Best 17'' LCD for Gaming?

[gunf1ghter]

I'm finding it harder and harder to justify close to $1000 for the Samsung 171P when there are more and more good 19" displays on the market for under $1000.

 

[gunf1ghter]

Can someone PM me for the Compaq 20% off coupon? I've checked around and can't find it

 

[GetInMyFatBelly]

http://www.pcstats.com/articleview.cfm?articleID=1046

Here's the rave review...

 

[gunf1ghter]

I really don't know about that... they gave it an 85, said that it was good but in the contrast test had problems differentiating between the 1% and 7% gradient white bars. For $950 I would expect the thing to be perfect (seeing as there are more and more good 19" LCD's at or below that price).

 

[BMW330ci]

<< Apex, are you talking about the X9G? Do you have first hand experience with one? Where is one for "just over $800"

I am seriously considering buying a 17-19" LCD in the next month or less. I was really thinking about getting the Samsung 181T. I am open to others though. It must be DVI, 500:1, 25ms, etc...

The more I think about it, I would really rather spend about $700-$800.

The Samsung 240T of course is totaly awesome though, but it is $2500 >>



Whats the response time on the 181T?

 

[azkiwi]

<< PC World's review of the monitor...where they said "Its graphics also looked good, but in a comparison with some top-scoring 18-inch models from this month's LCD roundup, the VG191 couldn't compete with the depth and richness of its rivals' colors." >>



I haven't read their critique and don't know what they stacked up against it, but all I can tell you is what I see. My screen seems very colorful to me, certainly not washed out by any means, and is every bit as good as the Viewsonic 19" CRT that sits on my wifes desk now. As shipped my monitor was overly red (including after using the color calibration software) - a very little tweaking with Powerstrip handled that.

I don't have a DVD, but CD video looks super - no ghosting. I don't game much; RTCW looked fine(no ghosting) but was at 800x600 so a bit 'chunky'.

Anyways, there are a few folks here with this LCD so try polling. My monitor shipped with one stuck pixel which I don't notice unless I look for it. I paid around $900 last December.

 

[pookieguy]

VG191B...

Where do I get this for $799????

Not from compaq. They only got crap on their site for monitors.

I'm assuming it's from somewhere else??

let me know please...

thanks,

miguel

 

[Relayer]

Text

 

[pookieguy]

ahh, got it. thanks.

Anyone with this LCD...

How's the display at 1280x1024?
Does it look too big??

This is a HUGE LCD and at 19", I would think it looks HUGE at the max resolution.

I'm used to 1152x864 on a 16" viewable CRT.

It's a great deal, yes.
But my main concerns are the max resolution on an LCD of this size and the ghosting on video/DVD's.

I'm really thinking about it. At $799, it's tempting that's for sure.

thanks,

miguel

 

[Fant]

Just ordered it....from www.smb.compaq.com .....$864 shipped...will let you know....seemed like a great deal....1600x1200 would be overkill for games so 1280x1024 seems like best bet...only thing is 1280x1024 is 1.25:1 while all other PC resolutions are 1.333:1 so I hope the other resolutions dont look funny on this...

 

[jose]

Apex & Relayer:


Thanks alot , I just ordered the VG191 for $799.00

Thanks again, this is a great deal.

Regards,
Jose

 

[gunf1ghter]

Still interested in some first hand from serious gamers on how the panel does. specifically worried about how counter strike will run since it only runs at 4:3 aspect ratio resolutions... how well will the panel scale?

 

[faolan]

<< only thing is 1280x1024 is 1.25:1 while all other PC resolutions are 1.333:1 so I hope the other resolutions dont look funny on this >>



My Sony has an option to either stretch the other resolutions or keep the aspect ratio. So gaming at 1024x768 gives me properly shaped circles, and "widescreen" bars at the top and bottom.

I wish makers of LCDs at 1280x1024 would say if their monitors offer this. It is definitly a requirement for me to buy one.

 

[gunf1ghter]

I have just read the manual for the Viewsonic VG191 and it does not appear to offer a "non-stretch" mode for running lower resolutions in the panel with black borders. This might be the dealbreaker for me on an otherwise excellent display. It is so large, that even if I ran an older game at 1024X768 it would be about as large as a 17" display if it ran with borders. As it is there is no option but to distort the image by running it at it's non native 4:3 aspect ratio.

I suppose I might still go for it and just run a dual head out of my GF4 with my Samsung 955DF by it's side.

 

[gunf1ghter]

Well, I guess that it's true what they say, the early bird gets the worm.

Compaq online store has bumped the price of the VG191 displays to $1350 dollars... even with the 20% discount they are now over $1000. Guess I should have jumped on it when I had the chance.

 

[Apex]

<< Well, I guess that it's true what they say, the early bird gets the worm.

Compaq online store has bumped the price of the VG191 displays to $1350 dollars... even with the 20% discount they are now over $1000. Guess I should have jumped on it when I had the chance. >>



Sorry you missed it. The Sceptre is still a great deal. More deals will come in time though.

 

[gunf1ghter]

Yeah, I'll just suffer with my CRT till this fall when I can justify a 19" LCD... hopefully by then there will be some even better ones available.

 

[Blurry]

Defintely get the Samsung 17" LCD which is made by F.A Porsche. It got a sleek and sexy design, and it has the faster response time than any LCD you will see. Only drawback is its hefty price tag.

 

[gunf1ghter]

How exactly is it's 25ms response time any faster than other panels?

 

[Fant]

didn't you Know that 25ms is less than 25ms?

 

[TSDible]

I've said it once, and I'll say it again. I still don't think that response times mean that much yet. It seems that every manufacture interprets them differently. Besides, I don't believe that Samsung has actually posted their response times. (Check the website) Where are people getting these numbers?

However, the Contrast of 500:1 and a brightness of 250 cd/m^2 seem like better specs than most other 17" LCDs out there.

The jury is still out on this one for me.

However, I did get the green light from the wife, so it is on now!

I'm still waiting till I can get some definitive gaming info on the 171P, and the 181T.

We shall see.

 

[gunf1ghter]

The big problem is that stores don't stock these things, so you have to trust some web review, hope the guy that wrote it wasn't smoking a chode. Most reviews don't give a crap about gaming performance so don't mention it. You get to spend $1000 on something sight unseen and have the hassle of returning it if it sucks.

 

[TSDible]

Exactly...

 

[gunf1ghter]

Well, we'd all love to hear your thoughts on whichever panel you end up buying. I'm gonna just hang tight till this fall to buy one.

 

[TSDible]

The problem is, I'm moving to Germany in August, and I don't want to lug this bohemoth 19" over there.

I wonder what the market is like over there?