Do I need a special videocard for a LCD display?

[RedShirt]

Hi, do I need a special kind of videocard for this lcd display?

http://www.samsungelectronics.com/monitor/products/770tft.html

I remember reading a long time ago that you need a special card for certain LCD displays. Does this still hold true?

Thanks for the help

 

[HaVoC]

After looking at the webpage you linked, I have an answer for you:

You do not need a special video card for this monitor. It uses a standard analog RGB video-in connector. Any video card can work.

However, in my opinion, I wouldn't waste money on a nice LCD that uses analog in. This is because by its nature, an LCD monitor is 100% digital. A standard video card has a RAMDAC which takes the digital video signal coming from your video card and converts it to an analog signal that can be used by conventional CRT monitors. (CRT are the "old fashioned" bulky monitors made of glass just like your TV) Because LCDs are digital, they must take this analog signal and convert it back to digital. So you see you have digital->analog->digital. In this process you lose picture quality. If you are spending this much money on a digital LCD, why not get one that takes a pure digital signal in. Problem is that you have to find the "special" video card.

Sorry for my spiel, but just some thoughts.

 

[RedShirt]

Thanks for your help. I am building a computer for a friend and he wants a LCD display. This is an area I do not know much about because I myself have never felt the need to get an LCD display. I went over to computers.com and saw the rating of 9/10 of this monitor. They listed several positive aspects of the monitor and said their was nothing wrong with it.

Does anyone have a recomendation to a good LCD that uses a digital signal? Also, what is a good Digital videocard?

I was planning to pair this analog to Digital LCD with a Matrox G450, which has excellent 2d quality.

 

[Imaginer]

The AIW Radeon has a digital output natively on the card. But I have yet to use a LCD display because it is too much for me.

 

[RedShirt]

I know, this is why I did not know about the connectors these things use The ATI Radeon VE has it... I just saw that.

This Samsung monitor does look good though. This is a tough call... The Matrox G450 has excellent 2d quality, much better than the Radeon, but when the Radeon uses digital, would it be better than Matrox?

 

[MGMorden]

A lot of the 2d quality of a card comes from the RAMDAC and filters to/from it. Use of the digital output bypasses the RAMDAC. The Radeon in analog mode is right up there w/ the Matrox, and in DVI it would be just as good (if not better). I'd definately say to grab a Radeon VE if this isn going to be a workstation-type machine. If not then grab an Nvidia card w/ DVI output. W/ the DVI their 2d quality issues shouldn't apply either.

 

[RedShirt]

OK, thank you very much.
It is going to be a workstation machine, so I suppose I'll grab the radeon for it.

Thanks again everyone.

 

[HaVoC]

I don't know if you are doing 3D modeling or just 2D raster stuff. (Photoshop) 3D modeling=definitely go with nVidia. Their OpenGL drivers and T&L performance make them the no-brainer. Photoshop=then go with ATI Radeon. 2D is good in Win2K and the DVD performance is there, plus it is much cheaper.

I would really urge you to go with a DVI card and digital monitor. I think you will notice the difference in text sharpness. I've seen the analog-in LCD monitors and the text in windoze is fuzzier than the awesome LCD on my laptop. The laptop has an ATI Rage Mobility running a digital interface to the screen. Looks great!

 

[TimeKeeper]

I have 2 15" LCD in twin view. I got them simply because I really have limited space.

As whether if your video card works for that LCD or not, the answer is simple, it does!

I have a MX w/ one analog out and one DVI out. I simply buy an adaptoer for my secondary display from this place.
( as for those who insist you must buy the DVI-type LCD, I can tell you this, I can NOT tell the different between DVI vs Analog. At least not w/ current generation of LCD display )

The image quality of current LCD technology is depend on its Contrast ratio, vs Brightness and DPI. You can buy the best LCD monitor in the market, but the color "red" still display bit orangish.
Just make sure the LCD you plan to purchase has at least 250:1 contrast ratio, 200cd/m2 brightness and .29 dpi.

For gaming, I play MechWarrior 4/ UT/ Oni...Although, they don't have these so call "ghost-image", but I will definitely not recommend LCD to anyone.

 

[Verygreedy]

To be blunt. NO

 

[RedShirt]

Does anyone have a reccomendation for a good Digital 17 inch Display? I was doing some looking around earlier and almost all current LCD's use the analog connector.