help! graphics student on a budget

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CrypticInsight

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Jun 8, 2005
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well it's finally time to upgrade my computer for college, seeing as how a 1.35ghz amd, 512mb ram, and a dieing 7 yr old crt isn't going to cut it for an applied computer graphics student. after doing some number crunching, i should have around $500 to spend on a display... which may be enough for some lcd's, but when ur worrying about color accuracy and such, i wish my funds were at least doubled. trying to figure out all the new technologies in lcd's and weeding out what works and what doesn't, plus building a computer from the ground up and going to school is a little hard. i should get a NEC 2180ux or a LaCie 321, and i'll probably get the equivalent once i graduate, but i need something now that'll do the job with my budget. i watch a lot of movies and do some gaming, which may affect my decision, but i'll live with the ghosting if i have to. with that said, does anyone have any recommendations?
 
go with the s-ips or s-pva monitors, avoid TN displays which are usually indicated by 16.2 million colours
 
If you're really concerned with colour accuracy then I would suggest sticking with the CRT screens, I'm not sure but I guess $500 should get you a very good one. When I was a graphics student I used a crappy 17" belinea CRT and although I look back in dsgust at the thought, it didn't stop me doing anything that I needed to do for graphics work.

On the other hand if you are like me and can't stand CRT's any more for their refreshrate/eye strain issues then I can recommend the Dell 2005FP/2007FP. They are very capable and both S-IPS panels if I'm not mistaken. I bought a 2005FP a few years after I graduated and was very happy with it. From a quick search on the web you seem to be able to get the newer 2007FP screen for around $400. It also has a bunch of video inputs so might save the space and cost of getting a TV for your student apartment =).
 
Stick with a CRT for the time being and the CRT is so darn cheap at the moment but might be hard to find. With that budget, I don't think it can get you the LCD that will do the job properly.
 
ASIA911 said:
Stick with a CRT for the time being and the CRT is so darn cheap at the moment but might be hard to find. With that budget, I don't think it can get you the LCD that will do the job properly.
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qft a CRT is still the way to go for color quality
 
Current LCDs are all in all better than current CRTs.

The days of the CRT are simply gone. The high end ones were made of expensive parts, which were revealed by their price tags but the current ones are made out of cheap materials and their quality is not that good.
 
Icebreaker said:
Current LCDs are all in all better than current CRTs.
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Although "all in all" you might be right, that comment really doesn't seem to help. After all this post is asking about colour accurate monitors, maybe a good quality CRT of a few years back could be found 2nd hand.

The company I work for at the moment has over 50 artists using various screens. Some people use the cheapest LCDs meant for gaming and don't care (others do of course), some use better LCDs like the Dell 2405FPW and some use CRTs but the one constant is that no-one can agree which is the best. I find this strange because you'd think that professionals who use this equipment all day every day would come to some kind of ultimate conclusion, I'm sorry it simply isn't true =(

It is a shame but any LCD that is made for colour accuracy (NEC, LaCie, Eizo etc.) is going to be way over $500. That being said, I must iterate that I found the 20" S-IPS Dell's to be good screens and I was using it for photography a lot. I have done a similar course as 'CrypticInsight' so I'm fairly sure he would find this screen ok but you can only take what I, or anyone else says with a pinch of salt. You really should try some of these screens out if you can. I know this is difficult, every LCD I see in shops these days seems to be a cheap gaming screen.
 
artmonkey said:
If you're really concerned with colour accuracy then I would suggest sticking with the CRT screens, I'm not sure but I guess $500 should get you a very good one. When I was a graphics student I used a crappy 17" belinea CRT and although I look back in dsgust at the thought, it didn't stop me doing anything that I needed to do for graphics work.

On the other hand if you are like me and can't stand CRT's any more for their refreshrate/eye strain issues then I can recommend the Dell 2005FP/2007FP. They are very capable and both S-IPS panels if I'm not mistaken. I bought a 2005FP a few years after I graduated and was very happy with it. From a quick search on the web you seem to be able to get the newer 2007FP screen for around $400. It also has a bunch of video inputs so might save the space and cost of getting a TV for your student apartment =).
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:) i had a feeling people would suggest a crt solution. but your right, i would prefer to finally go to a lcd. my brother graduated last semester and i'm already tired of helping him lug around his 50lb 19" crt every time he came home. and i feel like my eyes are on vacation whenever i do work at my school labs (they use lcd's)...

there seems to be 2 sides... some that feel the technology has come far enough to support an accurate display, while others would still go for a crt. although, i know this wouldn't be an issue if i had enough money. so i guess my question would be, will i be hindered by switching to a lcd?

as for specific models, is there any s-ips models that i should stay away from? other models boast some pretty good figures in testing, but their panel technology is a p-mva... mainly the ViewSonic VX922. stick with the s-ips category?

i know i'm probably nitpicking....but since i've never had experience in any lcd's, idk what is something i will truly notice, and what is something that just looks good in synthetic testing. Thanks for ur help!
 
CrypticInsight said:
i know i'm probably nitpicking....but since i've never had experience in any lcd's, idk what is something i will truly notice, and what is something that just looks good in synthetic testing. Thanks for ur help!
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This is very difficult to say as almost every opinion about any screen (good or bad) is highly subjective. I suggest concentrating on the negatives of LCDs to see if it would put you off buying one, for me these are:

Motion in games is a bit... unforgiving under most conditions
Colours look more vivid but the falloff of those colours is not smooth (banding perhapse)
Grey values from between 0-40ish tend to all look the same, depending on viewing angle
Viewing angle up/down is different from left/right
True blacks are often not achievable, due to backlighting but contrast is higher
Brightness levels tend to vary over the surface due to backlighting
Backlight usually creaps around the edges of the screen slightly (mostly noticable in a dark room).

These thing can vary but it should give you an idea of what to look out for. I advise you to start checking any LCDs you can find to see what you think.

As far as differences in IPS panels goes I can't really help in that regard as I've only really seen the Dell's... I think. Although I have just ordered a NEC LCD2690 which is an A-TW-IPS. That is due to arrive tomorrow (fingers crossed =).
 
A low end LCD might give you a headache. You might end up rendering your image either in photoshop or 3D software(s) and it might not turn out how you envision it when printed out or outputting to a proper calibrated monitor(s). Especially if it's a bad color banding issue, color or brightness and contrast setting of the LCD.
 
artmonkey said:
This is very difficult to say as almost every opinion about any screen (good or bad) is highly subjective. I suggest concentrating on the negatives of LCDs to see if it would put you off buying one...
Click to expand...

thanks for your help... those are some very interesting facts. i'm in complete agreement in going with a crt if i wanted complete accuracy, but i guess i just want alittle more versatility. i want my cake and eat it too! :D since i'll probably double this as my tv and hook up a ps3, camera, etc, i need connectivity. my research has come down to 2 models so far:

~Dell 2007WFP $359
~Samsung 215TW $439

any opinions? does the 2007wfp support HDCP? is that still a concern these days?
 
ya dell2007 have hdcp

if you do plan to watch blue ray or hd dvd in the future, they u need hdcp otherwise you don't need it

you also need a video card that support hdcp

if i was on a budget and i have to pick between those 2 model i would pick dell


i don't think the samsung has hdcp but it does offer lots of connection

if you have plans to hook everything to your lcd then samsung.
 
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