Flat Panel LCD, Anyone Running........

[Big Lar]

Curious as to whether anyone is using an LCD, and as to how you like it, Hows the Picture clarity, is it OK in games, What Vid card are you running for it, etc. Any input Highly appreciated, as I am thinking of trying 1 out a bit later in the year, and would like info

 

[EvilDonnyboy]

LCD's aren't for gaming, since their "refresh rate" (not the proper term, sorry forgot) isn't very fast. CRT's can refresh at 75+hz. While the best LCD's don't refresh any faster than 35hz, most around 20-25. That means even with the fastest vid card, you won't SEE more than 35fps. That suks.

But if ur doing graphics and stuffs that have fast action and need fast screen refrshes, the LCD's are great. They are a lot easier on the eyes than CRT's for most ppl.

 

[Big Lar]

Thanks for the Input. I really don't play games much, but the kids do, good thing I built them there own, I mostly just web surf, do a lil Buiz work with this computer, so I guess it would be good for my Failing eyes then. Anyone else?

 

[ddiccico]

<< While the best LCD's don't refresh any faster than 35hz, most around 20-25 >>

you must be thinking of something else. my viewsonic VPA150's refresh at 75 Hz.

 

[TEEZLE]

I have a 15&quot; Sony at work and it's the shiznit. And it does 75mhz refresh rate. Only problem is its small size. I know the overall size of the monitor is smaller and the screen shows more than a regular 15&quot; monitor, but plain and simple it's still 15&quot;!!!! I would pick a $100 17&quot; regular monitor over this flat screen 15&quot; anyday!!! Especially with the high price of these too! Just my 2 cents!

 

[Big Lar]

Thanks for the input ! I guess I'll have some further deliberation on this subject

 

[hans007]

LCDs technically dont have a refresh rate. WHat you guys are talking about is the switching rate on the pixels, because they dont change fast enough for fast motion. Some LCDs are better than others, and i've seen some that are decent enough for gaming. Get a digital one if you want one, but really most LCDs are stunning. My brother has a 15&quot; HP pavilion one and its great, and one of my friends has a 17&quot; samsung which is also good , though the samsung has a slow pixel refresh. Both of those are the dual analog/ digital ones though, which is what you should get if you are gonna buy one. dont buy an analog only, because you'll want the digital in the future

 

[Big Lar]

Thanks Hans007, Question for everyone then, If or when I do upgrade, will I need some kind of Digital Out vid card, or will something along the lines of a G400 handle it well? Thanks for the input so far, very informative

 

[Shmorq]

The G400 with a daughter update will support DVI interfaces...

 

[Coki]

What you guys are talking about is called the responce time and it's measured in ms.

The older LCD models have a slow responce time from 50-85ms.

Be aware. Because now many old 17&quot; LCD are going on SALE. They usually have very slow responce times. So check with the website or call the MFG.

The new batch of LCD's should be great for gaming but we are going to have to wait a bit for the prices to drop.

Some new 15&quot; LCD's already have low responce time that is under 30ms. So it's moving in the right direction.

 

[Big Lar]

Thanks Coki, So in other words, the Lower the Response time the better, Nice to hear it come out of the horses mouth, as it's misleading when viewing the #'s, 1 would naturally assume higher was better....

 

[xtra crispy]

I have the SGI 17.4&quot; flat panel myself running off of a G400max (+ DVI Daughter card). I'm very satisfied with it but I'm not a gaming freak either. Plus, it fits perfectly on my desk in my dorm. I don't think I could handle having a big ass CRT on my desk.

 

[Almighty1]

Okay coki, what's the refresh rate on the SGI 1600SW? =)

 

[Coki]

It's not refresh rate. It's called responce time for pixels to change.

Refresh rate is what CRT monitors have like 100Hz and so forth. The LCD could have the refresh rate of 75hz and it will not hurt your eyes and will be fine while the CRT 75Hz will be hurting your eyes after a while and you could see some noticeable flicker.

I'm not sure goto the SGI website or call them about the responce time of the pixels.

I would guess the responce time for the SGI 1600 is pretty big. Because this LCD has been out for a while and is not designed for gaming at all. For surfing the web, graphics, and things like that it will be fine.

I would not buy that LCD for gaming.

 

[RSM]

Maybe im not as picky as others but i just picked up a ibm 18.1 and have been playing Alice,Undying and watching dvds on it and im pretty pleased with it.I'm running it on a Hercules prophet2 mx.I was expecting alot less from reading most peoples comments,but it kicks some serious butt and leaves more room for all my empty coffee cups!

 

[Almighty1]

Coki,

Sorry, I meant response time but typed refresh rate. Well, if it's fast enough for DVD, shouldn't it be fast enough for gaming?

 

[Big Lar]

Well, Based on the Knowledge I picked up here, I am Looking hard at 2 of the Iiyama Lcd's, Not sure of the actual Model #'s right this sec, but both are New, 1 being a 17&quot; with a Response time of 40, and a Newer 1 which isn't actually on the shelves yet, which is 17.4&quot;, and has a Response time of 25. I will more than Likely wait for the 17.4&quot; to hit the actual Street, and then wait for a few evals on the Lcd. More than Likely however I will go with Iiyama tho, as I have had this 21&quot; Monitor for about 2 years now, and havn't had Any Probs with the Product. Thanks all for the Input &amp; the Knowledge

 

[JWC]

Actually the SGI 1600SW has one of the best response times of current flat panels. It is also important to know that the response time is full on to full off or full off to full on. Smaller changes can happen more rapidly.

I spend way too much time gaming on it and I am very satisfied with it. Others may take issue with it just as refresh rate affects people differently. Without question it sure is a convenient monitor to take to a LAN party.

 

[Almighty1]

JWC.

Do you know what the response rate spec is? I ordered the SGI 1600SW with MultiLink Adapter from Dell.com back in mid-January and they keep changing the ship date from 1/26/01 to 2/19/01 and 2/26/01 and now 3/19/01... Seems like no one else has the model with the MLA either...

 

[PeAK]

Get a &quot;digital LCD panel&quot; that support digital input signals
and preferably using a DVI connector's digital TMDS signal stream for sharper images. The DVI connector also has an analog RGB output to support older analog RGB monitors and some of the stopgap &quot;analog LCD panels&quot; that take an analog RGB signal and digitize it (not so good).
Today this exist on the entry level Radeon VE display card and will become the default connector on both monitors (male) and video cards (female).

Last angle of view is a key parameter if you want to be able to see a nice contrasty image looking at the screen off centre.



Keywords: DVI, TMDS,

 

[JWC]

Lots of good information at the SGI web site.

What is the pixel response time of the 1600SW?
The total rise/fall time of the 1600SW pixels is 40 ms. Rise time is 13 ms and fall time is 27 ms.

I had been seeing lots of ad banners where SGI was selling the 1600SW with MLA direct.

 

[RGN]

I've got one of those 15&quot; Proviews. It's really not bad. Dark colors are not as dark as I would like(kinda looked 'brite'), but games were FINE.

 

[Big Lar]

The more I read about them, the more I just want to sit back for 6 months, and see what technology brings to light, On the other Hand, I'm so darn'd tempted to run out and get 1.... what to do..