Group Testing Widescreen LCD Monitors 153
An anonymous reader writes "If you're in the market for a new widescreen display, there's a group test of five models at the Bit-Tech site. The test focuses on real world gaming and DVD watching rather than artificial spec tests, and there's also discussion of design, ergonomics etc. An interesting read for those making the jump to wide." From the article: "Let's define the point of this test. We're going to make the assumption that you've got a half-decent graphics card, and you're looking for a new flat panel to connect to it. You want to watch movies on DVD and in hi-def (either as Apple trailers or via BitTorrent) and you want to play the latest games. The price range we're looking at is the £300-£400 range. Above that, you start to get into the territory of 24" screens from companies like Dell and Samsung. Below that, you're going into a range occupied mostly by 19" displays at 1280x1024."
Hmm (Score:3, Insightful)
I made $55k, which grants me significant free funds for someone still living at home with his parents. Still, my co-workers aren't even looking at LCD monitors above three or four hundred. For that you can get an okay 21 incher if you're willing to risk your money on the internets.
But twice that for just a PC monitor? That's easily as much as the rest of the system itself. You can watch DVDs on a regular big-screen TV. Granted, that will cost even more (several times, probably), but you can also use it for cable, and video games. I just can't see this stuff being in the range of the typical slashdotter.
Feel free to prove me wrong if y'all are a bunch of Mr. Moneybags', though
Re:Hmm (Score:2, Funny)
Get an apartment slacker!
Its ok to mod me down
Re:Hmm (Score:1)
Re:Hmm (Score:1, Informative)
Re:Hmm (Score:2)
That's nearly as big as my TV, so maybe it makes sense for me to spend double my monitor budget and replace my TV at the same time. I could mainly use a small part of the screen sitting at my desk (to avoid too much neck motion) and sitting back on my couch use it as a TV.
Re:Hmm (Score:2)
Re:Hmm (Score:2)
It would work pretty well I think. It could sit at the back edge of my huge desk, about 5' from my eyes. My couch could be 5' further back from my desk. If I keep my desk cleaner it'd be a nice setup.
Re:Hmm (Score:2)
Re:Hmm (Score:2)
Actually, I don't tend to watch tv while using my computer much these days. Between having no ads and choosing shows I actively want to see, it's easy to pay attention. Oh yeah, I don't watch live tv anymore. Too much bullshit. I download/record what I want and watch it on my terms.
Re:Hmm (Score:1)
Relatively Cheap (Score:1)
Re:Hmm (Score:2, Interesting)
Granted, he's talking about TVs and not monitors, but since the tech is basically the same, we should expect the prices on monitors to drop at about the same rate.
Re:Hmm (Score:1)
Re:Hmm (Score:2)
Re:They're not that much... (Score:1)
not teh only site with reviews (Score:2, Informative)
Re:not teh only site with reviews (Score:3, Informative)
Re:not teh only site with reviews (Score:1)
Leaves out two most popular models (Score:4, Interesting)
Games (Score:1)
Re:Games (Score:3, Interesting)
I have a Dell 2005fpw ($397 to my door from Dell!) with a decent rig (AMD A64 3700+ (754), MSI K8n Neo Platinum, 1 gig Crucial Ram, 7200 RPM Segate SATA, Sapphire X850XTPE (AGP), on board sound, and everything OCed a bit.
I haven't bought a game since F.E.A.R. and Quake 4, and even with those I was still playing BF2 all day long so I can speak about that better.
I ran the game at (shortcut hack) 1680x1050 which was really 1600x1200 stretched. I ran everything high except Sh
Re:Leaves out two most popular models (Score:2)
2005FPW Threadjack (Score:3, Informative)
Threadjack - Randomly and annoyingly it will just go blank. I power it off/on and it will come on for 3 seconds and go off again, like it's in a powersave mode. Sometimes unplugging AC power will fix it, sometimes not. Sometimes I have to reboot, somet
Re:2005FPW Threadjack (Score:2)
Re:2005FPW Threadjack (Score:1)
Re:Leaves out two most popular models (Score:2)
I'm sure you can pick up a 30" widescreen off the back of a truck in Hong Kong for £300 - £400 too but that doesn't count either.
Re:Leaves out two most popular models (Score:2)
The review does mention the dell! (Score:2)
http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/2006/03/30/20_in c h_widescreen_monitors/7.html [bit-tech.net]
If any of you have read this group test and came away disappointed that we compared every monitor except the one you're seriously considering ie Dell, then please do make your voices heard. Show the execs at Dell that you want to see bit-tech given the chance to review their displays. Head over to our Article Discussion forum and make some noise!
Dude... get a Dell (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Dude... get a Dell (Score:2)
Re:Dude... get a Dell (Score:2, Informative)
Re:Dude... get a Dell (Score:2)
Samsung makes MOST Dell PANELS. (Score:2)
There are some exceptions. I think they even reserve the right to change the panels at a whim. I saw specs for dell LCD's that said TFT type: PVA/IPS. Implying whatever we get cheap.
Re:Dude... get a Dell (Score:2)
Also it has all of those nice inputs for my xbox360 dev kit.
Re:Dude... get a Dell (Score:2)
LCD not for everyone, selling my 24" Dell. (Score:3, Insightful)
Make sure you like LCDs before you buy. They are very different than CRT.
I like a dim screen. The 2405 is very Bright, even at minimum settings. I tend to run my CRTs at minimum brightness so it hurts my eyes to use an LCD for long periods.
Viewing angle issues bother me a fair bit. Dark tones shift when only 20 degrees off axis. If you sit close to a 24" wide s
Re:LCD not for everyone, selling my 24" Dell. (Score:2)
I also haven't been bothered by the viewing angle problem. In fact, the viewable area seems pretty good compared to a lot of other flat panels I've used.
To each his own, I guess...
Re:LCD not for everyone, selling my 24" Dell. (Score:2)
But sitting close enought to touch it and doing serious work. White fonts on dark backgrounds are searing bright. I get unwelcome brightness shifts in darker games. Yeah it can be further dimmed in the grapics card panel, but this has mixed results.
Anyway it is mostly me that has the problem, this is a widely loved monitor.
Re:LCD not for everyone, selling my 24" Dell. (Score:2)
Dell sucks. Buy the Apple displays. (Score:2)
I can also turn down the brightness, and I do. Visitors comment on how dim my display is, so it really is quite dim.
You can't get this exact model anymore, but I hear the 30" display is nice...
Re:Dell sucks. Buy the Apple displays. (Score:2)
Re:Dude... get a Dell (Score:2)
Re:Dude... get a Dell (Score:2)
Re:Dude... get a Dell (Score:2)
I had heard some reports regarding poor gaming performance, however my experience with computer games, with GameCube games running via component and with Dreamcast games running through VGA has been fully satisfactory. I am not aware of the exact response time of the display, however I have noticed no ghosting during any gameplay. One forum post elsewhere suggested that poor image quality in gam
Re:Dell 24" with KVM? (Score:1)
Re:Dell 24" with KVM? (Score:2)
Re:Dude... get a Dell (Score:3)
The component and s-video inputs are quite useful if you own an X-box or PS2, or if you have a cable box that you want to hook up to it. Just because you can't think of a good use for something doesn't mean there aren't lots of people who can.
I have had no difficulty with the stand or the controls on the d
Re:Dude... get a Dell (Score:2)
Why on earth would anyone complain about having more inputs, except to Troll. RGB is nearly identical to DVI (both amazingly sharp). I connect it to my VCR for PIP all the time and even go full screen to also watch tv. Great stuff. I wouldn't buy a monitor that didn't at least have two connections. I am always connecting things to RGB.
The stand is fantastic in my opinion, Put to any height/angle easily and it just stays there.
Again
Re:Dude... get a Dell (Score:2)
Only sometimes. 24" not the same. (Score:2)
Apples 23" is an LG IPS panel (better panel type).
The vast majority of Dells are Samsung PVA panels with a couple of exceptions.
The vast majority of Apples are LG IPS panels.
DVD scaling? (Score:1, Informative)
What are they talking about here? The monitor shouldn't be handling DVD upscaling, it's done in software.
Re:DVD scaling? (Score:3, Informative)
If you are using a HTPC. I'm actually using a Dell 2405FPW as a TV (Higher resolution and cheaper than the "TV" LCDs), so actually I am relying on the built in upscaling. Also, users whose systems lack the horsepower to drive games at full resolution, or players of games that don't support widescreen resolutions, will still be using the panels scaling capability.
Re:DVD scaling? (Score:1)
The monitor shouldn't be handling DVD upscaling, it's done in software.
Not exactly correct. Video scaling is in most cases done using the overlay of the videocard. This overlay is scaled in hardware to the desired size. So it isn't done by the monitor and it isn't done in software.
Dell 24" (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Dell 24" (Score:2)
What kind of resolution do you run the games at? If native, are you running any FPS games?
That's my only holdback about a monitor of this type. It may be nice, but if I can't get 50+ frames per second on UT2004, there's no point for me.
Oh yea, I'm only running a 6600GT at that, so I'm sure I couldn't run this monitor native and play ut.
Re:Dell 24" (Score:2)
Re:Dell 24" (Score:2)
What kind of resolution do you run the games at?
In general, I run at native whenever possible. If I am playing a game where the native resolution is too taxing for my video card which is a Nvidia GeForce 6800GT, I drop the resolution to 1680x1050, which is also a 16:10 resolution. I have noticed very little loss of image quality as a result of the non-native resolution.
When running Quake 4 or Doom 3, I run at 1280x1024 and use the game's bui
The problem with LCD monitors. (Score:2, Insightful)
Just sold my 24" LCD because of this. Mod up paren (Score:2)
While they claim 170 degree vieing angles, they actually change tone with about 10-20 degrees, it creates a glare, or some other edge effect that almost seems to create a false 3d effect.
Anyway I wouldn't say All. IPS panels seem MUCH better with angles so it might not be so bad, but IPS panels are more expensive and most monitors are PVA/MVA which change drastically wi
Important part missing in summary (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:Important part missing in summary (Score:3, Insightful)
Yea, but you're screwed with pretty much *anything* you buy.
Re:Important part missing in summary (Score:2)
That's too bad for those companies that are exclusively HDCP. I for one do not bow to the HDCP overlords.
Vista-ready LCD (Score:4, Informative)
Re:Vista-ready LCD (Score:1)
Re:Vista-ready LCD (Score:1)
Re:Vista-ready LCD (Score:2)
I do think the Dell models are great too. They are a really nice value and I certainly recommend them as well. But,
no thanks (Score:3)
Many games do not like them. C&C generals zero hour strecthes. Doom3 is slower in widescreen mode and older games simply hate them.
I instead took the monitor back and grabbed a pair of 19" AOC Lcd's for less money than the single Widescreen.
I also get much more realestate for video editing on the pair of 19" cheapies.
Re:no thanks (Score:2)
Syntax Olevia (Score:1)
You are reading my subject. (Score:1)
OT: Why 1280x1024 for both 17" and 19" LCDs? (Score:3, Interesting)
Why is that? A 19" CRT typically gets you more pixels than a 17" CRT, so why isn't the same true for LCDs? I'm sure I could buy find a higher-resolution model somewhere if I looked hard enough, but I'm really wondering why that seems to be the exception rather than the norm.
Re:OT: Why 1280x1024 for both 17" and 19" LCDs? (Score:1)
Re:OT: Why 1280x1024 for both 17" and 19" LCDs? (Score:3)
Exactly. You can simulate inches by sitting closer to the screen, but either you have the pixels or you don't.
Re:OT: Why 1280x1024 for both 17" and 19" LCDs? (Score:2)
Newest 24 inch lcd panel from del ldoes hdcp (Score:1)
Re:Newest 24 inch lcd panel from del ldoes hdcp (Score:2)
I have located a link (Score:2)
The no-brainer: ALWAYS get DVI (Score:2)
Nobody today should be buying LCDs without DVI (unless price is the only factor). Your eyes will thank you. (Don't have a DVI card yet?
Wait.. what? (Score:1)
:D ViewSonic VX2025WM (Score:2)
Now I can get rid of my big old wood-burning monitor and get me some desktop space back.
Just had to share. Widescreen baby!
LCD TVs are now around $750 USD for 32" (Score:2)
These have come down by around 100 bucks since xmas. I suspect that as long as the ta
Widescreen and multiplayer (Score:2)
How is that addressed with widescreen resolutions, if at all?
Need reviews that reveal MVA/PVA/IPS panel type. (Score:2)
No Sceptre X20G Naga III??!?!?? (Score:2)
So far I'm pleased with it, and games seem fine, but I'd like to see how it holds up to other LCDs on a technical basis
Re:hmmm (Score:2, Funny)
Re:hmmm (Score:3, Funny)
Re:hmmm (Score:2)
It's no coincidence that 16x9 is closer to the human eyes' viewing area. While our natural field of vision is not a rectangle nor is it consistent from one person to another, in general, we see the world in wide"screen".
Re:hmmm (Score:3, Insightful)
Welcome to our world. I don't see why it should be worthless though, a review is a review nonetheless. I quite often have to resort to reading US reviews of equipment because decent UK ones are not easy to find, especially on really new equipment. Assuming the models are the same, the reviews can still be useful.
Re:hmmm (Score:2, Insightful)
That's the exact same reason I don't use Calculus, not being an Egyptian nor a Greek myself.
Re:hmmm (Score:2, Funny)
Yes, I failed Introductory Calculus, I couldn't intergrate with the class.
Re:hmmm (Score:1)
Re:hmmm (Score:1)
better analogy (Score:1)
No, that's the exact same reason you don't buy your papyrus back in the year 2000 BC.
Re:hmmm (Score:2)
Egyptian? WTF? Newton was English, and Leibniz was German. Wrong continent and wrong millenium.
Worth is subjective (Score:3, Funny)
But to some it was worth the 2 seconds of Schadenfreude from reading your post.
Slashdot (Score:2)
Re:hmmm (Score:2)
Also, if you prefer to base your higher-end electronic purchasing decisions on the opinions of a writer able to better communicate a positive situation than simply saying "kick-ass" over and over, then this article probably isn't for you.
Re:hmmm (Score:4, Funny)
Glöm inte (Score:2)
Re:hmmm (Score:1)
Not trying to troll, that frequent answer is a legitimate point. Feel free to make any assumptions you want about countries of origin on sites that originate in other countries.