How to find Budget Gaming & Graphic Design LCD?

[jjboek]

Hello,

I'd appreciate some suggestions on navigating the overwhelming numbers of LCDs out there for the purposes I mentioned in the subject. I do motion graphics at work and home but also really want a good gaming monitor. Good graphics LCDs don't seem to have fast enough timing - anybody have any suggestions? I'm looking in the 280 - 320 dollar range and here's whatI've checked so far:

Samsung 940B
Viewsonic VA902b
BenQ FP91G+

All the reviews I read either focus on just gaming or just graphic design abilities - it would be great to figure out how to choose something that is more multipurpose. Thanks!

 

[xtknight]

I'd say Samsung 940B should fit your needs just fine.

 

[kmmatney]

I would get either the Samsung 940B or the BenQ. If you are purchasing from NewEgg, the BenQ is quite a bit cheaper after rebate, and comes with a DVI cable.

 

[jjboek]

Thanks for the info - do you guys know of any good sites that review equipment from a graphic design slant?

 

[xtknight]

Is motion graphics more related to geometry than actually making textures? If you don't need absolutely perfect colors then any of the above should be just fine. Otherwise you'll be spending a lot...in the order of at least $600 for ones that display colors the most accurately. Sorry, I'm not aware of such a site.

 

[jjboek]

Colors are important - I'm sure others would say MOST important - but I output my After Effects work through an NTSC monitor at work and the color space between even good monitors at work and NTSC is so different that the front end doesn't always need to be super specific for me. It's more about the typical clearness of text and clean lines so my eyes don't fry. I'm leaning towards the Samsung - I'm replacing a 19" Syncmaster CRT that has been very good to me. Sometimes I wonder about the whole Brand loyalty issue.

 

[ranmao]

I'm loving my new samsung 940b. The colors are great and things are nice and crisp. I definitely have less eye pain and headaches since I switched to lcd's.

 

[jjboek]

Thanks all - just ordered the Samsung!

 

[mauri]

My old CRT started do die at the end of the last week (very bad flickering, like I was running below 60Hz), and beeing tight on budget I decided to Buy Samsung 940B. This thread helped me alot, since decent 20"-21" LCDs are over my budget at the moment (I game alot and do lots of 3D-animation and modeling).

I'm still calibrating the monitor to get the color balance right (it seems to take time), but so far it seems to be ok. No dead pixels and no bad backlight bleeding (maybe on the edges, but I'm not sure if it's due to bleed or viewing angles at the edges?). Atleast now when I finally figured out to use Clear Type to make things look more decent at desktop .

Thanks for the help!

edit: typos.

 

[Salacious Sith]

Originally posted by: mauri
Atleast now when I finally figured out to use Clear Type to make things look more decent at desktop .

What's "Clear Type" and what's the effect of using it? Program? LCD-inherent monitor tool? Clearer text?

I'm looking at the 940b in the near future, also. Sounds like there's several folks happy with it.

Let us know how it works for ya, jj.

 

[RelaxTheMind]

Originally posted by: Salacious Sith

Originally posted by: mauri
Atleast now when I finally figured out to use Clear Type to make things look more decent at desktop .

What's "Clear Type" and what's the effect of using it? Program? LCD-inherent monitor tool? Clearer text?

I'm looking at the 940b in the near future, also. Sounds like there's several folks happy with it.

Let us know how it works for ya, jj.

link... http://www.microsoft.com/typography/WhatIsClearType.mspx

 

[mauri]

Originally posted by: Salacious Sith

Originally posted by: mauri
Atleast now when I finally figured out to use Clear Type to make things look more decent at desktop .

What's "Clear Type" and what's the effect of using it? Program? LCD-inherent monitor tool? Clearer text?

ClearType is a windows property to improve font display resolution over traditional anti-aliasing. It makes text look less blocky. Not as good as macs Quartz Display -method, but atleast now my desktop doesn't look like I'm using Win95 and text is more readable.

 

[Ozmontus]

I hate to start a new thread, this is also my first post here. Been visiting Anandtech for while. Good time to join since I'm in need of help. Its my brother's 18th birthday coming up, and I'd like to get him a gaming Monitor, LCD. Since I live in Europe, they are a bit more expensive here, and less of a selection. Here is what I've narrowed it down to according to availability.


Benq FP93GX
Samsung 940B
I'm looking for the BenQ FP937s+, but I can't find it in any of the surrounding countries...
The Hyundai L90D+ also caught my eye, but I would have to order it from the states, which would take a couple weeks for it to arrive. His birthday is this Friday. He is a very hardcore gamer. Plays World of Warcraft a lot, Quake 4, Counterstrike Source, FEAR, Battlefield 2. I'm looking for a very low amount of ghosting and great visuals. An important note is that he plays a lot at night, in the dark, so something that won't have the X type of backlit problems the Viewpoint VP930b has.

Thanks guys! Speedy response is appreciated!

Edit: I have been checking up on the FP93GX, apparantly its aimed at the gaming audience, I'm just having trouble finding a good review on it. Anyone know much about it? It boasts a 2ms response time for Grey to Grey. Is this good enough?

Edit2: Ok, so the L90D+ has this blue line problem. Thats out...
Down to the 940B or FP93GX I suppose, any thoughts?

 

[Zebo]

No such thing as a "Budget" Gaming & Graphic Design LCD.

definity none of those. I think they are all TN panels, definty all 6 bit panels which means 256,000 colors they "game" up to 16 mil = crappy colors, crappy veiw angles.


What you want is new gen fast IPS - I recommend the LG L2000C ~$520 at pricegrabber.com True 16.7 million colors, wide veiw and fast response.
http://www.lgsuperseller.com/product/in...at_id=1000000212&umod_id=192766&flag=1

 

[Ozmontus]

Originally posted by: Zebo
No such thing as a "Budget" Gaming & Graphic Design LCD.

definity none of those. I think they are all TN panels, definty all 6 bit panels which means 256,000 colors they "game" up to 16 mil = crappy colors, crappy veiw angles.


What you want is new gen fast IPS - I recommend the LG L2000C ~$520 at pricegrabber.com True 16.7 million colors, wide veiw and fast response.
http://www.lgsuperseller.com/product/in...at_id=1000000212&umod_id=192766&flag=1

Hmm, that price jumps up a bit. I'm not looking for a graphic design monitor though, just a gaming one, I didn't want to create a new thread when this one was so similar to what I was looking for. I've been reading that the CPL is using the BenQ FP93GX 19" for it's gaming needs...$500+ is a bit pricey for me, and the one you listed is not available here. The BenQ FP93GX looks pretty promising, I'm still looking for a comprehensive review though.

 

[Zebo]

All you care about is fast? Crappy color, backlight bleed, grey blacks don't bother you? Then the FP93GX is a good choice.. Otherwise I'd stay away from all 19" benQ.. thier 20's rock though.

 

[Ozmontus]

Originally posted by: Zebo
All you care about is fast? Crappy color, backlight bleed, grey blacks don't bother you? Then the FP93GX is a good choice.. Otherwise I'd stay away from all 19" benQ.. thier 20's rock though.

I do care about color, the above mentioned do annoy. But the Samsung 940B got good reviews, I'm not decided yet. When I'm in Germany this Friday I'll take a look at them comparatively. I just discovered that a nearby PC shop has the Hyundai in stock, I'm going to take a look at it.

 

[Zebo]

If you can check out the HYUNDAI L90D+ or B90A that would be ideal... fast good color tech...and resonably priced

http://www.tomshardware.com/2005/02/15/8ms_19/page2.html

 

[Ozmontus]

Originally posted by: Zebo
If you can check out the HYUNDAI L90D+ or B90A that would be ideal... fast good color tech...and resonably priced

http://www.tomshardware.com/2005/02/15/8ms_19/page2.html

Mm, a bit more pricey here though 399 Euros, about $480 or so. I'm also worried about the blue line that goes through the screen in some cases. I'm looking further into it.

 

[jjboek]

I've checked out the LCD buyers Guide at the top of this forum but I'm still unclear about all the specs. For instance, the Syncmaster 940B stats on newegg are "A-Si TFT-LCD" - the Hyundai l90D+ are "A-Si TFT Active Matrix" Color range for the Samsung is "16.2", Hyundai is "16.7" It seems as though they're the same panel technology but the Hyundai has a higher color gamut. I'm new to all this and a bit confused - what is the real story here?

 

[BassBomb]

YAY SAMSUNG ... i have 915N

 

[xtknight]

Originally posted by: jjboek
I've checked out the LCD buyers Guide at the top of this forum but I'm still unclear about all the specs. For instance, the Syncmaster 940B stats on newegg are "A-Si TFT-LCD" - the Hyundai l90D+ are "A-Si TFT Active Matrix" Color range for the Samsung is "16.2", Hyundai is "16.7" It seems as though they're the same panel technology but the Hyundai has a higher color gamut. I'm new to all this and a bit confused - what is the real story here?

Both use a TN type panel, which means a maximum 6-bit color depth on both, meaning 16194277 total colors after dithering techniques. Hyundai can get away with stating 16.7m just because it's able to input it, but not actually display it.

 

[jjboek]

They're cheecky - those manufacturers. Essentially, if you want truer color range you'd need to move up from a TN panel to a - PVA?, others? - and move into a higher price bracket? For a budget price it seems TN is the only way to go?

 

[xtknight]

Originally posted by: jjboek
They're cheecky - those manufacturers. Essentially, if you want truer color range you'd need to move up from a TN panel to a - PVA?, others? - and move into a higher price bracket? For a budget price it seems TN is the only way to go?

Yep...

 

[jjboek]

Out of curiousity - at work I'm sitting before dual Dell 1905FP - they do well with the motion graphics I work on - expected difference from when I output to NTSC but that's to be expected. The 20ms timing is no good for gaming and movies, I'd imagine, though. I haven't done any research on these because I know I'd like to compromise at home for gaming and graphics - Samsung panels underneath it all?