Acer Laptop compatible with external 4K monitor?

[shurkan2]

Hello everybody,

I am considering to buy an external 4K monitor for my Acer Aspire A715-71G-74S7 laptop. However I am not sure, if my laptop is capable of outputting a 4K signal.

I have an integrated Intel(R) HD Graphics 630 and a GeForce GTX 1050 Ti.
I have one HDMI port. Is that port connected to my 1050 Ti or to the integrated card?

Thanks,
Lucas

 

[DeusoftheWired]

I have an integrated Intel(R) HD Graphics 630 and a GeForce GTX 1050 Ti.

Just look up the specs of the Intel HD 630. You’ll see it’s capable of resolutions slightly above 4K and UHD at 60 Hz.

https://www.intel.de/content/www/de...n-intel-processors/intel-hd-graphics-630.html

Sorry, misread the question.

If the Acer engineers actually connected the HDMI output not to the 1050 Ti but to the iGPU, that’d be bonkers. Can you test a 4K/UHD monitor in some electronics store nearby? Friends, family, relatives, school, work, nobody with a 4K/UHD TV on which to test?

 

[shurkan2]

Okay thanks @DeusoftheWired, I thought that I read that a graphic card needs to support at least hdmi 2.0 for a 4K monitor to work with it.

So the hdmi port goes to my integrated graphics card?

 

[DeusoftheWired]

I thought that I read that a graphic card needs to support at least hdmi 2.0 for a 4K monitor to work with it.

You don’t necessarily need HMDI 2.0 for 4K/UHD. Although you’re limited to 30 Hz with 4:4:4 chroma, you can use 4:2:0 chroma and still reach 60 Hz. That’s the end of the line with 1.4, though, so use a decent cable that’s not too long. Have a look at this nifty table: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HDMI#Refresh_frequency_limits_for_standard_video

So the hdmi port goes to my integrated graphics card?

Since Acer doesn’t even publish datasheets for their products and their manuals are a joke, it’s impossible to tell from the outside. The only thing left is trial and error.

 

[shurkan2]

Ah okay, but 4:2:0 is still better image quality than usual Full HD, isn't it?

But can the mainboard decide which graphics card will handle the output to the hdmi port? I don't want to buy a monitor and might have to send it back again

This might be interesting. Its the system settings of my NVIDEA graphics card. According to the images it looks to me, that the hdmi port is connected to the 1050 Ti.

Ergänzung (12. März 2020)

I just got the idea to connect an old full HD monitor and got the following information. So that would mean I can use any 4K monitor also with 4:4:4, correct?

 

[DeusoftheWired]

Ah okay, but 4:2:0 is still better image quality than usual Full HD, isn't it?

They’re two different things. 4:2:0 is a value of chroma subsampling.
FullHD, UHD, and 4K are just video resolutions.

The difference between 4:4:4 and 4:2:0 is hardly noticable, though. Given the choice between 4:4:4 @ 30 Hz and 4:2:0 @ 60 Hz, I’d always choose the latter. Only choose 4:4:4 if you plan on really colour-sensitive photo/video editing.

But can the mainboard decide which graphics card will handle the output to the hdmi port? I don't want to buy a monitor and might have to send it back again

Sorry, there’s just no way to tell by the manual and data given on Acer’s site alone. :I The reasonable thing to do for Acer’s engineers would be to connect the HDMI output to the 1050 Ti. It’s just that these guys don’t always do what’s reasonable but mostly what’s cheaper. So …

This might be interesting. Its the system settings of my NVIDEA graphics card. According to the images it looks to me, that the hdmi port is connected to the 1050 Ti.

Given the phsysical form of both outputs, yeah, sure looks like it.

I just got the idea to connect an old full HD monitor and got the following information. So that would mean I can use any 4K monitor also with 4:4:4, correct?

Unfortunately not. The information displayed for this monitor doesn’t say anything about the chroma subsampling or refresh rate when used with 3840 × 2160.

Try setting the refresh rate of this monitor to 30 Hz just so you know what it feels and looks like. It’s considered to be awkward and disgusting for most computer work but if you’re okay with it, go for it and use it with 4:4:4.


As mentioned above, do yourself a favour and try with a 4K TV beforehand. Better to be safe than sorry.

 

[shurkan2]

Unfortunately not. The information displayed for this monitor doesn’t say anything about the chroma subsampling or refresh rate when used with 3840 × 2160.

But when plugging in the Full HD monitor I can see, that it is connected to my 1050 Ti. Wouldn't that mean, that I can supply the monitor with the max output that the 1050 Ti can support?

Ergänzung (13. März 2020)

Also I found the following information on the manufacturers site: https://www.acer.com/datasheets/2017/4876/A715-71G/NX.GP9EV.005.html