Replacement monitor - supported specs

[ro250]

I'm looking to replace my existing 24inch home work monitor for a 32inch. I'm not looking to spend a fortune (c.£200) as it's just for work.

I currently have a Samsung HD screen 1920 x 1080.

Some of the screens I'm looking at are the same resolution as I have but some are 4k.

My work laptop is quite old - Dell 7390. I'm now wondering whether a higher refresh rate or resolution monitor will be supported / work? My display adapter is Intel HD Graphics 620.

I'm trying to avoid buying a screen which, at worst, won't work!

Any advice welcome - mainly how I check compatibility before buying.

(e.g. one I was looking at was https://www.currys.co.uk/products/acer-sa322qkbmii...

[Griffith4ever]

Your chip will drive 4k, as long as your Intel pricessor is 3rd gen or more (post 2012) - I've read that the earler gen chips integrated graphics didn't support 4k.

The max refresh rate of the monitor is irrelevent as that is dictated by the graphics chip. The monitor only limits the max refresh rate (as does the chip).

For work, it won't matter that you are pushing the chip to the max, just don't try 4k gaming!

You might also want to consider IF you want 4k in a 32" screen - it might be too small and you'll have to scale everything up (like icons and fonts) in Windows. I run ultrawide 34" (which is 4k across and about 1/2 4k down and you can't see pixels, and I have to scale windows up to around 125%.

2k screens are a nice compromise. I used x2 side by side before the ultrawide.

[ro250]

Griffith4ever said:

Your chip will drive 4k, as long as your Intel pricessor is 3rd gen or more (post 2012) - I've read that the earler gen chips integrated graphics didn't support 4k.

The max refresh rate of the monitor is irrelevent as that is dictated by the graphics chip. The monitor only limits the max refresh rate (as does the chip).

For work, it won't matter that you are pushing the chip to the max, just don't try 4k gaming!

You might also want to consider IF you want 4k in a 32" screen - it might be too small and you'll have to scale everything up (like icons and fonts) in Windows. I run ultrawide 34" (which is 4k across and about 1/2 4k down and you can't see pixels, and I have to scale windows up to around 125%.

2k screens are a nice compromise. I used x2 side by side before the ultrawide.

Thanks, that's really helpful. It's a 7th gen processor so all good there.

I did wonder whether 4k was a bit pointless and I don't want small text (although realise I can scale up).

Something like the Samsung Odyssey G5 at 2560x1440 might be better. Or is simply full HD going to be fine at 32 inch?

Still unsure on curved too!

[Mr Pointy]

You meed to take pixel density (pixels per inch) into consideration as if you raise the screen size but it has a resolution of only 1920x1080 then it will look very grainy as the ppi is low. I used to run 27" 2560x1440 screens & now have 27" 3840x2160 running at 150% scaling & it's a much better display. At 32" I wouldn't go with anything other than 4K: full HD will look really rubbish. You can get a 4K 27" from Dell for £228 or a 32" for £369 which I know is over your budget but you can always scale a high resolution screen down but you can't raise the PPI once you've bought it.

[james6546]

As above 1080 on a big screen will look terrible. I’d go for the highest resolution you can and scale it if you have to.

Curved screens are good, I’ve got a 34” curved ultrawide and it’s so good that my wife stole it and I had to get another one!

[wyson]

ro250 said:

I'm looking to replace my existing 24inch home work monitor for a 32inch. I'm not looking to spend a fortune (c.£200) as it's just for work.

Um, a monitor for work is precisely where I’d spend the money. Assuming you will be staring at it 8 hours a day.

More expensive monitors will be much kinder to your eyes.

I’d get the cheap out if it were an occasional use monitor.

Its a bit like saying, work want me to hammer up and down the motorways driving between cities all day, I don’t need a good car, a 1 litre Polo will do. I mean sure it will work, but wouldn’t you want a better car with a bit more power for that?

Edited by wyson on Saturday 3rd May 11:09

[clockworks]

I recently bought a new Mac Mini to replace an old iMac.

While waiting for my new screen (32" 4k BenQ) to be delivered, I plugged the Mini into a full HD 32" LG TV. It looked absolutely awful - very grainy.

Go for a 4k screen

[ro250]

Thanks for all the replies. I'm glad I asked.

There seems to be one 4k for quite a bit cheaper than the rest. I know it won't be amazing but is there anything fundamentally wrong with this?

https://www.currys.co.uk/products/acer-sa322qkbmii...

[Jinx]

ro250 said:

Thanks for all the replies. I'm glad I asked.

There seems to be one 4k for quite a bit cheaper than the rest. I know it won't be amazing but is there anything fundamentally wrong with this?

https://www.currys.co.uk/products/acer-sa322qkbmii...

VA panels can be a little washed out colour wise and viewing angles are not as good as an IPS or OLED. At 32 inches I think 4K isn't necessary and can cause issues with apps that don't scale well - 2K is the sweet spot for me at 32 inches.
For £200 - something like this one from Overclockers looks good.

[silentbrown]

Griffith4ever said:

You might also want to consider IF you want 4k in a 32" screen - it might be too small and you'll have to scale everything up (like icons and fonts) in Windows. I run ultrawide 34" (which is 4k across and about 1/2 4k down and you can't see pixels, and I have to scale windows up to around 125%.

You make it sound like this is a bad thing. It's not!

Most modern apps - and Windows handle this really well. You get the benefit of much sharper text and graphics, while eveything's still legible.

Most decent phones have native resolution significantly higher then 1920x1080 and that's on a 5-6" screen.

[Griffith4ever]

silentbrown said:

Griffith4ever said:

You might also want to consider IF you want 4k in a 32" screen - it might be too small and you'll have to scale everything up (like icons and fonts) in Windows. I run ultrawide 34" (which is 4k across and about 1/2 4k down and you can't see pixels, and I have to scale windows up to around 125%.

You make it sound like this is a bad thing. It's not!

Most modern apps - and Windows handle this really well. You get the benefit of much sharper text and graphics, while eveything's still legible.

Most decent phones have native resolution significantly higher then 1920x1080 and that's on a 5-6" screen.

I just find that even with Windows scaling some apps don't play ball, or a window within the app doesn't. It's no big deal though, I agree.

Personally, on a desk, I don't see the point of 4k resoulution on a standard format screen. Even on 2k I can't see pixels in text, its lovely and smooth, but the main driver for avoiding 4K unless you have good reason to want it is 2k is far, far easier on your graphics card. You can run games at max detail whereas 4k would bring the same card to its knees, all for a barely perceptible different at dekstop to chair distances.

[Digger]

Jinx said:

ro250 said:

Thanks for all the replies. I'm glad I asked.

There seems to be one 4k for quite a bit cheaper than the rest. I know it won't be amazing but is there anything fundamentally wrong with this?

https://www.currys.co.uk/products/acer-sa322qkbmii...

VA panels can be a little washed out colour wise and viewing angles are not as good as an IPS or OLED. At 32 inches I think 4K isn't necessary and can cause issues with apps that don't scale well - 2K is the sweet spot for me at 32 inches.
For £200 - something like this one from Overclockers looks good.

This thread may be very costly for me

I've now got my beady little eye on this 1440p G-Synch monitor to switch out from a 1080p Dell 27" S2719H

https://www.overclockers.co.uk/lg-32-32gs85q-b-256...

[bunchofkeys]

OP, if you've not already bought a screen, may I recommend Elekdirect

https://www.elekdirect.co.uk/product-category/comp...

This it the outlet for AO.com, but you can find some cracking deals. It may save you a couple of quid if you're using this for work.

I recently bought a laptop and two screen from them. Priced marked down because the box was opened and not pristine.
The items were perfect.

[ro250]

bunchofkeys said:

OP, if you've not already bought a screen, may I recommend Elekdirect

https://www.elekdirect.co.uk/product-category/comp...

This it the outlet for AO.com, but you can find some cracking deals. It may save you a couple of quid if you're using this for work.

I recently bought a laptop and two screen from them. Priced marked down because the box was opened and not pristine.
The items were perfect.

Cheers, will take a look.

On the general search, I realised my son has a 32" 2k monitor (I thought it was 4k). He uses it for gaming and school stuff. I was more than happy with the quality so think 2k looks viable. Glad I asked as I think I'd have been unhappy with an HD one.