Jenn.Y

Q: External monitor for 2013 Macbook Pro Retina 13"?

I'm going to get a 13" Macbook Pro Retina 2013 model soon, and I was wondering if anybody knew of any good external displays that are under $300 I could use with the laptop? Preferably in the $100-200 range. I've been doing a little research, and it seems that a lot of people have problems with blurry text while using an external monitor with the retina macbook? I don't know much about external monitors, so I'd also like to know about the ports/adaptors I should use.

MacBook Pro with Retina display, OS X Mavericks (10.9)

Posted on Dec 15, 2013 1:46 AM

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Q: External monitor for 2013 Macbook Pro Retina 13"?

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  • by LowLuster,

    LowLuster LowLuster Dec 15, 2013 3:02 AM in response to Jenn.Y
    Level 6 (12,074 points)
    Dec 15, 2013 3:02 AM in response to Jenn.Y

    Any currently made, available monitor will work. You may need a Thunderbolt to Monitor Connection type adapter or just a HDMI cable but all monitors will work.

  • by Jenn.Y,

    Jenn.Y Jenn.Y Dec 15, 2013 10:51 PM in response to LowLuster
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 15, 2013 10:51 PM in response to LowLuster

    The thing is, I've been hearing about people finding that they get blurry text/bad quality display when they use external monitors connected to a Mac while using OSX? And for some, this issue was because of the type of adaptor they were using?

  • by steve359,

    steve359 steve359 Dec 15, 2013 11:00 PM in response to Jenn.Y
    Level 6 (14,032 points)
    Dec 15, 2013 11:00 PM in response to Jenn.Y

    If the conneector is a little loose, it can cause fuzzy text.  But my 2011 MBP has been running a Kanex MDP-to-DVI for almost 3 years to a Samsung, Acer and LG (at various times) monitor without issue.

     

    I would guess some people used "very off brand" connectors that are less-capable than the off-brand one I use.

  • by BobTheFisherman,Helpful

    BobTheFisherman BobTheFisherman Dec 16, 2013 6:58 AM in response to Jenn.Y
    Level 6 (15,443 points)
    Dec 16, 2013 6:58 AM in response to Jenn.Y

    Jenn.Y wrote:

     

    The thing is, I've been hearing about people finding that they get blurry text/bad quality display when they use external monitors connected to a Mac while using OSX? And for some, this issue was because of the type of adaptor they were using?

    Well I guess if you are going to use a vga adapter you will not get the best results that your monitor is capable of. Any monitor will work. Look at the monitor specifications and input ports it has.Use the highest resolution input port and get the corresponding adapter. For example if your monitor has a dual-link dvi input port and a vga input port, get a dual-link dvi adapter and use the dual-link dvi input port.

  • by Grant Bennet-Alder,

    Grant Bennet-Alder Grant Bennet-Alder Dec 16, 2013 7:02 AM in response to Jenn.Y
    Level 9 (61,083 points)
    Desktops
    Dec 16, 2013 7:02 AM in response to Jenn.Y

    A TV set is not a Monitor.

     

    A TV set is made for moving pictures of arbitrary, imprecise shapes.

     

    A Monitor has the additional capability of displaying fine parallel lines without vibrating, sharp smooth-sided text, sharp-edged objects in contrasting colors without "blooming" of strong colors into each other. That is why monitors are more expensive.

  • by Jenn.Y,

    Jenn.Y Jenn.Y Dec 17, 2013 1:21 AM in response to BobTheFisherman
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 17, 2013 1:21 AM in response to BobTheFisherman

    So which input ports are best to use? I know there's ones like HDMI and DVI, so which is better to use?

  • by BobTheFisherman,

    BobTheFisherman BobTheFisherman Dec 17, 2013 6:25 AM in response to Jenn.Y
    Level 6 (15,443 points)
    Dec 17, 2013 6:25 AM in response to Jenn.Y

    Jenn.Y wrote:

     

    So which input ports are best to use? I know there's ones like HDMI and DVI, so which is better to use?

    Modern monitors will likely have HDMI, DVI, and/or Display Port inputs. If you use HDMI then you will not need an adapter since your computer will have a HDMI port out. You will just need a HDMI cable. If you use DVI you will need a mini display port to DVI adapter and a DVI cable. Dual Link DVI is best but you will need a mini display port to Dual Link DVI adapter and a Dual Link DVI cable. If your monitor has a Display Port input you could use that.  vga will produce bad results compared to all the digital ports.

     

    Your selection depends on the monitor you get. To get the best display resolution use what provides the monitor with video at the monitor's native resolution.

     

    Use Google to compare the specifications of the different ports https://www.google.com/search?q=display+port+comparison+dvi+hdmi+dual+link

  • by brsm1990,

    brsm1990 brsm1990 Dec 17, 2013 7:00 AM in response to Jenn.Y
    Level 1 (44 points)
    Mac OS X
    Dec 17, 2013 7:00 AM in response to Jenn.Y

    I have indeed had this problem with a philips hi resolution 2560 x 1080 ultra wide "brilliance" monitor.  There doesn't appear to be a fix.  On the other hand I used older cheaper standard flat panels without an issue.  I think your best bet is to take your macbook to the store and test it before your buy.  Depending on what the monitor in question offers your options are going to be: HDMI, Thunderbolt to DVI, Thunderbolt to Thunderbolt or Thunderbolt to Display Port. 

     

    Thunderbolt, Display Port, DVI in that order would be my preference.  Stay away from VGA - any new monitor these days, even a cheap one should have a DVI.  Another issue besides messed up fonts is that some monitors are detected [incorrectly] as an HDTV 1080p @ 60 Hz even when they are capable of higher resolutions when connected by HDMI

  • by 2xbass,

    2xbass 2xbass Mar 31, 2014 6:54 PM in response to Jenn.Y
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 31, 2014 6:54 PM in response to Jenn.Y

    I can definitely say this is a problem and it is nothing to do with the cables. I have non-Apple monitors (an LG and a Samsung) that run 1920 x 1080 and the fonts like pretty crappy when driven from my MacBook Pro Retina through the buit-in HDMI and using the Thunderbolt - VGA dongle. If I drive these same monitors using the same HDMI and VGA connectors from my Sony Windows-based ultrabook the fonts are much, much sharper. In another thread somewhere I read about using some command at the command prompt to improve the font smoothing and I tried that and it didn't many much or possible no difference at all.

     

    I should also mention an additional problem: One of my monitors (the Samsung) can rotate 90 degrees to portrait mode. Although there is an option in the display preferences on OS X to rotate the display it does not work at all.

     

    I am beginning to think that I will have no choice but to buy one of these ridiculously expensive Apple Thunderbolt displays. I have to wonder if Apple deliberately made things suck on non-Apple displays to push people to buy their display.

  • by Awesomeness@,

    Awesomeness@ Awesomeness@ Mar 31, 2014 6:56 PM in response to Jenn.Y
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 31, 2014 6:56 PM in response to Jenn.Y

    you can use apples moniters they are allwaays great

  • by Grant Bennet-Alder,

    Grant Bennet-Alder Grant Bennet-Alder Mar 31, 2014 7:09 PM in response to 2xbass
    Level 9 (61,083 points)
    Desktops
    Mar 31, 2014 7:09 PM in response to 2xbass

    Analog VGA will always give you a (comparatively) terrible picture on modern Digital Monitors. Do not use it when you have ANY other choices.

     

    If any of your displays has a DisplayPort or Mini DisplayPort jack, that simple cable is your best bet (with Mini DisplayPort at the Mac end for the ThunderBolt/Mini DisplayPort jack).

     

    If you require a conversion to DVI, there is a step in the complexity and cost of adapters good for up to and including 1920 wide (Single-Link DVI), and displays Over 1920 wide (Dual-Link DVI).

     

    HDMI above 1920 by 1080 (1080p) can get weird and non-standard in a hurry.

  • by 2xbass,

    2xbass 2xbass Mar 31, 2014 7:31 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 31, 2014 7:31 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

    I agree digital is always better but this is not as simple as that. My Windows box looks much better with the same monitor and same cable and it's nothing to do with the video signal. It's entirely how the fonts are being rendered on the display. I also had the exact same problem using the HDMI output.

  • by brsm1990,

    brsm1990 brsm1990 Apr 1, 2014 5:57 AM in response to Awesomeness@
    Level 1 (44 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 1, 2014 5:57 AM in response to Awesomeness@

    Really?  "Great"?  And for only two to four times the cost of competiting monitors? 

     

    And then to add insult to injury Apple has the gal to claim that image persistence/image retention/ghosting/burn-in (or whatever you want to call it is) normal on IPS displays....

     

    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5455

  • by brsm1990,

    brsm1990 brsm1990 Apr 1, 2014 6:01 AM in response to LowLuster
    Level 1 (44 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 1, 2014 6:01 AM in response to LowLuster

    Any currently made, available monitor will work. You may need a Thunderbolt to Monitor Connection type adapter or just a HDMI cable but all monitors will work.

    That couldn't be more incorrect.   Both the current MacBook Airs and the Retina MacBook Pros have serious issues with some monitors. 

     

    Here is a specific example:

     

    https://discussions.apple.com/thread/5631589

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