Apple 30" or Dell 30" Display and what video card?

[mlah384]

What monitor will be better for Graphic Design and Web Design? The Apple 30" or the Dell 30"? I read the LCD Thread sticky but they were listing the largest web design monitor as the NEC 24", but I want larger than that. I know the NEC 24" is probably the best one when it comes to color, etc, its just smaller than I want.. The NEC 30" seems just as good as the NEC 24" but it costs a few body parts and your 1st born.... I have a Dell 2408WFP 24" now and a Hanns G 28" but the Hanns is not good for design at all.. I want to use a 30" as my main screen and my Dell 2408wfp 24" as my side monitor... Also, i read that the Apple requires dual dvi? Will most of the new cards today run that monitor? Or does it require a special card? I have a 8800GTS now so I probably should upgrade it as well? What graphic card would rock for graphic design but not break the bank (i.e. under $400)?

Thanks

 

[jlee]

You will need dual-link DVI for the 30", which I am pretty sure your card has.

 

[alyarb]

yeah pretty much every new card will output dual link, it's just a matter of cabling.

you cannot take two single-link DVI cables and "put them together" to get a dual link. you need a dual link cable.

http://www.monoprice.com/produ...id=2688&seq=1&format=2

 

[T2k]

If you're fine with 24" then I suggest you to look at the brand new Dell U2410: according to TFTCentral's review it's just as good as the famous NEC once it's calibrated under Standard or sRGB modes - check its thread.

 

[LCD123]

Get a 40" LCD TV and use that as a monitor. Much bigger and cheaper than a 30" and no dual link required either!

 

[mlah384]

Originally posted by: LCD123
Get a 40" LCD TV and use that as a monitor. Much bigger and cheaper than a 30" and no dual link required either!

ha.. good idea... wonder how TV works with design, color, etc?

 

[alyarb]

i think you want the higher resolution of 2560x1600. it's twice the number of pixels (twice the work area) as 1080 television, and a thirty inch screen is definitely large enough when it's right in your face.

 

[T2k]

Originally posted by: LCD123
Get a 40" LCD TV and use that as a monitor. Much bigger and cheaper than a 30" and no dual link required either!

Of course not: it's 1920x1080, not 2560 like a 30" would be.
Also a decent 50" will costs you 2x the price of a very good quality 24" LCD but will only get you mediocre colors...


...I wish there were 32" plasmas, though.

 

[schenley101]

If you really need good color, you need to get a lacie or something like that. i know hp has a really good 24 inch for like $900 but i think you need a displayport.

 

[mwmorph]

What's your budget? If you workplace is willing to shell out and it's something you really need, you can't go wrong with the Ezio 30" CG301w or Lacie 730. For personal/hobby use I think either the dell or the Apple will work fine and provide very good color accuracy.

I have heard nice things about both.
Eizo:
Better color uniformity
Better brightness uniformity
has a fan for cooling

Lacie:
Worse color uniformity
sharper text than eizo
no fan so silent

If you can't afford those 2, maybe look at a NEC 3090 spectraview, it's more in line with the Dell 3008 price but offers a bit better color I believe.

 

[lopri]

8800 GTS will work fine with the Dell 30". Apple 30" should work with it as well, in theory, but you may want to double check it at Mac Forum.

 

[LCD123]

Originally posted by: mlah384

Originally posted by: LCD123
Get a 40" LCD TV and use that as a monitor. Much bigger and cheaper than a 30" and no dual link required either!

ha.. good idea... wonder how TV works with design, color, etc?

That youll have to ask around, but I hear the LED TVs are great with colors. A 32" from Samsung will cost $1250 while a 40" will set ya back $1600, but the best aren't cheap! I wish I had $1600 laying around! I saw them in Best buy and they are great!

 

[phexac]

Isn't the Apple one way more expensive for no particular reason?

 

[Modelworks]

Have you worked with 30" monitors ? I have and while it may seem bigger is better that isn't always the case, especially with a desktop monitor. I ended up with two 24" monitors. the 30" was just too big and I couldn't see what I needed to with it being on the desk.

 

[postmortemIA]

30" also has very fine dot pitch, user must have perfect eyesight or else.