17' LCD monitor $399 AR compusa

[rockyct]

I am not sure how this works, but for grins since I saw in the manual that the optimal for 1280x1024 is 60 OR 75 hz, I went ahead and tried some higher frequencies..... and they ALL work GREAT! I right now on my Dell Dimension 4300 am running a Radeon 8500 dual head at 160 hz YES One Hundred Sixty. I had to hit the auto tune so the text was as clear as before, but it is even brighter and more sharp than before. WTHeck?

Actually, the refresh rate doesn't matter for a LCD monitor because CRTs use competely different technology. In a CRT, cathode ray tube, a gun shoots electrons onto the lead screen many times a second, so a higher frequency means the more times an image is drawn a second. In a LCD screen a pixel will stay on, so the speed at which the pixel can change determines how the monitor looks with fast motion. This is the response time, which in this case is 40ms. It's not great but at least it's not 50ms.

 

[MISMan]

That makes a lot of sense on the explanation on refresh rates. Why in the world do people make such a big deal about an LCD running 85hz or something like that. I guess I can sound cool and say I have to 17" LCD's running at 160hz LOL.

 

[SkiTeR53]

is 40ms good enough for games?

 

[rockyct]

Well, I bought one of these and ran some tests on it. To start off, I couldn't find any dead pixels on it which is very good. Second, there is a very narrow angle at which there is no color distortion on the screen. Next, there is some visual interference during that part of the test. If you scroll slowly it will flicker and if you scroll faster the words start to blur. It is fairly bright though, which is nice. Overall, it's a good monitor but for many people it won't cut it. I paid less than half as much for my Samsung 950p CRT and would not switch to this LCD monitor unless I had to. However, I need desk space in my dorm, so I needed an LCD. Basicly, it's a good monitor if you're on a tight budget and need those extra two inches. I did take some pictures with a cheap digital camera, so if you want them PM me with you're email address and I'll send them.

 

[EvanGeliSt]

Hmnn.. wasn't there a thread about a 17" Mag for $360? Is that better?

 

[Mike7]

I ordered this monitor today.

Given the price I paid for that Pentium 4 1.8 Ghz (Dell) earlier this summer, are we entering a new phase of home computing, where the monitor will tend to be more expensive than the computer?

 

[Mike7]

As I sit here, awaiting delivery, can anyone tell me if this monitor is wall-mountable?

 

[1keyguy]

"As I sit here, awaiting delivery, can anyone tell me if this monitor is wall-mountable?"

yes - has VESA mounting, but does not come with bracket -

 

[vladgur]

Originally posted by: EvanGeliSt
Hmnn.. wasn't there a thread about a 17" Mag for $360? Is that better?

how about a 17'' Mag for $320

 

[Mike7]

I canceled the online order, and picked up this monitor at a CompUSA store this evening. (I found myself near a CompUSA store, and figured I'd save myself shipping charges.)

I'm using it right now. Man, is this ever a step up from my 17" CRT monitor.

On the down side, there are two bad pixels. One, about 1/3" from the center bottom of the screen, is always red. The second, slightly above and to the right of that one, is always blue.

It's not really noticeable. I mean, a pixel's so small, you have to look for it.

But now that I have found these two very tiny flaws, I know my eyes will be drawn to them. So I'm going back to CompUSA tomorrow to do an exchange.

Don't get me wrong -- aside from this, the monitor seems great. The screen seems huge! And it's nice and sharp. And the price was excellent. I'm just a little bummed that I'll have to make a second trip to CompUSA; the store's about an hour out of my way, and I've got better things to do with my time this weekend.

Oh, I'm also unclear on whether it's worth using the built-in speakers. My existing speakers are pretty good. Besides, I'm not sure where to plug it into my Sound Blaster Live card. (If anyone out there knows which color I should use, I'd appreciate the information. I could simply try each one, until hitting on the right one, but I'm lazy and would rather have the answer handed to me on a platter.)