Monitor Decisions - & a Few Questions - Please Help!

[davidkay]

Ok, I want to buy an Iiyama Vision Master Pro 410. It got 6/6 from UK mag PC Pro. It goes upto 1600x1200 at 75Hz and has BNC plugs on the back. now I went to my local PC shop and bought one, however on getting home I realised it was the vision master pro 411, the model down.

The 411 goes up to a max of 1280x1024 at 80Hz and has no BNC plugs and also costs 40 pounds less ($70). Now I took the monitor back and they told me they dident have the 410 and wont get it until january. I have checked everywhere in the UK and nobody can get it until January.

However everyone has the 411 in stock, which got 5/6 in PC Pro. i need a monitor pretty quickyly cause my 15" sucks. What should I do, should I go for the 411 or wait for the 410?

When you run something at 1280x1024 80Hz would you have a clear stable image or could you still see the flicker, as the 410 is 85Hz at 1280x1024. Also do BNC make that much of a difference?

Help I dont know what to do!

 

[LXi]

If you absolutely need a monitor now, I think you can go with Samsung SyncMaster 700NF, with identical specs(1600x1200@75Hz + BNCs) to VisionMaster Pro410, and a lot cheaper as well.

 

[davidkay]

I cant get the Samsung in the UK!!!!!

 

[LXi]

Well, if you dont need 1600x1200, by all means, keep the 411.

 

[davidkay]

I dont think i will use 1600x1200, but all i wanna know is two things:

Is 80Hz at 1280x1024 Flicker Free?
Do BNC Cables give a much better picture?

 

[LXi]

<<Is 80Hz at 1280x1024 Flicker Free?>>

I dont think you can see the difference between 80 and 85. I dont think its completely flicker free though.


<<Do BNC Cables give a much better picture?>>

They usually provide sharper and crisper text.

 

[Gosharkss]

BNC Connectors

Theoretically the BNC connectors should give you a better video image. BNC connectors are designed to match the impedance of the coaxial cable. Impedance miss matches will send small ripples (for lack of a better term) up and down the video cable. These ripples could be amplified by the monitor and show on the screen as very small ghost images particularly after a bright to dark, or dark to light transitions.

Even if you use a BNC cable, the end that attaches to the video card is still the VGA DB-15. The impedance mismatch at that end of the cable can cause the same types of ghosting affect. If both sides had BNC connections then there would be some improvement.

Many monitors come with BNC connectors. If the video quality really were better, shouldn't you expect the manufacturer to supply the right cable with the monitor?

For me, the quality aspect of Windows plug and play is more important. BNC connectors do not support Windows plug and play the DB-15 connector does.

Try both of them and see for yourself. I doubt that you will notice a difference between the two styles of connectors. Please post the results if you decide to try this experiment.

Good Luck

Jim @ http://www.monitorsdirect.com

 

[LXi]

Yea, like PnP actually works right with VGA cables. The thing is BNC cable is just as easy to setup as regular VGA cables, Windows PnP is just a bunch of bull. If you have the option to go with BNC, always do.

 

[Gosharkss]

I find it works quite well, what type of problem are you having? Maybe we can help.

Jim

 

[LXi]

PnP is gimmick talk, it doesnt work nearly as well as it suppose to. I've installed many monitors on many machines and Windows rarely recognizes the monitors right. As for BNCs the Windows just wouldnt recognize anything and it requires the user to manually detect the monitor and install the drivers, not a tough task at all. Like I said the BNCs will be better than VGA cables under almost all circumstances, the worst they can do is equal to the VGA cables. So I recommend using them if you have the option.

 

[Gosharkss]

I've had exactly the opposite experience with PnP. I install 10 - 15 monitors a week during my monitor evaluation process and find PnP while not perfect works quite well. Maybe its the VC you are using?

Your absolutely correct on the statement that BNC will perform at least as good as VGA style cables. So I go back to my other post, why then don't the manufacturers provide BNC cables. Why, because they cost more $$$, and provide very little if any benefit especially at lower resolutions and refresh rates the original poster plans on using.

I will agree that low cost twisted pair VGA cables provide a very poor image, however I do not know of a monitor manufacturer today that isn't using 75 ohm coaxial cable with D-B15 connectors on both ends. This is the same cable used in the BNC cables you are talking about.

Good Luck

 

[LXi]

<<I've had exactly the opposite experience with PnP. I install 10 - 15 monitors a week during my monitor evaluation process and find PnP while not perfect works quite well. Maybe its the VC you are using?>>

Well, the PnP is not exactly a problem, but it just didnt work as well as it should. Its very convinient if it works right, but if it doesnt, no big deal either. Both BNC and VGA are equally easy to install in my opinion.


<<Your absolutely correct on the statement that BNC will perform at least as good as VGA style cables. So I go back to my other post, why then don't the manufacturers provide BNC cables. Why, because they cost more $$$, and provide very little if any benefit especially at lower resolutions and refresh rates the original poster plans on using.>>

Maybe they want to supply something thats more of a widely-used standard? I dont know why they wouldnt support BNC, but BNCs support usually come in as an option, as you know they dont usually provide necessary acesssories for customers to take advantages of the extra options. Price is also a concern. But I disagree manufacturers provide only VGA cables because BNCs arent any better, they should be well aware of the advantages BNC offers.


<<I will agree that low cost twisted pair VGA cables provide a very poor image, however I do not know of a monitor manufacturer today that isn't using 75 ohm coaxial cable with D-B15 connectors on both ends. This is the same cable used in the BNC cables you are talking about.>>

Yes, that's also why, I can understand if they can make quality cables, they would rather stick to a more recognized standard, maybe the user can use that cable for other purposes such as connecting other monitors. VGA cables do offer more flexibility.