New GPU or New Monitor

[DistortionGamer]

So I've recently decided to upgrade my gpu, currently have a radeon 6870 and was looking to get the amd 7950. However I was advised to get a new monitor instead, a 120Hz one, more specifically a BENQ XL2420T.
My current monitor has a 1680x1050 resolution and 60Hz.
What do you recommend me getting first, keeping in mind I can only afford 1 for now and will only get the money for the other in about 1 year.

 

[Lonyo]

Get a new monitor.
A monitor will last longer, and in 1 year, you won't be able to get that much more monitor for your money.

In 1 year you will be able to get more GPU for your money, and if you are happy with making some sacrifices in terms of quality, your HD6870 should just about manage to get you there.

It mainly depends on how much gaming you do and how much you feel a need to have everything at the highest levels possible, but personally I would sacrifice some graphical quality and get the monitor now, since it's a better long term "investment".

 

[lehtv]

What games do you play? Will you actually find any use for a 120hz monitor? Bear in mind that reaching high enough frame rates to properly benefit from 120hz requires a very fast GPU setup if you intend to play new demanding games. And judging by the fact that you're considering getting a faster card, your current card isn't up to the task of running all games smoothly at 1680x1050. Also, high frame rates require a fast CPU to avoid bottlenecking. What's your CPU?

I'd be inclined to suggest an upgrade to a 24" 1080p @ 60hz monitor at half the cost of the BenQ. Save the rest for a GPU upgrade. After selling your current monitor and GPU, maybe you'd have enough money left for a 7950 and a new 1080p monitor?

 

[DistortionGamer]

What games do you play? Will you actually find any use for a 120hz monitor? Bear in mind that reaching high enough frame rates to properly benefit from 120hz requires a very fast GPU setup if you intend to play new demanding games. And judging by the fact that you're considering getting a faster card, your current card isn't up to the task of running all games smoothly at 1680x1050. Also, high frame rates require a fast CPU to avoid bottlenecking. What's your CPU?

I'd be inclined to suggest an upgrade to a 24" 1080p @ 60hz monitor at half the cost of the BenQ. Save the rest for a GPU upgrade. After selling your current monitor and GPU, maybe you'd have enough money left for a 7950 and a new 1080p monitor?

My current CPU is an i5 3570 (non K, I don't overclock), right now I can just about run every game on High at 60 frames, except for Witcher 2 which I have to run on medium in order for it to be playable. I would like to play games such as Bf3, Crysis 2, Witcher 2, and of the sort.
So, can you recommend any good monitors then, since I won't be needing the 120hz?

 

[tviceman]

I see comments all the time from people who have bought 120hz monitors, saying they will never go back to 60hz. I have not seen the 120hz monitors in action, but I got an achieva 27" (catleap) back in May and have been blown away by how much better it looks than every other monitor I have owned. If you are unaware of cat leap / achieva, do some googling.

 

[lehtv]

So, can you recommend any good monitors then, since I won't be needing the 120hz?

Can't go wrong with Asus VH series monitors. There are plenty of others, of course - where are you located?

I see comments all the time from people who have bought 120hz monitors, saying they will never go back to 60hz.

I'm inclined to believe such comments are more often spoken out loud than the opposite. You also don't see the people who don't buy 120hz to begin with because they know the extra expense isn't really worth it to them.

I had a 22" 120hz monitor and there was really only one game where it made a real difference, Quake Live. A very fast paced, competitive FPS in OpenGL that doesn't support Vsync. All other games looked smooth enough at 60hz with Vsync... I can't imagine myself buying a 120hz monitor unless I can guarantee all games will run at 100+fps on high settings with my setup, and that'd be pretty costly to achieve in itself. And even then I'd rather have 1440p@60hz than 1080p@120hz.

 

[DistortionGamer]

Can't go wrong with Asus VH series monitors. There are plenty of others, of course - where are you located?



I'm inclined to believe such comments are more often spoken out loud than the opposite. You also don't see the people who don't buy 120hz to begin with because they know the extra expense isn't really worth it to them.

I had a 22" 120hz monitor and there was really only one game where it made a real difference, Quake Live. A very fast paced, competitive FPS in OpenGL that doesn't support Vsync. All other games looked smooth enough at 60hz with Vsync... I can't imagine myself buying a 120hz monitor unless I can guarantee all games will run at 100+fps on high settings with my setup, and that'd be pretty costly to achieve in itself. And even then I'd rather have 1440p@60hz than 1080p@120hz.

I'm living in Portugal and the current monitor I got my eyes on is the Asus VH242H, do you recommend it?

 

[runzwithsizorz]

After a lot of research, I bought the Asus VH 238H monitor and love it. I agree, Asus VH series best bang for the buck.

 

[lehtv]

Yeah, VH242H is a decent monitor. 6x winner of customer choice award on newegg with nearly 2000 reviews and an average of 5 eggs. It is however not LED backlit. VH238H is LED but 0.6" smaller.

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

Save your money would be the cheapest route. Save it for a year and then see what comes out. If you want to see what 120Hz does for cheap fire up your old CRT if you have one or find one for cheap. Maybe a Craigslist out where you are at?

 

[BrightCandle]

We are justing getting a new crop of 120Hz monitors so there is a decent chance we'll see some cheaper and/or better ones come out than the Benq and the Asus. There will be many more made on this panel and potentially with better colour balance and less expensive fluff associated with them.

You'd benefit from both a monitor and a GPU, but given the choice I would put down on the monitor. Your GPU is still OK and will survive a year or two until the next process comes out and then it will be time to upgrade that, by which point you'll have a decent enough monitor.

 

[DistortionGamer]

Yeah, VH242H is a decent monitor. 6x winner of customer choice award on newegg with nearly 2000 reviews and an average of 5 eggs. It is however not LED backlit. VH238H is LED but 0.6" smaller.

What are the advantages of it being LED backlit?
And unfortunately the VH238H doesn't seem to be available here.

 

[PrincessFrosty]

Get a new monitor.
A monitor will last longer, and in 1 year, you won't be able to get that much more monitor for your money.

I actually think this is sound advice, monitor tech isn't well known for making huge jumps in quality like GPUs do, a year in the GPU world is a lot, we have entire generations of GPUs often lasting only 18 months.

I actually have that monitor and for the cheaper TN panels it's one of the better models, but you'll only make the most out of 120hz if you can run at a decent frame rate, I don't really know how well that card performs on modern games @ 1080p but it might be worth looking in to.

 

[lehtv]

What are the advantages of it being LED backlit?
And unfortunately the VH238H doesn't seem to be available here.

LED backlight, as opposed to CCFL (cold cathode) consumes less power and thus produces less heat as well. The difference in power use between LED and CCFL monitors can be quite big.

When properly implemented, LED can also produce a more vibrant image with better contrast. I don't know if this is true for VH238H but since it does get a lot of positive reviews from users, it can't be bad. Other LED monitors should be available to you, VE247H for example, or monitors from Samsung or other brands. You can find reviews of them yourself from the google or newegg

 

[DistortionGamer]

From what I've heard the Asus VE247H is better for gaming than the VH242H, guess I made my mind.
Thank you all!