Best 18.1" LCD Monitor

[jdogg707]

I am in the market for a 18.1" LCD Monitor and am wondering which is going to give me the best picture quality for both regular desktop apps. and gaming. Here are the ones I am looking at:

Sony SDM-S81B @ Mwave.com, Specs
Price: 788.45

Sony SDM-X82B @ Mwave.com, Specs
Price: 939.55

Samsung 181T-B @ Mwave.com, Specs
Price: 892.83

Viewsonic VG800 @ Mwave.com, Specs
Price: 779.10

Viewsonic VX800 @ Mwave.com, Specs
Price: 944.00

I just want something that will be a great monitor and last, because I'll mostly be using it for gaming, watching movies, and doing office apps.

 

[Hanpan]

Of those listed the Samsung 181T-B is the best IMHO. It offers the lowest pixel refresh time 25ms and has 500:1 contrast as well as 170 degree viewing angle. I would under all cirumstances stay away fron the sony's as they have high refresh rate 50ms and tend to be overpriced. Sony crt's are very nice. Their lcd's are acceptable at best.

 

[T2T III]

Have you considered the KDS RAD-9, a 19" LCD? I just checked the KDS Web site, but the specs were not listed. However, CompUSA sells it for about $1,000. I was able to see it compared to many of the 18.1" LCD monitors that you listed and considering CompUSA was running a split cable to all of the monitors, the KDS had one impressive display output.

 

[mchammer187]

samsung has the best specs

the viewsonic one VG800 would be better if it had DVI

1.)
30 ms response (acceptable but you you 25 or 20)
no DVI
400:1

2.)
50 ms stay away!
400:1


3.)
25 ms
500:1 contrast ratio
DVI

4.)
25 ms
600:1
no DVI

5.)
30
400:1
DVI

#3 we have have a winner

 

[Aganack1]

The Sony SDM-S81B does have dvi
I own the SDM-M81 it is white and has speakers but other wise it is the same... it has a analg port and a dvi port... your could run two systems off the same monitor... if only it was a kvm I have a really old system i dont use very often but ever once in awhile it comes in handy that i use the two ports for. The video cable is 15 pin on one end and dvi on the other... it is pretty much worthless. :/
I i had to do it again i would go for the samsung(or a rebadged dell). but i do like my sony...

 

[Kingofcomputer]

take a look at what Dell's offering, they've Planar, NEC, Eizo and more, there is always 10% off coupon, plus sometimes a stackable $ off coupon, plus free shipping or 50% off shipping.

You could get Sony X82B from Dell at lower price than Mwave.

 

[wasnlos]

Generally another vote for the SAMSUNG.

I've seen it and it's really nice, though now there are several competitors who come really close. 25ms total response and contrast ratios of 400:1 to 500:1 seem to become more and more common, and angles of 160 degrees also are nothing special for the latest models. I would really do a full research what other brands/models you could possibly get your hands on. Just because the only drawback of the SAMSUNGs is the hefty pricetag.

#4 could be nice if it had DVI

 

[pcman2002b]

According to Maximum PC (best darn computer magazine in the world). In their latest Flat Panel Showdown. The Sharp LL-T1820 (18 inch) recieved a Perfect 10 and a Kick-A** Award. I don't know how much you had planned on spending they say it costs 1,300. COUGH COUGH!

 

[Kingofcomputer]

Dell has the Sharp 18" entry-model for $899 before coupon/discount.

Should be this one:
http://www.sharpsystems.com/tmplproduct_T1803.asp

 

[Hardware]

NEC 18xx kicks major ass

 

[jdogg707]

Thanks for all the replys, I think I've decided to go with the 181T, I found it for 866.95 at buy.com and it seems to be the best for the buck. Thanks for all your help.

 

[Dug]

think I've decided to go with the 181T, I found it for 866.95 at buy.com and it seems to be the best for the buck

That's a great price. I went to buy.com and they had two listed. One was charcoal grey, $977, and said it was not machine specific.
The other one was black, $866, and didn't mention anything else.

Why would the 'not machine specific' one be $111 more?

 

[Z24]

I just setup 2 Samsung 181T-B's for my dad running off a G450 in Analog mode.

These are the most amazing things I have ever seen! No dead pixels on either one. You can view the image no matter what angle you look from, and the picture is amazingly crisp.

Can't comment on gaming performance, but there are no problems with text smearing when you scroll like on some LCD's.

The Samsung is definitely the way to go.

 

[Kingofcomputer]

Wait!
Today Dell has 10% off everything + 5% off stackable code + free next day shipping!
Dell also carries some Samsung LCD.

 

[andrey]

While we're on this subject, has anybody had any experience with ViewSonic VG191 19" LCD ?

It suppose to have:

Type
19.0" Color TFT Active Matrix SXGA LCD

Display Area
0.294mm (H) x 0.294mm (V)

Contrast Ratio
500:1 (typ), 350:1 (min)

Viewing Angle
Typical: Up/Down = 85°, Left/Right = 85°

Light Source
Long life, 50,000 hrs. (typ)

Response Time
Total = 25ms (typ); Tr = 15ms, Tf = 10 ms

Brightness
250 cd/m2 (typ), 200 cd/m2 (min)

Glass Surface
Anti-Glare

Input Signal:
Analog and DVI

What do you think about this LCD? Are there any better LCD in the same price range ($1000 with +/- $300)?

Thanks,
--Andrey

 

[Kingofcomputer]

Viewsonic is in my bad list.

From Tom's Hardware 17" LCD review:
http://www17.tomshardware.com/display/02q3/020709/lcd-11.html

Offsides For ViewSonic!

We never stop trying to get manufacturers to be a bit more modest with their specifications (i.e., so that they do bear some semblance to the actual quality of the product), but ViewSonic has just jacked up its monitors' specs again, for no good reason at all.

The VX700 changed its specifications between the start and end of our tests. It began with a contrast ratio of 400:1 and brightness of 230 cd/m². But now ViewSonic claims contrast of 550:1 and brightness of 250 cd/m², without changing anything in the monitor - neither screen, nor filters, nor OSD. That makes for increases of about 40% and 10%, respectively. Their agents say that ViewSonic readjusted the specs to match the method of averages used by other manufacturers. Do you really believe that?


I just visited the VG191 you pointed out:
http://www.viewsonic.com/products/lcd_vg191.htm#specs
The spec is now:
Contrast Ratio 600:1 (typ)

Up 100!!!

I don't like Viewsonic, they're just a good marketing company, they don't make any real monitor, all are ODM/OEM products. Their price is not much cheaper than other brands.