8 bit vs. 6 bit LCD's

[c3p0]

I know this has been discussed before, but I am looking for some real world advice. I have never owned an LCD but am looking to buy one very soon. What I need to know from you LCD owners is there really a big difference between the 6 and 8 bit panels???

I am looking at the Acer® AL1951C and the Acer® AL1923r. There are some small differences in the specs, but the only big thing I see is the Acer® AL1923r supports 16.2 million colors and the Acer® AL1951C supports 16.7 million colors. Therefore I am assuming that one is 6 bit and the other is 8 bit. I know that's not absolute, but I'm making that assumption. I'm not a big gamer, but I am somewhat picky about my display. If I buy the Acer® AL1923r will I end up wishing I had bought the Acer® AL1951C???

Any constructive insight on this would be greatly appreciated!!!

c3p0
:beer:

 

[jamesbond007]

If you're not a gamer, definitely get the 8-bit display. Although on higher end 6-bit displays it's hard to see the missing/dithered colors, play it safe in case you have 'the eye' and see the lacking colors on a family photograph or bad colors during video playback.

 

[c3p0]

Thanks for the info Mr. Bond. I am leaning toward the 8 bit panel myself. I just don't have any experience with LCD's. So I thought I would see what you guys have to say. Thanks again!

c3p0
:beer:

 

[farp96]

Well if your a gamer than I would get a fast 6 bit 4 ms LCD. If your not than go 8 bit 8ms. Although like jamesbond007 said if you don't have the eye you wouldn't notice the difference, I don't. I mean if you lined up an 8 bit and a 6 bit LCD together with the same picture on it I probably couldn't tell the difference, but then again I don't have the eye My vision sucks...

 

[TheRyuu]

What pisses my off is the VP930b, everyone thought it was an 8-bit, but it turns out it's a really, really good 6-bit panel.

But yes, go for an 8-bit panel.

 

[farp96]

I had the vp930b because I too that it was an 8 bit. I hated for games it sucked and I thought that my Dads L90D+ looked better, text was terrible to me. This new NEC 90gx2 that I got is sooo much better text is crystal clear. And its funny that you ask about 6 bit vs 8 bit. When I saw the nec at frys it was next to an 8 bit lcd. They were both running websots and the photo they had was the same. I swear to me anyway the Nec 6 bit looked better to me. It was clearer and more alive. I don't know if that was the NEC's opticlear coating or what but it did look better than the 8 bit lcd...so I guess its how well your "Eyes" are

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Originally posted by: wizboy11
What pisses my off is the VP930b, everyone thought it was an 8-bit, but it turns out it's a really, really good 6-bit panel.

But yes, go for an 8-bit panel.

Wait is it really a 6-bit panel? Can you find me that info? I have a VP191b, and it's freaking awesome. I don't see how this could be a 6-bit panel. It even kills other 8-bit panels....

 

[Nextman916]

wasnt the 970p also confirmed to be a 6-bit panel.......haha wow. Looks like there really arent any fast 19' 8-bit panels out there.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Wait I'm almost certain the VP930b/VP191b is an 8-bit panel. They are MVA panels and have 8-bit color.....

I've used a Samsung 930B for 2 months and it SUCKS BALLS. I don't understand how people use TN panels. I swore that 6-bit panels were the devil and my VP191b was like paradise compared to that POS 8ms ISO panel.

Don't get a TN panel, even if you're a gamer. I'm a gamer. I don't know about whether my monitor is 6-bit anymore, because I thought it was 8-bit along with every resource I read. But bottom line is, you dont need 4ms time, and even 8ms gray to gray is fast enough. Oh, and gamers don't just want fast. They want colors and contrast. Think about it. de_dust2. Do you want to get knifed in CT spawn because your monitor can't do dark areas well enough because you have 500:1 contrast ratio only as opposed to someone's 1000:1? Do you want all your colors to be washed out because you have to increase brightness to insane levels to compensate?

1 day of gaming on my Samsung 930B was enough to conclude that it was a POS. I couldnt' see jack sh!t in DOD, and I was getting shot left and right. I ahd to turn up brightness that the colors looked even worse. Fast is fast, ghosting is not there, but so what?

Everything the Samsung 930B can do, my VP191b does also.. but image quality is 10x better.....

So FVCK TN panels, and if my VP191b is 6-bit.. well then it' a really damn good 6-bit panel that also kills other 8-bit panels.... but for now I think 6-bit panels suck.

 

[c3p0]

Thanks for all the info on this. Like I said, I am looking at two ACER LCD's at the moment. I am not set in stone on these, but I do like them both. Here are the specs from the ACER Web Site. Is ther a clear winner here?

Acer® AL1951C

Size/Type: 19" TFT LCD with Acer® CrystalBrite Technology

Native Resolution: 1280 x 1024

Contrast Ratio: 700:1

Horizontal Viewing Angle: 150°

Vertical Viewing Angle: 135°

Audio: Two integrated 1.5W speakers

Signal Connectors: VGA (analog D-sub) DVI-D (digital)

Chassis Color: Silver/black

Pixel Pitch: 0.294mm

Brightness (typical): 400 cd/m2

Response Time (typical): 4ms gray-to-gray

Colors Supported: Up to 16.7 million

Power: Voltage: 100-240V

AC Adapter: external

Power Consumption: 50W

Kensington® Lock: Supported

VESA Wall Mount: Supported

Front-Panel Controls:

Power on/off software
Power LED
Brightness
Contrast
Picture position
Pixel clock frequency
Color select and adjust
Function +/-
Adjust +/-
Five languages reset mode

Dimensions & Weight: 16.4" (416.4mm) W x 6.4" (163.6mm) D x 16.8" (427.4mm) H 12.3 lb. (5.6kg)

Limited Warranty*: Three-year parts and labor limited warranty


Acer® AL1923r

Size/Type: 19" TFT LCD with height adjustment and rotation

Native Resolution: 1280 x 1024

Contrast Ratio: 1000:1

Horizontal Viewing Angle: 178°

Vertical Viewing Angle: 178°

Audio: Two integrated 1.0W speakers

Signal Connectors: VGA (analog D-sub) DVI-D

Chassis Color: Titanium

Pixel Pitch: 0.294mm

Brightness (typical): 280 cd/m2

Response Time (typical): 8ms

Colors Supported: Up to 16.2 million

Power: Voltage: 100-240V

AC Adapter: internal

Power consumption
Off: < 1W
Standby: < 2W
Maximum: < 40W

Kensington® Lock: Supported

VESA Wall Mount: Supported

Dimensions & Weight: 16.3" (413.9mm) W x 9.1" (231.3mm) D x 16.8" (427.7mm) H 11.0 lb. (5.0g)

Limited Warranty*: Three-year parts and labor limited warranty.


Thanks for all your comments!!!

c3p0
:beer:

 

[Praxis1452]

the response time is greater on the 6 bit panel it seems.... but response time measurements are always off

 

[erikistired]

i like my 6 bit good enough. never had a color problem and it's perfect in games. samsung syncmaster 204b.

 

[farp96]

Well it just goes to show you how well sometimes 6 bit is. I mean all the people that bought the viewsonic vp930b because they thought it was an 8 bit panel and now it turns out its a 6 bit panel, so I guess some 6 bit panels must look pretty dam sweet if people can't tell the difference between them, myself included...

 

[c3p0]

Originally posted by: farp96
Well it just goes to show you how well sometimes 6 bit is. I mean all the people that bought the viewsonic vp930b because they thought it was an 8 bit panel and now it turns out its a 6 bit panel, so I guess some 6 bit panels must look pretty dam sweet if people can't tell the difference between them, myself included...

That's what I needed to know. Sounds like there's not much if any real world difference in the two. That makes my choice a lot easier. Thanks a ton guys!!!

c3p0
:beer:

 

[farp96]

I just got back from Frys again They had that new widescreen viewsonic which is an 8 bit LCD it was almost next to the nec 90gx2 6 bit panel, the one I have. They had a picture of a ferrari on the desktop, and I could swear that the 6 bit panel looked better. But like I said I wonder if its the opticlear coating glossy look that makes it look better than the matte flat look of the viewsonic...

 

[dfloyd]

8 Bit, like someone above stated colors and contrast matter just as much as Response time and 8 Bit panels are plenty fast enough now.

And yes it is the Opticlear coating, it definatly makes colors look much nicer, but at the same time increase glare by a HUGE amount. Personally I detest glare so I could never stay with a Otpiclear coated monitor.

 

[xtknight]

All fast 19"s use dithering to achieve 8-bit although the contrast on some is a lot higher, which is what really matters.

 

[dfloyd]

Your right friend but on some LCD's at least, especially some of the 6bit panels I have seen dithering can be quite noticeable.

 

[xtknight]

If it does bother you, you'll have to opt for a fast 20" screen as all of the fast 19" ones that I know of continue to use dithering. VX2025WM is an 8-bit screen as far as I know, as is the NEC 20WMGX2 which is an AS-IPS screen. Can't confirm it because I haven't owned either but load up a radial grayscale, adjust contrast a bit, and it's fairly easy to tell.

Who knows what NEC did to make 8-bit fast (they do use a custom-made screen)? The NEC I'm pretty sure is 8-bit but the ViewSonic I remain unsure about. Most gamers' screens use 6-bit so the crystals don't have to twist to nearly as many states as they would in 8-bit, making motion transition faster and that goes whether you're talking about the low-contrast TN panels, or the high-contrast MVA/PVA/S-IPS ones.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Where does it it say the VP930b is a 6-bit panel. I still find that insanely hard to believe. It's not that it beats 6-bit panels, it also beats 8-bit panels in quality. I don't see how this is done with a 6-bit panel..

 

[xtknight]

Originally posted by: DLeRium
Where does it it say the VP930b is a 6-bit panel. I still find that insanely hard to believe. It's not that it beats 6-bit panels, it also beats 8-bit panels in quality. I don't see how this is done with a 6-bit panel..

It's quite easy to tell in a couple color transitions but generally you don't come across it too much. You'll just see subtle alternating lines or 'static' in the color tones. I doubt the VP930b beats other 8-bit panels. (And I'm saying this as an owner of it.) It's a fairly decent value but it's far from the second coming of christ in terms of image quality and options. The image is a lot better than my Samsung 710T in a lot of conditions though, due to its high contrast.

 

[cockeyed]

Originally posted by: DLeRium
Where does it it say the VP930b is a 6-bit panel. I still find that insanely hard to believe. It's not that it beats 6-bit panels, it also beats 8-bit panels in quality. I don't see how this is done with a 6-bit panel..

Here

 

[cleanerupper]

For color reproduction and image quality, what would be the best non-widescreen monitor to get for under $500?

 

[terentenet]

I have an Acer Ferrari F19 LCD. it's being advertised as 8 bit 8ms, allthough many say (including some reviews) it's 6 bit 8ms. i really don't care. I game alot and this must be the best LCD i ever saw. I get better colors than i was getting from a 19" CRT and I nerver noted any lag.
if you want an LCD and want good quality from Acer, get a S-IPS panel with ClearBrite tech even if it's advertised as 12ms. You won't notice a difference between it and another 4ms TN-film LCD, but you will bet much better colours, wider angles and tons of contrast.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Originally posted by: cockeyed

Originally posted by: DLeRium
Where does it it say the VP930b is a 6-bit panel. I still find that insanely hard to believe. It's not that it beats 6-bit panels, it also beats 8-bit panels in quality. I don't see how this is done with a 6-bit panel..

Here

That says the VP930b and VP191b are 16.7 million colors .. thats 8-bit.

I would like to do a gradient test that people have done. How would I do that?