[Retired] The LCD Thread

[legcramp]

Man I am so confused, is there anything in the $450 range that is not a TN panel and is at least 24" that is not the soyo/sva version with no HDCP and an ugly stand?

 

[xtknight]

Originally posted by: darXoul
Upgrading my PC right now which means another temporary metamorphosis for me - from lurker to poster

Yeah it's been a long time since I've seen you post here!

I'm also replacing my trusted Samsung 226BW (got one with "S" panel and I must say that for any gamer/general home user who doesn't care about vertical viewing angle and only needs 1680*1050 resolution, it's an awesome piece of hardware). I want 1920*1200 and the following monitors are on my crosshair:

HP LP2475W
+ great viewing angles
+ low input lag (usually 1, sometimes 2 fps)
+ good overall image quality
+ no smearing, only minor dark ghosting in some situations
- no polarizer -> limited black/dark tone viewing angles
- wide gamut -> oversaturated colors in daily use
- IPS-typical decent but not great contrast/black level

Hyundai W241D
+ good viewing angles
+ acceptable input lag (1-2 fps, lesnumeriques/digitalversus is 100% wrong here)
+ crisp, vibrant colors
+ no smearing/heavy ghosting
+ great price
- poor build quality/high dead pixel rate (confirmed by my retailer)
- some minor inverse ghosting even with RTC off
- firmware lottery (blurry text on 3.60)
- service menu necessary to dim CCFL (otherwise, lost gradients or unacceptable brightness)
- reports of washed out blacks despite S-PVA panel

LG W2600HP-BF
+ great viewing angles
+ low input lag (max 1 fps)
+ good overall image quality, vibrant colors
+ no smearing/ghosting
+ great size, readable font thanks to 0.2865 mm pixel pitch
+ great price for a large IPS
- no polarizer -> limited black/dark tone viewing angles
- IPS-typical decent but not great contrast/black level
- red overhue, Rev. 1 (803M/804M serial no.) with poorly adjusted colors
- buzzing sound user reports
- too bright even at 0 setting

NEC LCD2690WUXi
+ great viewing angles
+ good overall image quality, vibrant colors
+ no major smearing/ghosting
+ great size, readable font thanks to 0.2865 mm pixel pitch
+ A-TW polarizer = good black viewing angles
- wide gamut -> oversaturated colors in daily use
- a bit expensive
- input lag on the verge IMO (2-3 fps)

NEC LCD2470WNX
+ good viewing angles
+ acceptable input lag (1-2 fps, usually around 2)
+ superb contrast
+ good out-of-the-box colors, no wide gamut
+ good pixel response
+ decent price
- buzzing sound reports
- prad.de reports some ghosting in games

EIZO S2431W
+ very good viewing angles
+ acceptable input lag (1-2 fps)
+ superb contrast
+ good out-of-the-box colors, no wide gamut
+ good pixel response
- pretty expensive (but not for an EIZO)
- dated, bland design (IMHO)

EIZO HD2442W (or my broken hope )
+ very good viewing angles
+ superb contrast
+ good out-of-the-box colors, no wide gamut
+ good pixel response
- expensive
- dated, bland design (IMHO)
- Thru Mode disappointment (only HDMI = max res 1920*1080, input lag still significant)
- 2-3 fps input lag (DVI)
- weird sound reports (buzzing + variable high-pitched whining depending on content displayed)

I've seen most of them in action so I hope my evaluation can help some buyers. Tomorrow, I'll be testing 2470WNX vs. S2431W, since I pretty much narrowed my choice down to these two LCDs. Once I get my new PC up and running, I'll post a "non-scientific, real world use" review of my monitor, probably the Eizo...

Wow, that's a lot of pro LCDs. But yeah I am waiting in anticipation for which LCD you like the best.

 

[QuantumPion]

Do you think the Planar/DS 26" IPS panels would be a big image quality upgrade over a Samsung 204B (22" 4:3 TN) to be worth the price? I'm trying to decide whether to upgrade or not.

 

[pdp76]

Wow, I haven't read this thread in over a year, my how it's grown! I think the last post I made was somewhere between page 10 and 20. Anyway, I've browsed over a few of the near 300 pages of posts and I didn't really find anything that helped, though I may have missed something so bear with me if this is a repeat. I'm in the market for a VA type panel, 20"-24" widescreen, 1680x1050 or 1900x1200. DVI is a must, and USB hub is a near must, but if there's a good deal I can live without a USB hub. HDCP would also be nice but even less necessary. If you read my previous posts, I purchased an Acer AL2051W, one of the last 20" VA panels around the $200-$250 mark I've ever found and I still absolutely love it.... however, it's my wife's monitor and now it's time for me to upgrade myself. I'm looking for something similar to that monitor, and prefer to not go used. The Dell 2007FPW comes to mind, but unless I can find that somewhere for <$300, I won't buy it. In fact, that is another criteria of mine, if it's 20", it has to be $300 or less. I'm willing to go up to $400 if it's 22"-24". With the dwindling choices for cheaper VA panels nowadays, I don't know how reasonable my search is, but if anyone would know, it would probably be you guys. And recommendations, comments and opinions are appreciated. Thanks in advance.

p.s. I don't do much photo work, only some for personal purposes, so the VA panel probably isn't 100% necessary in some opinions, and plus, I know TN has come a long way and some look pretty good. But I've only used VA panels at home and at work in the past, so in a sense I've been spoiled by the better colors and viewing angles, I'm not sure if I could psychologically deal with the downgrade seeing how I'll have to stare at the monitor every single day. If you can convince me that TN is acceptable, I may take that into account too.

 

[Muadib]

Originally posted by: Kanchi
Don't remember exactly as the input lag was my main concern at the time but think it was something about uneven brightness across the screen, think there was some mention in this thread: http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1264046

I didn't see anything there really. Good thread though!

 

[xtknight]

Originally posted by: Kai920
It's not that the 2007WFP is out of my price range - I don't seem to have the 2007WFP as one of my choices in Dell's HK Store. How much is the 2007WFP supposed to go for? Now they don't even have the S2409W anymore on the 24"-plus LCD listing for some reason?

I wanted a Dell simply to "match" the other monitor that already exists on my desktop, but I guess that's a bit silly since I did have the Viewsonic before

If there is nothing worth getting from Dell, I may have to look elsewhere for a 1920x1200 monitor. Of course that means a lot more choices to narrow down

I usually avoid the cheaper Dell models like the plague, especially the 20" and higher "value models" (their 17"/19" ones weren't so bad).

I guess the 2007WFP is discontinued but the 2007FP is available for $400 USD in the US. It's not available there, I guess.

I don't know what to tell you, but you probably don't want any of the cheaper Dells. Consider some of the monitors on the OP.

 

[xtknight]

Originally posted by: TMoney468
General question about the HP LP2475W...would this really be a bad monitor for web design and photoshop work? I have a simple hardware calibrator that I could use to calibrate the monitor, but I just have a big fear since it's wide-gamut. It seems like a great display, only the wide-gamut is holding me back. Any suggestions?

For the price, honestly it's a steal and just use Photoshop profiles and you'll be alright.

Originally posted by: WhiteZero
So is the BenQ G2400WD still a viable choice for a gaming monitor? It's currently on backorder and I have to wait till about Oct. 20th for them to get back in stock. Anyone think there is a 24" monitor significantly better for under... say $600.
I might even consider breaking $700 if it's a superb monitor.
Must have HDMI and DVI. 1:1 pixel mapping is very much preferred.

You may want to wait around for reviews of the HP LP2475W, but that's looking to be a great monitor right now and it has the ports you need.

Originally posted by: Tofucube0
So i haven't really been able to figure this out. Is HDMI important on a monitor if your just using it for computer use and gaming, not watching tv? I was thinking about getting the Benq V2400wd since Benq seemes to be saying bye bye to the G2400WD but i noticed it doesn't have HDMI, just dvi and i dont know how important that is. Are we expecting video cards to start using HDMI over DVI in the future or should i not worry about it?

HDMI is useless unless you have an HDMI device. Furthermore, HDMI is directly compatible with DVI (it's the same thing with audio).

Video cards will probably go to DisplayPort rather than HDMI, if they ever change from DVI (because HDMI is the same thing as DVI, changing the ports and making everyone who has a DVI monitor use HDMI adapters is useless).

Originally posted by: Shoggoth
Hi

I'm looking for a monitor to replace my lg f900b which I think is dying (it often has wobbling borders and makes strange noises)

I'd like a general purpose one, so i was thinking about pva/mva panel (I also use to watch some movies on the pc); it seems they aren't cheap, except for the old asus pw201 which comes at about 220 ?; I also like asus' ZBD warranty.
Is this monitor still a good choice? Are there any other pva/mva in the same price range (I didn't find others on sale, and it seems other monitors with the same panel as the pw201 are no longer produced)?
Could I have resolution problems with my old radeon 9500 pro card?

Thank you

The ASUS PW201 is actually quite a decent choice. As long as your card has DVI I think you'll be fine at 1680x1050.

It must have only recently started being available in the US, so I will have to start recommending this model. Do keep in mind it's a glossy panel (which I prefer).

 

[xtknight]

Originally posted by: ninethirty
So, judging by the not-too-positive early reports of the DoubleSight 265W, the most compelling 24"-to-26" options that are widely available seem to be the HP LP2475W and the Planar PX2611W, right? I think I'm mentally discounting the NECs because they're in 30" cost territory. Those in Europe have the Hazro and LG W2600HP-BF and perhaps a few others... I didn't recognize the Hyundai or Eizos on darXoul's list, but Eizos are usually out of my league.

If I'm reading correctly, it sounds like the breakdown between those two is as follows:

HP:
+ cheaper (~ $650 at the moment)
+ many more input options
- wide gamut (some consider this a plus)

Planar
+ best dead pixel policy, great warranty support
+ or - 2" larger, which means text is larger but slightly less sharp
- more expensive (~ $850 at the moment)

Neither have the A-TW polarizer; that's now restricted to >$1000 monitors now, right?

So it seems that the HP is the general winner here, unless one is strongly against wide gamut. Does that mean that the HP will land just under the 30" monitors on the Office Work list?

It's very hard to ascertain what monitors have the A-TW polarizer. Apparently people don't know what they're looking at and misreport it, so, I really can't tell you for sure until it comes from a halfway reputable source. I personally cannot believe that it would make much difference and will continue to recommend H-IPS monitors that don't have the polarizer.

The HP will probably land among the tops in all categories except sRGB photo editing. (Yes, using profiles still yields a good result and at the HP's price that's probably your best bet for sRGB photo editing yet.) Right now I'm assuming the HP lives up to its name, but I haven't had the time to look at reviews yet. That will come shortly, I promise, because this could be an important turn in what I recommend for people.

 

[xtknight]

Originally posted by: Centurin
As of right now, I'm going with the PX2611W. However, I have a question regarding buying an LCD TV. I was browsing around Best Buy, Circuit City, and Sams Club today. All 3 stores have LCD TVs of 37" to 42" for around $800-$1000 which is pretty much my budget. All have a native res of 1920x1080 and support 1080p. They also have multiple HDMI connections. The problem with looking around the stores is that I have no clue as to the response time, or input lag of any of the displays. One interesting thing is that a lot of the displays used 120hz as a refresh rate. I also realize that the larger display will have a larger Pixel size as well. I'm more concerned with image quality and response time.

Would it be a better deal to spend the money on an LCD TV? Is there a way to look up the response times? With a large display, I can move my computer into the living room and use the LCD for both TV and computing.

TVs *might* have more input lag, but that's hard to confirm. Not all do, and some may have less than monitors.

I am not sure how 120 Hz on the TV would work for gaming, but I'd assume it's the same as a 120 Hz monitor (i.e., good, but chance of seeing flickering especially if you're gaming up close). The TVs probably wouldn't have as good of a response time (based on the ones I've seen, at least), however it's interesting to note that larger pixels can indeed have a lower response time. You'd probably be much happier with a smaller TV and a regular desktop monitor (such as the HP LP2065) rather than a single $1000 TV, but if you want to do it you should look for the model on AVSForum to ensure it has no overscan issues with PC hookup.

 

[xtknight]

Originally posted by: LeoM
Hi, first time LCD buyer here. I'm coming from an NEC FE791sb Diamondtron CRT, so I'm used to a high quality picture, suitable at least for web photo work. I need to stay under $500.

I am looking at two widescreen units -- the LG L227WTG and the NEC 20WMGX2. I can get the LG new of course, and the NEC is available as a factory refurb. Both have gotten high praise in this thread but I haven't seen a direct comparison between the two, subjective or otherwise. Any comparative info appreciated.

I have owned both and I can say the NEC is still better for photo work because of better screen stability (viewing angle). That's the clear choice here IMO. (The LG of course is great for movies and games, though, but the NEC is too.)

Originally posted by: fyleow
Looks like Newegg pulled the Doublesight DS-305W from their website so I may be getting the HP LP2475W to replace my Dell 2405FPW. Any chance that some other manufacturers might pick up this 24 inch IPS panel? I'm sure if Dell picks it up it should drive the prices down a bit.

I highly doubt Dell will use an IPS as long as the VA panels are still cheaper.

Originally posted by: Kanchi
Hi! My old crt finally died on me so I'm looking for a new lcd. I'll use it for digital artwork, 3dsmax/photoshop (not so much for actual photo editing though), but also for games and I also read quite a bit so it would be nice if text is readable. Movies aren't as important as I'll just watch those on the tv.
Right now I'm looking at 24" screens:

Eizo Flexscan S2431W-BK

+screen quality
+automatic adjustment for light (I sit right next to a window so outside lighting used to play havoc with my black values)
+ 100% pixel guaranty from the store i'd buy it from
- input lag/response time (not sure how noticeable it is though, but as long as i don't know it's the biggest hurdle)
- price
- ugly stand

HP LP2475w

+ input lag/response time
+ price (?200 less then the eizo)
- wide gamut (big unknown but seems like it's more trouble then it's worth unless you actually need it? This is the biggest hurdle for me.)
- also ugly stand

Dell 2408WFP

+nice features
+looks nice
+ 100% pixel guaranty
- input lag (not sure if it is really fixed in the a01 rev as I can't seem to find a review for it, also I have no idea what version I would get if I'd order it from the dutch dell site..)
- not sure if all the other problems are fixed
- more expensive then the eizo even

Any thoughts on what I should get or have some extra info to overcome the biggest hurdles?
Any options I missed? (keep in mind that we don't get all brands/ models(NEC grr) in the Netherlands)

Thanks a lot

The HP I think is worth it alone because it's IPS. Regardless of whether or not it's wide gamut, if you use Photoshop, you can use profiles. Even the highest end Eizo that uses a VA panel will have the exact same viewing angle issues as the lower-tier models like the Dell.

Originally posted by: korandot
Does anyone know a good lcd mount for three 24 inch widescreen monitors?

Ergotrons are generally good. http://www.newegg.com/Product/...50001991&name=Ergotron

No specific recommendation.

Originally posted by: Orodreth

Originally posted by: ninethirty
HP:
+ cheaper (~ $650 at the moment)
+ many more input options
- wide gamut (some consider this a plus)

Planar
+ best dead pixel policy, great warranty support
+ or - 2" larger, which means text is larger but slightly less sharp
- more expensive (~ $850 at the moment)

So this has me curious...

I currently have the Samsung 226CW (22") which has a native resolution of 1680 x 1050 and dot/pixel pitch of 0.282mm. The NEC2690/DS263N/DS265W/PX2611 all using the same screen (26") have a native resolution of 1920 x 1200 and dot/pixel pitch of 0.2865mm.

Given the numbers, I calculate that the 26" screen indicated should look nearly identical in terms of "text size on the screen". But I am curious if anyone knows or has heard reports of the 26" series mentioned being slightly blurry at all? The reason I ask is that there is a note on the 30" NEC and Dell monitors that they have been reported to be blurry.

Given the reviews and commentary and price and product differences, I'm leaning to the Planar PX2611. The only thing that holds me back right now is the wide gamut, since I DO want adequate color calibration.

You're misinterpreting the notes. The anti-glare coating is fuzzy and a little distracting, but this does not make the text blurry. It just means the coating will take some getting used to.

 

[xtknight]

Originally posted by: RIFLEMAN007
Man I am so confused, is there anything in the $450 range that is not a TN panel and is at least 24" that is not the soyo/sva version with no HDCP and an ugly stand?

Westinghouse L2410NM?

 

[xtknight]

Originally posted by: QuantumPion
Do you think the Planar/DS 26" IPS panels would be a big image quality upgrade over a Samsung 204B (22" 4:3 TN) to be worth the price? I'm trying to decide whether to upgrade or not.

Yeah they'd be a giant upgrade IMO. The size will be very welcoming, as will the wide gamut and viewing angle stability.

Originally posted by: pdp76
Wow, I haven't read this thread in over a year, my how it's grown! I think the last post I made was somewhere between page 10 and 20. Anyway, I've browsed over a few of the near 300 pages of posts and I didn't really find anything that helped, though I may have missed something so bear with me if this is a repeat. I'm in the market for a VA type panel, 20"-24" widescreen, 1680x1050 or 1900x1200. DVI is a must, and USB hub is a near must, but if there's a good deal I can live without a USB hub. HDCP would also be nice but even less necessary. If you read my previous posts, I purchased an Acer AL2051W, one of the last 20" VA panels around the $200-$250 mark I've ever found and I still absolutely love it.... however, it's my wife's monitor and now it's time for me to upgrade myself. I'm looking for something similar to that monitor, and prefer to not go used. The Dell 2007FPW comes to mind, but unless I can find that somewhere for <$300, I won't buy it. In fact, that is another criteria of mine, if it's 20", it has to be $300 or less. I'm willing to go up to $400 if it's 22"-24". With the dwindling choices for cheaper VA panels nowadays, I don't know how reasonable my search is, but if anyone would know, it would probably be you guys. And recommendations, comments and opinions are appreciated. Thanks in advance.

The Lenovo L220X (VA, wide gamut) comes to mind but the cheapest I've seen it go for is $450 and who knows if this place is reputable: http://www.costcentral.com/pro...433HB2/N56403/froogle/

The Westinghouse L2410NM is alright, but it has had poor quality control (at least lately).

The ASUS PW201 has a VA panel (as far as I know, based on X-Bit Review of the unit in another country, and the user reviews, but I am not 100% sure), and it's available for $210 AR on Newegg: http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16824236007

p.s. I don't do much photo work, only some for personal purposes, so the VA panel probably isn't 100% necessary in some opinions, and plus, I know TN has come a long way and some look pretty good. But I've only used VA panels at home and at work in the past, so in a sense I've been spoiled by the better colors and viewing angles, I'm not sure if I could psychologically deal with the downgrade seeing how I'll have to stare at the monitor every single day. If you can convince me that TN is acceptable, I may take that into account too.

I recommend trying out the PW201 actually. It is a glossy panel just like your AL2051W and has a USB hub. It's probably not going to be an "upgrade" though, more like a sidegrade.

 

[mmnno]

Originally posted by: xtknight

Originally posted by: ninethirty
So, judging by the not-too-positive early reports of the DoubleSight 265W, the most compelling 24"-to-26" options that are widely available seem to be the HP LP2475W and the Planar PX2611W, right? I think I'm mentally discounting the NECs because they're in 30" cost territory. Those in Europe have the Hazro and LG W2600HP-BF and perhaps a few others... I didn't recognize the Hyundai or Eizos on darXoul's list, but Eizos are usually out of my league.

If I'm reading correctly, it sounds like the breakdown between those two is as follows:

HP:
+ cheaper (~ $650 at the moment)
+ many more input options
- wide gamut (some consider this a plus)

Planar
+ best dead pixel policy, great warranty support
+ or - 2" larger, which means text is larger but slightly less sharp
- more expensive (~ $850 at the moment)

Neither have the A-TW polarizer; that's now restricted to >$1000 monitors now, right?

So it seems that the HP is the general winner here, unless one is strongly against wide gamut. Does that mean that the HP will land just under the 30" monitors on the Office Work list?

It's very hard to ascertain what monitors have the A-TW polarizer. Apparently people don't know what they're looking at and misreport it, so, I really can't tell you for sure until it comes from a halfway reputable source. I personally cannot believe that it would make much difference and will continue to recommend H-IPS monitors that don't have the polarizer.

The HP will probably land among the tops in all categories except sRGB photo editing. (Yes, using profiles still yields a good result and at the HP's price that's probably your best bet for sRGB photo editing yet.) Right now I'm assuming the HP lives up to its name, but I haven't had the time to look at reviews yet. That will come shortly, I promise, because this could be an important turn in what I recommend for people.

Update: Someone posted pics (on hardforum) of a 265W that undoubtedly has the A-TW. Others in the thread reported that they think they have it, but weren't sure and didn't post pics. I don't know if anyone confirmed getting a monitor without it.

 

[Araemo]

Originally posted by: xtknight

Originally posted by: Araemo
Are there any decent, 20"-22" IPS(or similar quality) panels around anymore? I wanted an original 2005FPW, but it was turned into a panel lottery before I had the money.. Then the 20WMGX2 was discontinued before I had the money..

Are either of these monitors good for gaming plus photo editing?
NEC ASLCD22WMGX-BK
NEC LCD2090UXi

HP LP2065 and Dell 2007FP, if you win the lottery (which has actually been higher IPS lately). No widescreens that I am aware of.

IMO forget about the first, but the second should be a great choice. Check out the X-Bit review: http://www.xbitlabs.com/articl...splay/20inch-5_18.html

At that price you might decide you want an LCD2490WUXi (24" H-IPS) though.

Has anyone used the LCD2490WUXi for gaming that can comment on the image delay and response time?

I'm currently using a Viewsonic VX900, so as long as both are better than that, I'll be happy. But I haven't seen any serious reviews of this monitor, so I can't compare the specifications/measurements.

As long as the image delay is no worse than the VX900, I may still want the 2490, partially for the better color quality.

 

[ericinho]

@ All with experience with a wide-gammut monitor:

I am actually curious how wide-gammut performs in practice... Is WG something to avoid if you use your computer for a broad range of activities (so watching movies, internet browsing, office work and administration) besides sRGB design work???

 

[LeoM]

Originally posted by: xtknight

Originally posted by: LeoM
Hi, first time LCD buyer here. I'm coming from an NEC FE791sb Diamondtron CRT, so I'm used to a high quality picture, suitable at least for web photo work. I need to stay under $500.

I am looking at two widescreen units -- the LG L227WTG and the NEC 20WMGX2. I can get the LG new of course, and the NEC is available as a factory refurb. Both have gotten high praise in this thread but I haven't seen a direct comparison between the two, subjective or otherwise. Any comparative info appreciated.

I have owned both and I can say the NEC is still better for photo work because of better screen stability (viewing angle). That's the clear choice here IMO. (The LG of course is great for movies and games, though, but the NEC is too.)

xtknight, many thanks for the advice. I have two further questions if you can help me on these:

1) I'm concerned about black point and dynamic range. Most of the photos I edit are architectural, which means lots of shadows, contrasty images, and detailed wood grain in closeups. I understand that LCD blackpoints in general can't equal CRT, but how do the black values and dynamic range compare between the LG and the NEC in your experience?

2) Factory refurb is apparently my only option for the NEC. Am I likely to get a functionally "like new" unit going that route, or is that pretty much a gamble in the LCD market?

 

[pdp76]

The Lenovo L220X (VA, wide gamut) comes to mind but the cheapest I've seen it go for is $450 and who knows if this place is reputable: http://www.costcentral.com/pro...433HB2/N56403/froogle/

The Westinghouse L2410NM is alright, but it has had poor quality control (at least lately).

The ASUS PW201 has a VA panel (as far as I know, based on X-Bit Review of the unit in another country, and the user reviews, but I am not 100% sure), and it's available for $210 AR on Newegg: http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16824236007

I recommend trying out the PW201 actually. It is a glossy panel just like your AL2051W and has a USB hub. It's probably not going to be an "upgrade" though, more like a sidegrade.

Thanks for the reply, just to clear things up a little, the AL2051W is my wife's, I'm currently using a Dell 1703FP. Great little monitor, they don't make them like this anymore, but the problem is, it is "little", I'm dying for a little more desktop space nowadays.

Anyway, thanks for the suggestions, I took a look at the PW201, it does look pretty decent. I'll definitely take it into account because the price is certainly right! If it's as good as the AL2051W, I'll probably get that one, do you think any stores still carry them so I can take a look in person? Those monitors are about 2 years old now.

 

[kY]

I have a chance to get the old 2405 for $350... I haven't found it in the thread but is the 2405 a worthy 24" for gaming?

 

[Buck Armstrong]

Originally posted by: ericinho
@ All with experience with a wide-gammut monitor:

I am actually curious how wide-gammut performs in practice... Is WG something to avoid if you use your computer for a broad range of activities (so watching movies, internet browsing, office work and administration) besides sRGB design work???

I think the whole wide gamut thing is a bit exaggerated. If you do color-critical work, then it might be a problem, but I actually prefer it, especially in games and movies. For office work, I don't see how it would even matter, and for browsing you might notice that images are more saturated...but comparing my Planar (WG) to my Dell at work, I really don't see a huge difference when browsing except that reds are more vibrant, even though I think most of the extended gamut is greens and cyans (XT, please correct me if I'm wrong).

Ultimately, if it was as bad as certain people make it sound on HardForum, then why are all the new monitors wide gamut?

 

[WhiteZero]

I keep hearing that the BenQ FP241VW has bad input lag. But this thread over on HardForum seems to contradict that statement
http://www.hardforum.com/showp...032785502&postcount=21:

I'm very seriously considering this monitor for my gaming/movie usage.

 

[darXoul]

Originally posted by: xtknight

Wow, that's a lot of pro LCDs. But yeah I am waiting in anticipation for which LCD you like the best.

Hi, xtknight, nice to see you still hanging around and managing the LCD thread

Since I've ordered a factory OCed 280 GTX (BFG) and all the top models (ASUS TOP, BFG OCX, eVGA FTW, Zotac AMP!) are suddenly insanely hard to get here in Poland (listed everywhere, available nowhere), I have to postpone the remaining part of my LCD "Holy Grail search" until at least next week.

So far, I'm leaning towards the Eizo. It really is a classy piece of hardware. The only things that scare me off a bit are input lag (definitely noticeable, although very faint and probably not an issue), PVA-typical black/contrast crush (I have to test it a bit more) and possible excessive blur in fast games (I'm used to TNs).

A great alternative would be the NEC 2490WUXi but it's unavailable in Europe :/ I could get the 2690 (BTW, your review was really informative and thorough) but 2-3 frames of input lag seem higher than on the best S-PVA 24"ers, plus I'm sooo afraid of wide gamut oversaturation... The HP LP2475W looks good as well but no polarizer is a big disadvantage on IPS, and there are also reports on wide gamut overhue and color shift across the screen (greenish to pink).

Why do LCDs always have to be THE dilemma when upgrading a PC?

 

[pdp76]

Originally posted by: pdp76
Thanks for the reply, just to clear things up a little, the AL2051W is my wife's, I'm currently using a Dell 1703FP. Great little monitor, they don't make them like this anymore, but the problem is, it is "little", I'm dying for a little more desktop space nowadays.

Anyway, thanks for the suggestions, I took a look at the PW201, it does look pretty decent. I'll definitely take it into account because the price is certainly right! If it's as good as the AL2051W, I'll probably get that one, do you think any stores still carry them so I can take a look in person? Those monitors are about 2 years old now.

Well I ended up finding a used 2007WFP for $225 and I'm so glad I got it because it turns out to be one of the S-IPS ones, woohoo! I've been reading about banding issues and whatnot about the 2007WPFs, can the S-IPS ones also exhibit banding? What's a sure way to test it for banding? Also, how can I find out which revision I have? (A2, A3, or A4?) I thought it would be printed on the sticker on the back but I can't seem to find any reference to revision.

 

[jlanza]

Hey Guys I have been reading this forum trying to figure out which 24" monitor I should upgrade to. I currently have a dell 2005wfp and it has been a really great monitor. I feel like I can use the extra 4 inches now. Could anyone recommend a monitor that is similar (same or better brightness, contrast, viewing angle, etc) to this one but 24"s. When I bought this one Dell was the best top of the line and I was thinking of going with a 2408wfp, but after digesting all this board's information I don't know. Any suggestions of where to begin my search would be great!

Thanks

 

[Orodreth]

Originally posted by: ericinho
@ All with experience with a wide-gammut monitor:

I am actually curious how wide-gamut performs in practice... Is WG something to avoid if you use your computer for a broad range of activities (so watching movies, internet browsing, office work and administration) besides sRGB design work???

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G...son_of_various_systems

"Liquid crystal display (LCD) screens filter the light emitted by a backlight. The gamut of an LCD screen is therefore limited to the emitted spectrum of the backlight. Typical LCD screens use cold-cathode fluorescent bulbs (CCFL's) for backlights. LCD Screens with certain LED or wide-gamut CCFL backlights yield a more comprehensive gamut than CRTs."

If you are watching movies or playing games or working a spreadsheet or browsing web pages, the wide-gamut LCD monitors tend to provide a little richer and broader color spectrum which is can provide a more pleasant experience than a "regular" gamut LCD.

The only problem with wide-gamut monitors that I have read about, is that some panels are harder to calibrate than others (how a manufacturer achieves wide-gamut differs amongst the builders). This headache would only affect people who need professional color matching or color preview. (Take look at the price on high end LED-array backlight monitors with awesome color capabilities).

So if you just watch movies, play games, read email, and do scrapbooking of your family photos into goofy DVDs for your relatives... you shouldn't fear wide-gamut.

Xtknight has done a wonderful job of displaying LCD recommendations based on TASK and User recommendation and Reviews, and not price/size/brand/bling. As with any computer purchasing choice, you should always figure out what it is that you need/want to do, and then purchase the components best suited to complete the designated task most effectively and within your budget.

 

[laikinasis]

Please help me to pick a 22-24" LCD....

The requirements:
1. sRGB only. That means no wide gamut (DELL 2408, Lenovo L220X and so on are out). I would use it with winXP, so major problems with colors on vast programs and I'd be forced to buy a wide-gamut supporting calibrator.
2. Decent response time + input lag (up to 40 ms). Fps gamer, but not hardcore.
3. DVI connection.
4. Good colors when calibrated. I have access to Spyder 2 calibrator.
5. MVA / PVA / IPS only. No TN.

My current search result (Europe, Lithuania):

BenQ FP241W / Z - discontinued.
LG L245WP-BN - discontinued. Found one left in a shop, but could not connect digitally (the view was shifted to the left and could not be corrected).
Viewsonic VX2435WM - discontinued.
Acer AL2623W - poor performance on every aspect.
NEC 2470WNX - don't know if discontinued, but major reports on poor homogenuity.
NEC 2490WUXi - very good, but USA only !
Samsung 245T - laggy, poor color quality.

Lacie 324 - wide gamut, though comes with a calibrator. Out.
Apple 23" - wide gamut. Out.
Lenovo L220x - wide gamut. Out.
DELL 2408WFP - wide gamut, A01 revision is still not in Europe, locally no one knows when or where should look for A01. Out.
HP LP2475W - wide gamut, although everything else is too good to be true ;/ Anyway, out.
Eizo - virtually insane prices. Out.

Sadly, there's no way to buy Hazro, Doublesight and Planar in our country.