LCD, Want to buy, Which is best?

m|Ke · Jul 18, 2005, 12:28 PM

Im after a LCD monitor for my pc, I just got my new rig (in sig) and all I need now is a new monitor. Ive being lookin at LCD screens but I have no idea which one to get, some have nice specs but get slated in reviews. I know LCD are based around the max resolution, the ms response time and the refresh rate. I am looking for a 17" or even a 19" but I dont want to go over £250/£300. I will be buying it online and I generally shop at Overclockers . I play games so I think the monitor needs good response times if im correct so no ghosting occurs, I play Counter-Strike 1.6/Source/HL2 etc and im also a games programmer so I need one that wont kill my eyes or head when sitting at it too long coding.

- 1280x1024 Optimum Resolution
- 800:1 Contrast Ratio - what is the contrast ratio? and what does it do?
- Viewing Angle 170° horizontal, 170° vertical - how will this effect me, if I have the monitor on an angle?
- 8ms G2G Response Time - does the response time refer to ghosting?
- 250 cd/m2 Brightness - ?

As you can see im pretty clueless

on monitors so any help is appreciated. Also I was looking at the viewsonic 4ms monitor which 4ms seems brilliant but lots of magazines and reviews said it was poor and crappy made?

Anyways thanx for any help.

INSTG8R · Jul 18, 2005, 12:52 PM

I have an LG 19" L1930BQ quite similar to the ones they have on Overclockers,12ms reponse time I dont see much in the way of ghosting Im quite sastified with it

tastyweat · Jul 18, 2005, 01:12 PM

the glossy NEC is on special offer at overclockers this week. It's like Sony's Xblack technology and so is a very very good monitor... I believe with the special offer it's around the 300 quid mark.

about half way down the this week only page -

the NEC Multisync LCD1970GX 19"

it's 328.94 inc. VAT - the glossy finish makes colours more vibrant + so makes games look much better + just general colours in windows look better too.

But if that is too expensive then what you need to look for are the following details:

- 16ms or less
- DVI
- Contrast ratio of 350:1 absolute minimum - the higher the better
- Better to go for one of the higher ranking brands - NEC/LG/Sharp/Samsung/AG

www.microdirect.co.uk tend to be the cheapest for monitors and atm they have an offer on the AG Neovo 19" F419

it's only 185.94 inc VAT and is a very good monitor... it rivals the Samsungs/Sharps/LGs/NECs - I have a friend who has one and it's better than my old LG

hope that helps

swimtech · Jul 18, 2005, 08:04 PM

Hey M|ke!

Take a look at Tipstaff's posts, and the others, in this thread if you haven't already:

http://www.hardwareheaven.com/motherboards-networking-misc-forum/79310-what-look-lcd-display.html

and here, with the others too:

http://www.hardwareheaven.com/other-tech-news/76201-viewsonic-vx924-near-future-lcd-displays.html

Good information on LCD displays and real world advice there...

Robert McClelland · Jul 19, 2005, 12:22 AM

I have np with my LCD FPD 1730 from gateway I love it so far. even though cost me 400 bucks back in 2003

lol

HawgsHead · Jul 19, 2005, 11:18 PM

I have always had NEC-Mitsubishi and never been sorry I baught one.Sony's good too.It's about as wide as it is long between those two.

Jul 18, 2005, 12:28 PM	#1
m\|Ke DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 62 Rep Power: 0	LCD, Want to buy, Which is best? Im after a LCD monitor for my pc, I just got my new rig (in sig) and all I need now is a new monitor. Ive being lookin at LCD screens but I have no idea which one to get, some have nice specs but get slated in reviews. I know LCD are based around the max resolution, the ms response time and the refresh rate. I am looking for a 17" or even a 19" but I dont want to go over £250/£300. I will be buying it online and I generally shop at Overclockers . I play games so I think the monitor needs good response times if im correct so no ghosting occurs, I play Counter-Strike 1.6/Source/HL2 etc and im also a games programmer so I need one that wont kill my eyes or head when sitting at it too long coding. - 1280x1024 Optimum Resolution - 800:1 Contrast Ratio - what is the contrast ratio? and what does it do? - Viewing Angle 170° horizontal, 170° vertical - how will this effect me, if I have the monitor on an angle? - 8ms G2G Response Time - does the response time refer to ghosting? - 250 cd/m2 Brightness - ? As you can see im pretty clueless on monitors so any help is appreciated. Also I was looking at the viewsonic 4ms monitor which 4ms seems brilliant but lots of magazines and reviews said it was poor and crappy made? Anyways thanx for any help. __________________ [color=White][color=green][/color][/color]AMD Athlon 64 3200+ Venice (Socket 939) Epox EP-9NPA+ nForce4 (Socket 939) (PCI-Express) GeIL 1GB PC3200 Sapphire ATI Radeon X850XT 256MB (PCI-Express)

Jul 18, 2005, 12:52 PM	#2
INSTG8R DriverHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Canadian lost in Norway Posts: 527 Rep Power: 0	I have an LG 19" L1930BQ quite similar to the ones they have on Overclockers,12ms reponse time I dont see much in the way of ghosting Im quite sastified with it __________________ Sys. Specs. Intel E6600@3.2\|Abit IP35 Pro\|2x1024 Crucial Ballistix PC8500 \|Sapphire HD4870 512\|Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 500G SATAII 16MB w/PRT\|SB X-Fi Fatality\|TT Tough Power 1200W\|TT Kandalf L.C.S.\|Samsung 204B 20" 5ms LCD\|Logitech G25\|Logitech G5\|Logitech G15\|Saitek X-52+Pro Rudder Pedals\|TrackIR w/Trackclip Pro 3DMark06

Jul 18, 2005, 01:12 PM	#3
tastyweat Lurking Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: The void Posts: 4,794 Rep Power: 75 System Specs	the glossy NEC is on special offer at overclockers this week. It's like Sony's Xblack technology and so is a very very good monitor... I believe with the special offer it's around the 300 quid mark. about half way down the this week only page - the NEC Multisync LCD1970GX 19" it's 328.94 inc. VAT - the glossy finish makes colours more vibrant + so makes games look much better + just general colours in windows look better too. But if that is too expensive then what you need to look for are the following details: - 16ms or less - DVI - Contrast ratio of 350:1 absolute minimum - the higher the better - Better to go for one of the higher ranking brands - NEC/LG/Sharp/Samsung/AG www.microdirect.co.uk tend to be the cheapest for monitors and atm they have an offer on the AG Neovo 19" F419 it's only 185.94 inc VAT and is a very good monitor... it rivals the Samsungs/Sharps/LGs/NECs - I have a friend who has one and it's better than my old LG hope that helps __________________

Jul 18, 2005, 08:04 PM	#4
swimtech HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: North Carolina Posts: 4,040 Rep Power: 124 System Specs	Hey M\|ke! Take a look at Tipstaff's posts, and the others, in this thread if you haven't already: http://www.hardwareheaven.com/motherboards-networking-misc-forum/79310-what-look-lcd-display.html and here, with the others too: http://www.hardwareheaven.com/other-tech-news/76201-viewsonic-vx924-near-future-lcd-displays.html Good information on LCD displays and real world advice there... __________________ It's not so much getting your way that matters or not - what matters is how you go about getting it.

Jul 19, 2005, 12:22 AM	#5
Robert McClelland PAX Tweaker, PAX Expert. Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Somewhere in Wood County Ohio Same Town :) Posts: 10,647 Rep Power: 196 System Specs	I have np with my LCD FPD 1730 from gateway I love it so far. even though cost me 400 bucks back in 2003 lol __________________ "XTREME AUDIO IS CRAP!" "There no support for it. It's crapist card on face of the earth it should be throw into the sun" http://www.speedtest.net/result/1949536385.png

Jul 19, 2005, 11:18 PM	#6
HawgsHead Rest In Peace Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Danville Virginia.The United States of America"In the God of Abraham,Isaac and Jacob We Trust" Posts: 2,012 Rep Power: 0	I have always had NEC-Mitsubishi and never been sorry I baught one.Sony's good too.It's about as wide as it is long between those two. __________________ Rig specs to the left in the boxes....X-Box 360 w/Hitachi 42" HDTV....If Darwins theory of evolution is true then why are monkeys still monkeys?It takes much more faith to believe in Darwin's theory over the Genesis account of creation.