Clash of the titans: 2090UXi vs. 20WGX2!

[darXoul]

Hi guys, I pretty much made up my mind but since I consider this forum a great source of information (apart from the countless 2405FPW recommendations, that make me sick ), I thought I'd ask you what YOU would do in my place, just out of sheer curiosity.

I'm upgrading my comp to X2 CPU, 2 GB RAM, 7900 GTX, etc. Along with the new rig, I want to finally take the LCD plunge and buy a monitor (coming straight from Philips 109P4 CRT). I've narrowed my choice down to two dusplays (prices in PLN):

=> NEC 20WGX2 (6 ms g2g, 12 ms bwb, 20" 16:10 1680*1050, Euro version without HDCP, price: 2.5k)

or

=> NEC 2090UXi (8 ms g2g, 16 ms bwb, 20" 4:3 1600*1200, price: 3.5k).


20WGX2

- strengths:

-> widescreen format for movies and some games (mainly FPS, RPG),
-> a bit easier on the video card,
-> might be a bit faster in games,
-> lower price (although I want a top monitor, regardless of price),
-> DVM feature (though I doubt I'd be using it),
-> many great user reviews.

- weaknesses:

-> glossy panel,
-> unless interpolated (which decreases IQ), small image in games without widescreen support (sports, sims, RTS),
-> no height adjustment (I don't need pivot),
-> some backlight bleeding in corners and dead (sub)pixels reported by quite a few users,
-> not too stellar video playback (considerable noise).

2090UXi

- strengths:

-> non-glossy panel,
-> many techs for image quality adjustments (monitor for pro users),
-> always large image in all games,
-> height adjustment (& pivot, which I don't need),
-> probably less prone to backlight bleeding and dead pixels (pro series is known for top quality),
-> most likely better movie playback (thanks to RapidMotion).

- weaknesses:

-> high price (though I can easily spend that much),
-> no widescreen,
-> possibly a bit slower in games,
-> no DVM (though I consider using it doubtful),
-> a bit more strain for the video card,
-> no comprehensive reviews so far.

Which one would you choose? I play many different games, from FPS, over RPG, sports, racing, space sims to adventures and RTS. I'm an occasional movie watcher.

Pls vote

 

[CP5670]

I would probably get the 20WMGX2 because of the glossy coating. That's a huge plus in my book; those glossy monitors look incomparably better than any normal LCD to me. Although that being said, I'm not really a fan of 20" widescreens either.

 

[imhungry]

+1 for the 20WGX2

Glossed coatings look soo good.

 

[xtknight]

You've probably already heard my opinion on this but I couldn't resist. 20WMGX2+(eliminate all glare behind you) FTW!

The 20WMGX2 is still superior in: connectivity, dynamic contrast adjustment (you might like it some day), widescreen (IMO), and glossy coating (contrast/IMO). You might want to wait for some afterglow measurement pictures for the 2090UXi first because we're not sure if it will have the same response time. You could probably get a height adjustment stand for the GX2 if you wanted (unless you want to make it shorter). But hmm, why would you say the 2090UXi would have less video playback noise? Less overdrive?

As for ME, the 20WMGX2 would be my choice because of the contrast coating, the widescreen (I strongly believe I'd love it), and the connectivity options. I also like that it has already been reviewed and proven. HDTV in PiP mode is a dream too. Sure, the color calibration things sound intriguing, and since I like to experiment with things a lot I might get the 2090 because of that (if it was the same price as the 20WMGX2). But the key word is for experimentation, not that it would truly enhance colors that much for general use. Just for the geeky side of me (the big side). But the gravitational pull of HDTV in PiP mode is just too much for me to get the 2090 over the GX2.

As for you, well umm... if there's absolutely no way you can get your games to run in widescreen or in any half-way acceptable scaling mode then you could go for the 2090UXi. That's fine, widescreen isn't for everybody, nor every game. I'm sure many here can attest to that. The color options would be nice but I doubt the end result would truly matter unless you were editing photos. It might sound silly, but I don't honestly think it would make any difference in gameplay or movies (the GX2 uses a very similar panel). Both are high-contrast screens and the 20WMGX2 already has colors within DeltaE < 1 like 80% of the time (for a few select colors). Though it's possible midtones would be a little better with the 2090UXi because of the calibration. Regardless I don't think you'll be disappointed with either choice (correction: maybe both in a couple ways). Even though you can spend it now, save some money for the LED backlight LCDs or the ones with the newer CCFL phosphor techs/BFI/etc. They aren't all that far away...

 

[xtknight]

edit: argh, sorry double post

 

[darXoul]

xtknight, thanks for your feedback but keep in mind that the European version of the glossy 20" widescreen (20WGX2, without the "M" for multimedia) does not have HDCP or TV functionality. It has no composite, component or S-video inputs. Just DVI and D-Sub.

In other words, the HDCP/HDTV/connectivity argument disappears.

As for its weaknesses, coming straight from CRT, I guess I could live with OptiClear. I do have a window behind my back but I usually play in a very dimly lit room anyway.

The monitor's size is my biggest concern. 1280*1024 is already small with this pixel pitch, horizontally over 3 cm smaller than my 19" CRT, vertically max 1 cm smaller. 1280*960 is tiny - still, well over 3 cm horizontally and ca. 2.5 cm (1 inch) vertically. This is the problem. 23" wide would be perfect. 20" is far from it. True that most games I'll be playing now already support ws (Q4, Oblivion, WoW) but I also play games like Fahrenheit, NBA Live 06 or X3: Reunion that have no or crappy ws support. That's why the display's non-widescreen image size is important.

 

[Gamer X]

Which is better for gaming ? the 20WGX2 or the LG L2000C

 

[darXoul]

Originally posted by: Gamer X
Which is better for gaming ? the 20WGX2 or the LG L2000C

Don't hijack this thread, please. Post your Q elsewhere. I can only tell you that no one knows because no one here has tested the LG and NEC head to head. The difference between 6 ms and 8 ms g2g could be anything, from neglectable to dramatic.

 

[Gamer X]

Originally posted by: darXoul

Originally posted by: Gamer X
Which is better for gaming ? the 20WGX2 or the LG L2000C

Don't hijack this thread, please. Post your Q elsewhere. I can only tell you that no one knows because no one here has tested the LG and NEC head to head. The difference between 6 ms and 8 ms g2g could be anything, from neglectable to dramatic.

I didn't mean to hijack the thread.I thought my question was close to the topic.
Anyway sorry.

 

[darXoul]

No problem, I guess I'm too harsh sometimes Anyway, both monitors are fast in games but it's difficult to say one is better than the other without a direct comparison. In case of S-PVA, the difference between 6 and 8 ms g2g is huge. For IPS, I assume it will be negligible.

BTW, still coming back to xtknight's comment - it's a bit annoying that the Euro version of the widescreen doesn't have the connectivity, HDCP and TV functionality (tuner, remote, speakers) of the US version.

 

[stelleg151]

Widescreen + faster response time ftw + gloss FTW.