New Computer, Old monitor?

We have a 12 year old monitor, Samsung SyncMaster 570V tft. My hubby wants to use it for our new computer which has 2.09 Hz processor and Windows 8. Old XP computer has 1.6 Hz. I'm thinking if the cord plug hasn't been changed, surely the monitor is outdated for use on a new system. The plug is 15 pin D-sub digital cable, yes this is info from owners manual! Appreciate any info to help me convince him to get new monitor. Thanks

 

Your old monitor will work ok with the new computer. That said, you would get a better image on the screen by using a newer monitor that has a DVI (Digital Visual Interface) port.

It's a little bit confusing that you have stated that your owners manual refers to a 15 pin D-sub plug as a digital cable?...A 15 pin D-sub cable is a VGA (Video Graphics Array) analogue cable... not digital.

Digital cables are generally speaking better. But of course you do need a digital port on your computer, be that either on the motherboard its self, or via an added graphics card.

The bottom line...yes, get a new monitor that has a DVI port. Check out the link below for an explanation of the differences between VGA and DVI.

http://www.diffen.com/difference/DVI_vs_VGA

Hope this helps you out...

 

Sorry, I was mistaken about the cable. On checking the book again, that was the connector to the monitor, not the CPU.
Yes, the old XP has VGA card. I just wanted to be sure that we had a monitor to use with new computer, and plan on buying new monitor as soon as possible. I would not like to see hubby get his new computer home and not be able to use it until we could come up with money for new monitor. Thanks for the quick reply and link for explanation. Nice of you. Technology moves on, and we're trying to keep up as finances allow.
Thanks so much for your help.

 

Carols sis, there is also the possibility that your new computer has an HDMI port which is, at least theoretically, a step up in quality. First check the owners manual for the HDMI port and then look for a monitor that has HDMI. But Pse Franks's advice is also good. I'm just trying to give you a choice.

 

I would believe Pse Frank is correct but there may be one more factor here as I had a 12 year old Crt monitor this week that simply did not work on a new custom built Windows 7 pc,
probably because the onboard video did not have enough power to drive the old dinosaur so be careful with this approach as you might well have the same situation if you are using onboard video in your new pc, it
sure surprised me and I had to run back to the shop and get her a new LCD monitor as well to run the new system. Manufacturers have been downplaying power in usb ports and video ports for some time believing there are no more of the resource hungry monitors left out there.

 

Thankyou for your input Bill and Rich, some good points well made. But so as to not confuse CarolsSis there where a couple of things that I deliberately did not mention.

For the benefit of CarolsSis:

1. There is little difference, if any between a DVI cable and an HDMI cable as far as the picture quality goes.

Think of an HDMI cable as the same as a DVI cable, except it has the ability to also carry an audio signal. Few monitors have speakers built in, and most of us use separate speakers connected directly to our desktop towers. So we have no need for an audio passage to our desktop monitor. However, HDMI is the way to go if you want to connect your TV to your computer.

2. CarolsSis...you told us in your opening post that your old monitor was and is a TFT monitor, so you will not have the same problem that Rich had with his customers CRT monitor. A TFT monitor is
essentially an LCD monitor, but has a faster response time and mostly better reproduction of colours. The image is always sharper on the screen as well. If you check out the prices of TFT's against basic LCD's you'll find that a TFT monitor is more expensive. Nearly all computer monitors sold these days are TFT's.

 

Good catch PSE Frank I missed the TFT on the first post in forgot there were TFT monitors 12 years ago though once again those older monitors did use 3 times the power the new ones do today so it is still a possibility power could be an issue but a very remote one at that. I had that happen also one time where using a very old Tft monitor on a new system in an attorney's office, the monitor wouldn't work because the one power line going into his inner office was maxed with his old system and every imaginable printer both laser and inkjet, label makers, scanners and a copier. I added a new tower and no image on the monitor. I replaced the old HP monitor with a brand new LCD 23" Asus monitor and all was well on the advice of a guy I knew who is a networking pro but used to work for a major electric company in Fla. That one plagued me for a whole week. Somehow using the old monitor we maxed the power usable but then the lines going in there were old and the landlord was a cheap as they come.

 

Just to sort of reinforce something Frank said right at the start, if the new computer does have, and a lot are still being made with, the 15 pin D sub or VGA socket, the old monitor should work. If the mother board manufacturer fits that socket, they know there will be certain levels of power required.
If it will connect and work, it will get you out of the financial hole till you can afford something better.

Nev.

 

Absolutely I was saying try it but if it doesn't run then power might be the issue but by all means it should work.