Should I upgrade my analogue LCD to a DVI screen?

[SickBeast]

I'm currently running a Samsung 171s 17" analogue LCD monitor. I'm very happy with it, but I'm certain there is much better stuff out there. My response time is 20ms, but I do not notice any ghosting.

In any event, I'm considering upgrading to a 19" Samsung LCD w/ DVI input and putting this screen on my computer at work to reduce my eyestrain level. Would this upgrade be worthwhile? Would I notice a substantial difference to warrant spending $800CDN or so? My one problem is that I would still be stuck at 1280x1024. My only options for 1600x1200 seem to be with the 20" and larger screens unfortunately. Any feedback would be much appreciated.

I've attached a poll to this just so I can get some numeric opinion feedback.

 

[SickBeast]

Lack of interest bump.

 

[mstegall]

well if your happy with the monitor and you want to buy something else i say spend the money elsewhere but if you have he money to spend just the extra two inches would be an upgrade in itself. Sorry i dont know much about the change between analog and dvi though.

 

[GeneralGrievous]

If you are going to upgrade your monitor I think you should go up to a dell 2001fp. It's probably around $1000 canadian, but it is a great screen.

 

[PrayForDeath]

Even if you get a 19" monitor with 1280x1024 native resolution, it will be better than 17" for your eyes if you use your PC for long hours.
As for DVI, I really don't know what is it for I hope someone would explain this for us

 

[matrixwalker2002]

If u ask me, I'd suggest you get the DVI Screen. I did that and I'm so glad I did. I used to have an analog screen and it was fine, but not as great as my DVI screen. Here's some key differences i'll run down the list for u.

1) Flat panel's are digital devices. Video cards are digital devices. VGA is an Analog Device and CRT's are also Analog devices. For a video card to send the signal to the monitor, it has to go through a Digital to Analog converter for the VGA port, so in this conversion, you do get a kinda degraded signal and it takes a split second longer. This is fine if u have a CRT Monitor, but if u got an analog LCD monitor, when the now analog signal reaches the LCD Monitor through the VGA cable, the monitor has to convert the analog signal back into digital, again, prolly losing some quality and taking some time.

2) In the case of DVI, none of those conversions exist. DVI is a digital signal, so the signal that starts on ur video card, which is digital, through the DVI port and DVI cable, reaches your monitor exactly as it originated, a digital signal. This way, all your monitor has to do is to follow the signal's orders and not have to convert the signal at all. This way, you get no degradation of your video signal and the signal reaches your monitor faster, so ghosting isn't that much of a problem with DVI, i've tested it both ways, and DVI is significantly faster.

3) If u get a DVI screen, you'll still have that spare VGA port, which, u can invest in a external TV box like the Nextvision N6 from viewsonic, which has component, S-video, composite video, and RF and basically convert your monitor into a TV as well as use it as a computer monitor, and u just switch the inputs by the push of a button.

BTW, the DVI port on your monitor is a PC version of DVI. Same goes for your video card. HDTV boxes that have DVI ports are NOT compatible out of the box with your computer monitor or your video card. Nor are HDTV's that have the DVI port compatible with computer monitor and video cards' DVI ports. HDTV and HDTV Boxes have a different typo DVI called the TV DVI version. They have different physical pin layouts. There are adapters available if u wish to use a TV as a monitor through the DVI port and such though. Good luck with your choices!

 

[SickBeast]

Wow, I just got PWNED by a Junior Member with only 12 posts. Thanks dude, very informative! :beer:

If you are going to upgrade your monitor I think you should go up to a dell 2001fp. It's probably around $1000 canadian, but it is a great screen.

On Dell Canada's website, the 2001FP goes for around $1500CDN.
I phoned Dell Canada, and I basically told the guy:

"I know that you can get the 2001FP for $749US right now, what's the deal?"
"Well, the cheapest we can sell it to you is for $1200CDN."

I should have pulled up the currency converter website and continued to haggle. $749 is around $1000CDN. I would buy the screen for that price. At $1200 it's very close to the price of the Samsung screens, and I would buy that instead. I wish they wouldn't rip us off up here. It's not like the screens cost them any more up here. :roll:

 

[Marsumane]

It really doesnt matter how many posts you really have on here. It means you are new to the forums, but not computers.
As far as your monitor goes, do you like how your image looks compared to the image of the other monitor you were looking at? If so, dont upgrade. It isnt like its night and day, just its a potentially better signal for those that demand the highest quality.