Getting LCD Monitor, help me pick from Sony SDM-S81 or Planar CT1904Z

[joeryu]

hi, im getting a lcd monitor today, and i have narrowed my choices to those options. its either the 18" sony or 19" planar...which would you guys prefer? any help...thanks! i like the planar cause it has dvi, but i hear it ghosts in games...and i think 1280x1024 is pretty big for a 19" lcd, if it was 1600x1200 id buy it instantly.

sony sdm-s81 Specifications:

LCD size:
18.0"

LCD Type:
TFT Active Matrix

Native resolution:
1280 x 1024

Pixel Pitch:
0.279mm

Colors:
16.78 million

Luminance:
200cd/m2

Contrast Ratio:
400:1

Viewing Angle:
Horizontal: 160°
Vertical: 160°

Response Time:
Rise Time: 20ms
Fall Time: 10ms

Video Input Connectors:
HD15

----------------------------------------

planar ct1904z specs:


Display Panel 19" color active matrix LCD (TFT)

Color 16.7 million

Viewing Angle 170° Horizontal and Vertical

Brightness (typical) 250 cd/m2

Contrast Ratio (typical) 500:1

Response Time (typical) 15 ms rise, 10 ms fall

Pixel Pitch 0.294 mm x 0.294 mm

Analog D-sub 15-pin,

Digital DVI 24-pin

 

[flood]

what are their respective prices?

 

[joeryu]

i can get either for about $750

 

[TheWart]

the planar is beautiful. just got mine from Dell. minor ghosting on games, but got used to it in a day (but this is without using DVI too!). text is crystal clear at 1280, which is NOT "too big" for a 19". this is the best monitor i have ever seen!

 

[subhuman]

IMHO? Neither. Check out the Samsung 181T/191T, Dell 1900FP (same as Samsung 191T). (Note: NOT Dell 1800FP)
Bettter response times than the sony, and less ghosting than the Planar...
Or if you just want analog and want to pay less, take a look at the Samsung 171S.

If you'd like to read reviews on LCDs, check out the 4 LCD roundup articles over at tomshardware.com - one LCD review (the Samsung 191T) here on anandtech.com and a few "pro" reviews over at pcmag.com and pcworld.com

 

[joeryu]

oooh thanks for your input, looks like im gonna go with the planar...i have the AIW radeon 8500 128mb and i wanna use DVI...

 

[joeryu]

Originally posted by: subhuman
IMHO? Neither. Check out the Samsung 181T/191T, Dell 1900FP (same as Samsung 191T). (Note: NOT Dell 1800FP)
Bettter response times than the sony, and less ghosting than the Planar...
Or if you just want analog and want to pay less, take a look at the Samsung 171S.

If you'd like to read reviews on LCDs, check out the 4 LCD roundup articles over at tomshardware.com - one LCD review (the Samsung 191T) here on anandtech.com and a few "pro" reviews over at pcmag.com and pcworld.com

i would love those...but unfortunetaly my budget said no to them =(. my budget was ~$750.

 

[Zuluwarrior]

The SDM-S81 is an antique compared to the Planar!

It's response is slow, no DVI means you'll be replacing it soon,
and if it's an inch less and the same price......makes me wonder
why it'd even be in contention.

I just got my Planar yesterday. Beautiful monitor. I don't see
any game ghosting and I'm not using DVI yet.

I was considering the new Sony SDM-X82/B but
that brand spanking new screen has 50Ms response time
which is HORRIBLE for a new monitor. Funny thing
is the 17 inch version only has 30......

Overall, in the mid 7's the Planar is a steal and if it's not
perfect for you, the nice thing is you can sell it on Geebay
for about what u gave for it.

 

[subhuman]

Or if you just want analog and want to pay less, take a look at the Samsung 171S.

FYI - this one is ~$600 shipped and a much better LCD than the Sony and Planar - the only thing it lacks is DVI, but as one of your two choices didn't have it, I figure that may not be important to you.

I had the 151S hooked up to an old TNT via 15pin analog, and it was razor sharp, a huge improvement over a CRT...

 

[Chadder007]

I don't get to play around much on LCD's but with the ones on laptops and two in our pharmacy....
I know the ones on laptops seem to have a brighter part of the screen at the bottom (I notice this mostly when playing games or playing DVDs) , do the desktop versions show this that much when viewing DVD's?