LED backlighting vs larger screen

[lifeblood]

I am going to upgrade my display. I currently have a 19” widescreen (in sig). I have $200+ and can’t decide between the Hanns-G 25” and an Acer 23” with LED backlighting.

Hanns-G http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16824254048
Acer http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16824009255

The question is how important is LED backlighting? The 23” has a contrast ratio of “ACM 12,000,000:1 (1000:1)” while the 25” has a “X-Contrast 15,000:1 (800:1 typical)”. I assume the LED backlighting gives the 23” the better contrast. I would like to save power and have truer black, but more screen real estate is nothing to discount.

Anyone have thoughts on the benefits of LED backlighting?

 

[Continuity28]

I wouldn't worry too much about LED backlighting vs CCFL. As far as I know, white LED backlighting is not much different from CCFL besides it's smaller size and lower power usage. Full RGB color LED backlighting, on the other hand, offers a much higher gamut, but it's far more expensive and only featured on very high end monitors.

 

[Khalan]

I'm no expert, but I have a ViewSonic VX2433wm 23.5" non-LED monitor, and a Samsung SME1920 18.5" LED LCD. The Samsung is definitely more vibrant, with better whites and blacks (compared to the ViewSonic at least).

One other thing (which you probably already know), the monitors you've listed both run at 1080P, so there won't be any screen real estate difference between them, just a larger picture with the Hanns-G.

 

[lifeblood]

I'm no expert, but I have a ViewSonic VX2433wm 23.5" non-LED monitor, and a Samsung SME1920 18.5" LED LCD. The Samsung is definitely more vibrant, with better whites and blacks (compared to the ViewSonic at least).

One other thing (which you probably already know), the monitors you've listed both run at 1080P, so there won't be any screen real estate difference between them, just a larger picture with the Hanns-G.

So does the LED give blacker black? Is it true black? If all the lights are out and you have a black background for your wallpaper, does it emit little to no light? I ask this as a friend of mine operates a planetarium at the local community college. They still use a CRT on their system as LCD's are not dark enough. When you turn out all the lights (except for the damn "EXIT" signs that they're required to have) it gets pitch black in there. They tried an LCD and even using a black theme with black wallpaper it still emitted too much light.

Even though they are the same resolution, the 25" will have the advantage that I can decrease the document size in word or excel to cram more info on screen. I can also sit a little further away when watching movies.

 

[Khalan]

It's morning here so I can't test properly, but it is quite close to true black from what I can tell. Using dynamic contrast with a black wallpaper, the colour is the same as the screen when it is turned off, and very close to black items I've compared, such as the bezel and black books / dvd cases etc.

 

[CJBronco II]

Life,

I have(had, the non-LED TN I have died) all 3. LED-TN, Non-LED TN, and IPS and I can say the IPS looks the best, but between the other 2, I'd rather have the 23.6 LED TN. Uses less energy, easier on the eyes and the LED lighting can adjust to give you the true whites and blacks vs the CCFL in the regular TN constantly stays on and not give you the true blacks and whites

Right now I converted my IPS into a TV, and I have 3xDell IN2020M LED for Eyefinity and it looks great, not the best like 3xIPS panels but much better than a non-LED.

Keep in mind also that Non-LEDs will start to be a thing of the past.. Hope this helps.

 

[blanketyblank]

Personally I'd go with the LED since it will give you a longer life. CCFL may start degrading over time so after maybe a year or 2 of heavy use color may change as bulb dies.