HP w2207 or NEC 20WGX2

I'm buying a new setup tonight along with a new monitor, either the HP w2207 or NEC 20WGX2. This is going to be used for gaming only- no movie watching, editing or anything else; just gaming.

NEC 20WGX2
Pros:
- AS-IPS panel; perfect viewing angles
- Doesn't get darker towards the top of the screen

Cons:
- £340
- No height adjustable stand (although i suppose this can be purchased seperately for another £30)
- It's small


HP w2207
Pros:
- It's big
- Has a height adjustable display
- £230

Cons:
- The top of the screen is darker than the bottom due to the vertical viewing angle problems
- Not as good quality as the NEC; the picture might not be quite as sharp

I understand the NEC is over £100 more expensive than the HP monitor. I don't mind spending a bit more, since i'm going to own the monitor for years so i might as well get a good one. My main concern with the HP monitor is the fact that the top of the monitor is darker than the bottom. See (here's a comparison of the HP w2207 and Dell 2007WFP, you can see how the HP is dark at the top):

However, i don't know if this will be much of a problem in games, and the money spent on the NEC (to be used just as a gaming monitor) will be wasted. Conversely, i don't want to get the NEC monitor, so the viewing angle problems are avoided, and regret getting a smaller monitor.

If, for example, i'm running through a dark area of a game (like a cave in Oblivion or pretty much anywhere in FEAR), it's going to be annoying if the HP monitor prevents me from seeing detail in the top area of the screen. How've people found their w2207s, because i really don't know if this is going to be a problem? And, if it is, how much better the NEC monitor will be.

Thank you.

Have you tried looking at the HP in person at a local store? That will probably be your best bet on determining whether or not the viewing angle is a problem for you. Personally, I think that trying to judge a screens quality based on an amateur photo is not a great idea. If you've never tried to take a picture of a screen before, I can tell you that it's very difficult to get an accurate photo, even without the added difficulty of worrying about the viewing angle.

When I was looking at the w2207 in stores last week, I noticed that the vertical viewing angles were not that great if I moved my head up and down, but I didn't see any problems with uneven brightness when just looking at it normally. I can't really advise you on which one to buy since everyone has their own priorities, but I think that you are overestimating the effect that viewing angle will have on gaming, unless you move your head up and down a lot for some reason. That said, have you considered the problem of glare with the w2207's glossy screen? If you have a light source facing the monitor, it is very pronounced when displaying dark screens. I'd be more concerned about that issue when playing games like FEAR than the viewing angle.

Personally, I would have gotten the NEC after my preferences.

But, it sounds like you want the bigger screen and are afraid if you might not like it. Did you consider return options? I think England have return options within a certain amount of time, especially with internet purchases. You could try out the HP and see if angles and such would represent a problem for you?

Tamlin_WSGF said:

You could try out the HP and see if angles and such would represent a problem for you?

Click to expand...

This is exactly what i'm going to do. As long as i buy it online, i can return it within 7 days if i decide i don't like it for whatever reason.

tony-kun, i think you're right, i mean plenty of people use TN monitors for gaming and don't complain. I've thought about glare, and i usually always have the blinds shut in my room so this shouldn't be a problem. I have had a look at it in a local store, but it was daisy-chained up to a number of other monitors and wasn't running at its native resolution.

Thanks, you two!

I'll take a few pictures of FEAR, Battlefield 2142 and Oblivion in a week or two when i get it and see if i was worrying over nothing.

tony-kun said:

When I was looking at the w2207 in stores last week, I noticed that the vertical viewing angles were not that great if I moved my head up and down, but I didn't see any problems with uneven brightness when just looking at it normally.

Click to expand...

When I checked out the w2207, I ran some solid color test patterns on it. Everything was good until I got to the gray pattern. The vertical viewing angle problem made it look like a gradient.

Relentence said:

When I checked out the w2207, I ran some solid color test patterns on it. Everything was good until I got to the gray pattern. The vertical viewing angle problem made it look like a gradient.

Click to expand...

Thank you for the warning. Although, it isn't enough to put me off completely!