3yr old Sony GDM-FW900 vs. New Dell 2405FPW

[imported_Ivan244]

Have a chance to pick up the Sony for $300 or under. Or save up and get the 2405FPW. Looking for advice from those like Nippyjun who have had/used both monitors. The Dell would be brand new plus USB 2.0 connections plus component vid in so I could use it as a second TV for PS2/Xbox/Cube playing.

The Sony is a heavy monstrosity, however, many considered it to be the one of the best CRT monitors ever made. Only has USB 1.0 connectors. Plus no component vid in that I know of so I could not use my PS2/Xbox/Cube on it AFAIK.

But the Sony would be half the price and CRT which I consider to be better for color representation. I would like the 16x10 widescreen which is why I am choosing either monitor.

Advice/Suggestions welcomed.

 

[mooncancook]

2405FPW is 19x12 widescreen, and the lowest price has been < $800. The 2005FPW is 16x10 and the lowest price has been < $400.

 

[n yusef]

Mooncancook, he's talking about the aspect ratio not the resolution.

Personnally, either moniter will be spectacular, so choose based on what you need. The 2405 will have a slightly bigger screen (the Sony only offers 22.5" viewable), take up less space, and have more connections, and have all of the advantages that LCDs do. It'll als o have the disadvantages; if your video card can't do 1920*1200 in games comfortably, then you will have to scale down, and lose image quality, while you could lower the res on the CRT without any quality loss. If you don't have the space for a giant CRT, then the 2405 wins, but if you can, then for $300 (they retail for a couple thousand), it's a great deal. Personally, I would get the CRT, because you can probably resell it for more than $300 if it's in good condition anyway.

 

[bjc112]

I had a 21" Sony e540 and my 2005fpw absolutely blows it out of the water..

I have never persononally seen the FW 900, but the 2405 is a wonderful monitor as well!



Go LCD, go Widescreen.. Get component !

 

[halik]

Originally posted by: Ivan244
Have a chance to pick up the Sony for $300 or under. Or save up and get the 2405FPW. Looking for advice from those like Nippyjun who have had/used both monitors. The Dell would be brand new plus USB 2.0 connections plus component vid in so I could use it as a second TV for PS2/Xbox/Cube playing.

The Sony is a heavy monstrosity, however, many considered it to be the one of the best CRT monitors ever made. Only has USB 1.0 connectors. Plus no component vid in that I know of so I could not use my PS2/Xbox/Cube on it AFAIK.

But the Sony would be half the price and CRT which I consider to be better for color representation. I would like the 16x10 widescreen which is why I am choosing either monitor.

Advice/Suggestions welcomed.

uhh the CRT is gonna weigh more than my car...
As far as color goes, CRT might be more accurate, but LCDs are more vibrant hands down. Everything also looks a lot more crisp.

I have a 2005fpw and i have yet to see a monitor that looks as good/clear as my lcd

 

[Busithoth]

Well, I've been dual monitoring it for a while now, with a Viewsonic PF790 and a 2001FP, and am going to switch to the 2405 next week.
I still love the CRT, but it is too big for my desk, (my shuttle's on top of the monitor, LCD next to it).

I truly love the colors, though. If I did more graphic work, I'd probably keep it.
If you have the room, though, I can totally see going for the Sony monitor.

 

[yhelothar]

I would get the Sony GDM-FW900 if you can get it for $300
In fact, I'm typing this on one right now.
I use it at work, and I use a Dell 2001FP at home.
The Sony is definitely a better monitor. Let's see, the Sony costs $2500 brand new, and the Dell costs $1000 brand new, obviously the Sony is the better monitor.

Originally posted by: halik
uhh the CRT is gonna weigh more than my car...
As far as color goes, CRT might be more accurate, but LCDs are more vibrant hands down. Everything also looks a lot more crisp.

I have a 2005fpw and i have yet to see a monitor that looks as good/clear as my lcd

Uh LCD has more vibrant colors, are you kidding me?
Nothing beats the vibrance of a high end aperture grill CRT.
You must be accustomed to using crappy 17" $100 CRTs...
The FW900 is MUCH sharper. It has a dot pitch of 0.23, while the LCD has a dot pitch of 0.28? If you just examine and compare a single pixel thick line on the CRT and LCD, you will see that the line on the CRT is much finer.

As I said, I use the 2001FP at home, and it's a great monitor, but it doesn't compare to the CRT at all.

 

[JBT]

Originally posted by: virtualgames0
I would get the Sony GDM-FW900 if you can get it for $300
In fact, I'm typing this on one right now.
I use it at work, and I use a Dell 2001FP at home.
The Sony is definitely a better monitor. Let's see, the Sony costs $2500 brand new, and the Dell costs $1000 brand new, obviously the Sony is the better monitor.

Originally posted by: halik
uhh the CRT is gonna weigh more than my car...
As far as color goes, CRT might be more accurate, but LCDs are more vibrant hands down. Everything also looks a lot more crisp.

I have a 2005fpw and i have yet to see a monitor that looks as good/clear as my lcd

Uh LCD has more vibrant colors, are you kidding me?
Nothing beats the vibrance of a high end aperture grill CRT.
You must be accustomed to using crappy 17" $100 CRTs...
The FW900 is MUCH sharper. It has a dot pitch of 0.23, while the LCD has a dot pitch of 0.28? If you just examine and compare a single pixel thick line on the CRT and LCD, you will see that the line on the CRT is much finer.

As I said, I use the 2001FP at home, and it's a great monitor, but it doesn't compare to the CRT at all.

Not discounting anything you just said but the 2001FP looks like crap compared to 2405's. I have owned both and they are not alike so don't compare the two.

 

[sheElf]

I have one of these bad ass monitors, 1 word, AWESOME, to compare it with LCD i am not the one to ask, a friend of mine has this LG or phillips WS lcd monitor and to be honest the color is more crisp but somewhat not real. ok let me put it this way, the color impurities makes the image looks crispier. well at least that is my opinion and dont kill me for that. i have 36" edtv but i still enjoy watching dvd on this monitor (fw900).

if you want to connect ps2/xbox/etc to this monitor u can always use transcoder from www.vdigi.com, what a piece of plastic box. this monitor also can go at a very high resolution, i am currently running it at 2048x1280@85. check out my desk shot http://homepage.ntlworld.com/she-elf/desk2048.jpg

BTW if u gonna get a refurbished/used one make sure it is still in a good condition. another friend of mine bought 1 after seeing my monitor in action unfortunately his monitor was knackered, it took roughly 2 hours to get optimum quality expecially the black color. he took it back for refund and still hunting for another one.

 

[ponyo]

I would get the Sony GDM-FW900 no question if it's only $300. Tell me where I can get one that price cause I've been looking for about a year for this monitor and the going rate is around $800 for used or refurbished one. I won't pay that much for one since I can get new 2405fpw for that price but for $300, heck yeah. I would pay $800 no questions asked if it was new FW900. But chances of finding new FW900 is like slim to none since it's been out of production so long.

 

[sheElf]

i guess i was a lucky one, paid GBP500+ for 2yo one and few months later paid GBP450 for new one. this guy had three of these and offered me GBP380 for three plus GBP25 each for delivery but i just didnt have the money at that time. imagine 2 24" widescreen monitors in front of you, unfortunately the video card powering the monitors was ti4400 and it was quite straining to the card. gave the old one to my brother at the same time to make way for my new audio system (table space).

 

[5150Joker]

I'd get the 2405 over the CRT. I had a 21" Sony G520 which was an excellent monitor but I like my Dell 2005 FPW much more. Once you go widescreen LCD you never go back.

 

[imported_Ivan244]

Thanks sheELF for the info on that adaptor. I just went and placed an order for it. Going to go ahead and pull the trigger on the Sony. Found it on Ebay by Electronic Discount Sales.
I live about 3 hrs away from their location in Arlington, Tx.

 

[sheElf]

No problem ivan244, just to let you know you cant display interlaced feed unless your monitor can do it which i doubt it.

Anyone who's hunting gdm-fw900 monitor this is your chance, http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?...tem&category=3696&item=5224888886&rd=1
just got another one myself, this guy is good, very fast delivery, and YES it is new item, the box is still sealed, and you'll get all the cables u need. hurry. well i guess for anyone from the UK.

 

[Ronin]

Have both, and prefer the 2405FPW by far.

 

[T-man]

get the 900
I have one
best CRT there IS!

 

[VIAN]

Has it been used for those 3 years. If so, I think think the LCD would be a better decision.

 

[bjc112]

Originally posted by: Ronin
Have both, and prefer the 2405FPW by far.

That pretty much sums it up!

 

[Busithoth]

Not discounting anything you just said but the 2001FP looks like crap compared to 2405's. I have owned both and they are not alike so don't compare the two.

Wow, I can't wait to see them next to each other, then.
Upgrading from 2001 to 2405 seemed like a damned foolish, selfish, thing to do.
Still, how can you say they don't compare, when they're by the same manufacturer and sport similar stats?

 

[Ronin]

Easily enough. The core of both monitors is different, for one, and the 2405 resolves issues that the 2001 had.

 

[Busithoth]

Originally posted by: Ronin
Easily enough. The core of both monitors is different, for one, and the 2405 resolves issues that the 2001 had.

well thanks for pumping my expectations even higher. I just couldn't think of that many 'issues' with the 2001, is all.

 

[JRW]

Originally posted by: Busithoth

Originally posted by: Ronin
Easily enough. The core of both monitors is different, for one, and the 2405 resolves issues that the 2001 had.

well thanks for pumping my expectations even higher. I just couldn't think of that many 'issues' with the 2001, is all.

The 2001FP has a horrible contrast ratio so dark scenes look 'washed out' in games and movies (black is more grey'ish) , it was easily noticable with my CRT sitting next to it (clone mode) and it didnt matter how I adjusted the gamma / brightess of the videocard or monitor, I ended up returning the 2001FP and kept my 21" Sony G520P CRT. The LCD had great looking text but the CRT was winning in all game & movie comparisons, Anyhow i've heard the 2405FPW has better black retention so that's a plus ..but then ive also heard the motion blur is a bit more noticable on the 2405fpw and not as accurate color vs. 2001fp (shrug)

If I had the chance to get a FW900 for that price i'd definatlely go with it over a 2405.

 

[Busithoth]

Originally posted by: JRW

Originally posted by: Busithoth

Originally posted by: Ronin
Easily enough. The core of both monitors is different, for one, and the 2405 resolves issues that the 2001 had.

well thanks for pumping my expectations even higher. I just couldn't think of that many 'issues' with the 2001, is all.

The 2001FP has a horrible contrast ratio so dark scenes look 'washed out' in games and movies (black is more grey'ish) , it was easily noticable with my CRT sitting next to it (clone mode) and it didnt matter how I adjusted the gamma / brightess of the videocard or monitor, I ended up returning the 2001FP and kept my 21" Sony G520P CRT. The LCD had great looking text but the CRT was winning in all game & movie comparisons, Anyhow i've heard the 2405FPW has better black retention so that's a plus ..but then ive also heard the motion blur is a bit more noticable on the 2405fpw and not as accurate color vs. 2001fp (shrug)

If I had the chance to get a FW900 for that price i'd definatlely go with it over a 2405.

Yeah, I had my Viewsonic PF790 next to the 2001FP, and did plenty of comparisons, but while I still thought the CRT was purely gorgeous, the 2001FP had great quality, even in movies. The color difference between them was comical. I spent days trying to get them to mesh, but ended up accepting they wouldn't match perfectly, no matter what. It really came down to space on the desk, truth be told, which pitched it in favor of the LCD. But the 2001 was the first LCD I saw that made me think they were up to the task of replacing CRTs. Not that they shouldn't continue to improve...

 

[Ronin]

Originally posted by: JRW

Originally posted by: Busithoth

Originally posted by: Ronin
Easily enough. The core of both monitors is different, for one, and the 2405 resolves issues that the 2001 had.

well thanks for pumping my expectations even higher. I just couldn't think of that many 'issues' with the 2001, is all.

The 2001FP has a horrible contrast ratio so dark scenes look 'washed out' in games and movies (black is more grey'ish) , it was easily noticable with my CRT sitting next to it (clone mode) and it didnt matter how I adjusted the gamma / brightess of the videocard or monitor, I ended up returning the 2001FP and kept my 21" Sony G520P CRT. The LCD had great looking text but the CRT was winning in all game & movie comparisons, Anyhow i've heard the 2405FPW has better black retention so that's a plus ..but then ive also heard the motion blur is a bit more noticable on the 2405fpw and not as accurate color vs. 2001fp (shrug)

If I had the chance to get a FW900 for that price i'd definatlely go with it over a 2405.

Even with Anandtech's comparison, the color was found to be better, and the black retention is amazing.

As far as ghosting is concerned, I've yet to see it in anything I play, including fast paced FPS games.

 

[JBT]

Originally posted by: Ronin

Originally posted by: JRW

Originally posted by: Busithoth

Originally posted by: Ronin
Easily enough. The core of both monitors is different, for one, and the 2405 resolves issues that the 2001 had.

well thanks for pumping my expectations even higher. I just couldn't think of that many 'issues' with the 2001, is all.

The 2001FP has a horrible contrast ratio so dark scenes look 'washed out' in games and movies (black is more grey'ish) , it was easily noticable with my CRT sitting next to it (clone mode) and it didnt matter how I adjusted the gamma / brightess of the videocard or monitor, I ended up returning the 2001FP and kept my 21" Sony G520P CRT. The LCD had great looking text but the CRT was winning in all game & movie comparisons, Anyhow i've heard the 2405FPW has better black retention so that's a plus ..but then ive also heard the motion blur is a bit more noticable on the 2405fpw and not as accurate color vs. 2001fp (shrug)

If I had the chance to get a FW900 for that price i'd definatlely go with it over a 2405.

Even with Anandtech's comparison, the color was found to be better, and the black retention is amazing.

As far as ghosting is concerned, I've yet to see it in anything I play, including fast paced FPS games.

agreed. I owned a 2001FP before my 2405 and my father still does and I use it once in awhile. The 2405 has a MUCH deeper black and the colors look better too.