Need some help with LCDs

[sammyunltd]

Hi! I'm looking to buy a LCD (20.1" minimum). Frankly, I read tons of reviews and I read the buyer's guide, but it didn't help me choose a specific monitor. I mean, I don't know a thing about it and there is so much choice. That's why I need help.


I'd like to have a good monitor (good overall (desktop, movies) but also good in gaming) with a price under $400 USD (that would be the real maximum, I can't afford to spend more than that).

I already spotted some monitors, such as BenQ FP202W, LG L203WT, LG L204WT and the Viewsonic VX2025WM, but I can't choose between these ones.

Thank you!

EDIT: Also, is HDCP important?

 

[Atheus]

Originally posted by: sammyunltd
Hi! I'm looking to buy a LCD (20.1" minimum). Frankly, I read tons of reviews and I read the buyer's guide, but it didn't help me choose a specific monitor. I mean, I don't know a thing about it and there is so much choice. That's why I need help.


I'd like to have a good monitor (good overall (desktop, movies) but also good in gaming) with a price under $400 USD (that would be the real maximum, I can't afford to spend more than that).

I already spotted some monitors, such as BenQ FP202W, LG L203WT, LG L204WT and the Viewsonic VX2025WM, but I can't choose between these ones.

Thank you!

EDIT: Also, is HDCP important?

I don't have a specific recommendation, but you want the lowest possible response time (<=8ms for games. 4ms is ideal), and the highest possible resolution, brighness, and contrast ratio.

HDCP is the new DRM standard for HD video. Having it on your blu-ray/HD-DVD drive, vid card, _and_ monitor will allow you to play next gen video. Or more accurately, not having it will prevent you playing the video. Keep in mind there are no HDCP vid cards yet, nor are there HD drives.

If you plan on keeping this monitor for a few years you might want HDCP, however, I'm sure there will be some hackery which will allow the content to play regardless or hardware once HD becomes mainstream. I've never seen DRM work properly and I see no reason this should work either.

 

[sammyunltd]

I hate the LCD monitors market. There is no clear favorite. Every screen has its pros and cons. As for HDCP, I may keep this monitor for 2 to 3 years minimum.

Also, I dropped the BenQ an the LG L203WT, because the L204WT (available in 1-2 weeks) will be better and for the same price. Now what about Samsung? What about the 204B/T, 205BW (HDCP) and 215TW (HDCP)? Some says Samsung's are the best but I've read poor reviews about their models. I'm really confused...

About the Viewsonic VX2024WM, I'm not convinced, mainly because of the backlighting (movies).

My brain is melting...

I... need... help!

 

[xtknight]

HDCP is only really important if you plan on playing protected content on your monitor in the future. It's not high on my list at all personally, not in a screen under 23".

Samsung 204T - Focus on color reproduction (high contrast, no dither)/viewing angle but response time will be slower. It does support HDCP.

Samsung 204B - OK but not the best for gaming (average response time), relatively poor viewing angle. Colors are lower contrast and use dithering. Does not support HDCP.

BenQ FP202W - Not that great in any category. Rather poor reviews. Does not support HDCP.

Samsung 205BW - Viewing angle rather low, must dither. Not much is known about the contrast or response time since there haven't been many reviews. It does support HDCP.

Samsung 215TW - Extremely good overall monitor (high contrast, good viewing angle, no dither), but may be a tad slow if you are sensitive to response time. It does support HDCP and has tons of inputs.

Gateway FPD2185W - Not that bad. It has Faroudja video processing on the inputs but it has some grayscale (color reproduction) problems which keep it behind the 215TW. It does support HDCP.

LG L203WTX - I've read good things about it. Reasonable viewing angle, quite good adaptive contrast, but still must dither on colors. Response time should be good. But I notice dead pixels are very prevalent on this model, at least according to the Newegg reviews. Does not support HDCP(?).

NEC 20WMGX2 - Only one sentence is required for this one. "Just get it" if you can afford it and if your ambient lighting won't exacerbate the effects of the glossy screen (glare). Supports HDCP, has TV tuner and tons of inputs. High contrast, no dither, insane viewing angle, insane response time. If there was a favorite, this would be it.

ViewSonic VX2025WM - Great value. High contrast, low response time, no dither, wide viewing angle. Does not support HDCP.

ViewSonic VP2030b - Everything said about the VX2025WM applies, except this is a regular 20" (4:3), not widescreen. Higher price. Does not support HDCP.

Dell 2007WFP - Hard to judge since Dell is always changing their panels. Original revisions had color problems (banding), but the latest don't have them anymore if you use the Desktop mode. This is good overall but it just doesn't really stand out in any category. Response time is good for gaming, the viewing angle is wide (and great if you get the S-IPS panel). Contrast is good if you receive the P-MVA and reasonable if you receive the S-IPS. It has good resolution scaling options. Does not support HDCP.

Keep in mind some are 20.1", some are 21.0", and still some are 21.3". There's a regular aspect and a widescreen aspect too.

By the way, you can find lots of reviews here, even for the most obscure models like the 205BW. http://www.widescreengamingforum.com/fo...0&sid=fa7aa8dd4e05a3be148ba5b9a0f9a927

If I were in your position I would be considering the ViewSonic VX2025WM. The Samsung and NEC are over $400. You might be able to snag the Dell for under $400 but I would get the ViewSonic. I don't think it's any more likely to get backlight bleeding than the other models.

Edit: sorry, the 204T does support HDCP.

 

[sammyunltd]

Thank you sir! You really helped me a lot.

The ViewSonic VX2025WM is really my #1. It's a shame that I can't afford the NEC because I'd get it.

I will also consider the Samsung 215TW, the Dell and the LG L203WTX. About the Dell, how do you know if you have received the P-MVA and the S-IPS? Can you choose? About the Samsung 215TW, is the response time that bad for gaming?

 

[josh6079]

The Dell doesn't support HDCP? What other monitor is Dell going to offer to support it? Are they going to wait to 2009 to release one that will support such a feature?

 

[postmortemIA]

Originally posted by: sammyunltd
Thank you sir! You really helped me a lot.

The ViewSonic VX2025WM is really my #1. It's a shame that I can't afford the NEC because I'd get it.

I will also consider the Samsung 215TW, the Dell and the LG L203WTX. About the Dell, how do you know if you have received the P-MVA and the S-IPS? Can you choose? About the Samsung 215TW, is the response time that bad for gaming?

You won't consider 215TW if you are looking under $400. For that much only monitor you can get is 204B.

 

[sammyunltd]

Okay. Then, only the ViewSonic and the LG L203WTX. If I wait a little bit more, I could have enough money to buy the Samsung. My question now: Is it worth it? Are HDCP and the additional stuff of the 215TW worth the extra $150-200 CAD?

Apparently there's a new version of the L203WTX, called L204WT. It's on Futureshop.ca (Canadian shop).
http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/prodde...&spviewed=&newlang=EN&logon=&langid=FR

Apparently, the response time is faster and the contrast is better (2000:1). Can someone confirm this, cause I've not been able to look for this L204WT on any other North American web site?

 

[Fadey]

I own a VX2025WM and i dont have a back lighting issue , if u go to side abit sometimes it looks like bac lighting issues but if u sit in the center theres no problem.. alot of ppl assume its back lightning when its just abit of glare.

 

[n7]

Hmm, kewl to know my 204T has HDCP support.

May i ask where you get your HDCP info?

 

[sammyunltd]

About the LCD monitors we're talking about, do I need a recent GPU to have the DVI or VGA connection or is my ATi Radeon 9800 PRO OK?

I'm upgrading my computer in one or two month, that's why.