LCD - Truely Free AA

[VIAN]

So I was at Best Buy yesterday picking up a copy of UT2004.

I saw a computer with a 3.0GHz CPU with Hyper-threading enabled and a 9200. And the display was a 17" HP LCD. I was like, ok... lets see how these games look. The LCD was using Analog input BTW.

UT2004 Demo 1024x768 with the Demo settings at the highest. Driver settings at balanced.

Onslaught, default link setup, torlan.

The game ran beautifully, which makes me think that the game is much more CPU bound than VPU bound - running that well on a 9200.

I also noticed that there were little jaggies. The scaling provided an nice coating over the edges making them smoother, a 2xAA effect. Of course I can't say how the rest of the picture was, as I was given limited time - I had other stuff to do.

I had remembered someone saying this before. Free AA from LCDs. I thought to test out that claim and it holds true. When you turn on 2xAA however, then the picture just looks ugly.

The picture quality looked compareable to a CRT, but they were not side by side and stretching a 4:3 into a 5:4 may have altered some of the picture.

They should make more 4:3 resolution LCDs. I would buy one. On a personal note, I have considered buying an LCD and may just buy one as soon as this CRT wears out and and LCDs get a bit cheaper. I have been annoyed just a bit by the convergence errors of the CRT.

I would buy an LCD with at least these specs:

Screen Ratio -------- 4:3 - I wish they existed at 17 inch, anyone know why?
Screen Size --------- 17 - No smaller
Brightness ---------- 200 - No smaller
Contrast ------------ 400 - No smaller
Viewing Angle ------- 140 - No smaller
Pixel Response Time - 16 - Must be paired with 60Hz
Refresh Rate -------- 60 - Must be paired with 16ms.
Price ------------------ 500 - at max, that will be a while.

 

[Wuzup101]

Just wondering but why are you dead set on getting a 4:3 instead of the lcd standard 5:4? I guess it's a personal prefrence, but most people don't notice much difference. Also, you should be able to get an lcd with those specs for under $500 easily. I know there are a few good gaming 17" lcds in the $450 range (have 16ms response).

 

[oldfart]

Most new games incl UT2K4 have 5:4 ratio res available. 1280 x 1024 is pretty common.

 

[VIAN]

I like wider screens. 4:3 is better than 5:4. I also like to preserve the original aspect.

 

[BFG10K]

The scaling provided an nice coating over the edges making them smoother, a 2xAA effect.

Some call it 2xAA, others call it hideous and unacceptable blurring.

 

[yhelothar]

The picture quality looked compareable to a CRT, but they were not side by side and stretching a 4:3 into a 5:4 may have altered some of the picture.
They should make more 4:3 resolution LCDs. I would buy one. On a personal note, I have considered buying an LCD and may just buy one as soon as this CRT wears out and and LCDs get a bit cheaper. I have been annoyed just a bit by the convergence errors of the CRT.

The textures should be all blurred out on the LCD, plus the LCD has nowhere near the contrast levels of a CRT.
Next if you just get a half ass shadowmask, there will be no convergence problems, your Dell P1130 is crap, and has tons of convergence problems(I've used it myself)

 

[JackHawksmoor]

The main problem with LCDs is ghosting, which can still be bad (depending on the game, environment, etc.) on a 25ms Samsung panel.

I *THINK* that LCD's 5:4 resolution is actually matched by a 5:4 screen shape, so the image isn't distorted (at least 1280x1024 looks distorted on a CRT, but not on my LCD). Yeah, I'd prefer a normal aspect ratio also, but this works. The ghosting is the bigger problem. (And following that, the lack or real resolution switching).

 

[Tab]

Originally posted by: JackHawksmoor
The main problem with LCDs is ghosting, which can still be bad (depending on the game, environment, etc.) on a 25ms Samsung panel.

I *THINK* that LCD's 5:4 resolution is actually matched by a 5:4 screen shape, so the image isn't distorted (at least 1280x1024 looks distorted on a CRT, but not on my LCD). Yeah, I'd prefer a normal aspect ratio also, but this works. The ghosting is the bigger problem. (And following that, the lack or real resolution switching).

Ghosting is NOT a problem on GOOD LCDs.

 

[Dman877]

Originally posted by: JackHawksmoor
The main problem with LCDs is ghosting, which can still be bad (depending on the game, environment, etc.) on a 25ms Samsung panel.

I *THINK* that LCD's 5:4 resolution is actually matched by a 5:4 screen shape, so the image isn't distorted (at least 1280x1024 looks distorted on a CRT, but not on my LCD). Yeah, I'd prefer a normal aspect ratio also, but this works. The ghosting is the bigger problem. (And following that, the lack or real resolution switching).

I use a 17 inch 25ms samsung 172N, 0 ghosting, just a fyi.

 

[clicknext]

It does smooth over the lines a bit, but bigger jaggies will still be quite apparent. In my opinion, scaling doesn't look good because it makes everything blurry, especially text, and the colors become washed out.

 

[EarthwormJim]

Originally posted by: JackHawksmoor
The main problem with LCDs is ghosting, which can still be bad (depending on the game, environment, etc.) on a 25ms Samsung panel.

I *THINK* that LCD's 5:4 resolution is actually matched by a 5:4 screen shape, so the image isn't distorted (at least 1280x1024 looks distorted on a CRT, but not on my LCD). Yeah, I'd prefer a normal aspect ratio also, but this works. The ghosting is the bigger problem. (And following that, the lack or real resolution switching).

You are correct, my 191T measures out to a 5:4 ratio. Ghosting reallly isn't that much of an issue anymore. You just have to give the monitor a chance and not listen to the exaggerated horror stories people rant on about.

 

[VIAN]

I didn't notice any ghosting. I enjoyed my little session on the HP LCD.