Looking For A New Monitor: Update

[hennessy1]

I am looking for a new monitor that has the following attributes
-Built in speakers(There is limited space and I know that the quality of the speakers built in are crappy that's ok.)
-A minimum resolution of 1920x1200
-HDCP compatible
-Preferably 24in in size but I might have some leeway up to 27in.
-I was looking for the better IPS displays but that is not a set in stone thing if the tn panels are good.

I tried looking on dell.com but couldn't find any. I tried asus but the ones I did see VW266H are hard to find now. It came down to I was looking at the apple cinema displays the 27in(pre thunderbolt) and the 24in ones. I would have to get a mini display port adapter as I only have a mini hdmi and dvi available on the card. I don't really have a set price mainly because I am having a hard enough time to find a quality monitor to really set on one.

The monitor will mainly be used for gaming. I have never used an apple display before so if anyone has any input as to their quality that would be much appreciated. Any help at all is always appreciated thank you very much.

 

[sandorski]

Budget?

 

[hennessy1]

Seeing as how the 27in apple is about 1k that would be my limit.

 

[gevorg]

NEC EA232WMI is a nice IPS for under $300, its a 23" though

ASUS VW246H for $200, TN

 

[hennessy1]

Unfortunately those are both only 1080 I was looking for at least 1200.

 

[videogames101]

edit: speakers, got it =]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824185024

 

[hennessy1]

I did see the double sight one.The bezel is huge. I was leaning more towards the nec one but I just wanted to get a really great picture from this purchase. I just don't know if those two would do it.

 

[videogames101]

If at all possible just get a separate set of speakers and get the dell u2410 =]

Better sound and picture

 

[hennessy1]

I was aiming to just streamline it all. Just because space is so limited. Even with the 27in I'd have to move things around to get that to fit.

 

[superjim]

HP LP2475W
Dell 2407wfp
Dell u2412m
HP ZR2440w

 

[hennessy1]

Thanks superjim out of that list the Dell 2407wfp looks the most promising as I see you can add a sound bar. The others are speaker less. Any comments on the image quality for that monitor?

 

[zuffy]

Love my Apple 27". The builtin speakers are not bad either. Like any Apple monitors, lack of additional inputs.

 

[hennessy1]

@zuffy-How is the image quality on that monitor? Was it worth the price tab in your opinion?

 

[superjim]

I have the lp2475w at home and the 2407wfp at work. Both great monitors. I mostly write code at work but do photo and video editing at home. Lots of web design, photoshop, premier, etc. They are very close in color reproduction but I'd give the 2475w a slight edge since it is IPS and the dell is VA. Can't go wrong with either. The newer IPS that are LED backlit might be better (and more expensive) but I haven't read much on them.

 

[hennessy1]

So since the 2407wfp and the apple display is about the same price which do you think gives a better display?

 

[kevinsbane]

Thanks superjim out of that list the Dell 2407wfp looks the most promising as I see you can add a sound bar. The others are speaker less. Any comments on the image quality for that monitor?

I can't speak for the U2412m, but the U2312hm from Dell has a mounting that you can put a sound bar on. I believe all of Dell's Ultrasharp series has the mounting available. This soundbar indicates that it's good for the Ultrasharp line; it doesn't specifically state compatibility with the U2412m line, but that seems more like an issue with it not being updated with the 2012 line of Ultrasharps.

 

[ther00kie16]

Wait... you are looking to buy a 4+ yr old monitor? It doesn't have HDMI or Displayport. SD card reader isn't even compatible with SDHC.

The U2412M is superior to the 2407wfp in color unless you are talking about the HC version. But even then, you won't notice the lower color gamut unless you work with graphics and professional level monitors. U2412M is LED backlit so it uses less power and, like most Dell monitors, can be fitted with a soundbar.

If your budget is $1k, why not a 27" 2560x1440? The cheapest is twice the cost of a U2412M but it has superior graphics. The zr2740w at $680 can be fitted with a HP soundbar as well and has great graphics with a 30bit S-IPS panel.
Samsung's S27A850D has the best graphics with a PLS panel (even better than S-IPS) and USB 3.0 hub and costs $783 (costcentral). Amazon has the 24" version S24A850DW for ~$450. Samsung doesn't have a soundbar for its monitors though but you could possibly rig a mount for one from another manufacture.

 

[exar333]

Wait... you are looking to buy a 4+ yr old monitor? It doesn't have HDMI or Displayport. SD card reader isn't even compatible with SDHC.

The U2412M is superior to the 2407wfp in color unless you are talking about the HC version. But even then, you won't notice the lower color gamut unless you work with graphics and professional level monitors. U2412M is LED backlit so it uses less power and, like most Dell monitors, can be fitted with a soundbar.

If your budget is $1k, why not a 27" 2560x1440? The cheapest is twice the cost of a U2412M but it has superior graphics. The zr2740w at $680 can be fitted with a HP soundbar as well and has great graphics with a 30bit S-IPS panel.
Samsung's S27A850D has the best graphics with a PLS panel (even better than S-IPS) and USB 3.0 hub and costs $783 (costcentral). Amazon has the 24" version S24A850DW for ~$450. Samsung doesn't have a soundbar for its monitors though but you could possibly rig a mount for one from another manufacture.

That PLS 27'' looks interesting. It is 16:9 (unfortunately) but makes up for it with the solid 1440 vertical lines of resolution. Most pricing looks like $820 though, not $680. If this was anywhere close to $600, it would be a steal.

 

[ther00kie16]

That PLS 27'' looks interesting. It is 16:9 (unfortunately) but makes up for it with the solid 1440 vertical lines of resolution. Most pricing looks like $820 though, not $680. If this was anywhere close to $600, it would be a steal.

HP's 27" S-IPS is $680 (-$5 coupon googmap) at compsource.

Samsung's is $783 at costcentral as I said.

HP's was $650 when it first came out but has been creeping up in price due to lack of competitors as Samsung's at $783, which came out later, is the next cheapest at that resolution. Acer is coming out with a 27" later this year. Perhaps they can help drive prices down. When 24" was still expensive, competition came in the form of Soyo's 24" P-MVA at $250 price point (also Westinghouse at $300ish). There needs to be more entries like the HP, upcoming Acer or Hazro to hopefully drive prices down to <$500 in a year. Then I'll get one to use with my laptop's mini-DP

 

[zuffy]

@zuffy-How is the image quality on that monitor? Was it worth the price tab in your opinion?

Amazing clarify. It's priced the same as the Dell 27" so yes it's worth it.

 

[hennessy1]

@therookie16 I looked at the samsung monitors the only difference between the 27 and 24 is the res. correct? and to be clear the 24 and 27 samsung monitors are better then the hp zr2740w correct?

 

[hennessy1]

If anything with the samsung monitors I can fit these speakers under the monitor itself right?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16836113024

Would something like that provide better sound then the sound bar solutions from dell or hp?

So after measuring the space available to me the monitors that would fit really only are the
U2412M, 2407wfp(the hc version you had mentioned if that is a different model number), and the S24A850DW. So out of those which would be the best to go with in terms of picture?

 

[ther00kie16]

Right, Samsung's 24" is 1920x1200 ($418 at costcentral) and 27" is 2560x1440. Both have USB 3.0 hub. It'll be a close squeeze but you should have roughly 5" under the 27" and maybe 4" under the 24" when hey are adjusted to max height.

I suppose those speakers will do if you want USB powered so you can power it from the monitor. They aren't very aesthetically appealing though.
These look interesting http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/748185-REG/LaCie_130984_LaCie_Bobourg_USB_Speakers.html
LaCie's a quality brand. Great aesthetics, hefty weight & feel to keep them in place and touch sensitive controls.
They don't have 3.5mm so you couldn't use them with other devices and the monitor would have to be plugged into the computer (don't know if it has to be turned on to maintain communication like my 2407wfp does)

But 5.3" may be too tall or you can stash it slightly behind the monitor since they are slanted. Easiest way would be to wait for your monitor to arrive and measure.

 

[hennessy1]

I am leaning towards the samsung. Would that be the best choice in terms of picture?

 

[ther00kie16]

So after measuring the space available to me the monitors that would fit really only are the
U2412M, 2407wfp(the hc version you had mentioned if that is a different model number), and the S24A850DW. So out of those which would be the best to go with in terms of picture?

S24A850DW is best with PLS but more expensive ($418 at costcentral) and no native soundbar.
Found this review. Looks like plenty of vertical space for any speaker if you want to raise the monitor that high.

U2412M is the worst with e-IPS (think e = budget) but still way better than TN (I have a U2211H). $370 + tax ($330 on ebay but make sure you'd get the Dell 3 yr warranty if you buy on ebay) and has been down to $300 a couple of times. Has a nice, loud soundbar but costs $55 through Dell and $36 on ebay but the loudness (10W as opposed to HP's 2W soundbar) is because of AC adapter as opposed to USB powered or monitor powered.
http://www.tftcentral.co.uk/reviews/dell_u2412m.htm has great review but they don't have Samsung's yet.

2407wfp is good but old and has been updated with 2407wfp-hc (higher color gamut), 2408wfp and u2410 (newest but $450 when on sale which makes it most expensive option).
2407, 2408 and 2410 all use CCFL as opposed to LED backlight like the others so power consumption and heat output are higher. 2407 & 2408 were S-PVA. 2410 is H-IPS

One monitor I forgot to mention is HP's zr2440w. But it's only an e-IPS as opposed to its bigger brother zr2740w's H-IPS. And at >$400, it's not worth it.

With those prices, the only options that make sense are U2412M (I'd wait for a sale at $300 or $330) or Samsung's S-PLS at $418. That Samsung review seems to agree. And note their highest recommendations for 24" (NEC) are well over $1000.