Help me pick an LCD

**EvilRick** · March 29th, 2007, 10:53 PM

I want to do at least 1280x1024 resolution and 8ms response.

I don't think it's going to matter whether it's 17" or 19" (maybe 20"), but I'm thinking 1280x1024 on a 19" is going to look too "Playskool-ish" if you know what I mean. I can't seem to find a 19" that will do 1600x1200 native. Most have been 1440x900 which just seems odd.

I'm not sure I want to do widescreen, but I haven't ever used one, so I'm not 100% ruling it out. The only ones I've seen do 16:10 ratio which seems odd since it's not the 4:3/16:9 standards.

I'm looking at $225 max from Circuit City.

[edit]
Here's what I'm looking at currently:

Proview PL713B2

Proview PL916S2

But like I said, I'm not sure about the 1440x900 ones because the ratio seems off.
[/edit]

Go . . .

**JPMiller** · March 29th, 2007, 11:23 PM

I'm not sure who actually makes their screens, but proview isnt actually top of the line..
I would look at the one I linked in a PM to you...
ViewSonic X Series VX2035WM
Its what I'm using, and Im just blown away by it...
I buy alot of LCD's and when I got this for a customer, I ended up giving him mine, and keeping this one...

**ruleofnike69** · March 29th, 2007, 11:33 PM

No doubt about it that Samsung they are offering at CC is a bad boy.
I have had great luck with the samsungs......I have had great feedback from the people who have bought samsungs from me.
Its not 1600 Resolution.......but 1440 x 900 is nothing to scoff about.
2MS.........hard to beat on that response time.

I love widescreen...........web pages fit so much better............games seem to work smoother......at least mine do.
And I have a tuner card in the pc.......so I watch tv as well as work........so the extra desktop is welcome.

**JPMiller** · March 29th, 2007, 11:37 PM

http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Samsu...oductDetail.do
this would be my pick

**EvilRick** · March 29th, 2007, 11:41 PM

Does the 2ms response time make text appear fuzzy?

**ruleofnike69** · March 29th, 2007, 11:52 PM

I can't answer that.........The closest I have had to that low an MS is a viewsonic 32 inch set I had that boasted 5ms. It was crystal clear on text but wasn't much of a television set........great monitor.......poor tv.........great for gaming........but not all that for watching the waltons.

That Samsung does have digital and analog inputs.
Honestly,
I wouldn't be afraid of it at all.

**EvilRick** · March 29th, 2007, 11:55 PM

I think I'm gonna go have a look at them to see. If they just had one and said; "Here, buy this." I'd be much happier. But no, now I have to decide. : \

**carl33p** · March 30th, 2007, 12:27 AM

Heres some at 1600x1200.
AOC 203P 20” Monitor
Planar PL2010M 20” LCD 700:1 8ms 1600X1200
SAMSUNG 204B-SV Silver-Black 20.1" 5ms

If you are buying from CC, definetly take advantage of comparing them in-store.

**Whir** · March 30th, 2007, 01:49 AM

Originally Posted by EvilRick

Does the 2ms response time make text appear fuzzy?

How do you put A to B with that question? Response time doesn't have much to do with the clarity of the monitor.

**EvilRick** · March 30th, 2007, 09:26 AM

Originally Posted by Whir

How do you put A to B with that question? Response time doesn't have much to do with the clarity of the monitor.

I read a review somewhere that said faster response times make text look fuzzy. Don't blame me, blame PCWorld.

**Losin sux** · March 30th, 2007, 09:30 AM

I am REALLY pleased with my Hanns G from Newegg. I didn't personally go with widescreen as I don't game much and most web pages I view don't support it. IMO that extra space on the right side would be wasted for MY use of the LCD. YMMV.

**Ryan220587** · March 30th, 2007, 09:32 AM

i would go with what jpmiller suggested. all the boys at work keep telling me that the viewsonic by far has the best picture from all that we sell (the 22 inch widescreen is amazing). i don't like the idea of built in speakers though, yuck. the viewsonics are definitely worth a look.

i have a benq 20" wide (16:10) currently and have had it for over 6 months now. never had a problem and would buy benq again. and yes, there is so much choice....i hear that every day when people come into our shop looking to buy screens...

you will probably only benefit from a faster response time if you do a lot of gaming. even then, personally i can't tell the difference between 5 and 8 ms, and the 4ms samsung at work is rubbish. most screens around the 19" mark (esp. widescreens, which now tend to be more popular than the traditional 4:3 screens now) have 5ms response. really depends what you'll be doing with the screen though. imo though, response time is worth nothing if the picture is no good.

**ruleofnike69** · March 30th, 2007, 11:42 AM

http://www.lcdtvbuyingguide.com/lcdt...onsetime.shtml

http://www.dansdata.com/askdan00009.htm

Based on these two articles that seem to be well authored, I would be looking for that lowered response time. Todays tools for lowering the MS........are aimed at picture improvement and are not truly accurate readings......More propoganda than fact. The tools to aquire the lowered time........are picture improving tools.

I'd go for the samsung.
I'm a trader.........that monitor looks like a cheap ride for me. I trade every 8 to ten months........It will trade out then for about what I paid.
Good respected brand name.....Good hedge......Good deal....that is my opinion.
I'd go for the samsung.

The Samsung 906BW monitor is priced at $207. at MWave with a $20 mail in rebate.
http://www.mwave.com/mwave/skusearch...iteria=4310322

I've bought several things from them.....they have been reliable.

**Whir** · March 30th, 2007, 05:28 PM

I've had a pair of Samsung 740B monitors for a while now. I haven't seen anything better in person (though I'm sure there are). Though their TVs suck, their monitors are great.

Based on personal experience, I would skip 19". Either get a 17", or a 20". 1280x1024 on a 19" looks grainy. I don't think I've ever seen a widescreen 19", so I can't comment on that.

1280x1024 isn't 4:3 either, so worrying about 16:10 seems a little pointless.

**KarmaKiller** · March 30th, 2007, 06:41 PM

I agree with everyone else. The Samsung is the way to go. I have a friend that picked one up a couple of months ago, and it is freak'n sweet. He doesn't game much so I really haven't seen what they look like in that aspect, but I'm impressed with the picture quality. He has the 20" widescreen. I normally don't care much for widescreen, but this looked really good.

**msterzer** · March 31st, 2007, 11:07 AM

Originally Posted by JPMiller

I'm not sure who actually makes their screens, but proview isnt actually top of the line..
I would look at the one I linked in a PM to you...
ViewSonic X Series VX2035WM
Its what I'm using, and Im just blown away by it...
I buy alot of LCD's and when I got this for a customer, I ended up giving him mine, and keeping this one...

I bought the VM 2235 about 3 months ago from Costco for $299. I love this monitor. Now they have one with an iPod dock in it. A worthless feature to me, however the price is still only $325 at Costco. This is a great monitor.

**EvilRick** · April 2nd, 2007, 09:15 PM

I got the 906BW and it looks great so far.

The widescreen is gonna take a bit of getting used to, but I think I'll manage.

**Sixpac_XP** · April 2nd, 2007, 10:11 PM

Originally Posted by EvilRick

I got the 906BW and it looks great so far.

The widescreen is gonna take a bit of getting used to, but I think I'll manage.

nice choice.. what resolution do you have it set as?

**EvilRick** · April 2nd, 2007, 10:15 PM

1440x900@75Hz.

It's very bright.

**Whir** · April 2nd, 2007, 10:27 PM

My 740s are like that too. I usually run them at 100/100 contrast, 20/100 brightness, and then drop the brightness to -17 on the ATI panel. That's how bright they are. Crazitastic.

20/100 is fine for gaming for me, but I put it back to default in the ATI panel, or the colors start to get icky. When I first got them I thought I wasted money. Then it occurred to me to turn the brightness up a little from the desktop settings. Made all the difference.