Is HD Ready Worth the Price Premium?

[airhendrix13]

Hi all,

I'm thinking about buying my first LCD monitor for my system. My CRT I use to use nearly caught fire the other day (just because it is 12 years old and crappy) and has left a horrible smell of burning cathode, so this was the last straw for me.

Now, I own a 8800GTS, and I want to be able to utilize its HD capabilities, but I'm a bit confused right now.

I know that HD Ready is support for basically higher resolution and digital imaging, but isn't DVI digital already, and doesn't modern LCD's support high enough resolutions to basically give the whole feel of HD? It seems to me paying extra for "HD Ready" is just a gimmick.

Has anybody seen a noticeable difference between HD Ready and non-HD Ready?

I won't be watching HD movies on my PC (don't want to spend huge costs to support HDCP, which I understand is just a technology produced based on the movie industries stubborness). My system is mostly used for gaming and such.

Some monitor recommendations would be helpful too.

I would like the monitor to be under $200.

Thanks,

Ryan

 

[imported_i2k]

HD Ready generally means you get HDMI in and maybe some component inputs, I have these on my LG 24"

 

[airhendrix13]

From what I understand, DVI and HDMI use the exact same encoding structure, the only difference is HDMI also produces digital audio (which I don't need, I already have a sound card and 5.1 stereo that I'musing SPDIF with).

So basically I'm only gaining HDMI, Component, or both?

 

[Slugbait]

Originally posted by: airhendrix13
I won't be watching HD movies on my PC (don't want to spend huge costs to support HDCP

Good, cuz one of those costs is the video card...you'd either have to downgrade to an 8600GTS, or upgrade to a newer nVidia card around Xmas time.

There's a pretty good, short explanation of HD Ready here. I'd say that if you're primarily into gaming, skip it.

 

[AlucardX]

Originally posted by: airhendrix13
From what I understand, DVI and HDMI use the exact same encoding structure, the only difference is HDMI also produces digital audio (which I don't need, I already have a sound card and 5.1 stereo that I'musing SPDIF with).

So basically I'm only gaining HDMI, Component, or both?

from your description i wouldn't worry about anything, i think you're concerning yourself with details that aren't relevant for your uses.

just find a LCD with a DVI input that you like and get it. that will be sufficient.

 

[airhendrix13]

Yeah, I think you guys are right. Thanks for your help!

 

[heyheybooboo]

HD Ready pretty much means the LCD has HDCP and will support native hi-def resolutions. It is important to understand that pixels are fixed on LCD panels. The native resolution is the absolute limit on the amount of detail you'll see. So generally . . . .

HD Resolutions
720p = 1,366x768 pixels
1080p = 1,920x1,080 pixels

(The 'p' stands for 'progressive scan' which is a topic for a whole new thread)

HD resolutions are 'generally' 16:9. Computer resolutions are mainly 4:3.

Running outside native resolutions will typically reduce image quality resulting in tearing and jaggies in you are a gamer - therefore requiring AA.

Since the pixels are fixed when you run outside native resolution scaling has to occur. You need to make sure that your vid card supports the HD resolution of your panel (not a problem with latest ATI/nVidia drivers)

DVI-d & DVI-i will carry digital signals. DVI-a will not.

 

[heyheybooboo]

You will be tested later :laugh:

 

[airhendrix13]

Lol, man I suck at tests. Thanks for your help though. The only thing I find strange is usually the resolution only goes up when the monitor size goes up. So wouldn't (for example) a 19" 720p monitor look about the same as a 21" 1080p quality-wise? I mean, seems to me that the higher resolution isn't used for better quality, it's just used to fill in the space for bigger monitors.

 

[heyheybooboo]

In smaller HD monitors you will not really see that big a difference between 720p and 1080p. I can't really tell that big a difference in bigger HD monitors - like 37 to 42 inch.

Some HD panels are over 50-inch now - I imagine the extra lines really start to make a difference (and you can probably sit a little closer!) . . .

 

[rbV5]

I would like the monitor to be under $200

Your display will likely outlive your other system components, you should spend accordingly. A budget LCD for your system, especially coming from a CRT, seems odd.

Seriously, there is a huge LCD thread ^...maybe take a look