What LCD to buy?

[Retne]

Well I have come to the decision that I would like to purchase a widescreen LCD. I've read the sticky and I'm still uncertain on what type panel to go with. I do a small amount of FPS gaming(cs1.6) and a decent bit of MMORPG playing(Lineage II). I also watch Movies, browse the web, school work, etc. I definately don't need blazing fast pixel response, so does that scratch off TN from the list?

I'm leaning twards S-IPS but still unsure. As far as specs go 19" will do me just fine, but I want the highest resolution I can get(1680x1050 is fine). I've been browsing these forums and have seen some reference to problems with 19" with low max resolutions. Does this hold any water or is it just a myth? I tend to be sensitive to graphical problems.

As for a budget I think the max I will spend is $300. I would prefer to spend less but if it can't be done I can deal with that. Any ideas guys?

 

[joemama]

The problem with your current plan is the $300 budget won't cover a widescreen S-IPS panel. You can find a 19" widescreen for less than that but it will be a TN panel. That doesn't mean that it is undesireable...current gen TN panels are actually pretty good as long as you aren't too picky. The best value right now would be a 20.1 P-MVA panel such as used in the Viewsonic VX2025WM....a little more than $300 but worth saving up the extra scratch.

 

[CyberJunk]

or you could get the LG L204WT which kicks ass has8 bit color and is 309 dollars at circuitcity or you could also go for the samsung 205bw i think its selling online for like 289 or something if you get the LG you have to buy your own dvi cable
wal-mart is selling phillips DVI-D cables 6ft for like 23 bucks !!
they are gold plated and shelided work great oh yea and no matter which monitor you get
get a LCD desk arm from ergotron its pricey they are like 74 bucks with tax at circuitcity
i tyhink bestbuy sells em took but for like 84 bucks anyways the stands that come with LCD all suck the lcd arm is awesome i just bought one and i would never go back to some factory stand !!!

 

[Retne]

Is there something wrong with the Acer AL2016ws? The only thing about it that isn't so hot that I can see so far is the contrast ratio of 600:1. Is there anything else wrong with it? Only reason I ask is because it is the only monitor I've found so far that fits my budget and requirments of a LCD WS.

 

[joemama]

or you could get the LG L204WT which kicks ass has8 bit color and is 309 dollars at circuitcity or you could also go for the samsung 205bw i think its selling online for like 289 or something if you get the LG you have to buy your own dvi cable
wal-mart is selling phillips DVI-D cables 6ft for like 23 bucks !!
they are gold plated and shelided work great oh yea and no matter which monitor you get
get a LCD desk arm from ergotron its pricey they are like 74 bucks with tax at circuitcity
i tyhink bestbuy sells em took but for like 84 bucks anyways the stands that come with LCD all suck the lcd arm is awesome i just bought one and i would never go back to some factory stand !!!

Where are you getting that the L204WT has an 8-bit panel? Manufacturers will often list "16.7m colors" but fail to mention that it is in reality a 6-bit panel/16.2m with dithering to achieve 16.7m. Of course that doesn't have to mean it's bad or has poor PQ but it is misleading for those looking for a true 8-bit.

 

[Techx]

Where are you getting that the L204WT has an 8-bit panel? Manufacturers will often list "16.7m colors" but fail to mention that it is in reality a 6-bit panel/16.2m with dithering to achieve 16.7m. Of course that doesn't have to mean it's bad or has poor PQ but it is misleading for those looking for a true 8-bit.

have any links to substantiate those claims? it's just that I'd like some harder evidence on it's specs before I make a purchase decision

thanks

 

[peo]

Where are you getting that the L204WT has an 8-bit panel? Manufacturers will often list "16.7m colors" but fail to mention that it is in reality a 6-bit panel/16.2m with dithering to achieve 16.7m. Of course that doesn't have to mean it's bad or has poor PQ but it is misleading for those looking for a true 8-bit.

Rather odd...
On the global site I couldn't find any claims on having a 8-bit panel by LG but on the nordic/swedish one they claim 8-bits. The global site only claims 16.7 million colours.
However I would find it rather odd if it is a 8 bit panel considering that all the other similar arn't (in this pricerange that is)

 

[Shaman]

However I would find it rather odd if it is a 8 bit panel considering that all the other similar arn't (in this pricerange that is)

LG uses their own LG.Philips panel, so it's not fair to compare it with all the other monitors in the same price range that use other panels - it's very possible that the LG is a true 8-bit panel.

Almost everyone in the huge L204WT thread swears it's 8-bit wich is fine, but I sure wouldn't mind reading a professional review of this monitor done with proper measuring instruments.

 

[joemama]

have any links to substantiate those claims? it's just that I'd like some harder evidence on it's specs before I make a purchase decision

thanks

Well, I guess it's still up in the air...according to flatpanels.dk: "LG L204WT (widescreen) har et 20 tommer 5 ms TN (LG.Philips LM201WE3) panel." however if you go to the
LG/Philips site there is a listing for the LM201WE3 TN but the specs are blank.

Btw...I wasn't claiming anything, I was simply asking the poster I quoted to substantiate the 8-bit panel claim that HE made.

 

[peo]

LG uses their own LG.Philips panel, so it's not fair to compare it with all the other monitors in the same price range that use other panels - it's very possible that the LG is a true 8-bit panel.

Almost everyone in the huge L204WT thread swears it's 8-bit wich is fine, but I sure wouldn't mind reading a professional review of this monitor done with proper measuring instruments.

Sure it's possible.
But why would they price a monitor that has (if all the specs are correct) superior stats this cheep?
Would think they would have it priced at around the same levels as the other 5ms 8 bit monitors.

 

[Shaman]

Sure it's possible.
But why would they price a monitor that has (if all the specs are correct) superior stats this cheep?

I don't know, maybe because they made it a very bare monitor with a flimsy non-adjustable stand? Heck it doesn't even come with a dvi cable.

 

[peo]

I don't know, maybe because they made it a very bare monitor with a flimsy non-adjustable stand? Heck it doesn't even come with a dvi cable.

In Europe it does (from what i've been told)
Sure it's possible that the physical design makes it cheep enough but i'm hesitant until there are some independant sources.

 

[Shaman]

Only in a few select european countries, not all. Just don't ask me wich ones.

 

[Techx]

Well, I guess it's still up in the air...according to flatpanels.dk: "LG L204WT (widescreen) har et 20 tommer 5 ms TN (LG.Philips LM201WE3) panel." however if you go to the
LG/Philips site there is a listing for the LM201WE3 TN but the specs are blank.

Btw...I wasn't claiming anything, I was simply asking the poster I quoted to substantiate the 8-bit panel claim that HE made.

hah yea your right I must have read it wrong.
thanks