LCD Buyer's Guide

[Zebo]

Originally posted by: samduhman

Originally posted by: roisin
looking at the review of Nec 20WGX² http://www.behardware.com/articles/610-...gx-an-ips-equivalent-to-a-2-ms-tn.html
why would the pixperan images have those vertical stripes in them? http://www.behardware.com/medias/photos_news/00/15/IMG0015799.jpg
none of the other ones have that...

That review kind of put me off of the NEC 20WGX2. For one the glare issue and second the fact that it's widescreen and the reviewer said it actually looks small even though its 20". Im not willing to spend $700+ on a screen I may not be totally happy with. It would be nice if a local B&M carried this and the L2000C monitor so I could check them out in person. Ordering online with crazy restocking fees is not an option for trying out a LCD.


OOOOO, Just noticed an Acer 19" replaced the NEC as best gaming monitor but I didn't see a reason why. Anyone know?

Thanks!

Your loss. Seriously nothing I've used can touch the NEC and I've been though about 15 LCD's. Now the Acer might be better I won't say until I've seen one but the NEC has been so far above anything I've used it may prove difficult. I'm not tying to hide anything - I've mentioned gloss screen - it's pros and cons, lack of high adjustment and now users have reported poor QC manifested in back light bleeding. This technology is not perfect but NEC is as close as it gets IMO if you get a good one..

As far as pixilated lines that's just a macro focus issue of camera used.. notice bottom monitor has it as well.

 

[xtknight]

Originally posted by: Zebo
Now the Acer might be better I won't say until I've seen one but the NEC has been so far above anything I've used it may prove difficult.

Don't worry Zebo, the NEC is still vastly superior.

 

[Zebo]

Well having not used all I'll just say NEC has the best warranty in the biz.. You can RMA for three full years for any dead pixels and any backlight bleed and they are very helpful and promt from reports Ive seen.
http://www.widescreengamingforum.com/fo...8&sid=181d5e4471f42adef180ec003cc2bfdf

 

[darXoul]

2090UXi, here I come. The thing is already listed at one vendor I know but at PLN 0.00 price and zero availability. Until the end of March, I should be able to grab it. If it was 23" wide, it would be even better but I'm buying it anyway, I can't wait forever.

 

[Zebo]

Sight unseen, unreviewed, only 20", $1300+ you're crazy Dar or extremly loaded... Maybe you should check L2000C for less than half the price and I bet uses same panel... the reviews are starting to come in...

Edit I take that back here's the review
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,1934990,00.asp

 

[xtknight]

Originally posted by: Zebo
Sight unseen, unreviewed, only 20", $1300+ you're crazy Dar or extremly loaded... Maybe you should check L2000C for less than half the price and I bet uses same panel... the reviews are starting to come in...

Edit I take that back here's the review
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,1934990,00.asp

LOL, look how it "compares" to other TN LCDs (according to them) and the Gateway which has grayscale problems! :laugh: Yeah right...

http://www.pcmag.com/compare_products/0...0,171481,171234,169142&pt=14&sid=26265

Should I even bother indexing such reviews? I can't wait for how many times you'll call them color blind.

 

[Zebo]

No.. they are pretty crazy better wait for toms/xbit type thorough/scientific review. It's pretty evident they use a price/performance matrix in their star rating rather than absolute goodness regaurdless of price..which is fine but should be noted.

 

[samduhman]

Originally posted by: Zebo

Originally posted by: samduhman

Originally posted by: roisin
looking at the review of Nec 20WGX² http://www.behardware.com/articles/610-...gx-an-ips-equivalent-to-a-2-ms-tn.html
why would the pixperan images have those vertical stripes in them? http://www.behardware.com/medias/photos_news/00/15/IMG0015799.jpg
none of the other ones have that...

That review kind of put me off of the NEC 20WGX2. For one the glare issue and second the fact that it's widescreen and the reviewer said it actually looks small even though its 20". Im not willing to spend $700+ on a screen I may not be totally happy with. It would be nice if a local B&M carried this and the L2000C monitor so I could check them out in person. Ordering online with crazy restocking fees is not an option for trying out a LCD.


OOOOO, Just noticed an Acer 19" replaced the NEC as best gaming monitor but I didn't see a reason why. Anyone know?

Thanks!

Your loss. Seriously nothing I've used can touch the NEC and I've been though about 15 LCD's. Now the Acer might be better I won't say until I've seen one but the NEC has been so far above anything I've used it may prove difficult.

I see that xtknight has rearranged the list.

The NEC is way over my budget range anyway so it doens't really matter.

 

[samduhman]

Originally posted by: xtknight

Originally posted by: samduhman
OOOOO, Just noticed an Acer 19" replaced the NEC as best gaming monitor but I didn't see a reason why. Anyone know?

Sorry for the confusion. I do state that the recommendations are in no particular order (whichever of the listed LCDs that you can find in a store will suit you). The Acer is the best price/performance ratio of all those though, I'd say. If you can't afford the new NEC that is. Although, right now I am going to rate them based on how good they are, regardless of their price. I'm not sure if the Acer is 8-bit or not, but I don't think it is. In any case I'll probably put the Samsung above the Acer.

I do have to put some faith in people when they say things, but generally when the panel is the same, there is not much they can do to *destroy* the final LCD. I am still confident it is at least better than any of the TNs in the same price range. Justification being I have not seen one case where one monitor with the same panel obliberates the other.

Thanks xtknight for clearing that up.

The LCD I was holding out for is the Samsung 940bf. Maximumpc magazine ranked it the best fastest LCD for gaming in one of its recent issues. I just wish it would come out already. It was supposed to come out last November.

black 940bf

silver model

 

[xtknight]

New Tom's Hardware round-up of 19" LCDs.

http://64.233.179.104/translate_c?hl=en...iteur-1190-1.html&prev=/language_tools

 

[xtknight]

Originally posted by: samduhman
Thanks xtknight for clearing that up.

The LCD I was holding out for is the Samsung 940bf. Maximumpc magazine ranked it the best fastest LCD for gaming in one of its recent issues. I just wish it would come out already. It was supposed to come out last November.

black 940bf

silver model

I'd avoid that LCD because the very similar 930BF had serious response/overdrive problems. It's possible the 940BF is problem free but why take a chance, you know what I mean?

http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/other/display/response-compensation_15.html

I'd just go for the ViewSonic VX922. Currently it is the fastest LCD desktop monitor in the world, according to this. Plus it is rated grade A for overdrive (no horrible effects like the 930BF). I will be changing my recommendations to reflect THG's new round-up very soon. The 970P turned out some rather disappointing results. The VP930 turned out surprisingly decent. If contrast is more important to you than speed, then the VP930 is a great display as well. You can see how the response compares below. (For all intents and purposes/within margin of error the VP191 has the same response as the VP930.) Despite their horrific support and QC, I've gained a little respect back for ViewSonic.

http://64.233.179.104/translate_c?hl=en...teur-1190-28.html&prev=/language_tools

 

[Zebo]

Originally posted by: xtknight
New Tom's Hardware round-up of 19" LCDs.

http://64.233.179.104/translate_c?hl=en...iteur-1190-1.html&prev=/language_tools

They like your VP930... Also they took it apart and it uses AUO M190EN3 V2 which I can't find deatils of at AUO site yet..new?

 

[xtknight]

Originally posted by: Zebo
They like your VP930... Also they took it apart and it uses AUO M190EN3 V2 which I can't find deatils of at AUO site yet..new?

Yeah, it did surprisingly well in comparison. That actual review (data at least) of the VP930 has been up for ages at tomshardware.com, but they stuck it in that article. I have not been able to ever find that panel at AUO's site but I'll pursue that further tomorrow with Google.

 

[Zebo]

Im thinking about buying the 922 just to see how far off Toms is.. As you know i had the 924...No way they can classify a 6 bit panel as excellent color. And I bet it has big time blacklight bleed as well and they did'nt even mention it crap veiw angles which I saw at frys.

 

[xtknight]

Originally posted by: Zebo
Im thinking about buying the 922 just to see how far off Toms is.. As you know i had the 924...No way they can classify a 6 bit panel as excellent color. And I bet it has big time blacklight bleed as well and they did'nt even mention it crap veiw angles which I saw at frys.

The first VX924 THG measured as you know had horrific response times so times may have changed (ouch, no pun intended).

I know there is a mistake already in the "AUO M190EN3" text. There is always a zero before the last number on AUO's panels. As for the "V2", I have only been able to find PDF datasheets for V0 and V1. I don't think V2 ever existed to tell you the truth. Yet, this P-MVA panel is still listed as 8-bit on some TFT distributors' sites. I guess I'll never know what the hell is actually in the VP930.

 

[Zebo]

.. take it apart.. no big deal if you're at all handy..

 

[xtknight]

Originally posted by: Zebo
.. take it apart.. no big deal if you're at all handy..

Blah...I'm not that curious. There are fragile things in there. It seems that none of the panels on AUO's site match the 1000:1 contrast ratio stated on the VP930 specs. I'll search further tomorrow.

 

[spectra9]

Originally posted by: xtknight
Blah...I'm not that curious. There are fragile things in there. It seems that none of the panels on AUO's site match the 1000:1 contrast ratio stated on the VP930 specs. I'll search further tomorrow.

This one is even 1300:1. Strange thing is, I remember seeing one with 1000:1 there, but I can't seem to find it anymore

 

[darXoul]

Originally posted by: Zebo
Sight unseen, unreviewed, only 20", $1300+ you're crazy Dar or extremly loaded... Maybe you should check L2000C for less than half the price and I bet uses same panel... the reviews are starting to come in...
[/L]

Funny how you call me Dar. We have a private forum of former Diablo 2 "pr0 players" where my nick (and real name) is Darius - everyone calls me Dar there as well Basically, all my English speaking online friends call me Dar - not that I don't like it, of course.

Even though I'm, as one of my friends says, a b4nX0r, I wouldn't call myself loaded. Crazy - yea, this might be it

I looked at the L2000C and I'd probably get it (guranteed new panel LM201U05, etc.) but like I said, it's not available in Poland and LG Poland guys don't know when, or even IF it will be.

Great reviews of the 2080UXi speak for its successor. The PC Mag opinion in terms of gaming is less than stellar but these guys even complained about some ghosting on the quick TN ViewSonic.

 

[ZedHash]

I need a little advice here. I just rapidly browsed through the sticky and was wondering which lcd display is best suited for mainly using office applications and watching movies and anime. I'm not a perfectionist, but I don't want to be distracted by artifacts etc.

I am looking for a 19" screen and can easily find following brands at the local computershop:

Viewsonic, Samsung, BenQ, HP and Acer.

Price maximum $400.

I almost bought the Samsung 930BF last week, but someone advised me not to buy the display because of the recommendations in this thread.

At the moment I have my eyes on the Samsung 940BF and the Viewsonic VX924 which is pretty expensive.

Any help is appreciated. I didn't start a new thread because I thought it wasn't really necessary.

 

[samduhman]

Originally posted by: ZedHash
I need a little advice here. I just browsed through the sticky and was wondering which lcd display is best suited for watching mainly movies and anime.

That's answered in the original post. Watching movies anyway. I'd assume it applies to anime as well.

 

[samduhman]

Originally posted by: xtknight
New Tom's Hardware round-up of 19" LCDs.

http://64.233.179.104/translate_c?hl=en...iteur-1190-1.html&prev=/language_tools

I can't read that site. Which one are they suggesting is the best for gaming?

 

[darXoul]

Purely for gaming, they recommend Belinea 10 19 27 and ViewSonic VX922, thanks to their responsiveness.

For allround use, ViewSonic VP930 or Belinea 10 19 20.

 

[ZedHash]

Thanks for the answer samduhman. Well the displays mentioned in the movies section are a little too expensive for your average student I'm afraid.

Another question then. I have no experience with lcd monitors yet. I have been using a 17" LG crt monitor for years. My question is if a Samsung 940BF for example is inferior to a crt screen from a few years back or did they already catch up?

 

[samduhman]

Originally posted by: ZedHash
Thanks for the answer Samduman. Well the displays mentioned in the movies section are a little too expensive for your average student I'm afraid.

Another question then. I have no experience with lcd monitors yet. I have been using a 17" LG crt monitor for years. My question is if a Samsung 940BF for example is inferior to a crt screen from a few years back or did they already catch up?

Im new to the whole LCD thing myself so someone else could probably answer you better but I'll give it a shot. The short answer is no the have not caught up to CRTs when it comes to response times or refresh rates. However they are close and they have the bright clear pictures going for them vs the crt (contrast I believe). So if your going from a 17" crt to a fast response timed 19" LCD I'd think you'd be definately pleased.

I was at a LAN party recently and was looking at my 19" Samsung crt screen right next to a 12ms 17" Samsung LCD (forget the model) playing the same game (BF2) and the picture on the LCD looked MUCH better than my crt. I then watched a fast paced racing game played on the LCD. Even though it was an older model I didn't see any ghosting and my eyes are pretty sharp and anal . I was pleasantly surprised.

One positive I like about the Samsungs over all the other LCDs is I recall reading a news piece last year that Samsung had implemented a no dead pixel policy! Where most other companies require a certain amount of dead pixels before you can return it. I never confirmed this however.