Whats the best way to connect laptop to my monitor?

PapaLazaru · 28 Mar 2018 at 22:23

Noob question but I have always used DVI for gaming until very recently when I bought a new monitor with HDMI and Displayport, which I am now using Displayport for Freesync.

The good lady is getting headaches off her new work laptop, she is prone to vestibular migraines and wants to try my monitor with her work laptop. We already have two other monitors which are 'flicker free' (flicker is one of the causes of the migraines) but they are not perfect for her, so going to try mine. We have read that a higher refresh rate can help and mine is 144hz.

Her laptop only has VGA or MiniDP out and there are several options.

VGA to HDMI
VGA to Diplayport
MiniDP to HDMI
MiniDP to Displayport.

Which would be the best? I know it sounds daft but I am assuming that one of the two bottom options would be better? Does it matter? Just want the best end to end option without buying and trying 4 cables. I'm assuming the bottom option but any advice would be really helpful, she is having as torrid time.

Cheers

Mr Plow · 30 Mar 2018 at 00:10

Either of the bottom two should be fine with a slight preference for the minidp to displayport, at least you're keeping the signal fully digital that way.

Rroff · 30 Mar 2018 at 00:14

For higher refresh then miniDP to Displayport best option (and possibly only option) - though depending on the GPU (and possibly even cable) you might not be able to drive high refresh displays at higher resolutions - even today a lot of laptops can be tricky about that.

I find backlight hue also has an impact on migraines and a lot of laptops especially cheaper ones can be bad for that - likewise I found a lot of BenQ monitors bad for that as they often seem to bias towards having bright and vivid looking displays at the expense on ease on eyes and/or accuracy.

PapaLazaru · 31 Mar 2018 at 19:57

Thanks chaps, will for for what I thought and what you recommend and try miniDP to Displayport.

mrbazmondo · 1 Apr 2018 at 12:08

Avoid VGA. It'll be converting the digital in the GPU to analogue over the wire, back to digital in the monitor. This can introduce noise. Stick with a pure digital connection.