Basically, your choices are either a budget 19 incher or a decent 17 incher. I can tell you one of the most popular budget 19 inchers in your price range is the Samsung 955DF. IMO, however, having seen the 955DF in action, I found it to have somewhat skimpy refresh rates (only 85kHz max horizontal refresh, so it just barely does 85Hz at 1280x960) and blurry text around the edges of the screen. But that's just me.
For 17 inchers you might be able to find an aperture grille tube-based one in your price range. For example, according to Pricewatch the Samsung 700NF goes for as low as $208. I haven't seen the 700NF in action, but I have a 900NF (the 19-inch version) and it is very nice indeed.
Sorry I can't give more precise recommendations, but one thing I can recommend is that you try not to settle for a low-quality display. The most human-computer interaction goes between your eyes and the monitor, so you don't want a display that's unpleasing to the eye.