[Retired] The LCD Thread

[DoctorM]

Ok, for all of you interested...

http://images.pricegrabber.com/rebates/92635.pdf

This is a rebate posted on PriceGrabber. It would APPEAR that it is good for $100 off the 20wmgx2 (and a few others LCDs).
My Google-fu turns up that it may have originated on NewEgg (which also has this rebate listed but for the 1940wcxm (the only display on the rebate they still have)).

Now a warning: The link on the rebate for NEC resellers is bad/dead(?). If you go to NEC's website and look up the 20wmgx2 and a list of resellers, none of them seem the 20wmgx2 in stock.

Sooooo, if you are feeling lucky you can buy from some random place and try to cash in on the rebate.

I won't be gambling on it since I will not spend $600 for a 20" (unless it's dipped in gold AND chocolate), but I know there are those of you out there still considering this display at any price.

 

[Cellulose]

HP w2207h vs Samsung Pebble 2232BW...

Any opinions?

(Asuming they were the same price)

 

[Butterbean]

DoctorM wrote:

"Ok, for all of you interested...

http://images.pricegrabber.com/rebates/92635.pdf

This is a rebate posted on PriceGrabber. It would APPEAR that it is good for $100 off the 20wmgx2 (and a few others LCDs).
My Google-fu turns up that it may have originated on NewEgg (which also has this rebate listed but for the 1940wcxm (the only display on the rebate they still have)).

Now a warning: The link on the rebate for NEC resellers is bad/dead(?). If you go to NEC's website and look up the 20wmgx2 and a list of resellers, none of them seem the 20wmgx2 in stock.

Sooooo, if you are feeling lucky you can buy from some random place and try to cash in on the rebate.

I won't be gambling on it since I will not spend $600 for a 20" (unless it's dipped in gold AND chocolate), but I know there are those of you out there still considering this display at any price. "






I was on C-NET the other day and they had a link to Best Buy for business that showed 6 NEC 20WMGX2's in stock. The BB page is here:

http://www.bestbuybusiness.com...e&productID=BB10548089

 

[Scalarscience]

After a few day's wrangling (this started on sunday) I've convinced newegg to do a direct swap and they're even kind enough to do the RMA with a prepaid UPS sticker. Unit is now off via UPS and should have a replacement within 2-3 weeks (according to newegg). Not happy about the month's downtime on the monitor but at least Newegg provided better service than Samsung on this issue (I had tried to get Samsung to give me an upgrade to the 30" or downgrade to the 24" and I would pay the difference or take the rebate check etc, but apparently they can only do a limited number of options on an RMA even if the part was defective from the start as mine was).

 

[Mallomar]

Originally posted by: xtknight

The NEC LCD2690WUXi is awesome, it's $1200. Great deal though, at least considering it used to be $1600+. I can't think of any competition whatsoever at the $1200 point, at least for the 23-27" range of sizes.

If you have any questions, I can answer them. I will be reviewing this LCD. Probably not anything formal but I'll take some notes on it and post my thoughts in a little bit.

The NEC seems to have great accuracy by default actually, at least for the wide gamut. All tones are displayed smoothly and they look vibrant. It's the first LCD I've used that didn't feel like it needed further adjustment.

I don't know how it does with the regular sRGB space. I'll have to wait until the SpectraView software arrives.

I've got questions! Did you get the LCD2690WUXi or the LCD2690WUXi-SV? I have my heart set on the SV model, but can't find it in stock anywhere (at least not at an attractive price). And I have spent hours trolling the web, looking for it. I ordered it a couple of weeks ago from one of the resellers on NEC's list, but as of today they still couldn't give me even a tentative delivery date (plus they had dropped the price by $100 on their web page, but I'd still have to pay the previous higher price), so I cancelled the order. I would have been able to live with paying the extra hundred smackers if they had told me the monitor had already shipped and it was too late to cancel, but they had no idea when the order was going to be filled.

I did find one reseller that claims to have the SV model in stock, but the price is a couple of hundred bucks higher. (Even higher than the "street price" shown on the NEC site!)

I suppose I could buy the non-SV model (assuming I could find one in stock) and buy a separate calibration device, but I'd really prefer to get the SV-equipped model. I seem to remember there was some technological advantage (something to do with the LUT?) to getting the built-in SV thang.

One thing I'm a little foggy on -- if you buy the SV model, do you still have to pay extra for software?

 

[ClockHound]

Mallomar, LCD2690WUXi-SV in stock here for $1,359.33 CDN
http://www.tddirect.ca/product...ITORS/LCD2690WUXIBKSV/

Or here for $1,364.53 CDN with free shipping in Canada.
http://www.agileelectronics.ca...rod_id=LCD2690WUXIBKSV

From his post at the TFTcentral forum, xtknight, did not get the SV version. I'm still jealous tho. My new and now obsolete 241W hasn't even arrived and I already have acute pixel envy.

 

[xtknight]

Originally posted by: Featherock
I know a lot of people have said this, but it doesn't hurt to say it again: thanks for your help xt. people like you make the web actually worthwhile, more than a place to watch grainy videos of people singing in their underwear.

Likewise it's funny stuff on the net like this that keeps me going. Don't you think I ever get sick of reading reviews about panel lotteries?

Originally posted by: Butterbean
Oh whilst I am thinking of it - you still prefer Nvidia xtknight? I never had NV but recall you always mention they are easier to adjust resolutions with. I might get a Dell 3007 or 3008 (I read it might be S-IPS) and want to upgrade. Are certain cards better for the larger monitors? Its murky reading about Crossfire vs SLI and such. Not that I need duals yet anyway. I recall ATI had rep for better graphics/details but buggier drivers due to more mathematical complexity (or so I have read). Now I see the new ATI can take HDMI? If that's too complicated then I would wonder what you would get if you were getting card now and want goood card for 24" and above for all-around stuff. Thanks.

Well NVIDIA seems to be ahead of things lately. I think there are still some scaling bugs with the 8800 series but I also saw a registry hack that might fix these issues and I've heard of some success in that regard.

As blasphemous as it sounds, I don't keep up with graphics cards a whole lot but I always get NVIDIA because they have scaling support that works (depending on the card) and great Linux support too. And they always seem to have the fastest card out there. I'm sure ATI has something for you too, I just always lean towards NVIDIA. (Sometimes ATI has better video quality and more video features, though.)

In the absence of any specific model to recommend, I can always refer you to the Video forum. And if you are looking at a 30" display, you need at least one dual-link DVI port to support its 2560x1600 resolution.

One card might be better than another for doing large resolution or AA, so you will want to look into the articles about GPU scaling.

 

[Featherock]

Hi XT,
After lots of checking around, the NEC 26" you recommended is out of stock everywhere -- or rather, it's out of stock from any decent online store that is not run out of somone's garage in Dallas, TX.

Are there other panels that meet this monitor's standards at the $1500 mark (or more, if necessary)? I need to start some extensive photo editing for a book I've got coming out, although I can hold out for a week or two on the NEC.

 

[xtknight]

Originally posted by: Featherock
Hi XT,
After lots of checking around, the NEC 26" you recommended is out of stock everywhere -- or rather, it's out of stock from any decent online store that is not run out of somone's garage in Dallas, TX.

Are there other panels that meet this monitor's standards at the $1500 mark (or more, if necessary)? I need to start some extensive photo editing for a book I've got coming out, although I can hold out for a week or two on the NEC.

Well it looks like Newegg just ran out of them.

The NEC LCD2490WUXi is a good choice too (as is the perhaps overpriced Eizo HD2441W). Both of these monitors are only sRGB though, not as good for print matching.

(Eizo prad review) http://www.prad.de/en/monitore...hd2441w-ts-part12.html

If it was between those, I'd save the money and go for the LCD24.

Hopefully Newegg can get some LCD26s in stock soon. Maybe you can check with the Newegg chat to see if they have any idea when more are coming in (or are scheduled to do so)? Not sure what else I can do for you. I can't think of any other competitors to the LCD2690WUXi at the moment.

B&H has good reseller ratings and they have it in stock: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/...i_25_5_Widescreen.html

It says they re-open in 6 hours. Act quickly... that might be your only chance.

 

[Featherock]

I'll hold out for the NEC at New Egg. I have to pay state taxes in NY for B&H stuff, and I already give them plenty of my cash on camera equipment that I can't find at Canoga Camera in California.

All I have to do is write my editor at the book publisher and say, 'Hey, the art is going to be even later than the last time I delayed it.' I'm REAL good at writing those kinds of emails.

Thanks again.

 

[Nnyan]

Originally posted by: Knobjockey
HP w2207h vs Samsung Pebble 2232BW...

Any opinions?

I tried them both and liked the HP much better.

 

[nevbie]

24" Hazro HZ24W Review @ tftcentral (1920x1200 S-IPS)

 

[NomadSoul]

Hi, I have just recently bought all the components for my new desktop, but have struggled finding a monitor. The more I research the more confused I become :S

I am looking for a 24" monitor with good all round performance, but mainly for watching video, programming and playing games. Also a varity of input ports would be nice so I can use consoles etc with it.

I have looked into a fair few monitors like the BenQ FP241W, the Samsung SM245T, the LG 245WP and the Dell 2407WFP-HC with the BenQ FP241W currently front running. I haven't heard anything too great about the LG, the Samsung being expensive and having severe input lag, the Dell having ghosting issues and the BenQ having the blackout/flickering issue has left my head spinning.

I would appreciate any help from you guys as I am a complete noob having only owning this laptop, and with my own real knowledge coming from the first page of this thread :x
Thanks in advance

 

[Ursidave]

Thank you for this very informative thread. I am an amateur photographer, just making the switch to digital. My primary use for the monitor will be photo editing, using Photoshop CS3, mostly to prepare digital slide shows, and occasionally some printing. Secondary uses will be video editing, web surfing, and word processing. I am looking at 20" and 21", preferably widescreen for more efficient Photoshop usage. I prefer not to spend more than $700, but might be willing to pay more if necessary to get much higher performance. I have come up with a few models that fit my criteria, but they all seem to have limited availability: Dell 2007WFP, Samsung 215TW, and NEC 20WMGX2. If I have to go 4:3 instead, I might consider the HP LP2065 or Dell 2007FP. Would the NEC LCD2190UXp provide far superior performance compared to the HP and Dell?

I assume the reason you do not recommend the 2007WFP is the panel lottery, but I notice X-Bit favors it, particularly for photo work, and they don't even list the 20WMGX2 in their recent Buyer's Guide. It's tough to choose between the 215TW and 20WMGX2 - some pro reviewers prefer one, some the other. I don't think reflections would be a problem for me on the glossy screen of the 20WMGX2. One thing that put me off the 215TW, when I was researching it more than a year ago, was a problem reported by several users on New Egg, in which a vertical colored line (yellow, red, or blue) appeared permanently on the screen. At that time, I went to look at one in a local store, and saw the same phenomenon on the unit on display - a very noticeable thin blue line from the top to the bottom of the screen. I am surprised I have not found any comments about this defect in my recent research.

Assuming I am able to find the models listed above, which one(s) would you recommend for me, in order of preference? As I mentioned, I would prefer widescreen, but image quality is more important. Are there any other models I should consider? Thanks in advance for any advice you can provide.

 

[Overon]

I'm in the market for my first (and last until it breaks) LCD display. I have been using a CRT for years because I fear dead/stuck pixels which would really bother me because I tend to be annoyed by things like that. Also I have been using a CRT because I play lots of first person shooters I fear response time bluriness and input lag putting me at a disadvantage.

I am kicking myself for not buying the 20WMGX2 when it was under 400 dollars on newegg. But now that it's 600+ it's out of my price range. Since I watch movies and want good color reproduction, I would probably look into the multimedia category of the recommendations in this thread. Regular gaming and movie watching is what I'm looking for.

I don't have much experience with LCD's. I'm am probably looking for a LCD with a 16:10 aspect ratio. So a question I have is what happens when you have 1920x1080 native resolution LCD and you want to play a game at lower resolution because your computer is not fast enough? If I wanted my LCD to use the "fill" method, how bad does a game running at 1280x1024 look on a 1920x1080 "fill" method using LCD? Another reason why I have stuck with CRT's for long is because I don't like the idea of being stuck to the native resolution of the display for optimal picture quality since there are games that come along that you simply can't play at 1920x1080 unless you pay top dollar for the latest and greatest graphics card. I know that there are 1:1, "fill", and "aspect" methods as well, I just do not know how bad they look since I have never seen it for myself, so I have no way of knowing whether this an important factor in my research for an LCD.

 

[xtknight]

Originally posted by: Scalarscience
Just dropping in with my progress on my 275t I've been very happy with the image quality and performance of the monitor itself, but have what appears to be a defective unit and am currently unable to get a replacement from Samsung and so I'm trying to cajole one out of newegg (who keeps referring me back to samsung and so on). I purchased the unit from newegg in mid-October., and have actually enjoyed every moment I've spent with it in my 3d app, Adobe apps, doing web design and even gaming (though it is a tad slow obviously but fair enough for my needs).

When I first used the unit (as in the very first day) there were issues with its USB2 hub. Initially connecting devices to the monitor via USB meant I had to unplug and replug the monitor connection to the computer for the computer to properly see and load drivers for whatever the USB device was. This applies to my iPod, my wife's inexpensive digital camera (also a samsung) and several other various devices lying around (headset/mic, thumb drive etc). Over the last 1.5 months the USB issues got worse, and neither Samsung nor Newegg thought the issue was severe enough for a direct replacement, so the only option at that point was to send the unit back to Samsung for repairs (6-8 weeks turnaround 'estimated' with no guarantee). I didn't even bother starting the RMA process on that and just decided to write off the USB2 functionality.

Windows driver issue methinks.. although my NEC 20WMGX2's hub wasn't perfect all the time either.

Then last Sunday (about 6 days ago) the unit failed completely on me while working. I'm not sure the point of failure but the backlight appears to be completely out when I power the monitor on in the dark. Using a light to light the LCD doesn't show any unlit pixels doing anything, so the failure might be higher up than the backlight, but the unit is completely unusable. Newegg had sold me a 1 year on-site service contract, but neglected to make it clear that this didn't apply until some time after Samsung's warranty had run out. The newegg people said something about 1 year, but as the monitor comes with a 3 year warranty I'm not really sure what good a 1 year extended onsite warranty from Newegg really is at this point (will it run out in the 2nd year of ownership or kick in after my 3rd year? the newegg reps I spoke with weren't sure). Feels a bit like I went to compusa there (though I generally hold newegg in high regard).

Yuck...yes it does sound fishy.

Attempts to deal with the return with newegg kept leading me back to Samsung, who is apparently out of stock and can only do repair (this time they say 2+ months with no firm estimate on turnaround plus I bear shipping costs to them) or refund (4 week turnaround on 'a check' once they have even received the monitor, again I bear shipping costs). Newegg hasn't budged so far but I think this morning I'm going to call and do some yelling and see what that achieves.

I'm sure that this is just a manufacturing flaw I got bitten but, but I'm a bit disappointed that it's been basically 1 work week and I'm stuck here on a 19" viewsonic CRT with still no idea when I might have a decent unit again. So far the only real option I've been given is to buy another 275t from Newegg and wait on Samsung's refund to process. Given that my wedding anniversary was this week and I've recently moved plus spent another bundle on christmas gifts, I'm unfortunately SOL atm.

Well at least you are taking it reasonably. You aren't saying OMG!! never buy from Newegg again OMG!! I hate Samsung. That's good. Keep with it, you'll have a good unit sooner or later. It's defective, they're obligated to give you a good unit.

Thanks for letting me rant. I've otherwise been really happy with my 275t and would just like to get a unit that works properly!

No problem. I would be frustrated too.

Originally posted by: JoshC2

Originally posted by: xtknight
Try the HP LP2465, in my opinion.

If you can do 25.5", the NEC LCD2690WUXi is a decent "money is no object" option. I upgraded to this from a 20WMGX2 and I am mostly thrilled. The matte panel makes blacks look a little brighter and I don't like that too much but it's still awesome.

The 20WMGX2 is a good display, this is no joke.

I hope to do an in-depth review of the NEC LCD2690WUXi versus 20WMGX2/ etc...

Thanks for getting back so quick!

I'm kind of surprised that you recommend the HP LP2465 considering it's response time is fairly high. Can you just give me a little insight into your thought process on this?

High response time? Hmm not really. The LP2465 has as good a response time as any 24" display and it uses overdrive to reduce trailing. Maybe the 13 ms black-to-white-to-black measurement is throwing you off? Well, don't let it. 6 ms (g2g) is what matters mostly unless you watch a flickering (black/white) screen all day...

Is the LCD2490WUXi specifically inferior to the LCD2690WUXi in terms of gaming & multimedia performance?

Not really. The 24" is standard gamut, and the 26" is wide gamut. In fact I've heard the 24" has had better luck when it comes to quality assurance (especially uniformity).

Both have ColorComp which uses built-in sensors to throttle the max brightness to fix uniformity, but the less of this you need the more contrast you can get, so a unit that is better by default is still nice to have. And plus, there's nothing you can do about backlight bleeding.

I have faith the that color accuracy & reproduction will exceed my needs for just most of the panels we are discussing. As an alternative, it would seem that if I can get my hands on a Dell 2407wfp v. A04, I should jump all over it. Or, despite Dell's denial, should I hold out hope for a revision to the HC version that corrects the inverse ghosting issues?

At this point, I'm considering petitioning NEC to build a 24WMGX2

With it's ridiculously deep black levels and super quick response time, I'm afraid the 20WMGX2 has spoiled me forever...

Yes, you will never see black levels like the 20WMGX2's ever again. The LCD2690WUXi is a little underwhelming in this aspect even though it measures 0.26 nits black at good settings. I still long for the 20WMGX2's blacks!

But other than that the LCD24/26 should certainly have a pleasing image. And indeed they put the 20WMGX2 to shame in a few aspects like gamut and brightness. Admittedly it is nice to have a little less reflection (at the cost of some purity). The LCD26's anti-glare screen seems very clean as opposed to some more dirty anti-glare coatings I've seen (e.g. ViewSonic VP930b).

Actually I doubt Dell will even release any revision anymore. They would have by now if they were going to at all.

 

[Cellulose]

Originally posted by: Nnyan

Originally posted by: Knobjockey
HP w2207h vs Samsung Pebble 2232BW...

Any opinions?

I tried them both and liked the HP much better.

Thanks for the response, I was able to try both in PC world (they were the same price eventually after some price matching) and I decided to go with the 2332BW before I read your post. Is there good reason for changing to the HP (the stand was nice ) or is there not much point for use with an Xbox 360 and PC gaming?

Thanks a lot,
Joe

 

[cjbee]

.

 

[xtknight]

Originally posted by: NomadSoul
Hi, I have just recently bought all the components for my new desktop, but have struggled finding a monitor. The more I research the more confused I become :S

I am looking for a 24" monitor with good all round performance, but mainly for watching video, programming and playing games. Also a varity of input ports would be nice so I can use consoles etc with it.

I have looked into a fair few monitors like the BenQ FP241W, the Samsung SM245T, the LG 245WP and the Dell 2407WFP-HC with the BenQ FP241W currently front running. I haven't heard anything too great about the LG, the Samsung being expensive and having severe input lag, the Dell having ghosting issues and the BenQ having the blackout/flickering issue has left my head spinning.

I would appreciate any help from you guys as I am a complete noob having only owning this laptop, and with my own real knowledge coming from the first page of this thread :x
Thanks in advance

What about the HP LP2465? It does have VGA through a DVI-I input and you should be able to use this with consoles with the proper adapters. I just don't know for sure; I don't own one and I haven't been able to test this.

In my recent searches I have also discovered the ViewSonic VX2435wm which looks like it may even be better than the LP2465 when it comes to image quality. It has a lot of connectivity options also. It has no DVI input so make sure you get a DVI->HDMI adapter (DVI is electrically compatible with the ViewSonic's HDMI input).

 

[xtknight]

Originally posted by: Ursidave
Thank you for this very informative thread. I am an amateur photographer, just making the switch to digital. My primary use for the monitor will be photo editing, using Photoshop CS3, mostly to prepare digital slide shows, and occasionally some printing. Secondary uses will be video editing, web surfing, and word processing. I am looking at 20" and 21", preferably widescreen for more efficient Photoshop usage. I prefer not to spend more than $700, but might be willing to pay more if necessary to get much higher performance. I have come up with a few models that fit my criteria, but they all seem to have limited availability: Dell 2007WFP, Samsung 215TW, and NEC 20WMGX2. If I have to go 4:3 instead, I might consider the HP LP2065 or Dell 2007FP. Would the NEC LCD2190UXp provide far superior performance compared to the HP and Dell?

To be honest with you, the NEC LCD2190UXp is definitely worth it if you're doing photography.

The 2007WFP/215TW/20WMGX2 continue to have limited availability (or panel lotteries). And the 2007FP and LP2065 have the panel lotteries as well.

I assume the reason you do not recommend the 2007WFP is the panel lottery, but I notice X-Bit favors it, particularly for photo work, and they don't even list the 20WMGX2 in their recent Buyer's Guide. It's tough to choose between the 215TW and 20WMGX2 - some pro reviewers prefer one, some the other. I don't think reflections would be a problem for me on the glossy screen of the 20WMGX2. One thing that put me off the 215TW, when I was researching it more than a year ago, was a problem reported by several users on New Egg, in which a vertical colored line (yellow, red, or blue) appeared permanently on the screen. At that time, I went to look at one in a local store, and saw the same phenomenon on the unit on display - a very noticeable thin blue line from the top to the bottom of the screen. I am surprised I have not found any comments about this defect in my recent research.

I think your biggest problem is finding one of these panels in stock.

The 20WMGX2 is better in most cases because of a tighter gamma curve and more stable viewing angle. But the 215TW is still suitable, certainly. The screen coating really does not have a whole lot to do with its photo editing performance.

215TW color perf.: http://www.xbitlabs.com/articl...ay/20-21inch-3_10.html
20WMGX2 color perf.: http://www.xbitlabs.com/articl...ay/20-21inch-2_15.html

The 20WMGX2 requires little gamma correction, meaning it is accurate by default and it can retain a good number of colors even after calibration. The case is not as good for the 215TW. It will have to lose many color tones before it looks calibrated, and it will end up being not as detailed. In addition, the VA panel means the center plane will lack gray detail and the image may shift at wider angles. Such is not the case with the 20WMGX2.

Assuming I am able to find the models listed above, which one(s) would you recommend for me, in order of preference? As I mentioned, I would prefer widescreen, but image quality is more important. Are there any other models I should consider? Thanks in advance for any advice you can provide.

1. NEC LCD2190UXp
2. NEC 20WMGX2
3. Samsung 215TW
4. HP LP2065
5. Dell 2007WFP
6. Dell 2007FP

The VA panels in the Dells may be 6-bit.

The LCD2190 uses a VA panel but it at least has very good color setup and everything. Plus it was designed with photography in mind.

 

[xtknight]

Originally posted by: Overon
I'm in the market for my first (and last until it breaks) LCD display. I have been using a CRT for years because I fear dead/stuck pixels which would really bother me because I tend to be annoyed by things like that. Also I have been using a CRT because I play lots of first person shooters I fear response time bluriness and input lag putting me at a disadvantage.

I am kicking myself for not buying the 20WMGX2 when it was under 400 dollars on newegg. But now that it's 600+ it's out of my price range. Since I watch movies and want good color reproduction, I would probably look into the multimedia category of the recommendations in this thread. Regular gaming and movie watching is what I'm looking for.

I don't have much experience with LCD's. I'm am probably looking for a LCD with a 16:10 aspect ratio. So a question I have is what happens when you have 1920x1080 native resolution LCD and you want to play a game at lower resolution because your computer is not fast enough? If I wanted my LCD to use the "fill" method, how bad does a game running at 1280x1024 look on a 1920x1080 "fill" method using LCD?

Take a look at prad's reviews. For example, here's how 1280x1024 looks on 1920x1200 filled with the scaling options of a VX2435wm (second to last image): http://prad.de/en/monitore/rev...c-vx2435wm-part13.html

It might not look bad to you there but I personally can't stand any type of scaling. And you don't sound like the type of person to stomach it either.

It depends on the monitor. If your graphics card and drivers support scaling then it can depend on them too. You either use the graphics card's scaling or the monitor's (if the either even has the option).

Another reason why I have stuck with CRT's for long is because I don't like the idea of being stuck to the native resolution of the display for optimal picture quality since there are games that come along that you simply can't play at 1920x1080 unless you pay top dollar for the latest and greatest graphics card. I know that there are 1:1, "fill", and "aspect" methods as well, I just do not know how bad they look since I have never seen it for myself, so I have no way of knowing whether this an important factor in my research for an LCD.

I should probably tell you not to expect to be able to use lower resolutions on an LCD. Jaggies get particularly annoying when scaling is in effect. That is the way it goes, and I can't change that. You will have to work around this somehow, like by using lower details to get more FPS at a higher res, or by getting a faster card.

As long as that is not an issue I would recommend the VX2435wm and LP2465 to you. If you're not ready to commit to 1920x1200 resolution then you should probably look at 20-22" LCDs, such as the HP w2007 or ViewSonic VX2255wmb.

 

[xtknight]

Originally posted by: Knobjockey

Originally posted by: Nnyan

Originally posted by: Knobjockey
HP w2207h vs Samsung Pebble 2232BW...

Any opinions?

I tried them both and liked the HP much better.

Thanks for the response, I was able to try both in PC world (they were the same price eventually after some price matching) and I decided to go with the 2332BW before I read your post. Is there good reason for changing to the HP (the stand was nice ) or is there not much point for use with an Xbox 360 and PC gaming?

Thanks a lot,
Joe

I really have no idea how these monitors compare but the HP is the more reliable option because it uses only one panel (or maybe two good panels).

 

[Overon]

Originally posted by: xtknight

Originally posted by: Overon
I'm in the market for my first (and last until it breaks) LCD display. I have been using a CRT for years because I fear dead/stuck pixels which would really bother me because I tend to be annoyed by things like that. Also I have been using a CRT because I play lots of first person shooters I fear response time bluriness and input lag putting me at a disadvantage.

I am kicking myself for not buying the 20WMGX2 when it was under 400 dollars on newegg. But now that it's 600+ it's out of my price range. Since I watch movies and want good color reproduction, I would probably look into the multimedia category of the recommendations in this thread. Regular gaming and movie watching is what I'm looking for.

I don't have much experience with LCD's. I'm am probably looking for a LCD with a 16:10 aspect ratio. So a question I have is what happens when you have 1920x1080 native resolution LCD and you want to play a game at lower resolution because your computer is not fast enough? If I wanted my LCD to use the "fill" method, how bad does a game running at 1280x1024 look on a 1920x1080 "fill" method using LCD?

Take a look at prad's reviews. For example, here's how 1280x1024 looks on 1920x1200 filled with the scaling options of a VX2435wm (second to last image): http://prad.de/en/monitore/rev...c-vx2435wm-part13.html

It might not look bad to you there but I personally can't stand any type of scaling. And you don't sound like the type of person to stomach it either.

It depends on the monitor. If your graphics card and drivers support scaling then it can depend on them too. You either use the graphics card's scaling or the monitor's (if the either even has the option).

Another reason why I have stuck with CRT's for long is because I don't like the idea of being stuck to the native resolution of the display for optimal picture quality since there are games that come along that you simply can't play at 1920x1080 unless you pay top dollar for the latest and greatest graphics card. I know that there are 1:1, "fill", and "aspect" methods as well, I just do not know how bad they look since I have never seen it for myself, so I have no way of knowing whether this an important factor in my research for an LCD.

I should probably tell you not to expect to be able to use lower resolutions on an LCD. Jaggies get particularly annoying when scaling is in effect. That is the way it goes, and I can't change that. You will have to work around this somehow, like by using lower details to get more FPS at a higher res, or by getting a faster card.

As long as that is not an issue I would recommend the VX2435wm and LP2465 to you. If you're not ready to commit to 1920x1200 resolution then you should probably look at 20-22" LCDs, such as the HP w2007 or ViewSonic VX2255wmb.

Speaking of jaggies, game anti aliasing would not help elminate those jaggies would it, since it's not the fault of the graphics card but the LCD output.

Also here is something that turned me off to that Viewsonic you recommended, this is from the prad.de revew:
"However, oddly, this changes in standby and soft-off modes: then, a high whirring noise can be heard more than a metre away. Such a level of noise is absolutely unacceptable."
Whirring like this annoys the hell out of me. Otherwise I would seriously consider this monitor. Can anyone confirm that this monitor makes noises when in various standby power modes like the review says?

I notice that the HP LCD's only have a 1 year warranty while the viewsonics have 2 years, how heavily should that factor into my purchase?

Also I notice that both the hp w2207 and the hp w2007 are both at cirucit city at a very reasonable price. Is there an advantage from purchasing from the store? For example if I notice dead/stuck pixel I can just return it to the store and say what maybe? I need some advice.

 

[xtknight]

Originally posted by: Overon
Speaking of jaggies, game anti aliasing would not help elminate those jaggies would it, since it's not the fault of the graphics card but the LCD output.

Also here is something that turned me off to that Viewsonic you recommended, this is from the prad.de revew:
"However, oddly, this changes in standby and soft-off modes: then, a high whirring noise can be heard more than a metre away. Such a level of noise is absolutely unacceptable."
Whirring like this annoys the hell out of me. Otherwise I would seriously consider this monitor. Can anyone confirm that this monitor makes noises when in various standby power modes like the review says?

I didn't see it mentioned here: http://www.bit-tech.net/hardwa...2435wm_24_widescreen/4

I know the NEC 20WMGX2 also makes a slight noise in the stand-by mode but it certainly doesn't when it's off. I'm not sure what they mean by "soft-off" mode. I'm not around when it's on stand-by so it doesn't really matter.

Anyway the prad review actually said it occurred in the on mode, not in standby or off. It seems they may have gotten a defective unit. Well, not because it does it in on instead of off, but because it does it at all.

I notice that the HP LCD's only have a 1 year warranty while the viewsonics have 2 years, how heavily should that factor into my purchase?

That's up to you. I might prefer ViewSonic unless HP had a truly superior screen. Or you can purchase 'extended warranties' from certain vendors (although beware of these). The ViewSonic VX2255wmb is quite a decent screen, and I doubt the HP w2207 is worth it over the VX unless you need a glossy panel. The VX is probably better in most cases.

Also I notice that both the hp w2207 and the hp w2007 are both at cirucit city at a very reasonable price. Is there an advantage from purchasing from the store? For example if I notice dead/stuck pixel I can just return it to the store and say what maybe? I need some advice.

I don't know. Check out Circuit City's policies: http://www.circuitcity.com/rps.../rpem/ccd/lookLearn.do

Seems that you can return it for any reason within 14 days if you pay a restocking fee.

Newegg however offers no refund whatsoever on monitors. See http://www.newegg.com/Customer...ce/ReturnPolicy.asp#21

 

[Cellulose]

guide.

Originally posted by: xtknight

Originally posted by: Knobjockey

Originally posted by: Nnyan

Originally posted by: Knobjockey
HP w2207h vs Samsung Pebble 2232BW...

Any opinions?

I tried them both and liked the HP much better.

Thanks for the response, I was able to try both in PC world (they were the same price eventually after some price matching) and I decided to go with the 2332BW before I read your post. Is there good reason for changing to the HP (the stand was nice ) or is there not much point for use with an Xbox 360 and PC gaming?

Thanks a lot,
Joe

I really have no idea how these monitors compare but the HP is the more reliable option because it uses only one panel (or maybe two good panels).

Thanks, It actually seems I have the Samsung panel! So no regrets For those wondering how to check here is a guide. Brightness and contrast needs to be set to 0 - then hold down the source button.

Now I need to work out the right settings - obviously this is personal preference - but are there any tips which should generally be followed when changing settings on this monitor in your opinion?

Thanks again,
Joe