New Gaming Monitor

[Vanderdon]

This will be my first LCD monitor. I'm not that familiar with what to look for, but I know that higher Contrast Ratio and lower Response Time are good. So far, I've narrowed it down to two:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824001268
or
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824005109

Input? Samsung is a good brand. The LG seems like it might be a bit better spec wise. I'm not 100% dead set on these however. If someone can do me better, shoot. I'd like to stay around the $300 range, but money isn't too big a deal. I can go bigger, but only if the other specs don't take a big hit. Quality is more important than size. Any suggestions?

[HardwareGuru]

Both are good monitors.

Samsung if you want an all around monitor

LG if you're a hardcore gamer

[InnocentNoobie]

HWGuru, how do you think the Benq e2200HD stacks up against that LG?

I was going to pick up that LG on Tuesday at BB, but I see they ended their sale on it.. Which means I have to buy online now... And I see the Benq is $30 cheaper (after shipping costs) than the LG.. hmmmm

Worried that the true 1080p will put unnecessary stress on my 512 4870 though

[Sathsayin]

it goes on sale every 2 weeks

[HardwareGuru]

Yeah. Hehe, I not surprised if it goes on sale again. Who knows, it may even go cheaper than $260 when it goes on sale again. Persoanlly, I don't like the BenQ E2200HD at 16:9 aspect ratio, it will look wide and lacking in height. For a PC monitor and gaming I prefer it to be 16:10 aspect ratio. But, I guess some people will like it to hook up a console system and watch movies on it and not worry about pixel mapping and image stretching.

[Vanderdon]

So far it sounds like I should go with the LG. Does anyone happen to have and suggestions or experience regarding whether it’s safer to purchase monitors from a store such as Best Buy or order/ship them from online? I built my good computer from scratch and 100% of the components were purchased online. A few of them were damaged and had to be returned. I would imagine this type of thing is hit or miss and it’s about the same either way, but I thought I’d ask just in case.

Both are good monitors.
Samsung if you want an all around monitor
LG if you're a hardcore gamer

I’m definitely shooting for gaming. Forgive me for asking a stupid question, but what else would a monitor be geared towards?

Also out of curiosity, what makes the LG so much more geared towards gaming than the Samsung? Like I said, I don’t know too much about this stuff, but they seem almost the same to me. The LG’s Contrast Ratio is a bit higher, and it lists it’s Display Colors (and Samsung doesn’t which seems a bit shady to me). The LG seems to have better Response Time. The Samsung lists it’s RS as 5ms and 2ms GTG, which just seems like a way to make it sound better than it is. The LG as 2ms, but doesn’t mention GTG, so I’m not sure what that would mean. *shrug*

[Uberbob102000]

I think the LG can be forced to run at 80Hz, there's someone on the forum who has done it IIRC and will know far more about this than me.

Both their display colors are 16.2m because of the TN panels (262,000 colors + dithering) and they probably both use the same panel and have the same response times. Also there's no way in hell their contrast ratios are actually that high except with dynamic contrast (brightens and dims the backlight depending on what's on screen, REALLY annoying) and they probably both have the same native contrast ratio, probably 1000:1.

[Vanderdon]

I'm assuming you're referring to Vertical Refresh Rate? What's the significance of that number? I'm clueless.

Also, is their a way to limit or disable Dynamic Contrast? Is it useful at all?

[Uberbob102000]

The significance is that most LCDs can only display 60Hz or every 16.66ms but at 80Hz that's a frame every 12.5ms and it'll look smoother than at 60Hz.

Yea, it's usually not enabled by default.

[Actuary]

I was literally in a Best Buy an hour ago, and the LG was still marked as $260.

The matte 22" LG was $280, strangley enough, even though they're essentially the same monitor.

I'm going to be picking one up after Christmas, and I'm not worried, they'll probably go on sale again. If not, the non-sale price is worth the option of easy, no-hassle returns.

[Vanderdon]

That sounds good. Money isn't a big deal at the moment, plus I think I have a $50 card for Best Buy lying around.

[drew630]

You realize that neither of the monitors have speakers right? You'll need to pick up a set of speakers if you don't have any already.

As for which monitor, go with the LG. It's the better choice for gaming.

[HardwareGuru]

I'd say buy it locally as you can exchange for another model if yours just so happen to have a dead pixel or bad backlight bleeding. I did that with my HP W2207H because the first one had bad backlight bleeding. Yuck. Hehe, when I told the girl at customer service why I am exchanging it, she was puzzled when I mentioned bad backlight bleeding. Then, when I brought up the second monitor from the floor this guy helped me in customer service. I explained to him about backlight bleeding, TN panels, PVA, MVA etc. He had no idea what I was talking about. For a sec there, he had that look on his face like: "Is this guy making up this BS just to exchange a monitor?" LoL

[Vanderdon]

Haha, yeah I can totally see that. I actually have a friend that works in Best Buy (just got promoted to Geek Squad) who at least knows that kind of basic stuff, so I shouldn't have issues. I might even talk him into buying the monitor at his employee discount. They get a great discount depending on the item. Something like 10% over what the store pays.

[Vanderdon]

Yeah, I know it doesn't come with built in speakers. In fact, I didn't know that had become the default. I'm used to them being separate.

Thanks for the help fellas. Does anyone know how to force the LG to 80Hz? Can overclocking it cause any damage or overheating or whatnot?

[Uberbob102000]

It can cause damage to the panel so be careful! I can't remember who did it earlier, Sorry.

[Vanderdon]

I'll probably just leave it alone for now if that's the case. Maybe I'll change it later when I'm willing to take the risk. After I get a third monitor and bump off my CRT.

[Renner Technology]

GET THE LG FLATRON L227WTG


I have 5x of these bady boys set up in my house and every computer I have every sold to
any doctors office for digital x-rays have been THIS monitor and NO other but this!!!!

you will be blown away!
you will be totally happy!
god this thing can game!

*edit*
I have sold/used over 40x of these monitors
-never had any problems with any of them!
-never ever had a single dead pixel!
-every doctor has upgraded to these even if their others where 3months old!

[liar2]

I just listed my LG 246wp in the classifieds if you're interested in a bit of a jump. Just a heads up since 1920 x 1200 res is a significant improvement over 1680 x 1050

[Vanderdon]

Hm... I took a look at the LG today while in Best Buy purchasing a new hard drive. The screen is super glarey compared to Samsung displays... it was almost like looking into a mirror. :(