LCD Monitors

I've been looking around to buy a new LCD monitor, and am considering getting the Samsung 915N. If you look at the specs, they're very impressive, and I can't find anything really wrong with it except for the fact that it doesn't support DVI. Is this a big deal with the specs for this moniter? Just was looking for some advice on this since I don't want to purchase it without finding out more about this.

Um, yea. Buying an LCD without DVI == stupid.

Ugh, it also uses the bastardized 1280x1024 as it's native res. Avoid. Find one that can do 1600x1200.

[Brtnboarder495]

Stay with a CTR if you are gaming, plus CTR's give you a bigger bang for your buck. You have to buy a decently expensive LCD to match a cheaper CTR.

Actually, I doubt youll find a LCD 19' that offers a LOW ms rate. The ms rate is how fast it redraws each pixel, not to be confused with the refresh rate.

Mine is at an abismal 25ms and on coasters with rich colors I get massive ghosting. Ive gotten used to it but will most likly sell this to my parents and go for one in the 8-12ms range. Ive got a 17inch though and I went from a 19 CRT Flat (Not lcd) and I dont notice much difference in size.


LCD's own CRT's in color brightness and richness however.

So I probably won't be able to find a good 19" LCD with an 8ms response time? I don't mind spending some more money on an LCD if I come across something with a very low response time and supports DVI. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Also, I don't want an LCD with a brightness of any less than 230 cd/m????????? or a contrast ratio with anything less than 300:1 (is this even high enough?)

Tyler, right now I'm on a computer with a 19" Viewsonic LCD with a native resolution of 1280x1024, and I don't see a problem with it. Is a 1600x1200 resolution really something I should look for when getting a new LCD?

The problem is that 1280x1024 is a "wrong" resolution. It distorts imagines. Every other display size is 4:3 ratio. 1280x1024 is 5:4. This squishes things a bit horizontally.

So you absoluetly HAVE to have an LCD? Right now I'm using a Samsung SyncMaster 997DF. 19" Trinitron tube flat-screen CRT. Just gorgeous. Very nice color, etc. Only cost me about $250, as well.

Specs here...

I only use 1024x768, the other ones cause lag. And use 1280x960 instead, that's of 4:3 ratio.

Unless you really need it somehow, I don't see the point of trying to get one that can go up to 1600x1200

Looks like a nice monitor... hows the picture quality? I'm not familiar with CRT specs and what is considered to be good, so I might be asking stupid questions, but... do CRTs differ in image quality? Is there such thing as a response time in CRTs, or are they all very quick in changing pixel colors? Also, it says that the viewable size is 18".... so, logically, that would mean that its not an actual 19" monitor, right?

coasteragent99, I've also experienced lag with this monitor. In fact, I only had a 12 or 13" monitor with a resolution of 800x600 before getting this one (19" with a 1280x1024 resoluion), and my fps in NL dropped from about 30 to 1. If I upgrade from 1024x768 to 1600x1200, would I also experience a drop in fps like this?

[Brtnboarder495]

CRT's respond faster than a typical LCD. It's a waste to have a decent-sweet video card and then a crappy monitor. While LCD's display brighter and fresher looking they tend to lag more than a CTR. That is unless you buy a very expensive LCD.

Hmmm... well then I guess I'll be spending more money than I thought then. As long as I get a nice LCD monitor for my money I won't mind either.

But why are you so dead set on an LCD? Unless you're really short on space, there's really no reason for one. A good CRT will be able to beat it in any other way for half the money, or less.

I'd just prefer an LCD because I've heard the picture quality was better. I wouldn't mind getting a flat screen CRT if it had a nice picture, and good specs.

I had a 19in Samsung Flat Screen CRT that had awesome picture and quality (not quite as vibrant or as good as this LCD) however it was a very good monitor.

One bad thing was over the last year (of the 4 years I have had it) it started to go blurry. No, its not my eyesight, I had that checked twice. If I left it off for awhile then turned it on, everything was crisp. But after 3-4 hours of being on it got blurry again. I assume it was just dieing.

After this LCD I wont go back. That CRT weighed in at a whopping 62lbs and was ridiculous to move if I reorganized my table or room. Not to mention taking it to LAN parties wasnt easy as well. My next purchase will just be a 17in LCD with a very low ms response time. My 19 had a 17 viewable and this 17 LCD is almost exactly that.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6824024505

What does everyone think of this? I can't find anything that I don't like about it. Its inexpensive, has a quick response time, and DVI compatible.

I'd be VERY cautious, for two reasons. One: off brand monitors are usually crap, and Two: NewEgg has a really shitty dead pixel policy.

Well, I've read many reviews and every single one has stated that there were zero dead pixels, except for one (and it was a different monitor, too)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6824116347
Theres another one that looks great. I've done a lot of searching, and these two are the best I've found. I have a question though: If a 17" LCD has a maximum resolution of 1280x1024, it will have the option to switch to 1024x768, right?

Well, an LCD should really only be used at it's maximum res. Anything else will be REALLY blurry.

[coolbeans326]

Originally posted by Tyler

But why are you so dead set on an LCD? Unless you're really short on space, there's really no reason for one. A good CRT will be able to beat it in any other way for half the money, or less.

I prefer LCD. the other one just takes up way to much space, plus LCD looks and sounds way sexier. But I'm still stuck with a CRT[confused]

Originally posted by Tyler

Well, an LCD should really only be used at it's maximum res. Anything else will be REALLY blurry.

Damn. Well, that means its basically impossible to find an LCD with these specs:

12ms or less response time
1024x768 max res for 17" and 1600x1200 max res for 19"
DVI compatible

And I really would like an LCD with those specs. Is there even an LCD out there with all these?

Due to the fact that there are probably no LCD monitors out there that meet my "requirements", I'm going to have to settle with a 16ms response time.

These are the monitors I've found:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6824006088
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6824116299

What are your opinions on what would be the better investment? Also, is 16ms fast enough to play NoLimits on without much ghosting?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6824001171

DVI, resolution of 1280x1024 isn't bad - you hardly notice the difference IMO, great thing overall. You can't go wrong for $230. No dead pixels on mine from newegg either, and others say the same as me - kick-ass product.