Recommendations requested for 19" LCD with full 16.7M colors

[songdog]

The story so far: My beloved 8 year old Iiyama 17" CRT died and I decided it was time to go to a 19" LCD. On the [mistaken] belief that it was a full 24 bit display I picked up a Sony SDMHS95P and tried it for a while. There was one dead subpixel, which to my surprise really didn't bother me, but I definitely noticed the dithering and banding from the 18-bit panel. I didn't want to pay $700 (minus $100 rebate) for an 18-bit display, so I returned it to Staples (they took the display back no questions asked). Until today I was planning on replacing it with a Samsung 930B--another nice 18-bit panel nearly $300 cheaper than the Sony--but I'm starting to think that the dithering will bother me a lot more than any ghosting from a slower 24-bit panel. I play games, including fast-paced games like the Unreal Tournament series, but I also do a lot with digital imaging and I think that color is more important than speed, although speed would be nice as well.

My question: I would love to see people's recommendations on 24-bit 19" LCDs. I'd prefer to spend $400 or less but could be talked into more for good enough reasons. I want great color, good enough speed, and a model that's sold at retail someplace with a decent return/exchange policy for pixel issues (Staples, Best Buy, maybe Circuit City). DVI input is also a must. Does anyone have any favorite displays along these lines? Have you done graphics work, played games, or watched movies on them? Any and all advice will be greatly appreciated.

 

[Kipa]

http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=31&threadid=1592913&enterthread=y

 

[songdog]

Thanks, Kipa, I overlooked your thread.

 

[songdog]

Kipa recommended the Viewsonic VP191b (or VP191s) in his thread and it sounds great but it doesn't seem to be sold at retail anywhere. a) I'd like to see one of these before I lay out $500 for one, and b) I'd like to buy it from a place where I can return or exchange it if it turns out to have dead pixels or other problems. Staples, CompUSA, Best Buy, and Circuit City will let you exchange with dead pixels. NewEgg, which I otherwise really like, requires 8 dead pixels, which would only occur in a pathologically bad panel.

So my question is still on the table. Perhaps there are other good full 24 bit panels worth considering per my original question, above? I remain grateful for Kipa's advice but until I can actually track down a VP191b I'm stuck with the same problem.