17" or 19"

spre

Member
Jul 27, 2000
43
0
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i was seriously considering buying a 19" monitor, but im having second thoughts. Right now i have an 15" Dell monitor. When i play games like Rogue Spear on it the game looks dark, and when i play Rogue Spear on my bro's 19" monitor the game looks so much better. If i get a 17" over an 19" will the gaming experience be a lot difference? i wanna run windows at 1024x768. my budget is up to 350. and if i get the 17" i would get a flat monitor.
 

kly1222

Golden Member
Oct 9, 1999
1,102
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The game looks better on your brother's monitor because it's probably better than your dell monitor, not because it's bigger. Larger doesn't always mean better quality. At 1028x768, a 17" monitor will do just fine. Anything higher, you will need a 19". At $350, you should be able to find a nice 19". If your not in a hurry, spend some time in the hot deals forum and you'll be able to find a great deal on a 19 incher. I got my viewsonic PF-790 for under $300 after a $50 rebate. Good luck!!!
 

tonyou

Senior member
Nov 22, 1999
508
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Go for a 19"... you "maybe" able to increase image quality by adjusting your monitor, but with size there is no substitute.

Tony
 

duragezic

Lifer
Oct 11, 1999
11,234
4
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You could get a good 19". As far as dark Rogue Spear, well that could be the video card, gamma settings, or if all those were the same then maybe your bro's is a AG monitor while you're is a shadow mask. A AG monitor is brighter and produces more vivid colors.

However for $350 I'm not sure if there is that many good AG monitors. Good ones like the Samsung 900NF and KDS AV-195TF are around $430. But they are some good shadow masks like the Samsung 955DF and NEC AS95F in that price range.
 

nortexoid

Diamond Member
May 1, 2000
4,096
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u can get flat shadow mask too, which some people tell me is better than the aperature grill models...
i would get a flat 17" over a curved cheap 19"....and the flat 17" is always often cheaper...but if u can,
get a flat 19"....personally, i wouldn't get anything other than flat...

i notice the curvature while using my computer, but i don't notice the size.....while playing a game that is, or anythign for that matter...i get immersed..i guess...admittedly, i don't notice the curvature all the time too...but more than size...(between 17 and 19" that is)
 

Rigoletto

Banned
Aug 6, 2000
1,207
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Monitors are flatter than they used to be. Few dare the old goldfish bowl type. Take a look at it if you can, if it's reasonably flat or vertically flat it will do. A darker glass hints at better contrast and less annoying reflections too.
Right now I don't see much benefit to cost going from 17"-19". An extra 30% is added to the price. But then again, I am in love with trinitrons. I'd prefer a 15" sony trinitron, and save the money on a bigger 19". Maybe I'd even buy another Sony... I am using 1024x768 on a MAG trinitron and love it. Love it! Super contrast, clarity and focus. With shadow masks I don't get that- or you get something similar only rarely, if you're lucky, and it costs about as much as a trinitron anyway... so why not buy trinitron in the first place??!