrible on it when connected to my MBP. It looks fine with other computers running Windows or Linux, but not with the MBP for whatever reason. I already tried all the configuration changes suggested in various places around the Internet, but it doesn't make any difference. Is it possible it could be because I'm using a DisplayPort to USB-C adapter? I'm looking at buying a n…

Take a look at this guide

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/guide-fixing-external-m...

Re: The Ultimate MacBook+PC Monitor Showdown

#92

Post by wmf »

yeahgoodok wrote: post #88
wmf wrote: post #63

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Through a passive USB switch.

Do you have a sound bar or external speakers? If so, I assume you only have one of your devices connected to them? With USB-B the audio source is determined by whatever device is currently selected by the monitor. It's nice.

I used to use a cheap mixer[1] but recently I found some speakers with multiple inputs. It would be great if everything could just route through the monitor instead.

[1] https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002BG2S6/

Re: The Ultimate MacBook+PC Monitor Showdown

#93

Post by hokumguru »

yeahgoodok wrote: post #87
hokumguru wrote: post #84

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Solved easily enough with a usb switch behind the display, no?

Not really. How do you connect the PC and MacBook to the sound bar? If connecting both directly to the sound bar, you'll need to switch those too. So each time you want to switch between PC/MacBook, you'll have to: 1. Switch the video source on the monitor 2. Switch the USB destination on your USB switch 3. Switch audio source on your sound bar That's why upstream USB-B is so compelling. The monitor acts as a full KV…

Ah, in my setup I have a usb dac that connects to my switch which solves that problem - hadn’t thought of it without that.

Re: The Ultimate MacBook+PC Monitor Showdown

#94

Post by whatever1 »

yarcob wrote: post #73

In my opinion the best work monitor in the world is the built in monitor of the Surface Studio. It's a 28" 3:2 monitor, resolution is 4500x3000. Text is crisp, images are perfect, there's lots of vertical space. As an additional gimmick it has touch input and comes with a stylus. I wish that monitor was available as an external monitor.

There have been rumors for years that MS is working on a standalone surface studio monitor. Fingers crossed that now with HDMI 2.1 it will become a feasible project. Until recently, you would need DP 1.4 to push that many pixels, and unfortunately that connector was not abundant. HDMI 2.1 seems to be the standard that every panel manufacturer is pushing for high resolutions.

Re: The Ultimate MacBook+PC Monitor Showdown

#95

Post by nfriedly »

For LG monitors, the business version, when available, is identical hardware but with a longer warranty, often for about the same price. But, you can't trust their listed specs if they differ from the consumer model.

For example, the 34BK95U-W is identical to the 34WK95U-W except for the longer warranty. However, LG's website claimed the B varraint supported a 75hz refresh rate when I got it, but it only supports 60hz, same as the consumer model.

Similarly, LG's 43MU79-B only supports 7.5W of power output on the USB-C port despite https://www.lg.com/us/business/desktop-monitors/lg-43MU79-B still claiming it supports "60W PD". In reality, it's identical to the 43UD79-B. (I notified them of this over a year ago, but they don't seem to care enough to correct it.)

Shit like that makes me want to avoid LG entirely.

Re: The Ultimate MacBook+PC Monitor Showdown

#97

Post by tshaddox »

nlh wrote: post #85
turtlebits wrote: post #81

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Can you actually see a difference? I have slightly better than 20/20 vision with glasses and don't see a difference between 4k @ 14", 27" or 32". At this point 32" 4k is perfect for me, the only thing I'd wish for is improved panel. I have not seen the Apple 6k, but just picked up an M1 Macbook Air, it has best display I've seen (quite a bit better than my work 16")

I almost certainly can't see the difference between 4k and 5k (although it depends on the screen resolution - if the 4k screen is using some weird multiplier then everything is blurry and crappy). But TFA is looking at 1440p screens, which is 2560x1440 and is LoDPI (@1x) on a 27" screen. I can absolutely tell the difference on those and that's what I can't ever go back to. The LG 5K screen is 5120x2880 - same "size"…

The difference between 4K and 5K on the same screen size would just be the amount of screen real estate (essentially, that’s the real estate of 1080p and 1440p respectively) which you can definitely notice.

(If you’re using a non-integer scaling factor, that’s a different story, but I’ve always stuck to integer scaling factors.)

Re: The Ultimate MacBook+PC Monitor Showdown

#98

Post by ThePowerOfFuet »

nfriedly wrote: post #95

For LG monitors, the business version, when available, is identical hardware but with a longer warranty, often for about the same price. But, you can't trust their listed specs if they differ from the consumer model. For example, the 34BK95U-W is identical to the 34WK95U-W except for the longer warranty. However, LG's website claimed the B varraint supported a 75hz refresh rate when I got it, but it only supports 60h…

Re the power output, try a different cable.

Re: The Ultimate MacBook+PC Monitor Showdown

#99

Post by philistine »

yeahgoodok wrote: post #20
philistine wrote: post #14

I have the HP Z27 which I love for its one cable capabilities (it also works great as a hub) but I'm not gaming on the PC side, so I have no need for high hertz or 1440p.

I didn't include the Z27 because it has an awkward DPI for macOS, which I read about here: https://bjango.com/articles/macexternaldisplays/ It also doesn't appear to have an upstream USB-B port. How are you dealing with it?

I don’t need B, I use C.
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