NEC 1970GX LCD gaming 8ms with Opticlear!!

[Auric]

What do you mean brighter/sharper finish if it is not just a glass cover like other NEC and Sony models which I have seen? I must set the brightness and contast on my current LCD at 6/25 to avoid burning my retinae and I don't see any problem with the standard sharpness via DVI. So what exactly is this miraculous OptiClear that I all of a sudden cannot live without?

Oh nevermind I googled it and found it's just a low-cost integrated anti-reflective panel:

NEC-Mitsu (no, not the Québécois pop singer/talk show host hottie Mitsou, the Nipponse multinational industrial conglomerate!)

As I have zero glare issues with a naked panel I still fail to see the point though will not go so far as to presume improvement is impossbile and thus withhold final judgement until witnessing this supposed wundertech in person.

 

[kir1]

I ended up buying the NEC 1970gx and I think it is fabulous for my purposes. I was torn between the Samsung 915N and this monitor. Unfortunately, I didn't get a chance to look at the Samsung monitor but I found the quality of the NEC screen so amazing, I decided to buy it anyway.

For gaming, this panel is wonderful (as I understand it, most of the 19" 8ms panels out right now use the same Samsung panel, including BenQ's 937S+, Hyundai's L90D+, and NEC's 1970gx). Absolutely no ghosting on CS: Source, HL2, Doom 3, and the colors are so rich it's amazing.

On the other hand, there is definitely some reflection off the screen when the room is lit and the screen is dark. However, I use this monitor at home in a room where there is not a lot of direct sunlight, and so for my purposes, the monitor is spectacular. I can certainly understand if others who use their monitors under bright conditions don't like this monitor because of the reflection, but for me, I am extremely happy with it and would definitely buy it again if I had to do it all over again.

I may bring this monitor to work just to try it out under different lighting conditions. If it's great under those conditions, I may get another one and replace my Samsung 172N. If not, I would again consider the Samsung 915N.

Just my opinion.

 

[Keyvan]

well for one thing, the nec has a dvi input as opposed to samsung's analog only. and the nec has a two port usb hub (not really a deal maker, but a nice feature imo),
and the stand is wayyy better as well

 

[ronnn]

I put off buying the nec, now futureshop doesn't even carry it. Must be a lesson in there somewhere

 

[Keyvan]

i have a feeling that they might be seriously back ordered, because we've only been selling them at FS for the last couple of weeks or so, and they're lifecycle shouldn't be that short

 

[Ruroni]

Originally posted by: cactuzjak
I've been looking for a review for this monitor for 2 days since I saw it at FutureShop on the weekend, so if anyone has a review link it up

Who is futureshop? I googled it, and got this! and some another Canadian website. is FutureShop, some Canadian shop?!?

 

[ronnn]

Yes Future Shop is a Canadian BB. Same owners or something.

 

[Reiniku]

I was looking at the 19" Samsung 930B LCD at Fry's today and this beauty was sitting right next to it. I spent a good 30 minutes just staring because WOW what a difference in contrast and color. I was being blown away the whole time till I noticed that the ceiling lights were more than a little clearly visible on the screen. While the opticlear screen made for incredible quality it did show quite a bit of glare. This sucker would cost me 550 after taxes and rebates, while the 930B (which was still of rather nice quality) would cost me 360 after taxes and rebates. I don't know what to go for lol.

ps. the 930b states that it has a max resolution of 1280x1024 rather than a native resolution of 1280x1024. is this something i should worry about?

 

[n7]

At FutureShop, we literally cannot keep these monitors in stock!

Today, someone insisted on buying our demo model, at full price, even though we have more coming in right away.

This monitor = the best 19" LCD on the market right now by far.

 

[Reiniku]

i have to say i was never more blown away by a floor model before.

 

[jiffylube1024]

Originally posted by: Solutions
almost a .3 dot pitch... I'll pass.

This isn't a CRT. Displays that run the same resolution at the same diagonaly size on LCD's have the same dot pitch since one pixel = one dot for all fixed pixel displays. This isn't like a CRT where you are calibrating an electron gun to shoot a tighter pack of pixels; fixed pixel displays have fixed dot pitches inherent in the technology. People buy 19" LCD's because they find 1280X1024 text too small on 17" displays.

17" 1280X1024 LCD's : 0.264
19" 1280X1024 LCD's : 0.294
20" 1600X1200 LCD's: 0.255

Shall you complain about the fixed 60Hz in DVI mode next?

Sorry if I'm sounding coy (because frankly, I'm being coy). Just a friendly reminder to get your facts straight . This isn't like a .294 dp CRT, which would indeed be crap.

 

[Peridium]

I just looked at the Datasheet and Manual for this monitor and NEC lists that the panel can display 16.77 million colors...

I thought that all TN + Film panels were 6-bit color (16.2 million with dithering). Is it possible to have a 8-bit TN + Film panel?

 

[cbehnken]

Originally posted by: jiffylube1024

Originally posted by: Solutions
almost a .3 dot pitch... I'll pass.

This isn't a CRT. Displays that run the same resolution at the same diagonaly size on LCD's have the same dot pitch since one pixel = one dot for all fixed pixel displays. This isn't like a CRT where you are calibrating an electron gun to shoot a tighter pack of pixels; fixed pixel displays have fixed dot pitches inherent in the technology. People buy 19" LCD's because they find 1280X1024 text too small on 17" displays.

17" 1280X1024 LCD's : 0.264
19" 1280X1024 LCD's : 0.294
20" 1600X1200 LCD's: 0.255

Shall you complain about the fixed 60Hz in DVI mode next?

Sorry if I'm sounding coy (because frankly, I'm being coy). Just a friendly reminder to get your facts straight . This isn't like a .294 dp CRT, which would indeed be crap.

But, the dot pitch does make the pixels huge. You can easily see the whole screen as blocks if you focus on it.

Not nearly as easy with a 20" 1600x1200 LCD

 

[Peridium]

Anybody know why NEC lists the LCD1970GX panel as having 16.77 million colors? Is this actually true?

Anyways...I went to my local Futureshop to check out this monitor first hand and I sure was impressed...:thumbsup:

The picture quality looked so much better compared to other 19" LCD screens with a matte finish -- like the Samsung 930B or BenQ FP937S. Even though the glossy coating sometimes gives off a reflection, the colors from the monitor look so much more deep and rich. The blacks on the screen also look more dark and vivid. I guess that Opticlear DVM coating really does make a difference! :shocked:

Comparing to the other 8ms monitor on display, the Samsung 930B, the NEC 1970GX has a few more useful features:
- built in 4-port powered USB hub
- height adjustable base
The NEC monitor also includes a DVI cable unlike the Samsung model. I also think the overall look of the monitor is more attractive, especially with that nice and thin screen bezel. The price of the NEC 1970GX turns out to be the same price as the Samsung 930B after a $50 mail-in rebate... I know which monitor I want...

This monitor sure looks amazing...too bad Futureshop doesn't have any in stock at the moment. Seems like they are in high demand. One of the sales reps told me that some of the employees at Futureshop actually bought the last couple monitors they received in their last shipment...

 

[Peridium]

Anybody out there in the forums that owns a NEC LCD1970GX? Post your comments and/or experiences with the monitor...

Nobody knows the answer to my question about the possibility of having 8-bit TN + Film panels?

 

[stixman6878]

I too am in the market for either the LCD1970GX or the Samsung 930B. I've been going nuts for the past few weeks trying to find something to help me make a decision. The only review I have found for the NEC is on PCMag: http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,1779197,00.asp

Not a great endorsement. The 930B can be had through Staples.com for $330 after two $70 rebates; one from Samsung, one from Staples.

Leaning towards the Samsung because of the price ... at least until I can receive some sort of definitive information about the LCD1970GX ...

 

[qtbird]

For what it's worth, I'm not a gamer, but do work on the pc all day. Also, have a nice 19" NEC crt at work that's serves me well.

Bought the 17" opticlear nec today at fry's. ~$400 after $50 rebate, incl tax and calif environmental disposal fee ($8). Couldn't be happier with it. The only problem is now I'm thinking $500 isn't so bad for the 19" (yikes)

Seriously looked at Sony's xbrite, price was better at Circuit City, but was put off by their re-stocking fee... I've been known to change my mind... and if I'm still this thrilled in a week or two, I may just exchange it for the 19".

It's tough making these decisions... so much out there to choose from... good luck, Katie

 

[kir1]

I linked to the PCMag review for the NEC and I agree it certainly wasn't a strong endorsement--if I only saw that review I would not buy the monitor. However, I really don't know what the reveiewer is talking about re: smearing of images. I have had the monitor for several weeks and I have not seen any ghosting whatsoever on CS:Source, Doom3, or Half-Life 2 using a DVI input. On the other hand, I agree about the reflection under direct lighting.

If you are trying to decide between the Samsung 930B and the NEC 1790gx, I think you have a difficult decision. From what I have read, the panel inside the NEC is actually a Samsung panel anyway.

I would say the decision comes down to what the monitor is for. For example, if you are going to use this monitor in an office next to a bright, big, open window, I think it would be a mistake to buy the NEC. If, however, you are going to put this monitor into a room without direct lighting, the NEC monitor is capable of making people stop and take a second look because the colors are so good.

It's all about choice. I am extremely happy with the NEC (and so is my wife).

 

[Auric]

The NEC is manufactured by NPG of Taiwan, perhaps with aforementioned Samsung panel. Smearing is commonplace even with fast FPD's when moving around in Windows and such, but not necessarily noticeable in games. Alas, the cheap anti-glare feature seems pretty much as I thought: counter-productive.

 

[felix5]

I found this thread after not being able to find any reviews for this monitor. I'm really tempted to buy this, because it has all the features I'm looking for that others like Samsung & BenQ don't have :

- good brand
- DVI
- adjustable height
- black frame and nice modern look
- USB hub <-- this one is a bonus!


Right now it is selling at futureshop for $649.99, with $50 rebate. Rebate ends May 5th. Will there be further discount in the next few weeks?

I know there are other good choices out there too, like Hyundai and such. But here in Canada we get very limited selection .. new hardware comes out months after everyone else in the world gets them. :-( And I want to buy from either FutureShop, Staples, or Best Buy so I can return it if I get dead pixels (unlike local mom and pop shops) and so that I can use my 20% off gift cards which make it $150 off or so.

 

[maddogatc]

I am in the same situation....Samsung 930b.....or NEC 1970gx. I saw the NEC's little brother (1770gx) at future shop and was amazed at the image quality over a Samsung 712n which was right next to it. The only annoying thing with the NEC was the reflection off the screen, but that was under full fluorescent store lighting. The colours and sharpness seemed superior over the Samsung with the anti glare screen. Couldn't tell how it looked while displaying FPS games as the store was only displaying windows. Now if only a review would come out on both to help me make a decision.

 

[felix5]

yeah, how does text quality compare with other monitors like the BenQ FP937? Text quality is very important to me since I'm always on forums and such.

 

[maddogatc]

Text seemed pretty sharp to me. It appeared sharper than the Samsung 712n.

 

[felix5]

That's the monitor I'm using now! Are you using the NEC with analog or DVI? The 712n is analog only.

 

[maddogatc]

The NEC was in the store and was hooked up using DVI. Anyways found a couple of reviews on the NEC that were not that good. Here is the link to the post in another area of the forum.

http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...&STARTPAGE=2&FTVAR_FORUMVIEWTMP=Linear

Now leaning towards the Hyundai L90D+ as it has been rated pretty good and uses the Samsung 8ms panel. Yet to see a review of the Samsung 930B. Here in Canada the Samsung can be found for about $600, were as the Hyundai for $472.