Hard Light Productions Forums

Off-Topic Discussion => General Discussion => Topic started by: Triple Ace on May 11, 2008, 09:05:33 pm

Title: Recommend me a monitor
Post by: Triple Ace on May 11, 2008, 09:05:33 pm
I am looking for a nice LCD monitor to replace my current 19 inch CRT headache producing heater of a monitor. I am not looking to spend much too much but I don't want some cheap thing either. I am hoping to get something that is at least 22 inches and has at least a 1680x1050 resolution.
Title: Re: Recommend me a monitor
Post by: Scuddie on May 12, 2008, 03:22:35 am
A couple years back, the BenQ FP241W series was Creme De La Creme as far as LCD monitors went.  They weren't cheap ($1300 US), but they were hands down, the best consumer 24" 8 bit panels you could buy.  Even today, they sell for pretty high on eBay.  It's really a shame that their lower sized LCD panels aren't nearly as good, though.  And actually, I have no idea what the successor to that panel is, but I would imagine it's not as good :blah:.
Title: Re: Recommend me a monitor
Post by: Fineus on May 12, 2008, 05:06:34 am
(http://www.modelshipmaster.com/products/civil_war/monitor.gif)
Title: Re: Recommend me a monitor
Post by: Flipside on May 12, 2008, 05:09:06 am
:lol:

I'd rather not have a monitor that spent it's entire life one lurch away from sinking :p

This is a better Monitor:

(http://www.desdanova.com/bryce/images/whitestar.jpg)
Title: Re: Recommend me a monitor
Post by: Mefustae on May 12, 2008, 05:14:38 am
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/2/2a/The_Monitor.jpg)

Check. Mate.


Edit: You know you're in trouble when mods and admins are spamming your thread!

Anyway, to be slightly helpful, I recently picked up an ASUS MW221c. Sweet little 22", hi-def deal. Very nice, especially given that it was replacing a 6-year old 15" CRT. :D
Title: Re: Recommend me a monitor
Post by: Fineus on May 12, 2008, 05:26:10 am
Well ****.
Title: Re: Recommend me a monitor
Post by: Flipside on May 12, 2008, 05:42:03 am
We're on topic though, after all, they are Monitors :nervous:

Edit: To be honest, I need a new Monitor myself, using a 5-year old CRT and a KVM switch between the two computers, but the monitor has a habit of 'blinking' which is damn annoying. I think it might well be the switch, but I can't find any way to stop it :(
Title: Re: Recommend me a monitor
Post by: colecampbell666 on May 12, 2008, 01:34:44 pm
Just wait for CP. I hear that the LG monitors are good.

And avoid anything with a super-low response time (below 6ms), they are made with some kind of cheap material.
Title: Re: Recommend me a monitor
Post by: Jeff Vader on May 12, 2008, 01:40:04 pm
Correct me if I'm incorrect, but doesn't a superfast response time also result in horrible viewing angles?
Title: Re: Recommend me a monitor
Post by: Admiral_Stones on May 12, 2008, 01:42:19 pm
Get a nice jolly good iMac 24". If everbody starts *****ing again, you may as well remove the monitor from it.
Title: Re: Recommend me a monitor
Post by: FUBAR-BDHR on May 12, 2008, 01:43:56 pm
Been using a Viewsonic 27" LCD TV combo job for about 2 years now.  I don't know what the max res on it though.
Title: Re: Recommend me a monitor
Post by: CP5670 on May 12, 2008, 02:48:08 pm
Quote
I am not looking to spend much too much but I don't want some cheap thing either.

This is pretty vague. :p I can suggest some specific models if you give a price range.

Quote
And avoid anything with a super-low response time (below 6ms), they are made with some kind of cheap material.

What you're referring to is the TN panel technology. Practically everything in the 22" size is a TN. 8-bit panels are more common among 20" and 24" units.
Title: Re: Recommend me a monitor
Post by: Ransom on May 12, 2008, 03:07:06 pm
I can highly recommend the Samsung SyncMaster 226BW. 22", great colours and response time. Around $350.

I'm no connoisseur, though.
Title: Re: Recommend me a monitor
Post by: colecampbell666 on May 12, 2008, 04:36:15 pm
I can highly recommend the Samsung SyncMaster 226BW. 22", great colours and response time. Around $350.

I'm no connoisseur, though.
QFT. Although the 24" variety is only 350$ if you look around. It uses a TN panel though.
Title: Re: Recommend me a monitor
Post by: Thor on May 12, 2008, 07:16:47 pm
I own a pair of LG 22" beauties.  they're slightly different, but i can't practically tell them apart.  highly recommended!
Title: Re: Recommend me a monitor
Post by: Triple Ace on May 12, 2008, 07:49:12 pm
I can highly recommend the Samsung SyncMaster 226BW. 22", great colours and response time. Around $350.

I'm no connoisseur, though.

I saw that at Circuit City and I am considering it, but I would like to see my other options first. I have not seen to many LG monitors in the stores though. If I can avoid buying online I would like to. For a monitor or TV I would like to see what kind of picture it has in person. Also, why would a monitor with a lower response time be made more cheaply? I thought lower response times were better and have less ghosting.
Title: Re: Recommend me a monitor
Post by: colecampbell666 on May 12, 2008, 07:52:43 pm
I can highly recommend the Samsung SyncMaster 226BW. 22", great colours and response time. Around $350.

I'm no connoisseur, though.
I saw that at Circuit City and I am considering it, but I would like to see my other options first. I have not seen to many LG monitors in the stores though. If I can avoid buying online I would like to. For a monitor or TV I would like to see what kind of picture it has in person.
Like I said, and as CP (who is an expert, believe me) said, the TN panel will give you horrible viewing res, distortion on larger monitors, and sometimes a choppy picture. I'd go with a good 6ms LG.
Title: Re: Recommend me a monitor
Post by: Triple Ace on May 12, 2008, 08:37:37 pm
Ok, so a 8-bit panel is better right? So a 20 or 24 inch is more likely to have this than the TN panel? I'm just trying to get my facts straight.
Title: Re: Recommend me a monitor
Post by: colecampbell666 on May 12, 2008, 08:50:16 pm
8-bit is better, and any monitor with a response time of 6 milliseconds or more will generally not be a TN panel.
Title: Re: Recommend me a monitor
Post by: Triple Ace on May 12, 2008, 09:39:46 pm
I forgot to add my price range to the thread. I'm trying to keep it under $500.
Title: Re: Recommend me a monitor
Post by: Mars on May 12, 2008, 10:48:05 pm
This might take a little over $500
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b2/HMSMarshalNey.jpg)

In all honestly I'm using an ancient LCD with a maximum resolution of 1024X768 and 60Hz
Title: Re: Recommend me a monitor
Post by: CP5670 on May 12, 2008, 11:12:08 pm
With that price range, you may be best off getting one of the better 22" TNs for around $300. I would suggest the LG L227WTG-PF, which is available at Best Buy. It has a glossy coating and minimal motion blur and input lag for an LCD. I think the pros of the coating far outweigh the cons, but you should take your room's lighting setup into account before buying it.

The 24" 8-bit xVAs (or the excellent 26" DoubleSight IPS) are more around $700. I only know of one 8-bit 20" model that you can still buy, the HP LP2065, and there is a panel lottery going on with it. There are also several 24" TNs for $400-500, but the low viewing angle is an issue there and you'll get subtle color shifting at one edge wherever you look at them from. Note that the 24" models have a higher resolution, which looks better but also means that you have to upgrade your video card more often to keep up with it.

As far as the panels go, there are different advantages to all three types. TNs have low viewing angles and can't display the full 8-bit color space, instead using dithering and flickering methods to simulate it. This works well on still images but less so on moving ones. I can see the dithering prominently on Lightspeed's nebulas in FS2, for example. However, they also have lower motion blur and input lag in games than xVAs, to a greater degree than the response time numbers would suggest. IPS panels are 8-bit, have perfect viewing angles and are still almost as fast as TNs, but they're rare on consumer market LCDs these days and have somewhat worse black levels.
Title: Re: Recommend me a monitor
Post by: Hellstryker on May 13, 2008, 12:39:28 am
Everything good in life is either Immoral, Illegal, or Expensive and sucks in one way or another :P
Title: Re: Recommend me a monitor
Post by: Flipside on May 13, 2008, 04:33:45 am
Sometimes, that's the point...
Title: Re: Recommend me a monitor
Post by: Mongoose on May 13, 2008, 12:43:33 pm
Christ...these things are still that ridiculously expensive?  I was thinking about looking into an LCD at some point in the not-so-distant future, but screw that.  My 19" Dell CRT works just fine if it means saving me that much dough. :p
Title: Re: Recommend me a monitor
Post by: Triple Ace on May 13, 2008, 02:47:00 pm
My CRT works fine, its that it gets warm enough to heat up the room and it sometimes gives me headaches. LCD's don't give me headaches, besides my CRT only has a max resolution of 1280x1024, which would be alright if my graphics card was lower than the 8800GT I have. If you know any other place than Best Buy that has that LG one I'll look into it. I have issues with Best Buy.
Title: Re: Recommend me a monitor
Post by: Talon 1024 on May 13, 2008, 03:26:44 pm
I recommend not buying a TFT...  They can't really display black properly. :nervous:
Title: Re: Recommend me a monitor
Post by: colecampbell666 on May 13, 2008, 04:42:48 pm
I recommend not buying a TFT...  They can't really display black properly. :nervous:
Dude, all LCDs are TFT panels. I assume you mean a TN.
Title: Re: Recommend me a monitor
Post by: Hazaanko on May 13, 2008, 06:30:38 pm
http://store.apple.com/us/product/M9179LL/A?fnode=home/shop_mac/mac_accessories/displays&mco=MTI1NzM

Oh.  Yeah.
Title: Re: Recommend me a monitor
Post by: colecampbell666 on May 13, 2008, 07:37:23 pm
No! As soon as I saw apple.com, I stopped caring.
Title: Re: Recommend me a monitor
Post by: Ransom on May 14, 2008, 05:54:07 am
Why? Apple's displays are excellent.
Title: Re: Recommend me a monitor
Post by: Fury on May 14, 2008, 06:15:27 am
One thread to rule them all. (http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview.aspx?catid=31&threadid=2049206&enterthread=y)
I have an LG 227WT myself, I love it.
Title: Re: Recommend me a monitor
Post by: Wobble73 on May 14, 2008, 06:31:12 am
http://store.apple.com/us/product/M9179LL/A?fnode=home/shop_mac/mac_accessories/displays&mco=MTI1NzM

Oh.  Yeah.


Ermm...................wasn't the price range below $500????

Anyway, I'm still happy with my 19" T900 Compaq monitor  :). Saves on heating bills!  :lol:
Title: Re: Recommend me a monitor
Post by: colecampbell666 on May 14, 2008, 01:04:36 pm
Why? Apple's displays are excellent.
Oh, their displays are TOTL, but (some of) their ideologies are not. But let's not get into that.
Title: Re: Recommend me a monitor
Post by: Ghostavo on May 14, 2008, 03:00:18 pm
http://store.apple.com/us/product/M9179LL/A?fnode=home/shop_mac/mac_accessories/displays&mco=MTI1NzM

Oh.  Yeah.

http://us.lge.com/products/model/detail/computer%20products_lcd%20monitors_full%20line%20of%20lcd%20monitors_W3000H.jhtml

Exact same model. Basically, you're paying $350 more for... an Apple symbol instead of an LG.
Title: Re: Recommend me a monitor
Post by: CP5670 on May 14, 2008, 03:26:53 pm
Quote
Anyway, I'm still happy with my 19" T900 Compaq monitor. :lol: Saves on heating bills! :lol:

Many of the larger LCDs (24" and up) actually use a lot of power since the xVA and IPS panels need more powerful backlights. The 22" LCDs are typically 50-60W, but the 24" ones are in the 90-130W range, comparable to 21/22" CRTs, and the 30" ones are 150-180W.

So if you want something that doubles up as a heater, consider a 30" one. :D

Quote
One thread to rule them all. (http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview.aspx?catid=31&threadid=2049206&enterthread=y)

Can't go wrong with this. :yes:

Quote
Why? Apple's displays are excellent.

They're high quality and mostly use IPS panels, but there are very similar monitors available cheaper. You're partly just paying for the Apple styling with them.
Title: Re: Recommend me a monitor
Post by: Mars on May 14, 2008, 08:57:14 pm
Wow... both of those monitors cost more than my last car.

(yeah... before you say it... I already know)
Title: Re: Recommend me a monitor
Post by: Nuclear1 on May 15, 2008, 04:24:11 pm
I just bought a rather nice 24-inch LCD. Haven't had a chance to test it yet (haven't ordered the computer yet) but it's big. Only $500 too.
Title: Re: Recommend me a monitor
Post by: übermetroid on May 16, 2008, 08:19:56 am
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/2/2a/The_Monitor.jpg)

Check. Mate.


Edit: You know you're in trouble when mods and admins are spamming your thread!

Anyway, to be slightly helpful, I recently picked up an ASUS MW221c. Sweet little 22", hi-def deal. Very nice, especially given that it was replacing a 6-year old 15" CRT. :D

I thought the monitor went back in time and got stuck with the dinos.....
Title: Re: Recommend me a monitor
Post by: Triple Ace on May 16, 2008, 08:26:00 pm
So how would I tell the difference between a TN, VA, or IPS monitors if I had all three in front of me?
Title: Re: Recommend me a monitor
Post by: colecampbell666 on May 23, 2008, 02:12:53 pm
I don't know about the latter 2, but TNs have worse viewing angles and the picture can become distorted/have weird colors/flicker on them.
Title: Re: Recommend me a monitor
Post by: Triple Ace on June 28, 2008, 05:20:12 pm
Well I got an Lg Flatron W2252TQ a couple weeks ago and I was happy with it until today. All I did was wipe some fingerprints and dust off the faceplate and now it is all scratched up. It is noticeable when the light is on it. Can someone tell me why the faceplate on my new 300 dollar monitor scratches so easily?
Title: Re: Recommend me a monitor
Post by: Admiral_Stones on June 29, 2008, 01:38:28 pm
Today's Economy -> The make their products easy to breake so you buy a new one.

What happened to the times you just happily had a TV for like ten years :doubt: