HDMI cables
 

OK so I want to add a larger monitor to my HP laptop. It has an HDMI port so EZPZ but I see cables as low as $7.99 and as high as $50. What's the diff?"

For that, buy a 3 foot Amazon or Monoprice cord for $7.99

The higher priced cords are (a) ripoffs or (b) designed for the very newest audio/video feeds, and will be labeled as such.

For a laptop, any old HDMI cable with work.

It would depend on the video system in your laptop and if it is a very high end "gamer" type of laptop then you would need a fast cable along with a flat screen that can display it. If it is just a run of the mill laptop then it will not matter. In the Dell laptop I bought it specified what speed HDMI cable to use so maybe check your user manual?
John

Nothing special really, I just need a larger monitor because you know I'm old and my eyes are weak.

Just get one long enough for the distance and don't worry about the high end. Keep it as short as practical.

HDMI is digital. There is no such thing as better 1's and 0's.

There are different standards for hdmi signals so an inferior hdmi cable may not pass 4K/60. But it probably will.

Anything rated for hdmi 2.0 should be fine.

Good can be independent of price.

A difference between cables is how well it can take max load across distance.
Another difference is how well the channels stay insulated from eachother when the cable bends.
If you're using a short cable on a straight shot, then a cable has to be beyond low quality and into straight up bad to not be useful.

Well this ain't working. I've connected my laptop HDMI to my desktop monitor HDMI but no joy. Under Settings/Display I see 2 screens but I can't make it appear. I can click and drag the screen off of my laptop but it doesn't appear on the external monitor. :confused:

Should have a setting for external monitor.

Probably a stupid question here.....but did you power off/on after making the connection?
Just a 'shot in the dark'

yup. and the laptop is showing two monitors I just can't extend or duplicate the laptop screen.

maybe I'm not connecting the cable properly? The laptop has only one HDMI port and I connected that to the monitors HDMI.

Might help? Assuming you're using Win10
https://www.digitalcitizen.life/connect-external-monitor-laptop-windows-10/

what about the monitors setting?

AHA! T'was the source setting, thanks fellas!!

Had to set the monitor to the HDMI1 or whatever port you have the HDMI cable plugged into?

Is this the part where we start to lambast you for being naive and ignorant?
Asking for a grumpy old man.

Yup but My desktop monitor has a series of hidden unlabeled buttons that contain the menu for source input.

Ignorant certainly but clearly this place has a cure for that!! :D