NEC 30" in person...

[Anomaly1964]

So I went to CompUsa tonight to look at the 30" NEC they had. They first hooked it up to their "gamer" system that surprisingly had xfire amd cards in it. What was really odd is that it looked HORRIBLE at 2560x1440. Images looked ok but font was almost unreadable.

Then we hooked it up to a newer Gateway that had an i-920 and a GTX 460...TONS better, odd right?

I took a movie to watch on it and it looked pretty good but to be honest it didnt WOW me that much over my iH282.

I mean if I am going to pay over $1000 for a monitor, I better freaking get HARD (per se)!

So, was viewing this monitor w/o two 570's in SLI not fair to it?

Would the Dell be any different?

What would have made my experience...better?

 

[Castiel]

Why must you even have a 30" monitor? Why not just do 3 24"?

 

[Anomaly1964]

Why must you even have a 30" monitor? Why not just do 3 24"?

Well I think the higher resolution would rock, other than a 30", do smaller sizes go 2560x1440?

I want vibrant, smooth, an "oh crap did you see that" graphical experience when I am gaming...

 

[mnewsham]

So I went to CompUsa tonight to look at the 30" NEC they had. They first hooked it up to their "gamer" system that surprisingly had xfire amd cards in it. What was really odd is that it looked HORRIBLE at 2560x1440. Images looked ok but font was almost unreadable.

Then we hooked it up to a newer Gateway that had an i-920 and a GTX 460...TONS better, odd right?

I took a movie to watch on it and it looked pretty good but to be honest it didnt WOW me that much over my iH282.

I mean if I am going to pay over $1000 for a monitor, I better freaking get HARD (per se)!

So, was viewing this monitor w/o two 570's in SLI not fair to it?

Would the Dell be any different?

What would have made my experience...better?

Playing actual games on it could make it better. A movie lets you see how moving stuff looks, but it just isn't gaming. And finding a computer at CompUSA that could run a good looking game at good framerates could be a problem. Then again it could just be that IPS isn't for you. You might not have eyesight good enough needed to differentiate between panel types or the things IPS panels excel at just aren't important for you so you don't notice the difference.

 

[mnewsham]

Well I think the higher resolution would rock, other than a 30", do smaller sizes go 2560x1440?

I want vibrant, smooth, an "oh crap did you see that" graphical experience when I am gaming...

27" is 2560x1440 30" is 2560x1600

 

[Grooveriding]

27" is 2560x1440 30" is 2560x1600

Yes.

Are you sure the 30" was always set to 2560x1600 ?

Anything but native resolution and my 30" looks terrible.

 

[Anomaly1964]

27" is 2560x1440 30" is 2560x1600

Would I need (2) 570s for a 27inch a 2560x1440?

Now I did see a 27inch Apple Cinema, it had a GLOSSY finish, seemed to BLING more, maybe my eye likes that over matt?

 

[Anomaly1964]

Yes.

Are you sure the 30" was always set to 2560x1600 ?

Anything but native resolution and my 30" looks terrible.

Yes, it was set to 2560x1600, I just mixed up the numbers...

Again, it looked like CRAP on xfire amd's and TONS better on the single 460...

 

[mnewsham]

Would I need (2) 570s for a 27inch a 2560x1440?

Now I did see a 27inch Apple Cinema, it had a GLOSSY finish, seemed to BLING more, maybe my eye likes that over matt?

The difference between 1920x1080 and 1920x1200 is like the difference between 2560x1440 and 2560x1600 You need one GPU for 1920x1080 or 1920x1200 You would need TWO gpu's for 2560x1440 OR 2560x1600

 

[96Firebird]

Again, it looked like CRAP on xfire amd's and TONS better on the single 460...

I'm thinking this may have to do with MLAA and how it effects text... Is that only in games, or is it in effect at all times? I don't see a reason for them to look very different, were they both hooked up via the same adapter type (ie DVI, HDMI, etc...)?

 

[Anomaly1964]

I'm thinking this may have to do with MLAA and how it effects text... Is that only in games, or is it in effect at all times? I don't see a reason for them to look very different, were they both hooked up via the same adapter type (ie DVI, HDMI, etc...)?

I didnt see any games but on the desktop and on the net the text looked terrible on xfire...

 

[Zap]

I didnt see any games but on the desktop and on the net the text looked terrible on xfire...

This still sounds like a resolution issue. Windows desktop pretty much looks the same on any modern card.

 

[Anomaly1964]

This still sounds like a resolution issue. Windows desktop pretty much looks the same on any modern card.

Both were set to the highest resolution...

 

[BFG10K]

What was really odd is that it looked HORRIBLE at 2560x1440. Images looked ok but font was almost unreadable.

Probably because it's not the native resolution for 30", 2560x1600 is.

 

[Athadeus]

I mean if I am going to pay over $1000 for a monitor, I better freaking get HARD (per se)!

I want vibrant, smooth, an "oh crap did you see that" graphical experience when I am gaming...

If you want to blow $1000 for experiences as described, there are substances which can give you such experiences.

I haven't personally seen any display which looked significantly better than my 3.5 year old Samsung 226BW still, and I highly doubt you will find any value in upgrading your monitor currently. Well, I guess my Panasonic 50" G15 plasma playing my better Blu-rays looks the best I've ever seen, but that is mostly an unfair content comparison.

 

[nitromullet]

Which NEC 30" are you talking about for "over $1k"? The only two I'm aware of, the LCD3090WQXi and the new PA301W-BK, are both more in the $2k range. When I think "over $1k", I think more along the lines of $1100 or maybe $1200.

 

[Dadofamunky]

Just get three of these muvvas for a poor man's solution...

 

[mnewsham]

Which NEC 30" are you talking about for "over $1k"? The only two I'm aware of, the LCD3090WQXi and the new PA301W-BK, are both more in the $2k range. When I think "over $1k", I think more along the lines of $1100 or maybe $1200.

It is the LCD3090WQXI-BK, it is an open box item at CompUSA. It is about 1,300 or so.

 

[nitromullet]

It is the LCD3090WQXI-BK, it is an open box item at CompUSA. It is about 1,300 or so.

I see. NEC usually has refurb LCD3090WQXi LCDs for less that on their site. They just re-did their site this week and it looks like it's being a little wonky ATM, so I can't link. I just bought a refurb PA271W-BK a few days ago. It is supposed to get delivered this Monday. It was just under $800 shipped w/ tax, so I have my fingers crossed that it turns out being in new condition as they claim.

 

[Anomaly1964]

I see. NEC usually has refurb LCD3090WQXi LCDs for less that on their site. They just re-did their site this week and it looks like it's being a little wonky ATM, so I can't link. I just bought a refurb PA271W-BK a few days ago. It is supposed to get delivered this Monday. It was just under $800 shipped w/ tax, so I have my fingers crossed that it turns out being in new condition as they claim.

Hmmm, I'll check that out...thanks!

 

[james1701]

Was it a regular dvd you were watching? With regular dvd format you are dependant on either the scaler in the monitor, or the drivers for the video card. Either way, its going to have some extra fuss in it, but its the color thats going to rock. Look at Avatar, that is my best example. Not only are the people blue, they go through about 5 different shades of blue during the movie, depending on whats going on, and the jungle and animals are drool worthy.

Also, did you look at what the graphics card settings were? Someone else may have changed something, or it could be a store setting, just trying to sell more Nvidia cards.

Also, depending on what your playing, you don't need two cards for many games, but it will make it a better experience.

 

[Rhezuss]

They first hooked it up to their "gamer" system that surprisingly had xfire amd cards in it.

I didnt see any games but on the desktop and on the net the text looked terrible on xfire...

Why are you so eager to bash AMD/Crossfire? Just because you posted 124578 posts when you were looking up for a build and now you have a 570?

Yeah AMD sucks...

Sorry, morning grumpyness.

 

[Anomaly1964]

Why are you so eager to bash AMD/Crossfire? Just because you posted 124578 posts when you were looking up for a build and now you have a 570?

Yeah AMD sucks...

Sorry, morning grumpyness.

Was it one hundred and twenty four thousand plus? That is excessive...sorry.

And I'm not bashing AMD, just calling it like I see it. I was playing another game about 3 years ago on a new gateway that had an ATI card in it, the game would not play well on the card. Got an Nvidia card and not one issue. So yeah, two offenses don't make for a credible case study but again, just relating actual experience, not opinion...

 

[Rhezuss]

Was it one hundred and twenty four thousand plus? That is excessive...sorry.

And I'm not bashing AMD, just calling it like I see it. I was playing another game about 3 years ago on a new gateway that had an ATI card in it, the game would not play well on the card. Got an Nvidia card and not one issue. So yeah, two offenses don't make for a credible case study but again, just relating actual experience, not opinion...

Understand and now that I had my morning coffee I can express myself a little more politely

I have used ATI cards since my HD 4850 to my HD 6850. Always had great graphics and performance in any games I played. Before that I was a nVidia user and my last nVidia was a 9600GT. I made the switch at that time just out of curiosity and to be honest I didn't see any image quality difference (hard to compare though since the 9600GT and HD 4850 are not on the same step performance wise).

Sorry you had bad luck with your ATI cards cause I think they're really interesting.

I ordered 2 days ago a GTX 560 Ti with the same thinking as when I got the 4850, just out of curiosity. I want to try what nVidia again.

Again, sorry for my morning attitude hahah!

 

[Anomaly1964]

Understand and now that I had my morning coffee I can express myself a little more politely

I have used ATI cards since my HD 4850 to my HD 6850. Always had great graphics and performance in any games I played. Before that I was a nVidia user and my last nVidia was a 9600GT. I made the switch at that time just out of curiosity and to be honest I didn't see any image quality difference (hard to compare though since the 9600GT and HD 4850 are not on the same step performance wise).

Sorry you had bad luck with your ATI cards cause I think they're really interesting.

I ordered 2 days ago a GTX 560 Ti with the same thinking as when I got the 4850, just out of curiosity. I want to try what nVidia again.

Again, sorry for my morning attitude hahah!

Nah, you're all good man, forums are no place for folks with thin skin, so sometimes you just gonna mouth off...