Help me choose a monitor!

[Moonlapse]

My KDS 19" crapped out on last week - first started getting blurry text and images on and off, and then 2 days ago, I heard this loud pop inside the monitor, and have had horrible blurring in the middle of the screen, and it has stayed that way. Hooked my system up to my brothers monitor, and everything is clear, so it is confirmed that my monitor is pretty much dead. Now, I need help choosing a new one. I'm looking to go no higher than 275 for a flat 19" CRT - and preferably nothing higher than a .25 dp. So far, I've rounded it down to these :

SAMSUNG 955DF-T/T
SAMSUNG 957MB
SAMSUNG 955DF
ViewSonic P95F+B
NEC/MITSUBISHI FE991SB-BK
NEC/MITSUBISHI DP930SB-BK

The prices I'm looking for these are based from newegg, but I know they'll flucuate quite a bit, depending on where I decide to buy it. Do any of you have these, and if you do, can you recommend it to me? Or if you'd like to recommend another monitor.. that's fine.

 

[nboy22]

I'm pleased with my Samsung, but basically, the best thing you can do is mainly go into a store and check them out.. But then again, some of those might not be in a store. But I have no problems with my Samsung so I would have to go with one of those.

 

[dcdomain]

I'm pretty pleased with the Samsung 955DF I have as well.

 

[jhurst]

I am a Mitsubishi lifer.....they have the best looking monitors IMO. Stay away from the Viewsonic.

 

[Boztech]

I also am a Mitsi/NEC fan. My choice would be the 930SB-BK because it does 1600 @ 85Hz. But as was mentioned above, monitors (like keyboards and mice) are very subjective to the viewer. Your best bet is to go somewhere such as Fry's where you can get a good IRL comparison of the visual quality.

I can tell you I've heard a lot of bad things about Viewsonics. I personally would rule that one out. Then I would choose between the Samsungs or the NECs based upon your viewing and your needs. If you don't like or need your desktop @ 1600 * 85Hz then you can rule out the high end units from both manufacturers.

 

[T8000]

You may want to check the VGA cable of your old monitor, as this could also be a cable problem. Pay special attention to bent pins in the connectors and try another cable if possible.

 

[Moonlapse]

I guess I should have been a bit more specific - no I don't need 1600 res, 1280x1024 is as high as I would go, but usually I stay at 1024x768 for desktop, and every monitor should be able to hit 85hz at that res. I DID check the monitor cable, and the pins seemed slightly bent. Bent them back, but it is still the same. After I heard that pop, I doubt that replacing the cable could really fix anything. I will look into it though.

 

[moonsite]

I think Office Depot has a sale for KDS 19" for $74 after rebates and coupon. Check fatwallet.

 

[DotheDamnTHing]

what about trinitron based monitors?

 

[moparmaga]

Another vote for the Samsung 955df.

 

[konakona]

Originally posted by: DotheDamnTHing
what about trinitron based monitors?

above mentioned mitsus sport NF diamondtrons, mitsu's equivalent of FD trinitrons, a licensed technology from sony. samsungs are ok but they are even not AG based. the best (and the most expensive) 19''monitor samsung makes is 909NF and it uses the same tube as the mitsus. go figure...

 

[Zebo]

Originally posted by: Moonlapse
My KDS 19" crapped out on last week - first started getting blurry text and images on and off, and then 2 days ago, I heard this loud pop inside the monitor, and have had horrible blurring in the middle of the screen, and it has stayed that way. Hooked my system up to my brothers monitor, and everything is clear, so it is confirmed that my monitor is pretty much dead. Now, I need help choosing a new one. I'm looking to go no higher than 275 for a flat 19" CRT - and preferably nothing higher than a .25 dp. So far, I've rounded it down to these :

SAMSUNG 955DF-T/T
SAMSUNG 957MB
SAMSUNG 955DF
ViewSonic P95F+B
NEC/MITSUBISHI FE991SB-BK
NEC/MITSUBISHI DP930SB-BK

The prices I'm looking for these are based from newegg, but I know they'll flucuate quite a bit, depending on where I decide to buy it. Do any of you have these, and if you do, can you recommend it to me? Or if you'd like to recommend another monitor.. that's fine.

Those are completely different monitors. Some have shadow mask some AG. I'd choose DP930SB-BK becasue it's the best AG made today in 19" and I dislike shadow mask.

 

[starmonkey]

1280x1024 is as high as I would go, but usually I stay at 1024x768 for desktop

Slightly OT, but, 1280x960 is a better resolution than 1280x1024 for any 4:3 CRT (which is almost all of them). 1280x1024 messes up the aspect ratio, making pixels undersquare (i.e. letters look vertically squashed).

For some reason, a lot of video card driver / monitor combos don't list 1280x960 as a possible resolution under Windows, but it generally works if you force it in PowerStrip.

 

[Relayer]

ViewSonic P95F+B

I have one of these at work and it is very nice.

 

[justin1466]

NEC is a little more, but worth it. The SuperBright Diamondtron series are great

 

[imported_michaelpatrick33]

thanks starmonkey i did not know that

 

[Tostada]

Definitely get one of the NEC/Mitsubishi AG monitors. Well, go into a store and look at them, and make sure you agree.

Originally posted by: Moonlapse
I guess I should have been a bit more specific - no I don't need 1600 res, 1280x1024 is as high as I would go, but usually I stay at 1024x768 for desktop, and every monitor should be able to hit 85hz at that res. I DID check the monitor cable, and the pins seemed slightly bent. Bent them back, but it is still the same. After I heard that pop, I doubt that replacing the cable could really fix anything. I will look into it though.

In that case, go with the NEC FE991SB-BK (unless you want to pay $14 extra for a monitor that says Mitsubishi instead of NEC). Both do 1280x1024 @ 85 Hz.