battle of the $199 LCD's

[Dravic]

I need some insight.

will be used mostly for gaming and web browsing.

Buy the Acer AL2051W for $199. This is prob the better gaming monitor

or the best buy deal for the Acer X221WSD more room 20" vs 22" but maybe some minor ghosting, and 6-bit TN panel.

both are $199 for me as i have $30 at Best Buy to blow.





I'm currently dual screening a 5:4 Mag lcd for browsing, and Veiwsonic G90fb CRT for gaming. I would be nice to go 2 LCD's but could see myself just replacing the 5:4 lcd also if gamign is goign to suffer.

 

[Ika]

The 2051W will look much better. The size difference doesn't really matter, since they're both the same resolution. Actually, the 20" will look sharper due to a smaller pixel pitch.

 

[Engraver]

I wouldn't get a 6-bit panel, unless you've had one before and can live with it. Colors are usually pretty awful, even with that hi-frc blending crap.

 

[JustaGeek]

I've been very happy since March with my ACER X221WSD.

Games like Far Cry and especially Quake 4 on Ultra Quality settings look pretty insane!

 

[MarcVenice]

That cheap acer has some awfully slow response times. I would like to hear from someone that owns one, and see if ghosting does or does not happen. The deal is awesome, the screen is pretty good, but how good is it for gaming?

 

[Sinn707]

Acer AL2051W. And it's $10 cheaper already. $189.99, it would be wrong NOT to buy an 8-bit 20" panel for this money. The same model in Canada costs over $300

 

[njdevilsfan87]

I paid $230 shipped for the AL2051W (tax sucks). I only play STALKER, and a bit of Oblivion & Far Cry sometimes, so I can't really comment much on ghosting - but I'm not noticing any. I didn't notice any on my old 12ms LCD, so my POV may be skewed by the fact that my brain was used to an older and slower monitor. And also, like someone mentioned above, any 20''WS offers a sharper picture then a 22''WS, which is the main reason I decided to stay in the 20'' selection.

Having a TN panel is like using onboard sound. Sure the TN may look alright, but you don't realize what you are actually missing until you actually see for yourself.

After owning a sound card I will never use onboard sound again. After using this monitor I will never, ever buy a 6-bit TN panel again.

 

[JustaGeek]

I do not see any ghosting, even playing fast games like NHL 07.

Perhaps sometimes you'll see it a bit whan the puck is shot really fast, but I play it at 1600x1200 (no 1680x1050 option in NHL 07 - hope NHL 08 fixes that) and I do not see any decrease in image quality at this non-native resolution.

It is also HDCP compliant.

The X221WSD also has a very sturdy stand - I've seen complaints about the "shaky" stand from owners of the AL series. This model fixes that.

 

[emelius]

the AL2051W has a much better panel with much better viewin' angles...

also, if anything, the stand is too stiff...not sure where you heard that it was shaky...it really isn't...i own one & am tryin' to get a 2nd...

 

[JustaGeek]

I did not mean that as a critique - it refers to some models that the hinge is placed at the bottom:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...%2fm2+700%3a1+-+Retail

I think that the 22" screen is better though (I do not know the panel's technical specs - I only know that the graphics look pretty good, and there is no ghosting).

22" Wide Screen Monitor's height is actually about 1/8" smaller than 19" standard screen ratio. That's why I believe that this is the optimal size - about 3.5" wider, with about the same height as regular 19".

 

[n7]

Acer AL2051W = far superior LCD

 

[JustaGeek]

Originally posted by: n7
Acer AL2051W = far superior LCD

Absolutely beautiful monitor.

It has 8ms response time though - is it enough by today's standards...?

 

[n7]

Originally posted by: JustaGeek

Originally posted by: n7
Acer AL2051W = far superior LCD

Absolutely beautiful monitor.

It has 8ms response time though - is it enough by today's standards...?

Find me someone who truely sees ghosting on that display, or if they do, who finds the ghosting bad enough to make the panel not worth buying.

...

Exactly


Okay, i didn't give you adequate time to hunt down enoughowners of this, but really, response times & ghosting are a far overblown issue, if it even is an issue at all these days.

 

[*kjm]

I have the AL2051W and play LOTR online and love the panel. With all this talk of ghosting I have loaded up four FPS games I used to play and gave it a run.

BF2= looked good to me and I didn?t see any ghosting.
Doom3= looked good to me and I didn?t see any ghosting.
Far Cry= looked good to me and I didn?t see any ghosting.
HL2= looked good to me and I didn?t see any ghosting.


I only played each for about a half hour but they all looked great to me?

 

[Dravic]

Acer AL2051W won out


same resolution, true 8-bit panel, good reviews for gaming.

now $189 on the egg

 

[*kjm]

You will love it.

 

[CP5670]

Originally posted by: n7

Originally posted by: JustaGeek

Originally posted by: n7
Acer AL2051W = far superior LCD

Absolutely beautiful monitor.

It has 8ms response time though - is it enough by today's standards...?

Find me someone who truely sees ghosting on that display, or if they do, who finds the ghosting bad enough to make the panel not worth buying.

I can easily see it on much faster monitors, but the AL2051W is still overall way better than the others.

The way I see it, all LCDs ghost anyway and it doesn't make sense to try getting the fastest ones when you have to compromise a lot on other factors. A slightly slower one with better image quality (far better, in this case) is the way to go.

 

[TanisHalfElven]

Originally posted by: Engraver
I wouldn't get a 6-bit panel, unless you've had one before and can live with it. Colors are usually pretty awful, even with that hi-frc blending crap.

i disagree. most of the world (lcd using world atleast) uses TN panel to great success. they look great and are cheaper. quit spreading the TN hate.

OP if you can go see the 2 monitors in a store.

 

[Dravic]

Originally posted by: tanishalfelven

Originally posted by: Engraver
I wouldn't get a 6-bit panel, unless you've had one before and can live with it. Colors are usually pretty awful, even with that hi-frc blending crap.

i disagree. most of the world (lcd using world atleast) uses TN panel to great success. they look great and are cheaper. quit spreading the TN hate.

OP if you can go see the 2 monitors in a store.

I got to look at the Acer X221WSD at two different Best Buys. They look ok, but not as vibrant as the Samsung 226cw or HP w2207. I actually like the glossy screen, and i only play at night so reflections wont be an issue. Both of those are TN banels with the hi-frc. I'd rather have a true 8 bit panel, and the glossy screen.

if the 8ms speed is an issue, then i'll just keep playing my FPS on the CRT's, but all indications are that it will be fine.

 

[Dravic]

Originally posted by: Dravic
Acer AL2051W won out


same resolution, true 8-bit panel, good reviews for gaming.

now $189 on the egg

woot $3 for rush processing and it coming out of the edison warehouse.... overnight delivery on the cheap... out for delivery already... WS gaming for me tonight...

 

[trikster2]

> The size difference doesn't really matter

I laughed when I read this. "That's what she said"

Seriously I gave up 17" monitors in the 90's and 20" monitors are simply a stretched 17". Res might be the same but small is small even if your GF says it's not an issue......

According to FW BB has the 22" acer for $189 NR. Legendary Cheap ACER build of course.....