Buying an LCD - Need advice

[MrBond]

Lost my 21" monitor some time back due to a power spike, and the insurance rep is telling me to just get a replacement, and they'll cover it. So I'm thinking I want to get an LCD as a replacement, probably 17" or higher (don't want to spend more then $800). I've read some threads here about the topic so far, but I still have some questions.

I'm using a Geforce2 right now, with analog output. I understand the picture from a DVI out video card is much clearer, so I'll probably want to go that route. I really don't want to spend a whole lot of money on a replacement video card, does anyone make Geforce2's with DVI output?

If I decide to not go with a new video card to run this monitor, I'll have to get a dual mode LCD. Will I regret this later (ie: are they of lower quality?)?. Should I just bite the bullet and get a new video card as well?

I game. A lot. Besides that, I use this system for web browsing, minor web/graphic design and the occasional DVD. But gaming is KEY. I've got to be able to play q3a, AvP2, Tribes2, ect. Which LCD's would you guys reccomend? I've been looking at the Planar PT1704N from Dell, I know NFS4 is happy with his 18.1" planar. Any comments on those? What other LCD's do you reccomend?


Thanks guys!

 

[Quaternion]

I'm also looking for a quality lcd screen, but am worried about the contrasts and picture clarity for games. I would appreciate some advice also.

Quaternion

 

[pedxing]

I just got a 17.4" planar LCD and it still ghosts quite a bit. If you are fanatical about playing first person shooters, I highly recommend buying the good ol' CRT's. If you do a lot of text reading and web browsing, an LCD might be a wise investment. I do both equally, but I actually play RPG games instead of first person shooters which doesn't require high frame rates. One of my friends recommended me to buy a 15" flat panel for text and a cheaper 19" CRT for gaming, but I couldn't stand the fact I would have to switch cables all the time and reboot windows.

My friend owns the viewsonic VGP175 (VA800 is the same I believe), and it the picture quality is very good. It is rumored that it uses the same fujitsu display as my planar 17.4", but viewsonic must have modified it to make it look cleaner with an even backlit. The downside is that it has only two analog inputs (no DVI). The iiyama 17.4" have S-Video, analog, DVI, and tv input. All of these 17.4" has a response time of 25ms average (maximum 40 FPS in theory before ghosting occurs).

I think LCD's have much better brightness and contrast than most CRT's. I have been using a Sony 17" trinitron display and I have tested my friend's 21" trinitron monitor. Colors that look alike on both displays are obviously different on my flatpanel. Flatpanels can only handle so many colors unlike CRT's, so there must be a table of colors built into the flatpanel and the color output is only as good as the table and the panel's output capabilities.

Try to get DVI. Analog inputs may cause offset faded images and makes text reading hard, and colors gets mixed together sometimes.

 

[aks93]

1st choice would be samsung 170T - dual mode, excellent brightness and I play all those games you play on it. Downside, expensive!
2nd choice - dell 1702fp - another excellent lcd on which I have played the same games you play without blur. Its dual mode, not as bright as the 170T but you can get it for $550 or less in the hot deals, just do a search.

If I wanted a third flat panel, Id probably wait till xmas, I think youll see lots of sub $500 deals on 17" flat panels with all the bells and whistles

As for DVI, you can always upgrade your g/x card later.


Good Luck!