LCD Buyer's Guide

[dukeypoop]

My video card is fired. But still works sometimes, its a voodoo 3dfx card. very old. looking for a new card to get. what is the best card out there? im looking for top of the line card.. money is no option for me ;o

Please help me with this, id be very happy :]

other cool stuff, i checked here for video cards but i dont know what to get. =/

 

[JeriLee]

Which would you choose?

The Dell 1907FP is on sale for $271.20, plus tax, free shipping.

or

SCEPTRE X9g-Naga V ? just about the same price out the door at Sam?s club. I?m still blown away by the specs on this thing. Can they actually lie that much? How can they claim 170/170 viewing angle? The Dell claims 130/140.

 

[xtknight]

Originally posted by: JeriLee
Which would you choose?

The Dell 1907FP is on sale for $271.20, plus tax, free shipping.

or

SCEPTRE X9g-Naga V ? just about the same price out the door at Sam?s club. I?m still blown away by the specs on this thing. Can they actually lie that much? How can they claim 170/170 viewing angle? The Dell claims 130/140.

I'm really not sure if the Sceptre is a TN or VA panel, it's very hard to tell. In the store, look from the bottom of the image and if the screen totally inverts it's a TN. If it just gets darker and washed out it's a VA. It's too cheap to be an S-IPS. I'd lean toward it being a VA now due to the contrast ratio and response time ratings. I guess I'd go for the Sceptre, since if it's a TN it's probably of the same quality, or if it's a VA, you got lucky and you get something better than the Dell for the same price.

 

[JeriLee]

Since Sam?s Club has such a liberal return policy ? can I buy this thing, take it home, open it up and be able to tell what is really inside??? I don?t really know how to ask this question, so I?m hoping you will understand?

The last time I was in Sam?s ? they did not have this turned on.

 

[xtknight]

Originally posted by: JeriLee
Since Sam?s Club has such a liberal return policy ? can I buy this thing, take it home, open it up and be able to tell what is really inside??? I don?t really know how to ask this question, so I?m hoping you will understand?

The last time I was in Sam?s ? they did not have this turned on.

Well if you turn the monitor on and display a colorful image you'd be able to tell if it was a TN from looking at a bottom angle, yes. Elements of the image invert if it's a TN. Here's some pictures of the phenomenon: http://www.lesnumeriques.com/duels.php?...=105&p1=1041&ma2=41&mo2=74&p2=794&ph=8 The baby kind of turns into a ghost on the TN.

Left (244t) is VA, right (VX922) is TN. Sometimes a TN's effects can be mild like just making one part of the image quite washed out, like in this picture: http://www.flatpanels.dk/billeder/l1932p-vinkler5.jpg

 

[xtknight]

FYI

LesNumeriques has added the Dell 2007WFP and Samsung SyncMaster 244t to their database: http://www.lesnumeriques.com/duels.php?ty=6

 

[darXoul]

Yea, the 244t looks like I predicted, the 2007WFP is quite impressive though. Real fast. Not quite the new NEC widescreen but very good nonetheless.

 

[JediJorgie]

Originally posted by: xtknight

Originally posted by: schali
Is BenQ FP91G+ good for games?vera fast games - Enemy Territory atd.

I've played Enemy Territory on a TN panel (just like the FP91G+) and I've had a great experience. If you decide to get it, please let us know how you like it.

That is good to hear because I am looking for a monitor that will play games well. I've narrowed my search down to the FP91G+ and the Dell 1907fp. They are similar in price and the specs of their AUO panels are similar too. The Dell has advantages in viewing angles, brightness, and contrast.

Based on this, plus the fact that the Dell has USB ports, it seems to me the Dell would be a better choice. Does this seem logical? Also, AUO says Dell's panel has a "Narrow Bezel & PSWG." Any idea what PSWG is?

 

[xtknight]

Actually according to one user's 1907FP's service menu the 1907FP uses a Samsung panel. The kind I played ET on was a Samsung 17" TN and it was great for ET. I have no clue what 'PSWG' is. On the other hand, I've heard AUO's TN panels have more vibrant colors than Samsung's TNs so who knows? Do they have the FP91G+ in-store anywhere near you and another monitor that uses a Samsung panel perhaps? The Dell's specs are just more overrated, typical of Samsung. My AUO '250 nit' panel is at least two times as bright as my Samsung '300 nit' one.

 

[JediJorgie]

I've seen a few threads here that say the 1907fp has an AUO panel, thats where I was getting my info. But if it has a Samsung panel that looks good, that works for me. Unfortunately, I don't think any of the stores near me have the FP91G+, which would be really nice to in person. I feel like I've read everything available on what to look for in an LCD, but I still don't know what to buy.

 

[xtknight]

Originally posted by: JediJorgie
I've seen a few threads here that say the 1907fp has an AUO panel, thats where I was getting my info. But if it has a Samsung panel that looks good, that works for me. Unfortunately, I don't think any of the stores near me have the FP91G+, which would be really nice to in person. I feel like I've read everything available on what to look for in an LCD, but I still don't know what to buy.

Well I originally said it had an AUO one but I was just taking a wild guess. The 1905FP used both AUO and Samsung P-MVA/PVA panels. The 1907FP's may vary as well. Dell does that a lot. I suppose I'd go for the BenQ FP91G+ still. Having read at least one user saying they loved it I'm more confident recommending that than the 1907FP. Plus the BenQ has the SensEye thing, but I'm not sure if that makes any difference or not. I generally prefer AUO panels over Samsung ones too. Less dead pixels, more vibrant colors, and not to mention more truthful specs. Just be sure to get the FP91G+, not the FP91G (they are greatly different).

 

[JediJorgie]

Yeah, I've heard that Dell doesn't really use one single panel sometimes. It would be nice if they did though. Thanks for the advice xtknight. I'm still on the fence about what to get yet. I've read some good things about the Benq, but I've also heard of some people getting some bleedthrough. Hopefully I figure this out soon, the 15" CRT I'm using now is killing me.

 

[JediJorgie]

That SensEye technology does look interesting, but according to Benq's SensEye website, the FP91G+ doesn't have it.

 

[xtknight]

6000th post. :Q

ViewSonic VX2025 review: http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/2006/03/30/20_inch_widescreen_monitors/5.html

More info: http://www.tftcentral.co.uk/guides/viewsonic_vx2025wm.htm

This screen is supposed to be better than the Dell 2005FPW.

 

[Zebo]

Originally posted by: xtknight
6000th post. :Q

ViewSonic VX2025 review: http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/2006/03/30/20_inch_widescreen_monitors/5.html

More info: http://www.tftcentral.co.uk/guides/viewsonic_vx2025wm.htm

This screen is supposed to be better than the Dell 2005FPW.

bitech complaining about NEC brightness? Thats is an adjustable feature you know...it's good they liked it and the Veiwsonic but I leave monitor reviews to other people who know how you can adjust bightness, advanced DV mode and color.

 

[fliguy84]

anyone is familiar with the 2005fpw horizontal scrolling lines issue on left side of the screen?

 

[roisin]

zebo: when you run the PixPerAn car on your 20wgx2, subjectively looking at it, is it blured? on CRTs its not, on any lcd i've tested so far, its simply blured

 

[Zebo]

Of course it's blurred - I've said about 20x in this thread LCD's can never match CRT's reponse due to chemical/physical characteristics of liquid crystals - the only real question is; is it better than other LCD's. Affirmative.

 

[Zebo]

Originally posted by: fliguy84
anyone is familiar with the 2005fpw horizontal scrolling lines issue on left side of the screen?

I have that monitor never seen it or heard of that... Maybe be more discriptive of what you mean?

 

[hondaf17]

Hey Guys,

Great thread going on here. I am looking to get a 32 or 37 inch Widescreen HDTV. Primary use as a computer monitor, secondary use as normal TV, dvd viewing. I will be playing computer games, primarily Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter which is coming in one month. I've read that response times are important for PC gaming. I've come to a couple of products.

Niko 32'' LCD HDTV

and

Olevia 37'' HDTV

Both have the same native resolution (1366 x 768), but the Niko's response time is 22ms (11ms grey to grey), while the Olevia's is 8ms. Will that make a large enough difference for me to go with the Olevia?

Furthermore, I'm completely rebuilding my PC for this game. My video card will have HD composite out, so will that be the best way to hook up my PC to any TV to get HD? Also, are games built in HD, so would that be better than VGA / DVI? If someone could give me a recommendation of a TV in that size range, for $1400 or less, answer my MS question, and then explain how to hook up to get best picture for PC gaming, I would be forever grateful!

Thank you, you guys rock!

 

[xtknight]

Originally posted by: hondaf17
Hey Guys,

Great thread going on here. I am looking to get a 32 or 37 inch Widescreen HDTV. Primary use as a computer monitor, secondary use as normal TV, dvd viewing. I will be playing computer games, primarily Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter which is coming in one month. I've read that response times are important for PC gaming. I've come to a couple of products.

Niko 32'' LCD HDTV

and

Olevia 37'' HDTV

Both have the same native resolution (1366 x 768), but the Niko's response time is 22ms (11ms grey to grey), while the Olevia's is 8ms. Will that make a large enough difference for me to go with the Olevia?

Furthermore, I'm completely rebuilding my PC for this game. My video card will have HD composite out, so will that be the best way to hook up my PC to any TV to get HD? Also, are games built in HD, so would that be better than VGA / DVI? If someone could give me a recommendation of a TV in that size range, for $1400 or less, answer my MS question, and then explain how to hook up to get best picture for PC gaming, I would be forever grateful!

Thank you, you guys rock!

I don't have much experience with LCD TVs but out of those two the Olevia looks the most convincing. Better specs and it's a brand I've heard of. ST occasionally posts about LCD TVs in here so maybe he'd know which is better. The Olevia uses an S-IPS panel which means wide viewing angles and accurate colors, whereas I'm not sure what the Niko uses, but VA (less viewing angle, less perfect colors) would be my guess.

Best picture would be with DVI or HDMI. Both are of the same high digital quality, just choose whichever one your TV has.

 

[VenomXTF]

Look into the Sceptre X37 and X42 too. Lifetime warranty if purchased from Costco. Check my sig for a review.

http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=40&threadid=1817056&enterthread=y

 

[hondaf17]

Thanks guys. That Sceptre sounds like a pretty quality TV. I couldn't find it at Costco though, but I pricegrabber.com found a couple in the $1450-$1500 range. Hopefully a couple hundred dollar rebate or sale comes up soon and I can snatch up the 37'' version.

 

[xtknight]

Originally posted by: fliguy84
anyone is familiar with the 2005fpw horizontal scrolling lines issue on left side of the screen?

http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1038722

 

[imported_ST]

update: just got my Sceptre 42" 1920x1080p LCD TV. Here's some initial impression:

- Industrial Design
* Exterior: Much improved fro previous 37" Sceptre, with now a piano black finish. Crappy silkscreens and lighted SCEPTRE logo still obscurs the overall appearance. Grade: C+

* Remote Control: Much to my chagrin the recycled the old 37" remote, which was pathetic in appearance and funtion. Grade: D

* Other: Unit now utilizes and external AVS box (for power and signal connectivity). While there are + and -'s for this implementation, in general I am not a fan of more real estate for my already cramped rack area. I do like the fact that conceivably the firmware and other features are now readily upgradeable (if the Sceptre does choose so). Grade: C+

- Image Quality:
* SDTV: Acceptable but still not to the quality of regular CRT TV's. Mostly dependent on signal input, but even with cable still very mediocore. Grade: C

* HDTV: Maybe it's me, but I noticed that compared to my older Sceptre 37", the picture wasn't as sharp during 1080i / 720p broadcasts, even noting some pixelation. It is still more than aceptable but doesn't exude that "looking through a window" feel to it. Grade: B-

*HTPC: Fabulous! Still the same IQ as the 37" but larger, so thus much more immersive. Hardly any noticeable ghosting in FPS games (Doom3/UT2004/etc.) and a lot of real estate overall for multitasking contents. Movies look awesome with some post-processing (FFDSHOW, etc.). Grade: A-

*Other inputs: Playing GT3 on my PS2 via S-Video, I was highly disappointed it could not sync properly when changed over to 480p or 1080i display, thus the quality was so so. I don't have much other sources via component or other wise. Grade: C+

*Calibration: Still a lot to be desired, but still has a lot of options to fiddle around. One annoying feature though, is the Auto-DYnamic contrast that can really screw up pictures. Grade: C

I'll post pics soon of my new setup.