-- Posted by bigred23 at 6:03 pm on Feb. 6, 2007 So once again, my dad has decided I'm a computer genius and has elected me to figure out his computer. Guess what? I'm not a computer genius. So, he's decided that after he bought this reformatted Dell computer, apparently he's going to use his old computer anyway, but wants to use the Dell monitor. This is where you come in. Is it possible to put a Dell monitor to use with a nonDell computer? (I thought I heard something before that Dells can only use Dell products and accessories.) The monitor's a Dell VC-4 and the motherboard type thing is an ULTRA PRW-400. (This was the information I was given, so if it's REALLY wrong, it's not my doing.) If it can be used, I need a driver I can download for it, too. Any help is appreciated. -- Posted by samzkuul at 6:04 pm on Feb. 6, 2007 I've used a non-Dell monitor with a Dell computer...It works fine, dunno about other way around. Good luck though. -- Posted by deadwood83 at 6:05 pm on Feb. 6, 2007 Completely possible.  I have taken apart a Dell LCD and used it in a home built HDTV projector. -- Posted by Zw33K3RB0Y at 6:17 pm on Feb. 6, 2007 I'm 99.8% sure you should be able to use a Dell monitor that has a 15pin VGA cable with any other PC that has a 15pin VGA video card (most PC's have them). If it's a 29pin DVI monitor, then it should work with any graphics card or video output that has a 29pin DVI port. If Dell actually made their monitor exclusively for only Dell's, then they'd be dead by now. -- Posted by bigred23 at 6:35 pm on Feb. 6, 2007 Quote: from Zw33K3RB0Y at 9:17 pm on Feb. 6, 2007 I'm 99.8% sure you should be able to use a Dell monitor that has a 15pin VGA cable with any other PC that has a 15pin VGA video card (most PC's have them). If it's a 29pin DVI monitor, then it should work with any graphics card or video output that has a 29pin DVI port. If Dell actually made their monitor exclusively for only Dell's, then they'd be dead by now. I'll have to ask my dad about this. Thanks -- Posted by espresso8097 at 7:56 pm on Feb. 6, 2007 Yes, Dells and other monitors are fully compatible and Vise versa.  Hell, Ive used my NEC MiltiSync XE15 on dells and everything else (Until it finally broke last night).  And I have used A dell monitor on a Gateway with no repercussions. -- Posted by Kraahkan at 4:01 pm on Feb. 7, 2007 Quote: from bigred23 at 8:03 pm on Feb. 6, 2007 Is it possible to put a Dell monitor to use with a non-Dell computer? (I thought I heard something before that Dells can only use Dell products and accessories.) Well, I'm typing on a custom-built system while looking at a Dell CRT monitor left over from the system it replaced. Furthermore, Dell sells its own monitors separately from their systems all the time. With almost no exceptions, as long as the connection between your tower's video out and your monitor's video in match up, it will work. So your answer is yes. - Kraahkan - -- Posted by espresso8097 at 4:15 pm on Feb. 7, 2007 If it is some DVI or VGA difference there are connectors < $10 at Radio Shack. -- Posted by anthonykorsen007 at 10:26 pm on Feb. 7, 2007 In case you didn't have enough verification... I also am positive that as long as they have the same interface (VGA), it shouldn't matter. I also have a custom built computer... but to get everything set up, before I had the new LCD monitor, I used a 15" NEC CRT monitor off our 10 year old Packard Bell computer. It worked just fine... just the same way that a video game system can be plugged into just about any TV (again, it just has to have the right inputs, but basically all of them do). -- Posted by Fender at 4:00 am on Feb. 14, 2007 If it has an anolouge RGB connector, it doesn't matter if the monitor says Dell or Cowshitontoast, it's going to work. Brand names mean absolutely NOTHING. -- Posted by whimsy at 12:08 am on Feb. 18, 2007 Quote: from Fender at 4:00 am on Feb. 14, 2007 If it has an anolouge RGB connector, it doesn't matter if the monitor says Dell or Cowshitontoast, it's going to work. Brand names mean absolutely NOTHING. Unless the brands in question use proprietary connectors. However I haven't seen that personally and it would be pretty stupid.