Looking to get a monitor for MBA 11" + more

[Quackington]

Hi there,

I have both an 11" MBA (2011 model) and a Surface Pro 4. I currently use these without connecting to a monitor, as I mainly used my old 27" iMac for big screen use. Since that's ancient now (2006 model), I'm looking to get a monitor to replace it, which I can connect both the MBA and Surface Pro to, as well as my work laptop (HP Elitebook, which has a VGA port).

I'd like to get a 27" monitor, and I'm currently looking at these two from Dell:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dell-U2715...id=1543611431&sr=8-3&keywords=dell+27+monitor

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dell-P2715...d=1543611431&sr=8-14&keywords=dell+27+monitor

The first one is a lot more cheaper. I'm mainly interested in:

- Switch / console gaming
- Connecting to laptops for personal/work use: Macbook Air 11" from 2011, Surface Pro 4 and bog-standard HP work laptop (VGA input on the laptop)
- Potentially some PC gaming in future

I definitely want something aesthetically pleasing and ideally with the option to adjust the height. I like the look of both of these monitors but the first one is a lot cheaper. I have some questions about these:

- I guess none of these monitors come with any remote controls (assuming most don't), and I'd need to buy speakers for them?
- Would I be able to use one of the Dell ones linked in this post, for all of the needs I've listed above?
- There's no VGA port, so I'm guessing I'd need some sort of adapter for the HP Elitebook?
- Would I need any other accessories to connect the MBA / Surface?

Any recommendations on other monitors would be most welcome.

Thanks.

 

[Brammy]

I would go with the first one. I would be hesitant to hook at 2011 11" to a 4k monitor. I have an LG 4k that I hooked my 2014 11" up to just to see how it worked, but I usually have my 2015 MBP hooked into it.

 

[- rob -]

I had the 2015 MBA 11" hooked up to the P2715Q and it was a laggy moving between spaces. It felt a bit slow and not responsive compared to using the Apple Cinema display.

I have since upgraded to the new MBA and it is fantastic with the P2715Q, apart from some possible wifi signal interference issues I have not nailed down (see my thread on this today).

I also have the P27 hooked up to an Xbox one for 4k 60hz and it is pretty great for that too. Overall i think that's a great monitor but the macbook you have planned to hook up to it is underpowered, unfortunately.

 

[Quackington]

I would go with the first one. I would be hesitant to hook at 2011 11" to a 4k monitor. I have an LG 4k that I hooked my 2014 11" up to just to see how it worked, but I usually have my 2015 MBP hooked into it.

Thanks. The cheaper model, the U2715H was my first choice due to more connectivity ports.

I had the 2015 MBA 11" hooked up to the P2715Q and it was a laggy moving between spaces. It felt a bit slow and not responsive compared to using the Apple Cinema display.

I have since upgraded to the new MBA and it is fantastic with the P2715Q, apart from some possible wifi signal interference issues I have not nailed down (see my thread on this today).

I also have the P27 hooked up to an Xbox one for 4k 60hz and it is pretty great for that too. Overall i think that's a great monitor but the macbook you have planned to hook up to it is underpowered, unfortunately.

Thanks for the feedback. Thankfully I'm probably not going to get the 4K monitor, though it'd be nice to be futureproof for now I guess. I like that the other model has more ports. Did you find out what was causing the interference issues, and a fix for it? Also, what is your sound set-up for your monitor - do you have speakers plugged in?

If there are any other 27" monitor recommendations (any brand except HP please), I'd be open to it. Ideally need a decent number of ports and built in height adjustment. Thanks.

 

[- rob -]

Thanks. The cheaper model, the U2715H was my first choice due to more connectivity ports.

Thanks for the feedback. Thankfully I'm probably not going to get the 4K monitor, though it'd be nice to be futureproof for now I guess. I like that the other model has more ports. Did you find out what was causing the interference issues, and a fix for it? Also, what is your sound set-up for your monitor - do you have speakers plugged in?

If there are any other 27" monitor recommendations (any brand except HP please), I'd be open to it. Ideally need a decent number of ports and built in height adjustment. Thanks.

I did not resolve the signal issue except to move the MacBook Air away from the monitor.

It primarily affected hdr 4K @ 60hz data coming off an Xbox nearby. But I do think there is some kind of WiFi interference as well.

I got these speakers recently and am generally happy with them. Edifier R1280DB Powered Bluetooth... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0719C132V. I got the optical for an Xbox one x to use w the same 4K monitor.

Only thing I don’t like about them is they don’t hook up to an external sub. I have been running them directly out the MacBook headphone jack.