Choosing an LCD

[TBSN]

Hey all,
I've just started looking for a good gaming/ multimedia widescreen LCD. Last time I was looking into LCD's, one of the poular choices was the Viewsonic VX2025WM 20". It had some problems, like some of the units DVI connectors didn't work, but they were cheap and pretty good for gaming. But now they're discontinued.

So I'm looking for another ~20" widescreen that would be good for gaming, but also has good image quality. The NEC 20WMGX2 looks really tempting, except for the $600 price tag and the fact that it doesn't have HTCP. It also has some features I don't need, like a TV tuner. Despite that, the 20WMGX2 looks really nice, but are there any other screens that approach that image quality, possibly for less? I'm not going to limit my buget, I just want to know what the options are...

Any help would be appreciated!

 

[Imyourzero]

What about a 2005FPW? It costs much less than the 20WMGX2 and is supposed to have very good IQ due to the S-IPS panel.

 

[Xenoterranos]

I've been doing the same search and have exhaustively narrowed
it down to 6 posibilities, ranging from $280 to $400.

Mfgr. Part#. Ratio Contrast Rspns. Pxl.Ptch.
Samsung 204B-BK 4:3 800:1 5ms .255 $371
HP LP2065 4:3 " 8ms .255 $399
Samsung 204BW 16:10 700:1 6ms .285 $290
BenQ FP202W 16:10 800:1 8ms .258 $284
Acer AL2223Wd 16:10 " 5ms .282 $290
LG L226WTX-BF 16:10 3000:1 5ms .??? $369

You can find them all on newegg by their part number. THe samsungs and acer have
160/160 viewing angles, BenQ 170/170, HP 178/178, and the LG is ?/?.
Any of these would make a great gaming LCD, it just depends on your budget, and
your prefference for normal/wide screen. Personally, I'm torn between the BenQ
and the HP, with the LG a close third pending more info.

 

[TBSN]

Thanks for the help!
I actually totally forgot about the Dell screens. For some reason I don't think they are in the 'LCD Buyer's Guide' post, but I will check it out... (wasn't it because there was no way to tell what type of screen you would get?)

 

[Pugnate]

I don't know why they discontinued them without a replacement product?

 

[Imyourzero]

Originally posted by: TBSN
Thanks for the help!
I actually totally forgot about the Dell screens. For some reason I don't think they are in the 'LCD Buyer's Guide' post, but I will check it out... (wasn't it because there was no way to tell what type of screen you would get?)

Well, that's the case now. With most of the current Dell displays you have to play the panel lottery...that's why the 2005FPW is sought after by many--they all used S-IPS panels IIRC. The 2007 is a different story. You might have to consider picking up a used one, or looking harder for places (eBay?) that still have some 2005FPW backstock.

The Samsung 226BW is also getting a lot of positive attention. It's a 22" panel and retails for much less than the 20" NEC as well. You might check into that one also..

 

[TBSN]

Cool, thanks again for the info.
There are some places listed by pricegrabber that still have 2005fpw's, and if it doesn't have the same panel-lottery as the 2007 than it looks like a good buy...