help with monitors and video card purchase

[troytime]

My current setup is two OLD 21" CRTs (NECs, manufactured in 96) and a geforce 7800gt
my usage is mostly programming and surfing with minor gaming (kids play games, i play call of duty 4)

my wife uses a toshiba laptop, i plan to build her a new pc sometime in the near future, but for now the priority is a good monitor. We're both amateur photographers and she does MOST of the photo processing (and her laptop LCD really sucks for colors). I process photos too, but not as often (and mine aren't always for print)

I plan to buy myself a new video card and TWO new monitors, but i'm confused over LCD monitor size. The 24" widescreens i have at work seem to be the same height as my 21" CRT. Will i feel cramped with two 22"s, or should i get two 24"?
I also need a new video card, but can't decide between the 8800gt and the 9600gt.
I'm OK with my monitors not being as accurate as my wife's.

what i want to buy: 3 monitors (two for me, one for wife) and a video card (for me)

i'd like to keep video card less than 200 (less than 170 if possible) and i'd like to spend less than 1200 for the monitors.

 

[Jax Omen]

If $1200 is your budget for 3 monitors, don't get 24". The only 24" in that price range will be TN panels.

Honestly, I think you should get two of the 26" Doublesight IPS-panel monitors and call it a day. Sure, it's a bit over $1200, but they're the best monitor/dollar out there.

 

[troytime]

i need 3 monitors,

two for me (i'm thinking that TN will be ok for me)
and one for my wife (probably not a TN)

 

[Jax Omen]

Ok, so get two 22" TN panels for you and get the Doublesight IPS for your wife.

I don't know 22" monitors well enough to recommend >_>

 

[troytime]

i think i might get a couple of the benq 24"s or maybe the samsungs

and a dell ultrasharp 24 for her. i'll go over budget by 200, but i guess i can skimp out on the monitor arms i was going to buy

any video card advice?

 

[Jax Omen]

9600GT is fine for 1920x1200 if you don't mind not running the latest games on MAX settings. Pretty sure it can handle CoD4 just fine.

 

[DaveSimmons]

MSI 8800GTS 512 at newegg, $200 after rebate and includes a free RPG (The Witcher) you can play or trade to someone for something else.

 

[Jax Omen]

Yeah, that's the GPU I ordered. I'll be playing with that and the Doublesight 26" tomorrow night

 

[troytime]

i was thinking about getting this card

will the 8800 gts be a significant performance increase?

 

[Jax Omen]

It will be a significant performance increase, yes, but only at the higher resolutions. Since you're looking at a 24", you might want to consider it.

It's the difference between running CoD4 @ 1920x1200 max settings with no AA and x4AA, where the latter still has a slightly better framerate, basically.

 

[troytime]

ok, i bought 3 SOYO 24" panels tonight at OfficeMax (300 per lcd)

they're p-mva panels

so far i'm really happy with em!
the stand sucks, but the picture quality is great

i can play call of duty at 1920 x 1200 with my 7800gt with everything turned down
i get about 40fps and it sucks

i think i'm gonna order either a 9600gt or 8800gt this week.
not sure which ones better though