Choosing an LCD Display?

[Jaw3000]

Hi!

I?m in the market to purchase a new monitor for my PC. Since it will mainly be used for gaming and other graphic-intesive apps, I had only considered getting a CRT, mainly a 19? like the Viewsonic P95f. I then thought to myself that if I went out and bought a CRT now, I?d kill myself for not waiting to get an LCD in less than a year. Since the current stock of less than 20? CRT?s are probably the last CRT models that the manufacturers will ever be releasing and that the industry is pretty much going all LCD, I don?t think I should get a CRT right now? What do you think? If I were to get a CRT, what 19? models do you think are the best?

Anyway, my dilema now is wether I should buy one of the current LCD monitors now, or wait a few months. Since it would mainly be used for gaming, I think I need a 20 MS or less monitor, and I quickly focused my search on the 16 MS AU Optronics panal that many companies have realeased models of NEC, Hitachi, Acer, etc.). Although I think this panel has some problems like muddying of dark colors and others, I don?t think I?m completely happy with this panel. What do you think? Are all of the different companies models using this same panel really the same (besides case design, menus, and name)? Outh of the different models, which do you think is the best (NEC, Acer, Planar, LG, etc.). Also, do you think having DVI on the monitor is that important? Should you buy an LCD today without DVI?

So, since I think the AU Optronics 16 MS models have some problems, I was waiting for Samsung ond any other panel manufactuer to come out with a 16 MS (or less) panel, which may not have some of the prolems the AU panel exebits. Do you have any idea when a new 16 MS panel (17? or 19?) will finally come out (like the rumord Samsung 172x)? Do you know of other good monitors that will be coming out over the next few months that I possibly should wait for? Do you know of any other monitors, even older ones, I should consider (like the Samsung 172T, Iiyama AS4314UTG, or the new 20 MS Sony SDM0HS73)? Finally, do you know of other good monitor review sites besides THG and AnandTech?

Thanks!

 

[tallman45]

LCD's and the term "graphic-intesive apps" (photo/video editing) usually do not mix. Unless you are talking about a very hig end LCD you may discover that the performance of a 19" crt is better than a 17" or 18" LCD. Passing signals digital vs analog definately has it advantages, see URL below.

Your video card would need to support DVI, although most now do. There are two types, DVI-I and DVD-D. The I model supports analog when using an adapter, the D model only supports a digital flat panel connection.

Check out this review of Analog vs Digital interfaces for more info:

http://www17.tomshardware.com/display/19990707/index.html

 

[BoomAM]

By gaming and graphics intensive apps, you you mean mainly 3d programs?(games, 3dcad, ect
If so, then a TFT with a 16ms responce time will be well suited for you. I reccommend a Hitachi CML174 Series TFT (17" TFT, 16ms responce time).
DVI-I and DVI-D are both compatible with each other. My Hitachi CML174SXW has a DVI-D connector, and my 9700pro has a DVI-I, and they work perfectly together.

 

[KristopherKubicki]

I'm not really sure why he would need a 16ms monitor for Autocad. I should have (un)official word from Samsung about some of their low response time solutions in the upcoming 192T review.

Kristopher

 

[GaryShandling]

Are you saying the 192t corrects ghosting and colour problems with 191t? if so ill take 5

 

[KristopherKubicki]

well, when you say ghosting are you refering to the effect caused by analog connections or high response times? the response rate is about the same but i know they put a lot of work into the onboard circuitry to improve signal processing.

As for colors, they are using the same panel as the planar 191 model which has not had any trouble with reds like the 191T did.

Kristopher

 

[GaryShandling]

The response time. how does it compare with the 172t? and in general?

 

[KristopherKubicki]

I believe they both have a 25ms response time. That should not change much. Overall, this is just as fast as any other 19" LCD

 

[Hagen]

If I was buying a new LCD monitor at this time, I would go for the NEC 1760NX.
http://www.necmitsubishi.com/products/home/nec_index.cfm
I bought an NEC 1550M last year, although only analog I love it. I'm using it also to watch DVD, and the clarity, contrast is incredible. The 1760NX is digital as well, also has a very thin frame as does mine, which I really like.
I believe the 1760NX is also the only NEC lcd display with 16ms response time.
Good luck!

 

[JZilla]

Originally posted by: KristopherKubicki
I'm not really sure why he would need a 16ms monitor for Autocad. I should have (un)official word from Samsung about some of their low response time solutions in the upcoming 192T review.

Kristopher

And when can we expect this?

Gary and I are both in the market for a lcd. And if you review the 192T within the next few weeks, it might be better to hold off for now. Not that I am interested in 192T (probably to expensive for me), but rather the news regarding Samsungs low response time solutions (is this the much talked about X series?).

Btw, don't forget to test the 192T with Solitaire. ROFL when I read the review, where you tested a monitor with Solitaire.

 

[Czar]

KristopherKubicki,
can we expect more 19" lcd reviews in the future?

 

[KristopherKubicki]

Hagen: There are several 16ms monitors, including the Hitachi CML174. They are all made on the same AUO substrate which you can check out here: http://www.auo.com

JZilla: I still dont have a sample, but Samsung told me it should be shipped by monday (first sample in the US). Turnaround time should be a day or two after that. I will throw in a little solitare test in there just for you!

Czar: Definately. I have a whole mess of LCDs to review in the next couple months. We are going to try to become a premier site for LCD reviews.

 

[JZilla]

Mr. Burns: Excellent.

Well you are almost the premier lcd review site, if we forget about Toms for a while. Not saying that he is better than you, but AT and Toms are the only sites that do lcd reviews reguarly. That is if we forget PCWorld+Magazine, whose reviews can't really be called reviews.

Anyway, keep up the good work. If you will excuse me, I will now go and watch ER.

 

[KristopherKubicki]

I talk with vincent at THG from time to time. He is a nice guy. In 2003 we have actually done 1 more LCD review than he has though. The problem is that there are just very few panels that are released on inconsistant dates.

Kristopher

 

[filmmaker]

Originally posted by: KristopherKubicki
I'm not really sure why he would need a 16ms monitor for Autocad. I should have (un)official word from Samsung about some of their low response time solutions in the upcoming 192T review.

Kristopher

I've worked with Autocad in the past and it's always nice to see more of what you are working on.

 

[Jaw3000]

Originally posted by: KristopherKubicki
Hagen: There are several 16ms monitors, including the Hitachi CML174. They are all made on the same AUO substrate which you can check out here: http://www.auo.com

Yea, I know! This was basically my question. If I went with one of the current 16ms LCD's on the market, it would probably be the NEC 1760 NX. But the AUO panel, according to different reviews, has a problem with dark colors. And as you know, there are always really dark areas in games. There was a good picture of this on THG's Hitachi 174 review showing the must better color reproduction in dark areas on the Iiyama. Hopefully, the next 16 ms panel will fix this. So I was wondering whether I should wait to buy an LCD or not.

So, do you mind I ask for a little hint on when we might be able to expect a new Samsung LCD? Maybe one with 16 MS? If you don't know yet or are waiting for the review, that's fine! I was just hoping for a little hint! BTW, does anyone know if Samsung will be doing 16 ms first on a 19" or 17"?

Thanks!
-Jeff

 

[KristopherKubicki]

The response time should have no bearing on autocad.

I know what picture you are talking about and its kind of a poor judge of colors. Attempting to reproduce the same colors via holding a camera in front of the two screens does not work as well as you would want it to. I will try my best to get more information on low response time LCDs from Samsung.

Kristopher

 

[0roo0roo]

buy one crt(they cost nothing), and one lcd and be happy with both text(lcd), games/graphics/editing/video(crt) decent videocards can do dual monitor these days.

 

[Jaw3000]

Originally posted by: KristopherKubicki
The response time should have no bearing on autocad.

I know what picture you are talking about and its kind of a poor judge of colors. Attempting to reproduce the same colors via holding a camera in front of the two screens does not work as well as you would want it to. I will try my best to get more information on low response time LCDs from Samsung.

Thanks! I'm really looking forward to hearing about Samsung's plans! I don't know how this Autocad thing got started! I won't be using Autocad. Mainly gaming. What I meant by graphic-intensive apps was things like doing some video editing hear and there. Not Autocad! I'm just trying to figure out whether I should buy a current LCD (like the NEC 1760 NX) or wait a few weeks or months for something better (like a Samsung). Besides, I'm not wowed by the NEC's case design. I have a good CRT I'm happy with, it's just a little small (a 17" Apple CRT I use with my Mac). I could use it with my PC if I purchse an adapter.

Thanks!
- Jeff

 

[KristopherKubicki]

Oh =).

Well like i said earlier, the NEC 1760 and the Hitachi CML174 are pretty much the same unit. You might like that monitor better.

Kristopher

 

[GaryShandling]

Originally posted by: Jaw3000

Originally posted by: KristopherKubicki
The response time should have no bearing on autocad.

I know what picture you are talking about and its kind of a poor judge of colors. Attempting to reproduce the same colors via holding a camera in front of the two screens does not work as well as you would want it to. I will try my best to get more information on low response time LCDs from Samsung.

Thanks! I'm really looking forward to hearing about Samsung's plans! I don't know how this Autocad thing got started! I won't be using Autocad. Mainly gaming. What I meant by graphic-intensive apps was things like doing some video editing hear and there. Not Autocad! I'm just trying to figure out whether I should buy a current LCD (like the NEC 1760 NX) or wait a few weeks or months for something better (like a Samsung). Besides, I'm not wowed by the NEC's case design.

Thanks!
- Jeff

Get the viewsonic vp171b then, its exactly the same as the nec/hitachi but with a nicer design and anti glare screen, and better height adjustment + portrait angle. Here --->
Link

 

[Jaw3000]

Originally posted by: KristopherKubicki


Well like i said earlier, the NEC 1760 and the Hitachi CML174 are pretty much the same unit. You might like that monitor better.

Are you talking in terms of case design? There are also some other interesting monitors based on the 16 ms AUO panel like the Planar PX171M. It has a pretty attractive case design, but I haven't seen a review on it anywhere. I guess I don't really need to see a review since it's the same screen, but ...

 

[JZilla]

GamePC review of the Planar.