Some Specific Questions on LCD Monitors for Gaming

[Starbuck1975]

I am in the market for an LCD monitor, primarily for gaming, as my Samsung 900NF is starting to loose color clarity...but hey, its had a long life.

In choosing an LCD, I have narrowed down my choices to the following:

20.1" Widescreen
Viewsonic 2025wm
Dell UltraSharp 2007WFP
NEC MultiSync 20WMGX2


19"
Samsung 940B
Viewsonic VX922
NEC MultiSync 90GX2

Please note that I removed my prior questions, as others have answered them for me already in this thread. The problem I am now having is first deciding between 19" & 20.1", and then from that choice, narrowing down to one of the monitors on each list.

All of these monitors come well reviewed and recommended, so I am interested in keeping this poll updated with comments from those who own these monitors, and the experiences they have had gaming with them.

 

[BassBomb]

as long as you run on the native resolutions on the LCD's question 2 wont be a problem..

when u run lower resolutions it will scale, unless you use DVI and set it up so it creates black bars instead

 

[Starbuck1975]

That is what I expected on the scaling issue when using the DVI connector.

I did a little research on the Viewsonic monitor...apparently their monitors come with a 3 year warranty, which is fairly generous...anyone have experience with their warranties when it comes to dead pixel or back lighting issues that emerge?

 

[vois2]

Starbuck --
For a monitor which will see most of its use for gaming as you described, you don't want anything but the VX922. You get native resolution at 1280 and it scales EXTREMELY well. The VX922 never has a response time of greater than 10ms. This extreme 'slow' of 10ms beats the average of most other monitor's real and true average latency. 3 year warranty, as you mentioned.

 

[Starbuck1975]

The VX922 definitely comes well reviewed...I actually got to compare the VX922 to the 2025wm...honestly, both were beautiful monitors in terms of color intensity and clarity...although it appears the VX922 is more the gamers option.

But for some reason, 20.1" of monitor goodness is an appealing option, considering that the price differential between the two is negligeable.

Anyone else want to chime in?

 

[dfloyd]

Never used the VX922 but am the proud owner of two 20.1" Widescreen monitors and I personally will never go back.

I have never heard of the dead pixel issue you spoke of and have yet to honestly see a dead pixel on either of the two 20.1" lcds I have owned. The first was a Dell 2005 FPW and the current is the Sceptre X20. The Dell was a amazing monitor, only parted with it because someone offered me a good deal for it. Also speaking of Warranty Dell is one of the best in the business when it comes to LCDs. At least as I have read they are, I never had to personally use the service. The problem when purchasing a LCD through mailorder is you can end up with a very annoying dead pixel, places like Newegg require I think at least 8 dead pixels before you can do a exchange. Dell does not, at least within the first thirty days, you can exchange for just about any reason including one dead pixel and imo thats a very valueable service considering.

Without being able to see the VX922 I cant honestly comment on it, but I can say I have never saw any ghosting, backlighting, or other issues with the two widescreens I have had. The Dell was more adjustable and like I say text looked a little bit better, plus I liked the buttons better on the Dell (Got the Sceptre as a gift so was not a second choice necessarily). I have not seen anything on Dells newest 20.1 but am sure if its any kind of improvement on the 2005 FPW it can only be getting even nicer. As far as streching goes some games do strecth some, but most all newer games and all new games coming out nativly support wide screen gaming, and even if some dont many patchs or work arounds to make them do so are found. I personally will never go back to standard square monitor, the extra FOV and immersion is just much much nicer imo.

But if its at all possible I highly suggest trying to find a way to see the monitor you choose, it really helps with the decision. One reason I say this is people are very different in what they like and dont. Some swear they can see Ghosting clearly on a eight ms monitor, I have 15-15 natural vision (Never had nor needed glasses) and I just dont see how as the 16 ms dell and the current 8ms Sceptre I have has absolutly zero ghosting that I can see. But people are different and I am sure certain things are more noticeable to some than others, so again if at all possible try very hard to see the monitor you decide to purchase, before you purchase it.

Good luck friend.

 

[Starbuck1975]

Thanks for the inputs so far. As I suspected, there appear to be compelling arguments for going either the 19" or 20.1" route.

Dell certainly isnt out of the running yet, although I am somewhat wary of going with a monitor sight unseen...but you can typically find the Dell monitors at huge rebates on a periodic basis, even with a 5 year warranty.

Regardless of the manufacturer, most warranties specify that they will use refurbished parts for replacement...unless I go with say a retail store and get a replacement plan, but that adds $100 to the MSRP price and another $70 to $100 for the extended warranty...always better deals to be found online.

 

[Starbuck1975]

Just noticed that the maximum resolution for the VX922 is 1280x1024
and the VX2025wm is 1680x1050...so the widescreen provides a higher max resolution, which does have some implications for gaming correct?

 

[BassBomb]

gaming on a higher resolution or an awkward resolution isnt too good, because you need a good card and/or good games that have strong resolution support

1280 doesnt require a top of the line card, but u cant get anything less than a 6600GT and expect to play at native

 

[Starbuck1975]

Part of my system upgrade will include a new video card.

Given the resolution limitations of going LCD, perhaps a 7800GT or 7900GT would be sufficient, where an X1900 ATI card would be overkill?

 

[xtknight]

Originally posted by: Starbuck1975
Part of my system upgrade will include a new video card.

Given the resolution limitations of going LCD, perhaps a 7800GT or 7900GT would be sufficient, where an X1900 ATI card would be overkill?

No card's overkill for any reasonably sized monitor these days. X1900 for 17" is a good choice even, given how complex games will get very soon in terms of shaders, etc.

I would never think my 7800GT would have trouble keeping up with my 17" or 19" 1280x1024 LCD monitors but boy was I wrong. If I wish to play at native, VSync@75Hz, with all high texture filtering settings, supersampling gamma-corrected AA, it simply can't keep up in some games like Battlefield 2, triple buffering or not.

 

[xtknight]

The VX922 is undisputedly better than the VX2025WM in terms of solely response time (certainly at least in lower color range transitions), but whether you'll notice the ghosting on either is debatable and if you don't notice it on the VX2025WM you might as well go for that because it would have much better contrast and viewing angles.

 

[Cygnus X1]

Just look up VX922 and you will find a post I made this week. I just ordered it from Newegg and will give reviews when I get it. The VX922 is the only monitor for gaming as Toms hardware sees it. I'm thinking of buying another wide screen down the road for movies and what not, but as for gaming VX922 FTW!!!!

 

[Starbuck1975]

Just look up VX922 and you will find a post I made this week. I just ordered it from Newegg and will give reviews when I get it. The VX922 is the only monitor for gaming as Toms hardware sees it. I'm thinking of buying another wide screen down the road for movies and what not, but as for gaming VX922 FTW!!!!

I actually saw your post earlier this week, and also read the review on Tom's hardware. I have seen other reviews on a variety of sites that claim of the 20.1" crop, the VX2025wm is the best for gaming in terms of price value and quality.

It may be a matter of personal preference, but I would be interested to read your review once you spend some quality time with the monitor.

Again, seeing the VX922 next to the VX2025wm, I didnt see a noticeable difference in terms of clarity or color...although the VX922 did appear a bit darker for some reason. Also, because I play a lot of RTS games, the viewing area of a widescreen is certainly attractive.

The widescreen option does appeal to me, but the VS922 isn't exactly a compromise in terms of viewing size either.

I would never think my 7800GT would have trouble keeping up with my 17" or 19" 1280x1024 LCD monitors but boy was I wrong. If I wish to play at native, VSync@75Hz, with all high texture filtering settings, supersampling gamma-corrected AA, it simply can't keep up in some games like Battlefield 2, triple buffering or not.

That is really good information to know...there was a time where buying a high end card guaranteed you at least one year, if not two, of excellence performance...seems that games are moving as fast as technology...although I would hate to drop $500 on an X1900XT and have to face another upgrade decision in a year. $300 is a much easier pill to swallow, but perhaps not the best if the 7800GT is already becoming outdated.

 

[dfloyd]

Although true again you still need to actually look at games on both of them. I can run games at non native resolutions on the wide screens that I have tried and they still look very good. I believe native resolution was alot more important originally and although still nice, not near as possible as it used to be without a top end card. Heck try running Oblivion with all max settings at 1680 x 1050, I would say its possible with a single high end Ati card but its going to slow down a good bit at that res (At least this is judging by the reviews I have seen, dont own a high end Ati myself).

Again this is just me though, you may not like the look of scaled down games (I cant see the difference unless its something like Diablo II which only has a very old max res). In most games running 1280x720 w/ FSAA looks very good as well. I came over to LCD from a high end Mitsubishi 20" monitor so I know what a monitor should look like and imo (Again you really need to look at games yourself and scale them yourself and make sure you have no problems with this, it sounds like you have access to one so go try it out some more if you can) the extra speed of the VX922 means nothing. As the speed of both of the 20.1's I have tried is plenty good enough. And imo the wide viewing area is much more impressive, much more appreciated, and just basically much more overall than a little bit faster response time. Its like getting 70 fps with one and 80 with the other, really hard to notice a difference without testing software. But in actual use it wont make any difference, at least it doesnt to me.

Again good luck with your choice and make sure and give us a review once you decide.

 

[Starbuck1975]

At this point, I think I am leaning towards the 20.1".

Now, I just want to wait for some more reviews to come in...or at least a few head to head comparisons of the Dell 2007WFP and Viewsonic 2025wm.

 

[Cygnus X1]

Originally posted by: Starbuck1975
At this point, I think I am leaning towards the 20.1".

Now, I just want to wait for some more reviews to come in...or at least a few head to head comparisons of the Dell 2007WFP and Viewsonic 2025wm.

Well I guess your more of a movie watcher than a true FPS gamer. That's ok good luck with your widescrren.

 

[Starbuck1975]

Well I guess your more of a movie watcher than a true FPS gamer. That's ok good luck with your widescrren.

Actually I dont watch any games on my computer...but I did have an opportunity to see what a RTS game looks like in widescreen, and it blew me away.

As my gaming tends to shift between FPS, RTS and RPGs...the widescreen would definitely be of benefit to the latter two.

Still not sold yet...waiting on some more reviews before making the plunge.

 

[dfloyd]

Originally posted by: Cygnus X1

Originally posted by: Starbuck1975
At this point, I think I am leaning towards the 20.1".

Now, I just want to wait for some more reviews to come in...or at least a few head to head comparisons of the Dell 2007WFP and Viewsonic 2025wm.

Well I guess your more of a movie watcher than a true FPS gamer. That's ok good luck with your widescrren.

I am sorry friend but I dont understand your comment? Why would you be a movie watcher with a 20.1" widescreen instead of a FPS gamer (Huge FPS Gamer here)?

Just because the other monitor has a faster response time does not mean anything, unless this person is one of those rare people who see ghosting on almost every lcd. Both my Dell 2005FPW and my current Sceptre Xg20 Naga III have no discernable ghosting at all and I have perfect eye sight. So what benefit would I have by having a faster response time considering I see no ghosting at all now? I mean discernable and noticeable difference, not just faster as that has no relevance if its not noticeable to the user. Like I said, the difference between 70 and 80 fps is hardly noticeable by most users.

But imo, like the person above stated, the extra real estate is very noticeable. Not a slight difference, but a big difference especially in some games. I love it in FPS, RTS, and RPGs. I also love it when surfing the net. So again I dont understand why you would call someone a movie watcher if they chose a widescreen (Because its widescreen) over another monitor thats only benefit is a faster response time, which to an apparent majority would be hardly even noticeable, if noticeable at all. Thats why I asked the OP to go look at them and see if he can notice the difference, if he can it would be annoying, but if like me he cant then I honestly think he would be alot happier with the extra real estate.

 

[Cygnus X1]

For me I need the best. Right now the best is the VX922 for online or offline FPS games period! I'm not slamming widescreen and I may look into buying the 2007 later this year for my dual screen desires, but for now all I can pass on is the facts.

 

[Starbuck1975]

I know it is a different monitor, but I actually got a chance to play with the Apple 20.1" widescreen...they had Tron 2.0 loaded on the system at the Apple store, so I decided to play a level or two.

If I was really paying attention, I could sometimes notice ghosting...but overall, it didnt seem to take away from the gaming experience.

 

[Starbuck1975]

Now w/polling goodness and an updated OP.

 

[Cygnus X1]

Originally posted by: Starbuck1975
Now w/polling goodness and an updated OP.

Dude for gaming the VX922 is a no brainer and it's 329.00 at newegg right now. I'll have mine tomarrow. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16824116375
All those reviews can't be wrong. I've read nothing but love for this panel for gaming, period!

Read this-http://www.tomshardware.com/2006/03/27/...spring_2006_lcd_collection/page33.html

 

[Starbuck1975]

All those reviews can't be wrong. I've read nothing but love for this panel for gaming, period!

I read the review on Tom's hardware. While it states that this is the fastest monitor for gaming purposes, the VX922 didn't receive glowing reviews for color, ergonomic and design. I think I mentioned this earlier, but in a side by side comparison to some of the other monitors on my prospective list, the VX922's color and contrast were not as impressive.

I have seen the VX922 on a number of occasions in a variety of stores, and it didn't impress me enough to take some of the 20.1" options off the table.

If the VX922 was $200 to $300 cheaper then going 20.1", it would be a no brainer...that some fairly competitve 20.1" LCDs are coming in around $100 more then the VX922 makes them a bit more attractive.

The only 20.1" that is in a different price bracket is the NEC MGX2...but it is a beautiful monitor.

 

[darXoul]

I didn't vote but I can tell you that while all the listed monitors are good, I would definitely choose one of the NECs:

-> 20WMGX2 if you mostly play games that support widescreen, forced or out of the box (FPS, MMORPG)

-> 90GX2 if you often play games that don't support widescreen (sports, racing, adventure, space sim).