LCD Buyer's Guide

[mcurphy]

Originally posted by: DangerDave
xtknight, have you seen the Maximum Pc review of the NEC 20WMGX2? They gave it a 4. They said it was majorly flawed, and other bad stuff. Are they talking about the same lcd thats on your list, or am I missing something here?

I noticed that as I was flipping through it this morning as well. It is the same monitor that is highly recommended here.

Here is a snip from the article regarding their concerns with the NEC for those who haven't seen it:

....Several shades of dark gray were indistinguishable from black, even with the brightness at 100 percent (and mind you, the screen is already uncommonly bright!). Grayscale ramps, which should progress in a smooth, gradual manner, were riddled with bumps, kinks, and banding. And color-tracking discrepancies were visable in scales of 32 or more steps. These issues plagued the screen's performance in our real-world tests. In high-res digital photos and illustrations, banding, contouring and the presence of different hues disrupted what should have been subtle shade changes. In DVD's, the effect was even more noticeable, with shade transitions appearing blocky and pixilated. And in HD, the panel's poor grayscale abilities were all the more evident.....

The above quote as well as the price is what contributed to the poor score.

They used these three monitors as well in the roundup:
ViewSonic VX2035WM ~ Scored 8
HP L2045W ~ Scored a 9
Samsung Syncmaster 206BW ~ Scored a 9 and Maximum PC Kickass Award

I know the NEC is an AS-IPS, but can anyone tell me what kind of panel these last three monitors use?

EDIT: After a few quick google searches it appears that the other 3 use a TN panel , how can Maximum PC recommend these so much higher than the NEC?...lame

 

[rxblitzrx]

Originally posted by: amd7674
Sorry, I don't notice any wave-like motion on my screen. One time I thought I saw some shaking but that's only because my arm was hitting the desk, or I was typing too hard. Also, I'm using a new monitor stand instead of the one that came with the panel. The original HP stand only drops the screen down to 4" off the desktop. My desk is already too tall to begin with and it was giving me neck pain. I've been a laptop user for a long time and I got used to looking down at the screen. I got the Neo-Flex by Ergotron from CompUSA on clearance for like 25 bucks. It retails at like $70. Great stand that made my setup perfect.

Wow, that's really scary though. I just read the thread in your link and I bought mine around the same time as they did. Hopefully mine will be ok. So far I've had zero issues. No dead pixels, stuck pixels, both analog and dvi inputs work, usb hub works. This is one seriously awesome LCD.

With the brightness over 50 I don't see anything, could be that you have it high enough that you don't see it... It is all about proper settings...ehehe... Yes I agree the stand could be little shaky, but it my setup it is not an issue. If you don't mind conduct some tests with brightness at 0 and view anandtech forums (lots of mid gray) to see if you can see any 'flickering'

TIA[/quote]

I didn't notice any flickering at 0 Bright. But, if it only happens at low brightness then I don't see it being a really big issue. Anything under 60 on mine looks too dim and "dirty".

 

[xtknight]

Originally posted by: Pugnate
Hey how is the Viewsonic VX2245wm?

I believe that's the one I saw at Circuit City (might have been VX2235wm). It looked the best of the 22"s to me to be honest, but I just took a quick glance at it. It's still a TN, though the 22" TNs are likely the best of the TNs due to production volume.

Originally posted by: 3LEMENT0
I'm looking at the 19": NEC MultiSync 90GX2, 1280x1024 (5:4) right now but are there additions to the gaming LCD's? I'm looking at 19" specifically will be utilizing dual screen with my current one.

Additions? As in other suitable, cheaper 19"s? Almost any cheap 19" will do for gaming since all the cheap ones use fast TNs. The NEC 90GX2 is just the best of 'em. What are you looking for and what price? You have one 19" already and are looking for the best 19" to purchase now, right?

Originally posted by: shilatoe
I planned to buy a new PC 6 mos ago after Vista was released. Finally the time is near. I have been following this wonderful topic for a long time to make sure I got the best LCD monitor for my needs. (Great thanks and appreciation to xtnight and the other regulars who have made my research so manageable). My needs are for a great gaming monitor for the fast FPS games and the large strategy/RPGs as well as some photo and video editing. xtnight's experience convinced me that the NEC 20WMGX2 was the way to go. But now with high gamut panels coming out and 22" WS beginning to show up (bigger is better) I am hesitating.
Does anyone know when high gamut 22" WS screens might appear and what would be the best choice of current models of the 22" WS screens if I can't wait?
Any thoughts or knowledge on this would be greatly appreciated.

The NEC 20WMGX2 is still the way to go. The high gamut TNs will not be able to surpass the S-IPS panel in the NEC. And when it comes to image quality, in this case bigger is worse (more coarse dot pitch, and a huge step down to a TN panel). If you're hesitant at spending ~$600 on a 20" then I say grab a 24" for $100 more.

Right now, the best 22" is the Samsung 226BW (it will be listed shortly).

Originally posted by: Sandrix
Hi, I need help quick!!!
I have oportunity to buy LCD AG NEOVO K-A19 3ms 850:1 Widescreen 19"
Down are specification, are I am not very good with lcd monitors so i need help. I would use this monitor mostly for playing games (a lot), watching movies and surfing on net.
Please

Panel Size 19.0? Wide Screen
Brightness 300cd/m2 (Typical)
Contrast Ratio 850:1 (Typical)
Viewing Angle (H/V) 170o / 160o (Typical)
Display Resolution WXGA 1440 x 900
Input Signal Analog
Response Time 3ms (GTG)
Net Dimension 440 x 352 x 207mm
(17.3" x 13.6" x 8.0")
Net Weight 4.0Kg (8.8lbs)

I really have no idea, but I would say no since it's VGA only and I don't really trust the brand.

Are you based in the US? I recommend the Samsung 930BW, 931BW, or 940BW for a 19" widescreen.

Originally posted by: 0x0BADF00D
xt,

just to update you on my LCD20WGX2's noisy VGA port. I took it into my local NEC service center. At first no-one could see it. However, what they did see was the image persistance - I had a notepad window up for a few minutes, and when I closed it , you could see faint white glow where it used to be. Stupidly I said "oh no, that doesn't bother me". We took it into the tech's lab, where finally he could see the rapid shimmering noise. He thought it was reasonable for VGA. I thought he was wrong. We compared it with some cheapie LCD monitor on his desk, and it too had some noise, but more like a static pattern, and most likely from all those uber RF sources cluttered all around. It was nothing like the faint snowcrash I had to put up with.

Anyway, I spoke to the manager of the place and he said that they'd order another one in, and let me compare them. If the other one is just like that, then I take mine back, otherwise I take the new unit.

I expect the new unit to have no noise, but now I'm worried about burn-in. How much burn-in is too much? The manual does mention it, but I believe it's something that should happen after many hours of displaying the same thing, not minutes.

Well, keep us posted.

Originally posted by: Low Radiation
Tomorrow i should get LG l204wt or Samsung 205BW. I'd like to ask xtknight and the rest of you guys to tell me what do you think about those 2 models.

It will be used for absolutely everything, gaming included, pro work excluded, so either would be sufficient, but which one to take?

Maybe the most important thing is that i need it to be comfortable to look at, 'cause i have very sensitive eyes.

How do both of them look when you set brightness to some normal level?

I've heard that 205BW is very bright and didn't hear anything about 204wt. Which has better contrast on medium brightness?

Are they both good enough for games?

I hope you got the point

thanx in advance

I would prefer the LG L204WT (LG TNs tend to have better color). The L204WT probably has better contrast at medium brightness but I have little idea to be honest.

Originally posted by: hyper
I'm strongly considering an NEC 20WMGX2 but I'd like to know how it performs with a PS3 over an HDMI-DVI cable first...

Does it scale properly or is everything stretched? I mean for both 16:9 games and 4:3 BC games. I heard it does but the picture looks horrible. Is this true?

Thank you very much for any help.

I don't have a PS3, but I don't believe the monitor has scaling options in DVI-HD either. I've heard that it did, but I tried connecting to my PC in DVI-HD mode (as opposed to its other DVI-PC mode) and noticed no difference. Try asking at the Widescreen Gaming Forums 20WMGX2 threads:

http://www.widescreengamingforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3208
http://www.widescreengamingforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=5802

 

[xtknight]

Originally posted by: DangerDave
xtknight, have you seen the Maximum Pc review of the NEC 20WMGX2? They gave it a 4. They said it was majorly flawed, and other bad stuff. Are they talking about the same lcd thats on your list, or am I missing something here?

They probably weren't using it in standard DV mode. The NEC 20WMGX2 won't truly shine until you calibrate it, but that's the same with every LCD. The 20WMGX2's default color settings are among the best (especially with ADVM on). I regularly offer calibrated 20WMGX2 settings (via Gretag-Macbeth Eye One Display 2) at the forums. I think even general usage (browsing grayish AnandTech Forums) looks much better calibrated.

Originally posted by: mcurphy

Originally posted by: DangerDave
xtknight, have you seen the Maximum Pc review of the NEC 20WMGX2? They gave it a 4. They said it was majorly flawed, and other bad stuff. Are they talking about the same lcd thats on your list, or am I missing something here?

I noticed that as I was flipping through it this morning as well. It is the same monitor that is highly recommended here.

Here is a snip from the article regarding their concerns with the NEC for those who haven't seen it:

....Several shades of dark gray were indistinguishable from black, even with the brightness at 100 percent (and mind you, the screen is already uncommonly bright!). Grayscale ramps, which should progress in a smooth, gradual manner, were riddled with bumps, kinks, and banding. And color-tracking discrepancies were visable in scales of 32 or more steps. These issues plagued the screen's performance in our real-world tests. In high-res digital photos and illustrations, banding, contouring and the presence of different hues disrupted what should have been subtle shade changes. In DVD's, the effect was even more noticeable, with shade transitions appearing blocky and pixilated. And in HD, the panel's poor grayscale abilities were all the more evident.....

The above quote as well as the price is what contributed to the poor score.

They used these three monitors as well in the roundup:
ViewSonic VX2035WM ~ Scored 8
HP L2045W ~ Scored a 9
Samsung Syncmaster 206BW ~ Scored a 9 and Maximum PC Kickass Award

I know the NEC is an AS-IPS, but can anyone tell me what kind of panel these last three monitors use?

EDIT: After a few quick google searches it appears that the other 3 use a TN panel , how can Maximum PC recommend these so much higher than the NEC?...lame

All those are in fact TNs. MaxPC doesn't know what they're doing. I don't see any mentions of extremely poor viewing angles and ununiformity of TN panels. They seem to only care about the 20WMGX2's banding flaws that rarely manifest themselves in real usage. The only time I have seen this is in gradient tests and while using Blender when I had a grayscale gradient on top of a 3D cube. It was a tad annoying then but I could get by. Probably not the best LCD for using Blender but it's good for everything else.

But I don't think MaxPC was ever a truly reliable LCD review source (it's just like PC World). Recently I got a Mitsubishi 37" 1080p LCD TV, and IMO at least with a PC source the NEC 20WMGX2 still looks vastly superior and more saturated at lower brightness settings. Not to mention better tranmissivity (glossy screen), viewing angles, and response time. But the 1080p LCD TV (S-MVA AFAIK) looks great with an HDTV source. Sorry, I digress...

 

[Butterbean]

That review was one reason I saw I had to not trust reviewers too much. A 20WMGX2 gets tinfoil star and a Samsung TN gets gold medals and roses. Haha as if..

 

[0x0BADF00D]

Originally posted by: Wiktor
I got it mid-October last year, it is the european version (without the M). I don't know where to check the revision.

I also have the non-US version. Got it 2 months ago. I'm pretty sure it's got a revision sticker somewhere on the back. Anyway, when I get mine back (or a new one, hopefully), I'll let you know.

I just thought that perhaps this has something to do with running it at 60Hz while as far as I know this monitor supports 75Hz refresh rate? Just an idea.

I don't believe the NEC is capable of 75 Hz. The tech did try it anyway, but it made no difference.

My laptop has a GMA 910/15 intel card.

Mine is an ATI X700. I don't think it should make much of a difference. However, when I was at the service centre, I noticed how crappy the gloss coating was on my 18-month old notebook screen. It was all warped diagonally. The NEC opticlear is flawless in comparison. I wonder if it was like that from the beginning, or large thin notebook screens are susceptible to this kind of aging.

I think most people wouldn't notice/care about these imperfections. This monitor has many strong points going for it and I guess it's as close to a CRT replacement as it gets (for CRT fans ).

Yeah, I used to have a 17" Phillips with a trinitron tube (dont't remember the exact model), and this NEC is the closest in terms of color and brightness.

 

[sulanebouxi]

I've heard a lot about the Samsung 226bw and it's definitely a good price. I'm thinking of picking one up. The only thing that makes me a bit apprehensive is the fact that it's a TN panel. I'm not sure if that means it has the same drawbacks as other TNs though since the handful of reviews I've found have generally been really good despite that. Has anyone had any experience with it yet? How are the viewing angles and color reproduction?

I've also heard that this model has 2 different panels out there. An 'S' model which is the true Samsung panel and a supposedly inferior 'A' model which uses an AUO panel. Here's the link I'm referring to: http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1157788 . Apparently, this is happening overseas but I don't think anyone has gotten an 'A' panel so far in the states.

 

[Blessed]

If anyone is looking for an AU Optronics P-MVA 20" 1680 x 1050 LCD, then I HIGHLY suggestion you consider this:

Acer Gamers Line AL2051W

This LCD uses the same panel as the discontinued ViewSonic VX2025WM and Acer AL2032WA. I've used the AL2032WA (~$500) for a year now and just purchased the AL2051W ($269+s&h). The bezel design is different, but the panel is indistinguishable. Colors, view angles are the same and in line with the manufacturer's specs. Both bezel construction quality is very solid and sexy looking.

At less than 300 dollars, this is a no brainer general purpose/movie/gaming LCD.

 

[OddTSi]

I tried to search within this thread for some of the models that I'm considering but the search function always returns nothing and this thread is WAY too long to read through it all so I appologize if what I'm about to ask has already been asked and/or answered.

Since there doesn't appear to be an LCD monitor that doesn't suffer from one or more problems (backlight bleed, ghosting, poor color representation, banding, etc, etc) I'm not going to spend more than $300 give or take. My main concerns are colors being crappy with the 6-bit panels and ghosting with the 8-bit panels. I've been looking at mainly the 20" widescreens. The models I've been looking at that I would love to hear your input on (or feel free to bring to my attention another model that you feel meets my criteria better than these) are the Dell E207WFP ($250), Dell 2007WFP ($290 refurb), LG L204WT ($250 after MIR from CC), Samsung 204BW ($250 after MIR at NewEgg), Samsung 206BW ($280+S/H after MIR at NewEgg), and (after reading the above post by Blessed) the Acer AL2051W ($270+S/H at NewEgg).

I'd prefer to deal with a better-known brand so I'm pretty stand-offish with regards to the no-name ones that are cheaper than these. Now for what I need out of the monitor: I'm a programmer and I read a lot on my computer so text clarity is very important. I watch a lot of TV and DVDs on my computer and although I haven't played many games in the past few months I will be getting back into it soon so severe ghosting is pretty much a deal-breaker. I don't do any major photo/video editing so I don't need "professional quality" but as I said I do watch DVDs and will be playing games so although I'm not anal about color reproduction it would piss me off if it were as bad as some of the 6-bit panels that I've seen, basically I'd want it to be good but no need for it to be absolutely perfect to the point where you'd need special programs or a microscopic eye implant to tell the difference.

Any help you guys can give me would be GREATLY appreciated.

 

[nemesiz]

 

[nemesiz]

Here is my situation: Looking to move from a CRT to LCD within the next couple of months (tired of eye strain, etc.). I surf a lot, do a lot of online research, and so need something that has great, sharp text. I game little to none, so don't need a fast panel. I also do a fair amount of photo editing, but it's not critical color work for professional layouts, just a hobby that I would like to get better at.

I am leaning towards a size 20" model and a 4:3 ratio, as I like the sharper pixel pitch at the 1600 X 1200 resolution.

Any suggestions would be highly appreciated.

Thanks again for this thread.

Firstly apologies for posting a blank reply, the browser crashed back to the desktop.


Having utilised the HP LP2065 20 Inch S-IPS Monitor since Christmas I believe it would be perfect for your requirements, with sharp, reproduction of text that is perfect for internet surfing, graphical and general work. Furthermore the accurate, vibrant image colour and grey reproduction straight from the box has made it a favourite choice for photographers on a limited budget that post on the digital camera website, dpreview.com. Contrast and Brightness levels are sufficient for most users, and factory default settings can be easily adjusted to correct simple discrepancies or configure the monitor to your preferences for brightness, contrast, RGB and White Point levels by using the simple diagnostic software tool, HP Display Assistant. Whilst I mainly use the monitor for surfing, most users should find it perfectly suitable for most of their gaming ( no inherent ghosting on Titan Quest, Medieval II Total War, and Half Life 2), watching films, and photographic work.

One annoying fault is that the HP LP2065 automatically starts-up when you power up the system, even though the monitor powered down when Windows XP was turned off.


Furthermore the HP Store in the UK is offering £40 off your first order if you spend over £235.

Shane

 

[SilverM]

Hi!

my (quite) old CRT is showing signs of aging, so I've been thinking about buying LCD. We all know how frustrating that can be, so I've been exploring possibilities, reading reviews and I still don't have a clue what should I buy.

what I really need is a monitor that is good for all purpouses. I tend to game more than enough, I watch movies quite a bit on my computer (no TV at home ), and I'm planning on doing quite a bit of work in photo editing and DTP in general. Now you see my problem

I was interested in Dell's 2007FP, but then I read everywhere about this "panel lottery" thing, and that disouraged me a bit. I saw 215TW doing pretty well on your top lists, but I don't think I'll be comfortable with widescreen, so I thought that maybe 214T would be an adequate substitute, but then, it's not very present on your lists (and I have to say that it's price here is around 1000$, and 215TW just a bit less expencive. and I'm not able to shop online)

so, the bottom line is that I need a 20" or 21" LCD good for all purpouses :/ If that's even remotely possible?

 

[xtknight]

Originally posted by: sulanebouxi
I've heard a lot about the Samsung 226bw and it's definitely a good price. I'm thinking of picking one up. The only thing that makes me a bit apprehensive is the fact that it's a TN panel. I'm not sure if that means it has the same drawbacks as other TNs though since the handful of reviews I've found have generally been really good despite that. Has anyone had any experience with it yet? How are the viewing angles and color reproduction?

For the most part, it's not much better than any other TN. It is slightly brighter, perhaps, but the whole panel still has that overwhelmingly dark and ununiform look to it. I saw it at Circuit City but it's definitely a large step down from something like a 20WMGX2 or ViewSonic VP930b. Bottom line is, it depends on what you've used before. If you've used a blurry CRT with good color reproduction you'll be happy that the LCD is sharp but will be disappointed with the TN panel's color reproduction. If you've used a sharp LCD with good color reproduction, you'll just be disappointed with the TN panel period. It did seem to have a nice contrast though and dark details showed.

I've also heard that this model has 2 different panels out there. An 'S' model which is the true Samsung panel and a supposedly inferior 'A' model which uses an AUO panel. Here's the link I'm referring to: http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1157788 . Apparently, this is happening overseas but I don't think anyone has gotten an 'A' panel so far in the states.

Yeah, interesting...I will have to keep track of this before I recommend it wide scale.

 

[sulanebouxi]

Hmm...I may have to rethink my choice then. I'm used to working on Dell 3007WFP monitors in school which use an S-IPS panel. They're fantastic and I think I would be fairly disappointed if I got anything significantly worse. But, still...money is a factor so I may have to go TN or something above if the price is right.

 

[xtknight]

Originally posted by: Blessed
If anyone is looking for an AU Optronics P-MVA 20" 1680 x 1050 LCD, then I HIGHLY suggestion you consider this:

Acer Gamers Line AL2051W

This LCD uses the same panel as the discontinued ViewSonic VX2025WM and Acer AL2032WA. I've used the AL2032WA (~$500) for a year now and just purchased the AL2051W ($269+s&h). The bezel design is different, but the panel is indistinguishable. Colors, view angles are the same and in line with the manufacturer's specs. Both bezel construction quality is very solid and sexy looking.

At less than 300 dollars, this is a no brainer general purpose/movie/gaming LCD.

Thanks for letting me know about it. It must be fairly new. I will list it unless I find anything glaringly bad about it in my research.

Originally posted by: OddTSi
I tried to search within this thread for some of the models that I'm considering but the search function always returns nothing and this thread is WAY too long to read through it all so I appologize if what I'm about to ask has already been asked and/or answered.

Search is unfortunately broken here and has been for a long time.

Since there doesn't appear to be an LCD monitor that doesn't suffer from one or more problems (backlight bleed, ghosting, poor color representation, banding, etc, etc) I'm not going to spend more than $300 give or take. My main concerns are colors being crappy with the 6-bit panels and ghosting with the 8-bit panels. I've been looking at mainly the 20" widescreens. The models I've been looking at that I would love to hear your input on (or feel free to bring to my attention another model that you feel meets my criteria better than these) are the Dell E207WFP ($250), Dell 2007WFP ($290 refurb), LG L204WT ($250 after MIR from CC), Samsung 204BW ($250 after MIR at NewEgg), Samsung 206BW ($280+S/H after MIR at NewEgg), and (after reading the above post by Blessed) the Acer AL2051W ($270+S/H at NewEgg).

Easy. The Acer AL2051W. 8-bit, little ghosting, wide viewing angles, cheap price, what else could you ask for?

I'd prefer to deal with a better-known brand so I'm pretty stand-offish with regards to the no-name ones that are cheaper than these.

Well, I understand. But even dealing with customer support with say Samsung or HP is probably just as bad. These days the brand is becoming less and less a factor as all of them have poor support. NEC is good but they don't have any LCD near what you'd be looking at. Sacrificing a lot of image quality for a brand isn't a smart idea. Amazingly enough, the cheap brands are selling the best monitors now.

Now for what I need out of the monitor: I'm a programmer and I read a lot on my computer so text clarity is very important. I watch a lot of TV and DVDs on my computer and although I haven't played many games in the past few months I will be getting back into it soon so severe ghosting is pretty much a deal-breaker. I don't do any major photo/video editing so I don't need "professional quality" but as I said I do watch DVDs and will be playing games so although I'm not anal about color reproduction it would piss me off if it were as bad as some of the 6-bit panels that I've seen, basically I'd want it to be good but no need for it to be absolutely perfect to the point where you'd need special programs or a microscopic eye implant to tell the difference.

Any help you guys can give me would be GREATLY appreciated.

The AL2051W sounds like the LCD for you. The reason I'm so quick to recommend it is because X-Bit Labs gave the AL2032WA a good review (but that particular model is no longer available). http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/other/display/20-21inch-2_5.html

 

[xtknight]

Originally posted by: SilverM
Hi!

my (quite) old CRT is showing signs of aging, so I've been thinking about buying LCD. We all know how frustrating that can be, so I've been exploring possibilities, reading reviews and I still don't have a clue what should I buy.

what I really need is a monitor that is good for all purpouses. I tend to game more than enough, I watch movies quite a bit on my computer (no TV at home ), and I'm planning on doing quite a bit of work in photo editing and DTP in general. Now you see my problem

I was interested in Dell's 2007FP, but then I read everywhere about this "panel lottery" thing, and that disouraged me a bit. I saw 215TW doing pretty well on your top lists, but I don't think I'll be comfortable with widescreen, so I thought that maybe 214T would be an adequate substitute, but then, it's not very present on your lists (and I have to say that it's price here is around 1000$, and 215TW just a bit less expencive. and I'm not able to shop online)

so, the bottom line is that I need a 20" or 21" LCD good for all purpouses :/ If that's even remotely possible?

I'll say the HP LP2065. And that's about all I have to say...it's a good, all-around 20.1" screen. If you have any more questions let us know.

 

[ghoti]

Well, I got the VP930b, revision 3, I think -- I'm still confirming that. (I split a "two-pack" from Costco with a friend -- a very reasonable price).

So far, so good -- have noticed no dead or stuck pixels.

xt, or anyone else: what's your recommendation for 'fine tuning' or calibrating this monitor? -- got some freeware to recommend (which doesn't require an advanced tech degree and investment of two solid weeks of work)? From what I've been reading on the forums, I not eager to install and use the software that came with the monitor.

Thanks for suggestions.

 

[rxblitzrx]

Originally posted by: xtknight

Originally posted by: SilverM
Hi!

my (quite) old CRT is showing signs of aging, so I've been thinking about buying LCD. We all know how frustrating that can be, so I've been exploring possibilities, reading reviews and I still don't have a clue what should I buy.

what I really need is a monitor that is good for all purpouses. I tend to game more than enough, I watch movies quite a bit on my computer (no TV at home ), and I'm planning on doing quite a bit of work in photo editing and DTP in general. Now you see my problem

I was interested in Dell's 2007FP, but then I read everywhere about this "panel lottery" thing, and that disouraged me a bit. I saw 215TW doing pretty well on your top lists, but I don't think I'll be comfortable with widescreen, so I thought that maybe 214T would be an adequate substitute, but then, it's not very present on your lists (and I have to say that it's price here is around 1000$, and 215TW just a bit less expencive. and I'm not able to shop online)

so, the bottom line is that I need a 20" or 21" LCD good for all purpouses :/ If that's even remotely possible?

I'll say the HP LP2065. And that's about all I have to say...it's a good, all-around 20.1" screen. If you have any more questions let us know.

I'll second that opinion, being a LP2065 owner. It takes a little time to tweak it (which I think is necessary to reach this LCD's full capability) but I'll say it's really good for the following purposes:

• Internet Surfing

• Gaming - I've only tried Counter Strike 1.6 on it, but it was PURRRTY

• Movie watching is ok... it has trouble with dark tones. Then again, it might be my AVI files just being too compressed.

• Pictures - high quality pics look awesome

 

[Zebo]

Originally posted by: DangerDave
xtknight, have you seen the Maximum Pc review of the NEC 20WMGX2? They gave it a 4. They said it was majorly flawed, and other bad stuff. Are they talking about the same lcd thats on your list, or am I missing something here?

I wouldn't put too much stock in reviews like this. Xknight already told you the flaws in review.

MaxiumPC reviewers seem to be marketing guys who are skilled at copying and pasting from info they find in the PR sheets released from manufactures. More ads placed more copy and paste they do To rate not one, but three TNs well above any IPS let alone the GX2 tells me they are totally clueless and ignorant.

Ultimately you've gotta be the final authority when it comes to judging these monitors since much of it is subjective. Buy both, thier highest rated monitor and the lowest rated one they gave, the GX2, then you'll start laughing hysterically at MaximumPC's review. I'm telling you nothing 20-24" compares quality wise between the bezel to the GX2 in any stat.

 

[SilverM]

thank you guys, Ill look into it

 

[samduhman]

Originally posted by: Zebo

Originally posted by: DangerDave
xtknight, have you seen the Maximum Pc review of the NEC 20WMGX2? They gave it a 4. They said it was majorly flawed, and other bad stuff. Are they talking about the same lcd thats on your list, or am I missing something here?

I wouldn't put too much stock in reviews like this. Xknight already told you the flaws in review.

MaxiumPC reviewers seem to be marketing guys who are skilled at copying and pasting from info they find in the PR sheets released from manufactures. More ads placed more copy and paste they do To rate not one, but three TNs well above any IPS let alone the GX2 tells me they are totally clueless and ignorant.

Ultimately you've gotta be the final authority when it comes to judging these monitors since much of it is subjective. Buy both, thier highest rated monitor and the lowest rated one they gave, the GX2, then you'll start laughing hysterically at MaximumPC's review. I'm telling you nothing 20-24" compares quality wise between the bezel to the GX2 in any stat.

I love Maximum PC and generally agree with their reviews. Zebo what monitor do you own exactly?

Just a friendly jab their Zebo . From eveything I read the GX2 is pretty sweet. I've never had the chance see one but it gets over all good reviews. Im wondering if Maximum PC had a bad one for their review.

 

[pcampos]

Hi there,
I'm new on this forum, but I know Anandtech for long...
I have to purchase a new Monitor...My loved old 21" CRT Hitachi CM812ET is getting heart failure from time to time, getting more frequent last two weeks...
This is my only home computer, used for me on surfing, photo editing in Photoshop CS2, Some CorelDraw , some Word & Excel of course & Watching Digital Sattelite TV ...and my kid games...NFSC & NFSMW mostly...
I am really confused on what to purchase...AH ! I live in Portugal (some say this is Europe...)...so some models here are pretty hard to get here...
I do know LCD already, I do own a small IT company, so...I should be a little informed... At office I have a Viewsonic VX922 and my wife a Viewsonic 1912W, I did use or own also multiple LG, Samsung, Sony, and other Viewsonic like VP171b and more recently VX2235WM, (very nice for office use, but I didn't have the chance to test for CS2 or gaming). I have seen NO match yet to my CRT or others that I have sold, I know many models of LCD but lack many (like NEC 20WMGX2 or HP 2065 mentioned here)
While surfing for some info, I realized that this well done topic (the best so far...) is giving ERROR to many, Viewsonic VX2025WM mentioned is NOT 1280x1024, and NO 5:4, is a wide one and 1680x1050.
I would like to hear if anyone tryed other models like VP2030b, VP2130b or even VP2330wb...

Keep on the good work

 

[xtknight]

Originally posted by: samduhman
I love Maximum PC and generally agree with their reviews. Zebo what monitor do you own exactly?

He owns the NEC 20WMGX2.

 

[xtknight]

Originally posted by: ghoti
Well, I got the VP930b, revision 3, I think -- I'm still confirming that. (I split a "two-pack" from Costco with a friend -- a very reasonable price).

So far, so good -- have noticed no dead or stuck pixels.

xt, or anyone else: what's your recommendation for 'fine tuning' or calibrating this monitor? -- got some freeware to recommend (which doesn't require an advanced tech degree and investment of two solid weeks of work)? From what I've been reading on the forums, I not eager to install and use the software that came with the monitor.

Thanks for suggestions.

You can try the tests/articles at lcdresource.com for calibration.

Such as: http://lcdresource.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=48&Itemid=36

Unfortunately that's about all I can offer. There really is nothing reliable except a hardware calibrator. You can get them to a sort-of good point, which the above article will help you with, but to really tune them you will need a colorimeter.

 

[xtknight]

Originally posted by: pcampos
Hi there,
I'm new on this forum, but I know Anandtech for long...
I have to purchase a new Monitor...My loved old 21" CRT Hitachi CM812ET is getting heart failure from time to time, getting more frequent last two weeks...

Well, it's better than a stroke at least. Welcome, of course, to the forums.

This is my only home computer, used for me on surfing, photo editing in Photoshop CS2, Some CorelDraw , some Word & Excel of course & Watching Digital Sattelite TV ...and my kid games...NFSC & NFSMW mostly...
I am really confused on what to purchase...AH ! I live in Portugal (some say this is Europe...)...so some models here are pretty hard to get here...
I do know LCD already, I do own a small IT company, so...I should be a little informed... At office I have a Viewsonic VX922 and my wife a Viewsonic 1912W, I did use or own also multiple LG, Samsung, Sony, and other Viewsonic like VP171b and more recently VX2235WM, (very nice for office use, but I didn't have the chance to test for CS2 or gaming). I have seen NO match yet to my CRT or others that I have sold, I know many models of LCD but lack many (like NEC 20WMGX2 or HP 2065 mentioned here)
While surfing for some info, I realized that this well done topic (the best so far...) is giving ERROR to many, Viewsonic VX2025WM mentioned is NOT 1280x1024, and NO 5:4, is a wide one and 1680x1050.

Good catch, I fixed it. I actually just had to remove the whole entry altogether since the VX2025WM is a discontinued model.

I would like to hear if anyone tryed other models like VP2030b, VP2130b or even VP2330wb...

Keep on the good work

There is some info about the VP2330wb on prad.de.

As for the VP2030b and VP2130b, reviews are sparse and are generally limited to general/magazine sites (like PC World), as far as I know.

The ViewSonics are supposed to be decent, but I still doubt they will match your CRT. Really, the only thing close to matching a CRT would be the Samsung 215TW or NEC 20WMGX2 (or super expensive NEC/Eizo models).