24 inch non-TN monitor - which to choose?

[AndyKH]

Hi

I?m trying to decide on a new monitor for my next PC build. It has to perform 4 duties:

1) Gaming
2) TV watching
3) Light image editing
4) Office work ? but any display would be ok for that

I?m not ultra critical with regards to ghosting, and at the same time I would like accurate colours, so I think a TN-panel is out of the question.

I?m looking for a 24 inch display.

As the PC will be located in the bedroom; the monitor should double as a bedroom TV. As almost every PC-monitor lacks image enhacing circuitry (scaling, de-interlacing) except for the most basic, I?m prepared to accept that the quality is not that stellar. I will hook up the monitor to a DVB-C receiver (a digital cable box), so the ability to accept two DVI/HDMI connections would be great as it would save me a DVI/HDMI switch. I?m hoping that the DVB-C box will be able to scale everything to 1080p, which would make the quality of the scaling circuitry less important, but I?m not certain it will be the case, so the scaling circuitry is actually of some importance. Also, it is important that the monitor can be set to a 1:1 pixel mapping mode.

I?ve looked for a dell 2407FPW, but Dell apparently doesn?t carry them anymore, and I?ve also heard some bad things about horrible ghosting (on the HC variant). The Samsung Syncmaster 245T seems quite nice, but someone told me to be cautious because it doesn?t seem like it can do 1:1 pixel mapping.

Have any of you a suggestion regarding which monitor I should choose?

Thanks in advance

 

[bradsh]

From what I have found there aren't many good options right now. I think the old 2407WFP was a winner but it seems to have been discontinued.

 

[uclaLabrat]

Originally posted by: AndyKH
Hi

I?m trying to decide on a new monitor for my next PC build. It has to perform 4 duties:

1) Gaming
2) TV watching
3) Light image editing
4) Office work ? but any display would be ok for that

I?m not ultra critical with regards to ghosting, and at the same time I would like accurate colours, so I think a TN-panel is out of the question.

I?m looking for a 24 inch display.

As the PC will be located in the bedroom; the monitor should double as a bedroom TV. As almost every PC-monitor lacks image enhacing circuitry (scaling, de-interlacing) except for the most basic, I?m prepared to accept that the quality is not that stellar. I will hook up the monitor to a DVB-C receiver (a digital cable box), so the ability to accept two DVI/HDMI connections would be great as it would save me a DVI/HDMI switch. I?m hoping that the DVB-C box will be able to scale everything to 1080p, which would make the quality of the scaling circuitry less important, but I?m not certain it will be the case, so the scaling circuitry is actually of some importance. Also, it is important that the monitor can be set to a 1:1 pixel mapping mode.

I?ve looked for a dell 2407FPW, but Dell apparently doesn?t carry them anymore, and I?ve also heard some bad things about horrible ghosting (on the HC variant). The Samsung Syncmaster 245T seems quite nice, but someone told me to be cautious because it doesn?t seem like it can do 1:1 pixel mapping.

Have any of you a suggestion regarding which monitor I should choose?

Thanks in advance

I think the 245T is a TN panel, IIRC. The 245BW is the one that's PVA, right?

 

[kmmatney]

If I remember correctly, the HP 24" LCD had 2 DVI inputs and could switch between the two just like a DVI switch. Would one of those DVI-VGA adapters works with the cable box, and you could use the VGA port for TV? Should be OK for that purpose.

 

[WaTaGuMp]

Benq FP241W

 

[chizow]

There's also the BenQ FP241, although they're the priciest of the 24" PVAs now. I believe it does have HDMI and DVI though. You can probably find some 2407s on Ebay if you wanted to go that route. The Gateway I have has been discontinued and replaced. Both the Dell HC and Gateway have the inverse ghosting, but how much it bothers you is something you'd need to see first-hand. Not sure what other options are out there, I think one of those 245 Samsung is a PVA with 1:1 and lots of inputs, the other is a TN with limited inputs and both are priced accordingly. Unfortunately it seems most mfgs are going towards TN in this range, although TNs are getting better with each release to the point it may not be a big deal.

 

[AndyKH]

Thank you for the answers.

uclaLabRat: The 245T does feature a S-PVA panel - not sure about the BW as it's not available in Denmark.

chizow: The 245T is the one with a S-PVA panel, but in the manual it only mentions a 4:3 and a 16:9 mode - nothing about a 1:1 pixel maping mode like in the Dell 2407FPW(-HC) manual. It could be they forgot, but I guess I have to go to a brick & mortar shop tp try it out.

Actually I'm amazed about the fact that no S-IPS panels are to be found in the in my price range which is around $1200, converted directly from DKR (Danish Kroner), but the dollar is very low at the moment, and electronics is generally much cheaper in the US. E.g. the Samsung 245T is ~$1200 in Denmark and $649.99 at newegg - quite a difference.
As I recall it, S-IPS is generally faster and have better color reproduction, although they have worse black levels and contrast.

 

[qbfx]

I think the Samsung 245T or the Benq FP241W is the way to go. There's also the LG 246BW which lacks DVI (only has a HDMI for digital) tho ...