Why I'm still using a 14 year-old Dell monitor

PCs are each a passion of mine and my literal job, so I’m fortunate sufficient to spend time with a few of the newest and best {hardware} on the planet. And but sitting alongside my VR PC with a Radeon 6950XT and my take a look at bench with an RTX 4090 and Core i9-13900K in it, I even have a 14-year-old Dell monitor. It’s the oldest piece of on a regular basis know-how I personal, and I don’t plan to exchange it any time quickly.

Right here’s why I’m nonetheless utilizing my beloved Dell UltraSharp 2408WFP in spite of everything this time.

It was rattling good in its day

A press photo of the Dell Dell UltraSharp 2408WFP.

No piece of know-how can survive so long as this one can, with out having a agency basis. Launched in 2008, the UltraSharp 2408WFP is a 24-inch, Full HD (1920 x 1200) monitor with a (then) “quick” response time of 6ms, a 60Hz refresh charge, and a strong and versatile stand. It has HDMI, DisplayPort, VGA, S-Video, Part, and Composite inputs, it’s rated for 400 cd/m2 brightness, and has a USB 2.0 hub, in addition to a card reader.

None of that will appear to be a lot now, however this was a reasonably top-spec monitor for its time, and you’ll nonetheless see all of the glowing evaluations at CNet, PCMag, and PCWorld — amongst others. The web site I purchased it from even has the unique product itemizing web page nonetheless up. It’s not in inventory, although, I’m afraid, although you possibly can at all times ask to be notified if extra are available in if you happen to’re feeling optimistic.

The $600 or so I paid for it was nicely price it on the time, and contemplating what I’ve put it by means of over time, I say I’ve had my cash’s price.

I’ve used it for all the pieces

The ports on the back of an old Dell UltraSharp monitor.

You’ll be able to chart my use of this monitor by means of its varied connector choices. Once I first began utilizing it as my essential gaming show, I used to be nonetheless utilizing DVI-D connections to my then-blazing Intel Q6600 gaming PC. Over time, it transitioned to taking part in second fiddle to extra gaming-focused essential shows, however I continued to DVI-D for a while — even swapping over to a DVI-D to DisplayPort converter partway by means of the early 2010s to increase that cable’s utilization that bit longer.

I’ve used it to play Monster Hunter Tri on the Wii, utilizing the Composite connection, Xbox 360 video games over part, used an HDMI cable to make it an exterior show for my spouse’s gaming laptop computer, and most lately used it for some 3DMark runs whereas testing the RTX 4090.

I’ve strapped this monitor right into a automobile seat to take it to LAN events and picked dried paint off its display screen when a twig can misbehaved throughout some overzealous Warhammer portray. I’ve dropped it, banged it, scratched it, it takes some time to start out up, there are coloration band traces that seem on it not less than as soon as per week, and the ability cable falls out if you happen to a lot as take a look at it.

However it’s nonetheless a stable show. And I nonetheless use it each day.

It’s ok

The back of the Dell UltraSharp 2408WFP.

We do lots of evaluations right here at Digital Developments. Quite a lot of monitor and show evaluations, particularly. We’re fortunate sufficient to get to see all the most recent and most fun applied sciences, from QD-OLED to mini-LEDs, to ultra-high refresh charges. However as thrilling as all that’s, as a lot as I need a few of it for my essential gaming show, for the secondary monitor? None of that basically issues.

Yea, my UltraSharp 2408WFP isn’t the identical dimension or decision as my 27-inch essential gaming show, so my mouse jumps up once I transition between displays. It’s comparatively gradual, not that colourful, and it’s beginning to break down in just a few locations. However as a secondary show for internet looking, checking emails, having a YouTube video taking part in whereas I work, and working benchmarks whereas I write, it’s completely sufficient.

I, like I’m positive lots of you, typically get wrapped up within the concept of the subsequent nice innovation over the horizon. I’ve liked taking part in round with the newest GPUs and CPUs from all the most important firms these components few months. I’m desperately attempting to not purchase one of many new QD-OLED TVs that my colleagues have been testing.

However I don’t want to exchange the previous Dell. I managed to check the 4090 on it this final week. And it’s acquired my headphone hook glued to its prime nook. I can’t eliminate that.