How much better is a 20" widescreen than a standard 17" LCD for gaming?

[imported_dani]

I have a 17" LCD and I am considering getting a Dell 20" widescreen. I am not considering the standard 20" because I watch alot of films on the compuer. But I am concerned that there won't be much of an improvement or gain in screen size over the old 17". 1680X1050 vs. 1280X1024 leads me to believe that I am only gaining width. So am I only going to be able to take advantage of the extra resolution in games designed for widescreen. What benefits will the new Dell have over my old LCD?

 

[5150Joker]

You will gain extra width that feels much more natural compared to the 4:3 17" screen you currently have. You could choose a 4:3 19" or 20" display if vertical gain is important to you. Personally after having used widescreen, I'd never want a 4:3 display again.

 

[MX2]

I can tell you this. I now hate any game that doesnt support 1680x1050

 

[msi1337]

halo 1 on pc at 1280x1024 widescreen is fun...

soon I shall invest in a widescreen supported game

 

[JBT]

almost all games can be played in widescreen... You may have to edit a file or two though.

 

[MX2]

Originally posted by: JBT
almost all games can be played in widescreen... You may have to edit a file or two though.

Swat 4?

 

[JBT]

Originally posted by: MX2times

Originally posted by: JBT
almost all games can be played in widescreen... You may have to edit a file or two though.

Swat 4?

Solution

Also forgot to mention
a 20" wide screen LCD is about 1000x better than a 17"

 

[MX2]

Originally posted by: JBT

Originally posted by: MX2times

Originally posted by: JBT
almost all games can be played in widescreen... You may have to edit a file or two though.

Swat 4?

Solution

Also forgot to mention
a 20" wide screen LCD is about 1000x better than a 17"

:thumbsup:

 

[boyla001]

where do u guys get the money to buy all this stuff? A 20" monitor got to cost a bit, plus the video card needed to drive it. Damn!!!!

 

[JBT]

Originally posted by: boyla001
where do u guys get the money to buy all this stuff? A 20" monitor got to cost a bit, plus the video card needed to drive it. Damn!!!!

The 2005 has been close to $350 numerous times lately.

 

[Bateluer]

Originally posted by: boyla001
where do u guys get the money to buy all this stuff? A 20" monitor got to cost a bit, plus the video card needed to drive it. Damn!!!!

I picked up my Dell 2005FPW for 410 shipped, and 6800GT/7800GT's are not that expensive either.


Edit - I'm also not in High School and have a decent paying job.

 

[KristopherKubicki]

How much better is a 20" widescreen than a standard 17" LCD for gaming?

Somewhere between 400.52 times and 5382.38 times better. Multiply that by 283.9 if you go dual screen.

Kristopher

 

[darkswordsman17]

Originally posted by: KristopherKubicki

How much better is a 20" widescreen than a standard 17" LCD for gaming?

Somewhere between 400.52 times and 5382.38 times better. Multiply that by 283.9 if you go dual screen.

Kristopher

Haha.

Oh how I miss my 2005 and 2405, even my 2001. A 1704 is decent, but after using those, I'm torn.

 

[pulsedrive]

Originally posted by: boyla001
where do u guys get the money to buy all this stuff? A 20" monitor got to cost a bit, plus the video card needed to drive it. Damn!!!!

As has already been mentioned you can get the 20 inch for a lot cheaper than I paid for my 19 inch LG. Also my X800xl drove the 1680 x 1050 beautifully and you can get them for about 250. So not all that expensive. Now I won't say that that my 7800GTX doesn't look BETTER on the 20 inch, but the lower end cards can drive that res just fine.

 

[BigfootKevin]

Originally posted by: boyla001
where do u guys get the money to buy all this stuff? A 20" monitor got to cost a bit, plus the video card needed to drive it. Damn!!!!

Gotta keep an eye out for those deals Dell 2005FPW - $414 shipped, and picked up a brand new ATI X800XL PCI-E for $179

 

[Elfear]

That's like going to the Chrysler dealership and trying to decide which would be faster, the new Viper from their showroom floor, or the Stratus they have sitting in the corner. Seriously, Dell's 20" widescreen is a thing of beauty. Wait for a good deal to come along. I picked mine up for $335 shipped.

 

[JBT]

Originally posted by: Elfear
That's like going to the Chrysler dealership and trying to decide which would be faster, the new Viper from their showroom floor, or the Stratus they have sitting in the corner. Seriously, Dell's 20" widescreen is a thing of beauty. Wait for a good deal to come along. I picked mine up for $335 shipped.

haha so true. I think the 17" might even be closer to a Neon.

 

[MercenaryForHire]

/goes to cruise FS/T for a good deal on a 2005FPW

- M4H

 

[duragezic]

Word. After playing games on my new 2005FPW for the last day or so, I am fvcking impressed. Source engine games like HL2/CS:S are just killer because a) lots of WS resolutions are available b) FOV is adjusted when playing in WS res, so you see more peripherally (not a word?) c) it is programmed so well that my lowly rig can pump 1680x1050 at over 100fps.

UT2k2 and Guild Wars also look awesome in widescreen. Badly coded games like Joint Ops have nothing for widescreen, but at least the coo 2005FPW can display 1280x1024 at 1:1 (retarded that the game doesnt include 1360x1024 even, gd tunnel vision), thus making the LCD adequate for pretty much any game if you don't wanna stretch games across, but modern games are going to be widescreen supported.

My computer is right on the edge of running most new games at 1680x1050, but I usually have to turn down graphic details. But this is with a 2.2ghz Barton XP, 1GB ram, and a 9800Pro, pretty much on the low end of these messageboards. I've been working on improving my cooling so I can overclock a little more for a few more FPS and I'll be all set!