1080p or 1440p

[Zoom7000]

I've just purchased a new PC and I'm looking for a monitor. I'll be using the PC to run 3 VMs alongside my day to day work. The question is, should I go for a setup of 2 x 1080p (1920x1080) monitors or go for 1 monitor at 1440p (2560x1440). I've been looking at the DGM IPS-2701WPH Pro IPS 27" (LG Panel) LED Monitor DP/HDMI/DVI/VGA 2560x1440 Speakers PC/MAC - Scan.co.uk. The main thing holding me off on getting the 1440p monitor is the price. However, I am inclined to getting it because I'll be getting a Retina MacBook Pro and it gives me better clarity if using it as an external monitor in addition to giving me more desktop resolution workspace than a 1080p monitor. However, should I just get 2 x 1080p monitors and save on the cost? Although this will take more physical space on my table.

[Norphy]

The pixel density on a 21" 1080p and a 27" 1440p monitor is roughly the same so in terms of clarity, the two will be similar if not identical assuming that they use the same panel technology. Obviously a pair of 1080p monitors will give you more pixels but a 27" monitor gives you more workspace on a single monitor.

 

It's hard to say. I'd prefer the 27" monitor myself.

 

/edit that's assuming that you're talking about 21" and 27" panels anyway. If you're talking about 27" 1080p monitors, I'd quote the great Ace Rimmer and advise you to drop that idea quicker than a jock strap infested with scorpions

Edited May 29, 2014 by Norphy

[sonofsanta]

Personally I prefer two monitors, for whatever reason it suits my mind better to have two explicitly separate areas rather than one big one. Having four locations for snapping windows is useful as well.

 

That said, we just bought a load of the DGM 27-inchers for a new room, having run one in Art for a few months as a test, and they're lovely monitors. Needs DVI-DL or DisplayPort to drive it at full res, and it's a completely glossy screen so if you're sat opposite a window it will do your head in, but it is a great (and colour accurate) monitor.

[Zoom7000]

Just placed an order on the DGM screen. My new office is rather small so I didn't really fancy going down the twin screen route. Let's see how it goes!

[Zoom7000]

So... I bought a Broadleaf One from @VeryPC, which I specified I wanted support for 2560x1440 resolution. Long story short, with a bit of miscommunication here and there, I ended up with a PC which has a Single Layer DVI-I port and only the HDMI supports the full resolution for my monitor. Question is, if I purchase a HDMI to DisplayPort adapter. Can I get the full resolution that way? Or do I have to return the monitor and find one that supports 1440p at HDMI (Prices don't look so good!)

[Arthur]

Which motherboard do you have in the PC? I assume you are using the Intel integrated graphics?

 

Does the computer definitely have a single-link DVI port (as opposed to the cable you are connecting to the monitor being single-link DVI)?

[Zoom7000]

The cable is definitely Dual Link DVI. The motherboard is GA-H87N-WIFI and it lists max DVI resolution as 1920 x 1200. And HDMI goes up to 4K

[Norphy]

Wouldn't buying an HDMI to DVI adapter make more sense? HDMI is effectively just DVI with sound piped over it.

[sonofsanta]

Can you not fit a £20 half height GPU in there? Not got a Broadleaf One so don't know what the chassis is like.

[Zoom7000]

Can you not fit a £20 half height GPU in there? Not got a Broadleaf One so don't know what the chassis is like.

 

Unfortunately the chassis has no room for expansion or expansion slots. I've RMA'd the monitor. I'll have to invest in a HDMI compatible model at a later date because the prices are far too high at the moment. Will have to settle for a 24" 1080p for now

[sonofsanta]

For £40 more ex VAT, an AOC Q2770PQU will run at 1440p over HDMI, DP or DVI-DL: AOC Q2770PQU IPS Quad HD 27" Monitor HDMI/DVI/VGA Height/Pivot Adjustable - Scan.co.uk (or AOC Q2770PQU 27 Inch WQHD LED Monitor | Q2770PQU if you need to buy on invoice, not credit card). Otherwise the same spec, except with added swivelliness and integrated USB hub.

[Zoom7000]

For £40 more ex VAT, an AOC Q2770PQU will run at 1440p over HDMI, DP or DVI-DL: AOC Q2770PQU IPS Quad HD 27" Monitor HDMI/DVI/VGA Height/Pivot Adjustable - Scan.co.uk (or AOC Q2770PQU 27 Inch WQHD LED Monitor | Q2770PQU if you need to buy on invoice, not credit card). Otherwise the same spec, except with added swivelliness and integrated USB hub.

 

Thanks for that. Btw, Scan do order by invoice too. Just email '[email protected]' and they'll process it for you. That's what I did with the order above.

[sonofsanta]

Thanks for that. Btw, Scan do order by invoice too. Just email '[email protected]' and they'll process it for you. That's what I did with the order above.

 

Never did know that. Cheers!

[Arthur]

For £40 more ex VAT, an AOC Q2770PQU will run at 1440p over HDMI

Would that monitor do 1440p @ 60Hz over HDMI using an Intel GPU?

 

www.notebookcheck.net/2560x1440-or-2560x1600-via-HDMI.92840.0.html

 

My Dell U2711 is artifically limited to 1080p over HDMI. This seems like a common problem with HDMI on 27" WQHD monitors?

[sonofsanta]

Would that monitor do 1440p @ 60Hz over HDMI using an Intel GPU?

 

www.notebookcheck.net/2560x1440-or-2560x1600-via-HDMI.92840.0.html

 

My Dell U2711 is artifically limited to 1080p over HDMI. This seems like a common problem with HDMI on 27" WQHD monitors?

 

The manufacturer's website explicitly states that the monitor supports it:

2560x1440 (HDMI/DisplayPort/Dual-link DVI),1920x1080 (Analog)

 

And newer motherboards seem to - not sure what @Zoom7000 has but some we've just bought support full res/refresh over HDMI:

Integrated Graphics Processor:

• 1 x HDMI port, supporting a maximum resolution of 4096 x 2160 @ 24 Hz / 2560 x 1600 @ 60 Hz
  
• *Support for HDMI 1.4a version.
  

[Arthur]

The manufacturer's website explicitly states that the monitor supports it

Maybe it's just Dell then?

 

 

I can't think of any reason why they would intentionally limit the HDMI 1.4 ports to 1080p. It doesn't make any sense!

[sonofsanta]

Maybe it's just Dell then?

 

I can't think of any reason why they would intentionally limit the HDMI 1.4 ports to 1080p. It doesn't make any sense!

 

Not just Dell - the Digimate that @Zoom7000 originally bought is the same, we're using them with DisplayPort to get the full res. One of the AOC's is arriving here on Monday (replacement for a DGM that had an iffy backlight, and they're out of stock so we're being sent a different model under warranty) so I can always test the HDMI resolution if anyone needs.

[Zoom7000]

I've got the Gigabyte GA-H87N-WIFI. The graphic specs are:

 

Integrated Graphics Processor:

 

1 x DVI-I port, supporting a maximum resolution of 1920x1200

2 x HDMI ports, supporting a maximum resolution of 4096 x 2160 @ 24 Hz / 2560 x 1600 @ 60 Hz

* Support for HDMI 1.4a version.

Support for up to 3 displays at the same time

* To set up a triple-display configuration, you must connect a D-Sub monitor using a DVI-to-D-Sub adapter.

Maximum shared memory of 1 GB

 

So yeah, it supports up to 4K on the HDMI ports, but only 1080p on the DVI. But your both right, I don't understand why the HDMI is limited on the DGM monitor either because the DGM website also lists it as HDMI 1.4, which should technically support 1440p.

 

Not sure if I'll bother with the AOC for now. Might just wait for it to become more mainstream and get another monitor at a later date when the prices are cheaper.

[sonofsanta]

Necro, so I can update for future Google warriors: whilst the DGM panels are fine when they work, DGM support is abysmal. We had two monitors (of 16) arrive without power bricks, and it took more than two weeks to get them sent. We've had another power brick fail since then, and a month later we're still waiting for its replacement. One panel has gone back for a problematic backlight - it went dark towards one corner - and another has just gone back as the board developed some kind of madness, wherein the display was covered with digital snow and flickered constantly, thus being completely unusable.

 

So: if you want to take the chance to save some money, working panels are great. But there's a not insignificant chance of having a problem, and having to deal with the slow-as-molasses support. We've been sent some AOC Q2770PQU monitors as replacements for faulty DGMs now, as our supplier aren't stocking DGM going forward after this grief (can't blame them), and they're great monitors: more inputs, no power brick (kettle lead straight in), 90 degree rotation of the panel, for not much more cost - £300-ish ex VAT.

[Bananas]

Get the 1440 I did. I didn't go for pixel density etc as the reason it just meant with those few extra lines of resolution you could get that little bit more on the screen at once. Got 2 IIyama monitors using a Geforce card and displayport works really well shame the CPU is a dog (Dell 380 with dual core pentium, ffs!!)