Best connection for MBP to external monitor?

Hi,

After a short delay, finally taking the plunge either today or tomorrow to order a new base model non-retina MBP 15".

The thread title sums it up really, I'm using an HP ZR2440w 24-inch external monitor (HP ZR2440w 24-inch LED Backlit IPS Monitor specifications - HP Small & Medium Business products) and would like to hook this up to the MBP when it arrives.

It has DisplayPort in, DVI-D and HDMI connections, so wondering which will give the best results.

Thanks

Just spoken to Apple support, and they say go for either HDMI or DVI, and the only difference is that HDMI carries sound as well.

This would be useful as I could hook it up to the TV as well, but hopefully the monitor display would be just as good with this rather than DVI.

To answer the question is your thread title - If monitor has display port then a mini-displayport to displayport cable will give you the simplest and cheapest connection.

But you go on to mention a TV, so if you're looking for most versatile connection then a mini-displayport to HDMI adapter and a HDMI cable is the way to go

mrplow said:

To answer the question is your thread title - If monitor has display port then a mini-displayport to displayport cable will give you the simplest and cheapest connection.

But you go on to mention a TV, so if you're looking for most versatile connection then a mini-displayport to HDMI adapter and a HDMI cable is the way to go

Click to expand...

Thanks for the reply

According to Apple the HDMI will give better quality so I'm thinking that's probably the way to go.

Just ordered my MBP, and will probably go for this cable option: Cable Matters Gold Plated Premium Mini DisplayPort to: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics

I'll check out the displayport options now though.

The quality, both being digital, will be identical between displayport and HDMI

mrplow said:

The quality, both being digital, will be identical between displayport and HDMI

Click to expand...

OK, thanks, I'll have a look at that.

Just checked the printed documentation (aimed at 5 year old children, it seems) and it didn't have a picture (they don't do words, too complicated) of an HDMI port and after hefting the **** thing off the desk and checking it appears the online documentation doesn't match my model. Thanks HP, nice one.

MBP arrived yesterday and adapter today. I bought this one in the end (they've just dropped the price to under £2!) Proxima Direct® Mini Displayport to DVI Adapter for: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics and it does the job fine. I notice the resolution isn't as sharp as using my PC with the monitor, but my old monitor/MBP seemed to have the same issues so maybe it's a limitation of the MBP card, or maybe they're just fuzzier than PC's.

HDMI cables can suddenly "go bad" for no really obvious reason. I'd avoid HDMI if I had any other alternative that wasn't a lot more expensive.

That said - I recently bought one of these to connect a computer to a TV - it's in my PO Box right now, but I'm at the ER with my wife at the moment. I'll pick it up on the way home.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003OC6LWM/?tag=macforums0e4-20

Mini DisplayPort to HDMI Adapter Cable, 6 feet : $5.17