Which large LCD are you using? 24" +

[Clovis]

I'm currently using a LG 22" and HP 17" for my setup but I've been looking to get a second 22" for awhile. Just recently the idea occured to me to turn my computer room into a small home theater so I'm looking at 26 and 28" LCDs - in the 26" range in paticular pricse range from $300 to $480 depending on the brand with roughly the same features (all though the higher end one, samsung touch of color does have more features) but like anyone else the last thing I want to buy is a junker so I'm curious what you guys use and what your thoughts on them are?

Thanks,



-Clovis

[heffner]

I have a cheaper Acer 24+. It's adequate for me. Acer tends to be cheaper but the quality is fine IMO.

If I were to buy something new I would likely look at Samsung monitors. Anything with a high contrast ratio, fast response time, highest resolution and highest brightness that I could afford. Now, my understanding is that contrast ratio is not standard and two monitors with the same ratio may not look the same.

Also, check the manufacturers dead pixel warranty and overall warranty. I don't recall who is the best on this, but it's another factor to consider. There are a lot of mail in rebates as well.

My current feeling is that Samsung produces some of the best monitors but Acer has the best value.

I am not sure about Hanns G, LG, Asus, KDS or Viewsonic. Probably several are the same manufacturer. I almost forgot about Dell! I believe they have good monitors too.

This one looks good to me:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824001281

or this if you don't need the TV tuner
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824001276

But, it always comes down to what features you want/need.

There has to be a ton of reviews on the net too.

[oxxo]

I'm currently using a LG 22" and HP 17" for my setup but I've been looking to get a second 22" for awhile. Just recently the idea occured to me to turn my computer room into a small home theater so I'm looking at 26 and 28" LCDs - in the 26" range in paticular pricse range from $300 to $480 depending on the brand with roughly the same features (all though the higher end one, samsung touch of color does have more features) but like anyone else the last thing I want to buy is a junker so I'm curious what you guys use and what your thoughts on them are?

Thanks,



-Clovis

NEC 2490WUXi. It's closer to $1000 but I don't think it's worth buying the lower end monitors if you are planning on using it as a small home theatre. IPS screens are so much better than TN/PVA/MVA it's not even funny. The monitor is also one of the parts that can stick around "forever". I'm still using my 20" (which is IPS) that I got 5 years ago alongside my new one.

As a side note if you don't mind spending the ~1000 for the NEC 2490 you won't regret it. It's an amazing monitor.

[Noids99]

I am in a similar quandry currently. I researched LCDs about 6 months ago wanting a 26-28" 1920x1200 monitor. After much reviewing of reviews, the little known Planar PX2611W seemed to be a clear winner. As the poster mentioned about the NEC panels, it is a super IPS display which gives the best compromise between colour, viewing angle and response time. It is actually the same panel as the 26" NEC display that is a reference quality photoshop panel, but has a few tweaks to improve response time for gaming. It is also about $500 cheaper than the NEC. Unfortunately for me, they don't seem to be available in Australia. Unfortunately for you, they seem to be around the $750 mark in the US.

As an alternative, the Dell and Samsung 27" are widely regarded as good quality PVA/MVAs with good viewing angle, although still more than your budget. I have a friend who uses the 28" viewsonic which is a cheaper TN screen, good response times, but less than perfect colour and viewing angle. One improtant thing with the larger LCDs is viewing angle because although you will generally be sitting squarely in front of it for gaming, due to the width of the screen, wider areas will have a lower brightness than the central areas, which is not so apparent on a <22" screen. So to get something you will be happy with, I think you will probably need to up your budget a bit, but if in doubt, go down to a local electronics shop and have a look at a few in the flesh to see.

Cheers

[algol]

Using the Planar 26"...pretty awesome.

[Clovis]

Hey guys, thank you for the responses. I truly love this commuity especially my newness to serious multiboxing. I consider myself pretty knowledgable when it comes to computers, I've been building my own systems for the past 13 years, since I was 14 (guess my age!, lol) but I'm still learning new things every day.

Unfortantely for me, about $500 is the maximum I could spend without my wife divorcing me =P so a $1000 monitor is out of the question.

What is an IPS display? I haven't heard that one.

I'm thinking about this Samsung touch of color 26" model, it's $480 on newegg.

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3984239&CatId=3649

It has a built in TV tuner and supports 1080p which is very nice. The tuner means I could ditch the small 13" TV I have in my computer room all though I'm planning on getting a PC TV tuner to utilize window's media center's DVR feature (Currently we have two DVRs from comcast at a cost of $30 that I would love to eliminate).

The reviews are mostly positive for the monitor and tiger direct's video review looks impressive as well but of course it comes from a salesman so it's not like they're going to say "this monitor is crap but you should still spend $500 to buy it!".

I'm thinking a 26-28" would be ideal as the room itself is simply a bedroom and not very large (11x11 feet) - my table is along one side of the wall and I'm going to move a loveseat (two seater couch basically) up to put against the other wall so the size of the monitor can't be too large nor too smal. The distance between sitting and the couch and the monitor is about 6 to 7 feet but it also must be usable as a computer monitor with a distance of 18 to 24 inches.

Another possibity I've considered is getting a 42" LCD HDTV to put along the wall and moving my computer table to the side - basically using the TV as just that, a TV but also having the benifit of running my clones off that (4 clones on a 42" would be pretty sweet since I don't need to read chat from then but rather simply keep an eye on them).

Thoughts?

-Clovis

[genocyde]

I'm using a HANNS G 28" 1080P capable HDMI something something. It was ultra cheap like $450 when it was first released and the image quality is very bright and I like it. Only thing i don't like is the viewing angle means your head has to be same height or above the center of the screen. even 5° below (like having me monitor 6" above my desk level) and it starts darkening. I also us an HP22W for my other monitor. not as good a picture for certain things but it doesn't darken anywhere near as bad.

[Nostromos]

I run a 37" 1080P as my main monitor and 3 22" Acer's as my "Clone" monitors. Very happy with the amount of screen space :}


http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff85/Nostromos_2007/IMG_0558.jpg

Beware, this is a pretty large Jpeg file.

Nost

[puppychow]

I have a 47" LG 1080p on my main (1920x1080) and my 2nd PC just got (today!) a 28" iF281D. It was on sale at TigerDirect for $299 with a $50 cashback (Microsoft live), $250 to upgrade my 20" to a 28" was a no brainer :)

I actually prefer the new monitor to my 47", its much more vibrant and 3ms refresh time. Wish I had bought two now, but I'm sure 28" monitors will be $299 or less regular price by end of Jan.

[entoptic]

I have 2 24" monitors from Dell. The H something series. The main 30" monitor is the same.

These all have HD and nice HDMI inputs. No problems so far except for bleeding but all LCDs do that and if you are playing a game you never notice it. No dead pixels, no problems at all.

3 year warranty so when it breaks and they don't make it anymore I get the newest greatest one that is next in line! WOOHOOO warranties!

[Clovis]

Thanks for posting the picture - so you're using an HDTV for your main? I've been tempted to try that to see how it works. How is reading text in the game? Is it clear like a PC monitor or does it blur a bit like more traditional TVs would (say if hooked up to the S video port)?

Thanks,

-Clovis

I run a 37" 1080P as my main monitor and 3 22" Acer's as my "Clone" monitors. Very happy with the amount of screen space :}


http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff85/Nostromos_2007/IMG_0558.jpg

Beware, this is a pretty large Jpeg file.

Nost

[d0z3rr]

I run a 37" 1080P as my main monitor and 3 22" Acer's as my "Clone" monitors. Very happy with the amount of screen space :}


http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff85/Nostromos_2007/IMG_0558.jpg

Beware, this is a pretty large Jpeg file.

Nost



Awesome, I'm thinking of doing that.



Is the 37" hooked to your computer via hdmi?

[Ualaa]

I'm 5-boxing (Keyclone) on a Samsung SyncMaster 305T Plus.
The screen is huge, the colors are vibrant and the amount of real estate is very nice.
Native resolution is 2560 x 1600.

[Quix]

2x Dell 2407WFP

I love em.
Considering going with the 30inch but cant convince myself its worth the dough.

[Nostromos]

Thanks for posting the picture - so you're using an HDTV for your main? I've been tempted to try that to see how it works. How is reading text in the game? Is it clear like a PC monitor or does it blur a bit like more traditional TVs would (say if hooked up to the S video port)?

Thanks,

-Clovis

I run a 37" 1080P as my main monitor and 3 22" Acer's as my "Clone" monitors. Very happy with the amount of screen space :}


http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff85/Nostromos_2007/IMG_0558.jpg

Beware, this is a pretty large Jpeg file.

NostText is great both in game and on websites.

[Nostromos]

I run a 37" 1080P as my main monitor and 3 22" Acer's as my "Clone" monitors. Very happy with the amount of screen space :}


http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff85/Nostromos_2007/IMG_0558.jpg

Beware, this is a pretty large Jpeg file.

Nost



Awesome, I'm thinking of doing that.



Is the 37" hooked to your computer via hdmi?
No, its hooked in via the DVI port.

[muffe]

My system/video card won't really let me do a high resolution and keep things smooth. So im staying 20inch 1680x1050.

[heffner]

OMG 37"...drool. That is nice. It makes the 22" look so small!! My wife saw your photo and said "Don't even think about it!" Lol. Ah well, it will happen.....someday.

Here is a link about IPS, VA and TN LCD panels:

http://www.pchardwarehelp.com/guides/lcd-panel-types.php