LCD Grainy-ness?

[Jschmuck2]

Is it it me or does my new LCD (Samsung 225bw) seem a little....grainy compared to my Sammy CRT?

Obviously there is a bigger pixel pitch on the LCD - but is this something other people have experienced after making the switch? I generally don't notice on the desktop/word processing/web browsing. But in WOW, yeesh, look out - big difference.

 

[SunnyD]

Two things to keep in mind here:

#1 - Are you running WoW at the native resolution of your panel? If not, then you'll be scaling up pixels into blocks of pixels which will cause a definitely hit in image quality.

#2 - Almost all panels now are 6-bit panels. When you're looking at something like WoW with a huge color palette, an LCD is not going to be able to reproduce the colors accurately due to physical limitations, causing transition bands and more importantly dithering. I find that the algorithms used in modern panels are good, but if you're sitting up close to a monitor at a desk, you will see the dithering artifacts which generally make the picture grainy. This is definitely true of larger screens, which are designed to be viewed from a much greater distance so that your eye can be better tricked and not pick out the finer details.

 

[nullpointerus]

*puts on sales rep hat*

The quality of your new display is so good that you have to sit further back to appreciate it.

 

[Jibboom]

I notice the same thing with my Acer AL1716 TFT. I use both that and my CRT at the same time, both 17" monitors and both at 1280x1024, the Acer definitely is a bit grainy in comparison which I can see the most if I'm watching TV (TV tuner card) or videos I have saved on my HDD.

 

[nitromullet]

What size was your CRT? 22" LCD's are basically 20" (1680x1050) panels with bigger pixels to give you a "bigger" screen. I imagine that you would get less graininess with a 20" LCD, but you would get a "smaller" monitor. Larger size screens seem to amplify things more as well. I just went from a Dell 2005FPW to a Dell 2407WFP. and I don't think the 24" screen is any more grainy in WoW than the 20" screen, but it is more noticeable because the screen is gargantuan. You have to remember that WoW doesn't use incredibly high rez textures, so they appear grainy up close and a bigger screen is simply going to show this off more. Try different games to see if you notice the same thing. I tried HL2, and it looks absolutely awesome on the 24", whereas WoW does look a bit grainy.

 

[CP5670]

It could be due to the 6-bit panel and relatively high dot pitch on that particular LCD, or by the screen door effect that all LCDs have to some degree. You may want to try one of the NEC Opticlear monitors (or others with that coating) if it bothers you too much. Those look a lot better to me than conventional LCDs in this respect.

 

[n7]

Originally posted by: nullpointerus
*puts on sales rep hat*

The quality of your new display is so good that you have to sit further back to appreciate it.

ROFL!

 

[Jschmuck2]

Originally posted by: nullpointerus
*puts on sales rep hat*

The quality of your new display is so good that you have to sit further back to appreciate it.

Good call - I'll go and buy a wireless mouse later today

 

[potato28]

Try running WoW at 1650x1080, or the native resolution of your screen.

 

[Conky]

Originally posted by: potato28
Try running WoW at 1650x1080, or the native resolution of your screen.

Yeah, it's important to run your LCD at it's native resolution.

 

[Jschmuck2]

I am indeed running at native res 1680x1050

 

[Makaveli]

I just bought the Samsung 225BW, I also do find some things abit grainy. Games are fine, movies are fine. But if i'm looking at small pictures like thumbnails, or msn icons they sometimes look grainy also. i'm running at native res and on the DVI connection.
Text and everything else is fine. only notice it with really small pictures