monitors - Eye candy

[TruthInSatire]

I have a DELL 8400 with nVidia 6800GTO. I'm considering getting a new monitor. I'm looking @ 2 options.

A 24" widescreen flat panel from dell

http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/...y_id=6198&cs=19&l=en&Page=productlisting.aspx

a 42" widescreen flatpanel TV from Maxent

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage...2639&skuId=7123917&type=product&ref=29&loc=01

I'm iffy about getting a TV to use as a monitor, but 42" is cool However its not cool enough to sacrafice quality. Can anyone give any advice in this matter? I'll be using it for gaming and web development.

If anyone has any other suggestions i'm all ears. I'd like to stay @ or preferably below the $1500 USD mark. Thanks in advance.

We've heard that a million monkeys at a million keyboards could produce the complete works of Shakespeare; now, thanks to the Internet, we know that is not true.

 

[pmonett]

Whatever the size of your TV, you must be aware that its definition is limited to 1280 x 720 in most cases, some models accept 1920 x 1080.
In other words, a true PC screen has generally a much better definition at the same size (coming up to 2048 x 1536 if I'm not mistaken, 1600 x 1200 minimum).
Plus, the HD TV standard imposes quite a premium in my opinion. Flat panels are quickly going down in price, and up in resolution, quality and size.

Since your are intent on a flat screen, I'd go for a true PC screen.

But I'd have chosen a CRT - still the best in my opinion.

Pascal.

 

[TruthInSatire]

Pascal,
thanks for your reply

Since your are intent on a flat screen, I'd go for a true PC screen.

I'm more intent on wide screen. but wide screen options are more or less limited to flat screen.

We've heard that a million monkeys at a million keyboards could produce the complete works of Shakespeare; now, thanks to the Internet, we know that is not true.

 

[garebo]

I think you answered your own question when you said:
"However its not cool enough to sacrafice quality. Can anyone give any advice in this matter? I'll be using it for gaming " etc.
Its pretty safe to say you would be sacrificing quality so i would suggest you stay with a pc monitor for your pc.
But i can see your problem, 24" as opposed to 42"!

Pmonett, i think, has it nailed down in terms of definition and thats what you were asking about as well.




Good advice + great people = tek-tips

 

[Grenage]

If it's not cool enough to sacrifice quality then you have your answer, a PC TFT/CRT is the way to go. Widescreen is nice but bear in mind only a handful of games support it properly, the rest just stretch the image. CRTs are still the best with regards to image clarity but TFTs can be easier on the eyes.

If you are heavily concerned with game quality then get a CRT or exceptionally good TFT. Response time is critical and you can get them as low as 8ms now (in ideal configurations). The Dell model you linked is a fairly decent one and does well in games.

Personally, I still use a 19" Trinitron monitor. I am not restricted by space and power use is not really a problem, these are the only real reasons to get a TFT over a CRT (unless you're a business and want clients to think you are cutting edge). CRTs have no response time, no ghosting and they look good in every resolution instead of just one


Carlsberg don't run I.T departments, but if they did they'd probably be more fun.

 

[TruthInSatire]

Thanks for all the inputs.

I ordered and received the Dell 24" monitor. WOW.

The picture is beautiful. Native resolution is 1920x1200, i almost don't even need my dual monitor setup, but i'll keep it anyway, its nice for developing.

Grenage - the only reason i considered this monitor is because the games I currently play DO support the aspect (FFXI and HL2) I couldn't find my far cry cd to try that one, darn kids... i'll google it later.

Once I hooked the monitor up it made my second monitor (Dell 992 CRT 19") look washed out.

With the 5 video inputs, crystal clear image, PIP, PBP, 2 usb ports and all in one card reader... I can't see any reason why i even asked this question anyway, especially for the price...

We've heard that a million monkeys at a million keyboards could produce the complete works of Shakespeare; now, thanks to the Internet, we know that is not true.

 

[Grenage]

Ah good choice then, both in monitor and in games


Carlsberg don't run I.T departments, but if they did they'd probably be more fun.

 

[TruthInSatire]

CRTs have no response time, no ghosting and they look good in every resolution instead of just one

I skipped over this earlier i think. I know what you mean, i have an older laptop, native res is 1024x768. 800x600 to play fallout was an ugly mess.

I did notice on this monitor that even at 1024x764 it still looked very sharp, just stretched, i was shocked.

A few other games that capped out at 1200x??? looked a little stretched but not "grainy" in anyway. I don't play them anyway, sims2 and some other AoE type game...

Ghosting and response seemed to be a null issue at this point. even HL2 at 1920x1200 with all settings on max ran very smooth and no delay in image. (also runing the nVidia 6800 gto that came in my dell.)

overall this monitor is simply amazing. i'd recomend it to anyone that can support the resolution.

We've heard that a million monkeys at a million keyboards could produce the complete works of Shakespeare; now, thanks to the Internet, we know that is not true.

 

[Grenage]

Admittedly things have improved but it is still noticable on the majority of TFT screens, on those such as your it is minimal.


Carlsberg don't run I.T departments, but if they did they'd probably be more fun.