Need advice choosing a 1280X1024 LCD

[DerelictDev]

My new build

E6400
DS3 MB
2GB PDP DDR2 800
MSI 1900XTX 512mb

I use my computer mainly for gaming as well as some movie watching and school work.
I want to buy a 1280X1024 native res. LCD b/c at the time being I'll be able to play almost any game at maxed settings and future games w/o any issues @ this resolution. If i go a step up to 1680X1050 I worry that i won't be able to play games at the quality i want them to be at.

The monitors i have in mind are as follows

1. Viewsonic VP930B or VX924
2. Samsung SyncMaster 940BF
3. LG L1970HR
4. NEC MultiSync 90GX2
5. BenQ FP93GX

I've always been a fan of viewsonic but am warry of their backlight/ bleeding issues. The VX924 looks to be a good choice for gamers but how is the coloring on it?

What would you guys recommend and why?
Price range up to $350

 

[xtknight]

I would give the Samsung 940BX a try. It's probably better than the 940BF. If you're scared of trying that (lack of reviews right now) then the 940BF/FP93GX/L1970HR are certainly the best. I wouldn't bother with the VP930b, or any 17" monitor like the 70GX2 these days. The VP930b isn't up to par with the latest TNs anymore. If you wonder what I'd do, I'd take the chance on the 940BX and in the rare case it actually is worse, eat the 15% restocking fee. You say you have up to $350 and the 940BX is $275 so there's some wiggle room there if worse comes to worst. I doubt it though. The BX is supposed to be top of the line.

1280x1024->1680x1050 is about a 34.5% increase in area so you're probably right about the max quality/res part.

It's hard choosing the best of those, but if not the BX then I'd probably get the 940BF or LG L1970HR. The LG has adaptive contrast which is kind of cool for gaming. If I was a big gamer I'd get that, otherwise, the 940BF.

I'd knock the VX924 off the list just like the VP930b at the moment. Just too old to be competitive with the best. I've been disappointed with ViewSonic on numerous factors. Poor support, annoying monitor OSD/alerts, backlight bleeding, poor midtone color reproduction, false advertising ("HD-720p" mode when it does not exist on the monitor scaler), DVI "standby" problems on the VX, poor response time control in some color tones. They are good "value" monitors and have a low amount of dead pixels though (like BenQ and Acer). Ergonomics on them are good too but I refuse to believe they're top-of-the-line like they used to be (or not).

 

[DerelictDev]

Thanks for the insight and the 70GX2 was a mistype, i meant 90GX2. The 940BX looks like a great choice and at a good price, it may just be the monitor ill go for but before i hit buy anyone else like to give some opinions?

 

[CP5670]

The 90GX2 is a pretty good compromise between speed and IQ (not as fast as some of the others, but its glossy coating makes it look far better in my opinion), although it is a bit pricey for a 19" display. The 940BX looks like a good option at that price though.

 

[NoStateofMind]

by "Glossy Coating" are you reffering to glass? If not (and I don't want to thread hijack, so please forgive) Which one's have a glass covering in that price range? Thanks guys

 

[xtknight]

Only the 90GX2 has the glossy coating. In fact it may be the only 19" except maybe a couple Acer CrystalBrites. Sony had some too but I was not impressed.

 

[CP5670]

I think all LCD have an anti-reflection panel of some sort, although I could be wrong there. I meant the Opticlear/Xbrite/etc. coating that appears on a few desktop LCDs (mostly the NEC consumer models) and many laptop ones. The 90GX2 is the best choice for around $300 if you want the coating. I think some of the Acer models may have it too, but there is very little information available on them.

[edit] never mind, didn't see xtknight's post.

 

[NoStateofMind]

Do the Dell Ultrasharp's have the ant-glare coating? And who actually makes their displays anyway?


<King of hijacking threads, hangs head in shame >

 

[xtknight]

Originally posted by: PC Surgeon
Do the Dell Ultrasharp's have the ant-glare coating? And who actually makes their displays anyway?

They don't have OptiClear coating but they do have "Antiglare with hard-coating 3H". I don't know what the 3H means. Every LCD I've seen has some type of anti-glare, or at least the surface they used was very resistant to glare.

Well, they include everything from Samsung and LG to AUO panels, but who actually manufacturers the display itself I'm not sure. Some no-name company in China, Korea, or Indonesia probably. But apparently they have close relations as they were able to fix the banding problem in quite a reasonable time.

 

[DerelictDev]

Well thanks xtknight, I went with your advice and bought the new Samsung 940BX, lets hope it does the job!