Advice on new monitor?

audiobliss

I'm looking at upgrading my computing/gaming experience this summer as funds allow, and one thing I've always wanted is dual monitors. As this is a luxury and won't strictly enhance the gaming experience, it will be the last upgrade, assuming remaining funds will still allow. However, I'd like to go ahead and do some research and figure out what it is I should be looking for.

I'm currently running a Samsung SyncMaster 216BW and love it. It's 21.6", I believe, and looks great. However, it's only 1680x1050. And when I say that, the resolution looks fine to my eyes. But when I'm reading about graphics cards, monitors, gaming rigs, etc, 1680x1050 doesn't seem to be "all that." So I'd like a second monitor that is larger (22"-24"?) and has a higher resolution.

Also, if i had a tv tuner that'd be great, but it certainly isn't a necessity. With the way the desks are set up here at school I only have about 18.5" vertically to play with since the monitor has to fit under a shelf. I'm imagining that with looking at larger monitors, this is going to be a limiting factor.

So, to my questions, specifically. What are good, commonly supported resolutions that I should make sure this monitor will run at? What size would you recommend? A particular brand? I'm thinking 2ms response time maximum. What are good contrast ratios I should look for?

Any and all advice you could throw my way would be much appreciated, as I don't know much about LCD monitors.

Thank you!

KrazyMofo24

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824176144&Tpk=hp%20lp2465

This is one I'm eying because of the price. It's 24 inch and a non-tn panel.

22'' native is usually 1680x1050.

I would recommend 24'' and a non-tn panel for best picture quality. Those are usually Dell Ultrasharp, Apple Cinema, and HP LP series.

The one above is the cheapest non-tn because it's a bit old, refurbished, and has a slower response time.

I'd consider it because I don't feel the response time would be that noticeable and it would be worth it if it has a great picture quality.

audiobliss

Thanks for the recommendation. I guess since I'll be using it more for gaming and won't be doing any photo editing and such, response time would be more important that picture quality.

Sherardp

Check out LG monitors. Las and I both have them, and both have agreed they are nice products. You can't go wrong with the 26 or the 27. Pick one. 22-24 is rather on the small size these days.

exalted512

http://sellout.woot.com/?ts=1273737118&sig=a9ede918ab5b4cc6

25" for $199 today only.
-Cody

JimKellyfan

Newegg and Tiger Direct keep having sales, sign up to their email specials and they'll send you coupon codes
I think Newegg is currently having 10% off right now

billbillw

I think you are being a little naive in thinking that 1680x1050 is not 'all that'. That is more than enough resolution for anything except detailed CAD or photo editing purposes. The problem with higher resolutions is that you will need a significantly faster graphics card to run 3D games at native resolution, AND, all your text will be smaller on screen!

The only reason I could see to upgrade is to get to a monitor that is native 16:9 1920x1080 (ie: HDTV resolution) so that you wouldn't have to scale HD video sources.

Jstas

Today only on Sellout.Woot.

http://sellout.woot.com/

Famous Maker 25” Widescreen 1080p LCD Monitor with HDMI

204 bones total, shipped.

If you're blind, the "Famous Maker" is HP.

exalted512

exalted512 wrote: »

http://sellout.woot.com/?ts=1273737118&sig=a9ede918ab5b4cc6

25" for $199 today only.
-Cody

Jstas wrote: »

Today only on Sellout.Woot.

http://sellout.woot.com/

Famous Maker 25” Widescreen 1080p LCD Monitor with HDMI

204 bones total, shipped.

If you're blind, the "Famous Maker" is HP.

echo?

-Cody

Jstas

DOH!

No, I had the post opened on the screen around 8:30 this morning and had to take a phone call, got distratced and then got sucked in to a meeting. I didn't refresh and just posted.

JimKellyfan

Just look at the specs, compare and get one.
I have a Samsung TV/Monitor and am very happy with it.
But, you will pay more for it.
I have a lower quality Hanns-G too, and am happy with it.
But, nothing beats the CRT tubes if you have the room for it and the means of hooking it up.
Sony 32 or 36 inch, the best yet there.
Thye don't make 'em anymore, so you would have to find a used one.
I have a Sony 32", and wish I had ordered the 36, but my local Sears usually bounced their orders into the warehouse like a basketball, leaving me no choice but take what they had.
Maybe there is a Sears with some left over CRT 32 or 36 inch Sony's ?

AsSiMiLaTeD

For gaming I have a 28" I-Inc and it works great for that, runs at 1920x1200 resolution. On my design rig I have a 24" Gateway that's much better at color reproduction and is more suitable for design work, but not quite big enough for a gaming setup

MacLeod

Nothing at all wrong with 1680x1050. 23" screens are wider but actually shorter. 24 are a little bigger but not by that much unless you get a 16:10 but that also bumps up the resolution to 1920x1200 and thats gonna require a faster, more expensive video card.

If youve got the money, get a 1920x1200 24" or bigger then no less than a 5830 video card.

If you're a budget gamer, stick with the 1680x1050 and a cheaper card. Stay away from 1920x1080 monitors cause they aren't really much bigger and take a beefed GPU to power them.

exalted512

Another monitor deal on sellout
-Cody

BIZILL

i have the HannsG incarnation of the 28" monitor **** has. do yourself and me a favor and get at least 1920X1200. the 1080p's for anything other than movies basically blow goats.

audiobliss

Wow, I guess I just promptly ignored this thread after I started it; my bad.

Thanks for all the input, though! And thanks for straightening me out on 1680x1050. It has certainly served me just fine so far.

I'm not sure if I'll have the means to get a second monitor, and if I do, I'm not sure I won't decide on an external HD for backup instead. But I do appreciate the advice and recommendations. I WILL get a second monitor one day!

audiobliss

Hey Mac...since you have no life and read up like mad on this stuf...:p You think my GTX260 would run a higher resolution just fine?

MacLeod

The GTX260 (assuming its the Core 216 version) will run pretty much any game maxed out at 1680x1050. Crysis would be the exception along with Far Cry 2 but youd still get very decent graphics and frame rates out of those.

For 1920x1080 and especially 1920x1200, the GTX260 would handle console ports like Left 4 Dead, Bioshock and Dead Space but for the more demanding games, youd have to reduce the graphics level to get good framerates.