LCD Monitors and LCD TVs

[CybrSlydr]

Hey folks - new to the forums and LCDs!

I've had my Dell 19" CRT for years. Love the thing. That big, huge, heavy thing. lol

Finally got a decent paying job and I want an LCD. I've read nothing but good things about the Dell 2005FP (top of my list), a Hyundai L90D (2nd) and a few Samsung models.

While browsing Dell's website, I saw they had a 26" LCD HDTV. Hm... I figure, I could kill two birds with one stone - the 26" will work with my puter (I have an x800, so I do have DVI) and give me an HD capable TV. I don't currently have any HD programming (only TV over the airwaves), so it's with some future thought in mind.

What I'm wondering is how that 26" LCD HDTV would fare with gaming. I'm a big gamer. Love gaming. Watch plenty of DVDs on my puter too, but as the 26" LCD is a TV, I figure it'll be just fine for watching DVDs.

EDIT: I forgot to include I'm also eyeing the Dell 2405 24" LCD. Reviews I've read on it are also very good.

I just finished reading the 2005FP vs. Apple 20" Cinema display. It only reinforced my thoughts on the 2005FP that it's the one I want. But that 26" LCD HDTV is looking nice too - and bigger. lol

What I'd like from you fine folks are some recommendations. Thanks alot for the help!

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Welcome to AT.

I think the biggest issue here would be resolution.

The resolution on that 26" LCD TV is 1280 x 768 I think.

That's not horrible, but when comparing it to the 24" LCD Monitor at 1920x1200, you can see the kind of difference.

LCD TVs are meant to be viewed at distances much greater than in an environment like a desk. It will look better from far away. If you get right up next to it, it might not look so great.

I'm not sure on the response time of it either... you might run into some problems there for gaming.

 

[CybrSlydr]

I hadn't thought of this until I was reading up on these forums - if my puter will handle running the games at native res. Esp. on that 24". I've got an AMD 64 3500+ w/1GB RAM. ATi x800 256Pro.

Most games I can definately run at 16x12, but I'd have to turn down the detail options. Hm...

That 24" is very tempting...

Thanks for the welcome.

 

[RaiderJ]

The TV's are nice for having the simple interface, but I'm using a 2405 for my computer and as a TV, and it works great (using MCE 2005). Great for playing games on too!

 

[longballmaniac]

Originally posted by: RaiderJ
The TV's are nice for having the simple interface, but I'm using a 2405 for my computer and as a TV, and it works great (using MCE 2005). Great for playing games on too!

if you comp can support the native resolution that is. and over time you'll have to worry about getting the gfx card to support that resolution as newer and newer games come put.

 

[CybrSlydr]

Yeah, minor detail.

After doing some reading, it seems that the dual core X2s wouldn't really help much as they're still just two 2.2GHz cores instead of a combined 4.4GHz core. Games wouldn't take advantage of it - lame.

 

[CybrSlydr]

Just a quick bump.

I'm contemplating getting a new GC if you folks think that my x800 256 Pro can't handle the 24" Dell LCD's native for gaming.

If I did that, what have you folks seen as the best bet? I only have AGP and don't really feel like shelling out the extra $ to get a PCI-E board when I'm not gonna have the $ to afford an SLI setup.

 

[zoz123]

It will drive it well but not with everything max settings esp in lastest games.

In such a case, I heard that it can scale down to lower resolutions and still look good.

 

[CybrSlydr]

How about an X850 XT PE? I found one for about $355 + S&H.

 

[zoz123]

Buy 7800 GTX if u r going to get a new video card, MUCH MUCH BETTER.

Check the hot deals section I saw a card come with Sli mobo for a good price, the 7800 GTX will cost 480 or something but its a long lasting investment. This deal will get you PCIe an the card plus the ability to add another one when it is needed and you have the money for it.

 

[zoz123]

http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=40&threadid=1661341&enterthread=y

 

[CybrSlydr]

Arrrrrrrrgh... lol

I just built this system less than a year ago. lol

Means I'd have to reinstall everything, practically disassemble my tower (Thermaltake Tsunami Dream) to get my old mobo out, plug in the new one, reattach everything...

I'd be sitting around with a useless video card and mobo. Not to mention a 19" CRT when I get the new monitor.

-sigh- You guys really think I'd be better off w/the 7800GTX, SLI Mobo? Hm...

I was hoping I wouldn't have to resort to that, but... Oy. Could be worse I suppose.

Thanks for the input - I'll take it into consideration.

 

[bob4432]

a friend of mine has Viewsonic that he uses as his display and games on it. works excellent even though he is only 2-3' away from it, and since it is ~1280x720 you current gpu will work out fine and you should be able to turn up the aa and details.

this is the way i would go because to get a game, especially something bf2 to run @ 1920x1200 you will need at least 2x7800gt in sli if not 2x7800gtx in sli if you want the details and the aa up high. this will end up costing you a bunch of ~$900+ since you will need a new m/b, 2x7800gtxs the new display, etc. and honestly, imo i think 1280x720 with 6AA, details on high looks excellent and cant see a difference compared to 1600x1200 even with the same AA and details.

 

[CybrSlydr]

Normally I play games @ 1600x1200. FS2k4, DoD...

BF2, HL2, Doom3 and others I usually play @ 1280x1024. 16x12 is nice, but eh... I usually don't turn on AA or AF at that high a res - don't really need it!

But man... About $1000... Arrrrrrrrrgh. I have online classes - I can't afford to hack up my puter and leave it in pieces until I can get all the parts. -sigh- This sucks. lol

Any good places to get some deals aside from newegg or eBay?

EDIT: Looks like if I went SLI this would be the board I want. http://secure.newegg.com/NewVersion/Fee...tRatingReview.asp?Item=N82E16813127207

So... $135 for the MoBo (how is that passive cooling, btw? Worth it?)

$1000 (appx) for two of these... http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814150105

$60 for this power supply... http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817181106

And about $800+ for the Dell 2405FPW.

That's appx. $2000!!!!! Holy hell...

 

[quiescentTrance]

I think you're better off sticking with what you have for now. Get the 24" dell monitor, run games at 1600x1200 or whatever, since not all games support widescreen anyways. You'll get letterboxed for games, but whatever, it looks fine, and in the future you can upgrade and run the ones that do support widescreen in 1920x1200.

 

[CybrSlydr]

I was hoping you'd say something like that.

I'm probably gonna be spending alot for that 24"... But damn will my DVDs look good on it! -sigh- I might just say screw it and opt for the 2005fp. Cheaper and still a "widescreen" I believe.

 

[bob4432]

Originally posted by: CybrSlydr
I was hoping you'd say something like that.

I'm probably gonna be spending alot for that 24"... But damn will my DVDs look good on it! -sigh- I might just say screw it and opt for the 2005fp. Cheaper and still a "widescreen" I believe.

your dvds are still going to play @ 720x480p...

 

[CybrSlydr]

You mean on the 20.1 or the 24?

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: CybrSlydr
You mean on the 20.1 or the 24?

Whatever display you're on, DVDs are still only 480i material.

 

[CybrSlydr]

D'oh...

Will we see the... what is it, 1080i?, when Blu-Ray and it's ilk start arriving?

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: CybrSlydr
D'oh...

Will we see the... what is it, 1080i?, when Blu-Ray and it's ilk start arriving?

Well, I don't know if you'll be able to play those on computer monitors. I haven't been keeping up with it. I'm going to wait until everything is figured out and ready before I pay more attention to it.

 

[CybrSlydr]

Hm... I'm not really clear on the difference between 480i and 1080i. Guess it's time to go read up and see why we can't have it on puters now!

 

[CybrSlydr]

Here's a great article for HD n00bs such as myself.

http://www.projectorcentral.com/hdtv_edtv.htm

 

[bob4432]

480i = 720x480 resolution
1080i = 1920x1080 resolution

 

[bob4432]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Originally posted by: CybrSlydr
You mean on the 20.1 or the 24?

Whatever display you're on, DVDs are still only 480i material.

i thought they would put it out as "p" if the dvd player supported it...???