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Usually, yes—if the laptop can send video through a connection the monitor accepts. The $90 price alone does not identify the monitor’s ports or establish its resolution, refresh rate, or condition. Check the ports on both devices first; then choose a matching cable or a video-capable adapter.
What to check before connecting them
Look up the exact laptop and monitor models or inspect their ports. Identify the monitor’s video input and the laptop’s video output, then confirm that any cable or adapter supports the display mode you want. A USB-C-shaped port is not automatically a video output.
Microsoft’s external-monitor guidance describes common connection checks, while its USB-C troubleshooting guidance explains that the computer, display, and cable or adapter must support the relevant display Alternate Mode.
Which cable or adapter do you need?
| Monitor input | Laptop connection | What to use | What to verify |
|---|---|---|---|
| HDMI | HDMI | HDMI cable | Confirm the ports match and the cable supports the resolution and refresh rate you want. |
| HDMI | USB-C | USB-C-to-HDMI adapter, plus an HDMI cable if one is not included | The laptop’s specific USB-C port must support video output. USB-C connector shape alone does not guarantee it. |
| DisplayPort | USB-C | Compatible USB-C-to-DisplayPort adapter and DisplayPort cable | Confirm that the USB-C port supports DisplayPort Alternate Mode and that the adapter supports the desired display mode. |
| VGA | Another video output | A compatible video adapter, if available | Check both ends and the adapter’s resolution limits. Microsoft lists up to 1920 × 1200 at 60 Hz for its Surface USB-C-to-VGA accessory; that is a Surface-specific specification, not a universal adapter limit. |
Before buying a USB-C adapter, check the laptop maker’s specifications for the exact model and port. Microsoft says the computer, external display, and cable or adapter need to support the relevant display Alternate Mode; some USB-C ports do not provide the required function. See Microsoft’s Surface USB-C display-adapter guidance for its Surface-specific examples.
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Connect the monitor and choose how Windows uses it
- Connect the video cable or adapter between the laptop and monitor.
- Use the monitor’s controls to select the input that matches the connection, such as HDMI or DisplayPort.
- On the laptop, press Windows+P and choose a projection mode. Choose Extend for extra desktop space or Duplicate to show the same image on both screens. Windows also offers PC screen only and Second screen only.
Microsoft’s Windows multiple-monitor instructions describe these projection options.
If the monitor stays blank or Windows does not detect it
- Check that both ends of the cable are firmly connected.
- Confirm the monitor is set to the input you are using.
- Press Windows+P and check that the intended projection mode is selected.
- If possible, try another cable or another laptop video port.
- If you are using USB-C, verify that the specific laptop port supports the display Alternate Mode required by the adapter and monitor.
Microsoft’s Windows monitor troubleshooting steps include checking the connection and projection mode.
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What a $90 price cannot tell you about performance
Without the laptop and monitor models, their supported resolution, refresh rate, and compatibility cannot be determined from the price. Those depend on the devices and the cable or adapter used.
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