Advice on Getting a new Computer Screen Please

Ms_Chocaholic

Hi
I have a (quite old) Dell PC and, since finding MSE, I am spending more and more time at the computer. The screen I have is fairly small and I was thinking of upgrading to a larger one.

I have a few questions

1. Will the connectors on all screens be the same, ie I can buy any make?

2. Are any makes better than others

3. Is there any particular makes you would recommend

4. What sort of price would I be looking at

Many thanks for your help

Ms Chocaholic xxx

nearlyrich

Presume you have a standard VGA connection on your current PC, you can buy any make, price depends on the screen size and widescreen is definately coming in cheaper than square at the moment. Have a look on some of the etail websites, Dabs.com, eBuyer etc and see how much screen you can get for your budget...the quality is pretty standard these days so check warranty terms etc to differentiate.

timbim_2

Before we can sensibly go anywhere, look on the back of your computer and see if you have a DVI port. This will make a difference, as DVI gives a much better connection, and it would be a shame to miss the opportunity if it exists.

Ms_Chocaholic

Many thanks for your replies. I will drag my PC tower soon and let you know re the DVI Port

Thanks x

macman

I doubt if an oldish Dell has a DVI port, most likely VGA only. You really need to decide what screen size you want (you don't say what your existing (CRT?) screen size is? You could be considering anything from 17" to 22" inch, £100 to £1,000, (what is your budget?) so you need to narrow down the options first. For example, do you want built in speakers?

Ms_Chocaholic

If I measure corner to corner (just the glass bits - I know it's not glass but you know that I mean ) on my current screen, it's around a 14"

The speakers I have are okay for what I use them for so I'm not bothered about getting a monitor with built in speakers

My budget - well given that I've no idea how much speakers are, I don't think I'd want to spend much more than £300 (is that realistic do you think)

Also if I buy a new monitor and the following week my PC dies on me, if I buy a monitor that connects to this PC, can I assume that it would fit a new PC okay

Thanks

Ms C x


CRT - is that flat - if it is, well that's what I've got

DCFC79

Ms_Chocaholic wrote: »

If I measure corner to corner (just the glass bits - I know it's not glass but you know that I mean ) on my current screen, it's around a 14"

The speakers I have are okay for what I use them for so I'm not bothered about getting a monitor with built in speakers

My budget - well given that I've no idea how much speakers are, I don't think I'd want to spend much more than £300 (is that realistic do you think)

Also if I buy a new monitor and the following week my PC dies on me, if I buy a monitor that connects to this PC, can I assume that it would fit a new PC okay

Thanks

Ms C x


CRT - is that flat - if it is, well that's what I've got

yes if you were to buy a now monitor tomorrow say and in few months time or even a year the pc were to die your could buy a new base unit and connect the monitor to the base but you would have to make sure the base unit were to have a vga port on the back, vga port looks like this, you mention £300 so is that for speaker or for a monitor, £300 for a monitor is a little expensive imo and for speakers, it all depends what size you would like eg would you want to get a bigger screen eg 17" or 18" and regarding the make theres alot out there and yes any make would fit your base unit, just make sure it mentions vga in the specs

eg this 1 looks ok, its 19" TFT, £77.81 but then theres delivery etc on top so it might come to about £80

macman

No, CRT screens are the old bulky ones. The new ones are LCD (flat).

Ms_Chocaholic

Didn't realise they were so cheap ... will drag the base unit out tomorrow to have a look and then go from there

Thank you for your help, don't know what I'd do without MSE

Ms C x

DCFC79

Ms_Chocaholic wrote: »

Didn't realise they were so cheap ... will drag the base unit out tomorrow to have a look and then go from there

Thank you for your help, don't know what I'd do without MSE

Ms C x

but like i said it all depends what size you would like, a 15" would be cheaper but if you would want a larger screen then get 1, also have a look on other sites like dabs.co.uk, misco.co.uk, maybe tesco direct as they might have 1 on special offer, try aria.co.uk, also the brand can push the price up as well but a pc monitor is a pc monitor, ive got aonitor from lidl which has been pretty good for 3 years, if you find 1 you like then im sure if you were to post int on here for opinions then others would comment

np

RobTang

if you want to spend all your £300 budget you can get this monster 28"
http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/specpage.html?NOV-LCD28D

22" are probably the best for value/size. budget ones low as £100, to £200 for the premium ones

24" range from £160-£300

Comet does a 26" for £250 otherwise £300+