Modern S-IPS Monitors Comparable to NEC 20WMGX2-BK?

[counterveil]

Hello all, first time poster here. So I have an NEC 20WMGX2-BK (S-IPS) that is absolutely the greatest monitor I've ever owned for gaming. Right next to it on my monitor rack I've tried a variety of more "modern" high-def monitors from various manufacturers (ASUS, Samsung, etc.) and when I drag my active [windowed] game from the non-NEC monitor to the NEC I just become disappointed in my "primary" monitor :/

Anyone have any great experiences with monitors similar to the 20WMGX2-BK? I'd really love to find a new monitor with the same level of crispness in the image quality but would like to have more connections (HDMI would be great). Size and resolution not such a big deal although naturally I'd like a higher resolution. I'd grab another 20WMGX2-BK but it seems they are out of stock everywhere.

Thanks much for any replies.

 

[kamikazekyle]

I maintain that the 20WMGX2 is pretty godlike in image quality. One of the biggest reasons that it worked so well was the glossy display, which gave an increased contrast perception (at least subjectively to me), that was combined with an excellent panel (and really crappy bezel buttons...) I bought one new, then picked up two from the NEC refurb store when they went on sale. I'd kill for the exact same monitor, just in a bigger size/resolution. Doesn't look like the refurb store has any left.

Anyway, I'd imagine the closest comparison to the 20WMGX2 would be one of the Apple cinema/HD/whatever-they're-called-nowadays displays with the glossy screen. I've found that going from a matte IPS with AR coating to a glossy IPS was a pretty stark difference in subjective contrast, even after I color calibrated both of them with a Spyder. I think the Apple displays are the only IPS's out there with full glossy screens anymore. The downside is that -- unless Apple has changed something -- the Apple IPS displays need software to change settings which either didn't work on Windows or didn't work properly. They're also limited in their inputs quite severely compared to competitors.

If you want to save some money, look into the Dell Ultrasharp line or the HP Z24/30. They're all matte and/or have an AR coating. I don't find any of them as good as the 20WMGX2, but they're very good. I imagine if they had a glossy screen then that'd help bring them closer to looking like the 20WMGX2, subjectively at least.

I do like the NEC PA line (some graphic artists here use them, and I find them better than related Dell Ultrasharps). I'm not sure on their LCD color critical line since I haven't seen those in person. But, those are usually quite a bit more expensive than the related Dell/HP/Hans counterparts.

Oh, and you'll probably loose crispness unless you go with a 27" 2560 x 1440 monitor. You'll increase the dot pitch going from a 20" 1680x1050 to pretty much anything else larger in inch terms.

That's what I've kinda come across over the years. I have an HP IPS 24"-incher right now, but after trying a bunch of other monitors I'm thinking about going back to my 20WMGX2's and setting them up in an eyefinity config.

 

[BassBomb]

I have two refurb 20WMGX2-BK you might like to have... I am not using them

My non-refurb 20WMGX2 to me still looks better than my newer Dell U2410

I would reccomend getting a newer H-IPS panel... however I found I am really missing the glossy coating

The new Dell monitor is a good value (forget the model number 24xx?)

 

[counterveil]

Thanks for the replies, all. So I continued my search for the trifecta of monitor goodness (for me):

- IPS
- Glossy
- HDMI

and found this lovely beast:

http://www.hazro.co.uk/HZ27WA.php

I've just emailed them to see if I can get one shipped to the U.S. and when their next availability is (currently sold out). Hopefully this will turn out well.

Bassbomb, if I get null / negative response from Hazro I may take you up on your 20WMGX2-BK offer

 

[zuffy]

For that price, might as well get the Apple Cinema 27". I just got mine. Maybe someone can correct me but HDMI cannot support 2560 x 1440. You will need DVI or Displayport to drive that resolution.

 

[RobDickinson]

Yes, hdmi isnt good enough.

 

[darkswordsman17]

Check out the Dell ST2220T, especially if you can find it on sale (I think its gotten around $200). Its like a 1080p 20WMGX2. It does have one glaring fault though, it doesn't have a height adjustable stand and you can't do a VESA mount (the back is a big piece of plastic with no mounting points). If you can get past that, it meets your criteria and has a few bonus features (is a touchscreen although its not exactly stellar). If Dell would drop the touchscreen and give it a stand it'd be a popular choice I think.

 

[kamikazekyle]

According to spec, HDMI 1.3 can do up to 2560x1600@60Hz with up to 30 bit color. 75Hz at 24 bit. HDMI 1.4 is even higher. But I think most computer monitors that have HDMI in only allow up to 1080p (or video cards only output at 1080p...something like that). Can't say I've tried anything but dual link DVI at higher resolutions.

 

[counterveil]

Yes, hdmi isnt good enough.

Hrm...that's unfortunate. In this case would it just downgrade the resolution when using an HDMI cable? I'm starting to think that I'm looking for a unicorn here, because I'm looking for a monitor that has:

- Audio In/Out (I'm centralizing PC, Mac, and Xbox 360 into it for audio and video)
- HDMI (Mostly for Xbox 360)
- DVI / DP (for PC / Mac)
- 1920x1080 (or higher)
- Glossy+IPS (I like that for gaming)

The Hazro monitor seems like it meets those requirements but if the HDMI limitation results in a downgraded resolution from native, I think that might look a bit on the ugly side.

Continuing the search, and thanks for all of the replies!

 

[kamikazekyle]

Hrm...that's unfortunate. In this case would it just downgrade the resolution when using an HDMI cable? I'm starting to think that I'm looking for a unicorn here, because I'm looking for a monitor that has:

- Audio In/Out (I'm centralizing PC, Mac, and Xbox 360 into it for audio and video)
- HDMI (Mostly for Xbox 360)
- DVI / DP (for PC / Mac)
- 1920x1080 (or higher)
- Glossy+IPS (I like that for gaming)

The Hazro monitor seems like it meets those requirements but if the HDMI limitation results in a downgraded resolution from native, I think that might look a bit on the ugly side.

Continuing the search, and thanks for all of the replies!

Technically speaking, v1.3 and v1.4 HDMI can support the HZ27W series native resolutions. But, I don't know the HDMI version that they use, nor what's used in your graphics card. Plus there's always the chance that either the GPU or the monitor will limit it to 1920x1200 or somesuch no matter the version.

Looking at the HZ27WA manual, they don't specify the maximum resolutions for the inputs nor HDMI version, just emphasizing dual link DVI all over the place. Me thinks, in that case, they're probably going to cap the HDMI input to 1920x1200 or less.

In such cases, the monitor will stretch the image to the native resolution, or you can choose to do 1:1 scaling so that it'll show a 1080p/1920x1200 image centered in your screen with a black border. Even if you get a 24" 1920x1200 or 30" 2560x1600 it'll still either 1:1 scale or stretch a lower resolution signal (such as that from your Xbox).

You can run your PC/Mac into the Hazro via Dual link DVI -- though you'll need a dual link DVI switch box or full on KVM if you want both the PC and Mac hooked up at once. A good 2-port dual link KVM can be mighty pricy. You might also need an active converter for the Mac if it's a MacBook Pro or something with the miniDP output.

Right now I've only found the Apple Cinema displays to fit the high quality IPS panel + glossy bit (besides the Hazro), but they're not all that kind to Windows systems and only have a single miniDP input. The Dell Ultrasharp line is all matte with antireflective coatings, as are the NEC and HP IPS displays (as far as I know).

Personally, if you can get ahold of one of those Hazro's, I'd go for it. Your last bastion for a glossy+quality IPS beyond that would be the Apple cinemas. I've been looking for the same stuff you have for years now, and still haven't found it. IPS panels are hard to find, with most newer IPS panels being eIPS. Very, very rarely are they glossy.

Let me know if you have any luck with that Hazro or happen across something else.

 

[counterveil]

Let me know if you have any luck with that Hazro or happen across something else.

DoubleSight DS-277W
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16824185025

- Matte IPS (aw )
- HDMI
- Audio In/Out (so I can route all my audio through it for various connections into one speaker set)
- 10-bit color

I may have to bite on this one because Hazro have not gotten back to me.

It's also a higher resolution than lower-version HDMI will support, but I think I can live with black borders for my xbox 360, and enjoy higher-resolution gaming on my PC. Still trying to dig up information on the HDMI version supported on this monitor, will let you know.

Hm...now that I think about it - could running audio through this and out to 5.1 speakers potentially downgrade the signal by running it first through the monitor's speakers or does that typically do a direct route to external audio, bypassing the [probably crappy] speakers on this thing? Sorry, I'm quite a noob when it comes to audio.

 

[kamikazekyle]

DoubleSight DS-277W
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16824185025

- Matte IPS (aw )
- HDMI
- Audio In/Out (so I can route all my audio through it for various connections into one speaker set)
- 10-bit color

I may have to bite on this one because Hazro have not gotten back to me.

It's also a higher resolution than lower-version HDMI will support, but I think I can live with black borders for my xbox 360, and enjoy higher-resolution gaming on my PC. Still trying to dig up information on the HDMI version supported on this monitor, will let you know.

Hm...now that I think about it - could running audio through this and out to 5.1 speakers potentially downgrade the signal by running it first through the monitor's speakers or does that typically do a direct route to external audio, bypassing the [probably crappy] speakers on this thing? Sorry, I'm quite a noob when it comes to audio.

Huh. Can't say I've ever heard of Double Sight, but hey. You might want to double check that the Double Sight monitor does 1:1 scaling. It'd be unlikely that it *wouldn't* but you never know. From what I can tell, it's only a single 3.5mm minijack for stereo audio in, and NO audio out except to the integrated speakers. I don't see any reference to audio passthrough or 3.5mm out. EDIT: That doesn't mean the speakers don't connect via a 3.5mm jack of their own like the NEC 20WMGX2's speaker bar. If they do, then you can essentially do a stereo passthrough. It'd be best if you went game console (HDMI) > 5.1 Audio Receiver > HDMI passthrough to monitor.

Toms has a review on the NEC, Dell, and DS 27"-ers. I haven't read it since Tom's borks IE here at work and is pretty much unusable. But those are the "Big Three" outside of Apple when it comes to 27" IPS displays.

Oh, yea, you can get the monitor cheaper at WalMart. It's only $930 there, free shipping to store and no-hassle returns. Another oh, there's a $50 MIR here. So thats, what, $880 for a 27" S-IPS with audio? Sometimes you could find the Dell U2711 for less and Dell has an awesome warranty, but it looks like Dell increased the price on their 27" by $100, so it's now $1100 which is the highest I've ever seen it. It's even more than an Apple Cinema display now.

 

[finbarqs]

sorry to bring up an old thread, but is the 20WMGX2 S-IPS? I noticed that on one of my 20WMGX2's it's slightly warmer than the other...

 

[BassBomb]

yes S-IPS

I notice my refurbs aren't as bright as my real one... Don't know about warmth because my dad is using the refurbs now

 

[finbarqs]

it's my refurb that outshines my real one..

 

[kamikazekyle]

It's been a while since I've used all mine hooked up (6 month or so?), but I don't recall my original or refurbs being different in brightness or color temps. I did have to individually calibarate/tweak the color temps on each, but they all pretty much came in 1:1 with one another after that. I have one that was NIB, and three (or was that two?) others that are refurbs.

 

[Scott888]

I recently bought two refurbished NEC 20WMGX2 monitors, but they do not come with stands. I called NEC and they do not make the factory stands anymore for this model. The original stand on my current 20WMGX2 works fine for my purposes, does anyone know where I might find two more of the original monitor stands?

 

[finbarqs]

i'd get a 3rd party stand. I have 2 OEM stands, but I'm using a dual monitor setup, since it's VESA 100? compatible... (Sorry didn't know if it's called VESA 100 or what)

 

[BassBomb]

yup you could use an aftermarket stand from like monoprice w/ vesa mount

 

[BassBomb]

Bumping this thread.... are there any Glossy IPS on the market anymore?