Need Help with Picking a Monitor

[Masahiro]

Hey guys, haven't been on here for a while, but still this is my favorite forum for opinions and help. Anyway I'm moving soon and I'll be switching from using my 55 inch lcdtv as my monitor for my PC to a new monitor in the process. I've been mulling it for a while and here's what my requirements are:

I'm considering getting one of the new Nvidia Lightboost LCD monitors because the rig will be shifted from being both media and gaming to more of a focus on gaming. I've read a bunch of reviews and from what I understand the only two monitors available that support lightboost are the Benq Tx2040 line (24 inch for around USD500) and the Asus VG278 (around USD 700). If I go this route I'd take the BenQ I think because:
A) significantly cheaper frankly, I'm not looking to spend 700 for a new monitor
B) They say that 1080p on a 27 inch monitor is really not that great a resolution given the size and viewing distance

If I don't go the path of 3D, I want to spend around USD300-350 MAX. I know a lot of people reccomend the Dell 2412M because of the aspect ratio and great screen so that was one option, I also considered several 27 inch asus monitors (though I'm not sure about them simply because it means 1080P in that price range).

So basically my questions boil down to:
A) Anyone who's used a lightboost lcd for 3d gaming, do you think it's good? Is it worth the pricetag at around 500USD? The reviews I've read have been fairly positive, though some say you do lose some of the colorspace as a result of it (which I can live with, I don't do any design or such on my PC), and sometimes in previous generations issues with screen uniformity.

B) What would you reccomend for me in the 300-350 range for a new monitor? I'd like to take a minimum of 24 inch personally but if there's some amazing monitor at 22 inch in my range that is really THAT much better than the 24 inch at the same price I'd consider.

C) Do you feel that 27 inch at 1080P is really not a high enough resolution? I've never used a screen at that size or resolution before so I'm not entirely sure, but I saw a few reviews saying that so I'm somewhat worried.

For anyone that's wondering about my specs for the 3D gaming aspect my rig can easily handle anything:

i7 960 with overclock to 4.4ghz (normally I keep it at stock tbh though)
Dual Gigabyte GTX 580s 1.5GB
120GB OCZ Vertex 3 SSD
6 GB Ram
2x2TB WD drives (One is Green and one is Black)
the GPUs and CPU are liquid cooled using 2 360MM rads and 1 480MM rad so it's nice and quiet.

All opinions are very much appreciated, thanks guys!

 

[richaron]

Plenty of peeps here are much more informed, but i'll give my 2 cents:

B) I usually recommend a ~$200 x1080 led\lcd, or something $500+. But I've also heard good things about the Dell 2412M.

C) I do think 27" is too large for x1080, but perhaps coming from a TV you wont notice.

When it comes right down to it, you have extremely powerful graphics cards and the only way to appreciate them fully is to crank up the resolution. I would be looking at 2560x1440 monitors like the HP ZR2740w which AT thought was pretty awesome. Though it's priced fairly high.

Edit: Sorry, i read your post properly and saw you only want to pay $350+ for 3d. Tho i still think higher resolution would balance those sweet graphics cards.

 

[mfenn]

I'm with richaron that your GPU setup really deserves a higher resolution than 1080P. The ZR2740w, for example. If you don't want to pay that much for a montior, I'd give you two pieces of advice:
- Don't spend $800-$1000 on GPUs again
- Look for a Samsung S23A700D

 

[Masahiro]

A higher resolution is nice, but honestly i'm fine with 1080p. The HP you listed has been mentioned on various sites and I've read mixed reviews regarding the coating of the panel, reading text, rainbow effects and some other issues. Furthermore at $680, it's well beyond what I'm willing to spend. Obviously a higher resolution has tangible benefits when it comes to gaming, but really only gaming (for me at least). Any videos you watch will be 1080p most. 3D monitors, on the other hand means you're playing at the same resolution but with 3D, which is seemingly more supported in games these days (be it nvidia profiles, or from the developer).

I spent that much on GPUs for a couple reasons: I don't want to have to upgrade again for a looong time (at least 3-5 years), I wanted SLI (just because), and as an added bonus i feel like 'm giving back by having the computer used in folding@home and other projects whenever i'm not on my PC.

As for the Samsung, I read into it and it doesn't natively support Nvidia 3d vision, but was made for AMD. Through some tweaks and modifications to the files you can make it kinda support nvidia, but I'd rather not have to go through that headache.

At this point I think I'm going to go with the BenQ XL2420TX, as it is 24 inches, 120 hz, comes with 3dvision2, and 1080p unless someone thinks there's something better out there?

 

[yinan]

Dell U3011

 

[Masahiro]

Please read my first post, that monitor is over 1200US on Amazon, well out of my budget

 

[richaron]

I understand the folding argument, and of course money is a consideration. The choice is always up to you.

Personally, I consider it a huge waste to have awesome graphics (in sli) & not make the most of them RIGHT NOW. Of course they'll be more "future proof"... but so is the next line of cards.

 

[tynopik]

Yamakasi Catleap Q270

 

[aaksheytalwar]

Honestly getting anything above a gtx 580 or 7950 max is a waste for 1080p if you want dual 580s then you need to get 1440p or just get a 680 and 1440p, would give a better experience

 

[mfenn]

A higher resolution is nice, but honestly i'm fine with 1080p. The HP you listed has been mentioned on various sites and I've read mixed reviews regarding the coating of the panel, reading text, rainbow effects and some other issues. Furthermore at $680, it's well beyond what I'm willing to spend. Obviously a higher resolution has tangible benefits when it comes to gaming, but really only gaming (for me at least). Any videos you watch will be 1080p most. 3D monitors, on the other hand means you're playing at the same resolution but with 3D, which is seemingly more supported in games these days (be it nvidia profiles, or from the developer).

I spent that much on GPUs for a couple reasons: I don't want to have to upgrade again for a looong time (at least 3-5 years), I wanted SLI (just because), and as an added bonus i feel like 'm giving back by having the computer used in folding@home and other projects whenever i'm not on my PC.

As for the Samsung, I read into it and it doesn't natively support Nvidia 3d vision, but was made for AMD. Through some tweaks and modifications to the files you can make it kinda support nvidia, but I'd rather not have to go through that headache.

At this point I think I'm going to go with the BenQ XL2420TX, as it is 24 inches, 120 hz, comes with 3dvision2, and 1080p unless someone thinks there's something better out there?

Most of the issues you mention with the ZR are due to people not being used to having such a high resolution display and being unfamiliar with the types of coatings used on high-end IPS panels. You seem to be vehemently opposed though, so I won't belabor the point.

I guess I should have clarified that you don't get a 120Hz monitor to do "3D" gaming, that's just a gimmick. You get a 120Hz monitor because it is much smoother at normal "2D" gaming.

 

[Masahiro]

I'm sorry if I came off vehemently opposed, I'm definitely not lol. Tynopik the monitor you linked me to definitely intrigued me, but is there anywhere that this monitor has been reviewed? A 27 inch 2560 display at that price point is definitely something to consider.

Let me ask you guys this question then, which do you think yields more benefit:

A higher resolution (2560) display, or 120hz refresh rate?

Right now I think I'm going to go for the BenQ Xl2420TX because that means I could use my ps3 on it for 3d (less important), have a 120 hz refresh rate and a good 3d monitor with the new glasses for 500 bucks on a 24 inch 1080p screen. I'm still considering the ZR and the Yamasaki, though the latter would depend on how long they need to release the 100hz model.

 

[mfenn]

IMHO the resolution is more important. It gives you a very nicely detailed picture in games and acres of desktop real estate outside of games. Once you get used to the amount of space available on a 2560 wide monitor, you will wonder how you ever put up with 1920 wide monitors. (At least that's my experience.)