What's the BEST LCD Monitor I can get for ~$650?

[MrX8503]

you should look into gateway's 21" LCD. the specs are similar to dells, but it has HDCP. This would make your monitor future proof being able to view bluray HD content.

 

[Zebo]

Another minor thing that makes me think L2000C is OD S-IPS is the side view of monitor.. like NEC it's wide body...must be something to do with internal electronics.. I wish LG/Phipis would list thier new panels on oem site.. http://www.lgphilips-lcd.com/homeContain/jsp/eng/prd/prd200_j_e.jsp THEY DON'T EVEN HAVE 20 THERE IN NEC..

OTOH it has half the contrast and less bright than NEC but that could simply be NEC has the "advanced DV mode" and chooses different backlights.

I wish Frys had this but if I order on-line I will pay 15% restock + shipping for complete return...

http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?name=LG-L2000C

 

[Zebo]

Originally posted by: MrX8503
you should look into gateway's 21" LCD. the specs are similar to dells, but it has HDCP. This would make your monitor future proof being able to view bluray HD content.

Gateway ok - I did'nt like it when i saw at my brothers house...e got it at compUSA with a bundle and ATI R700 graphic... I did'nt get a chance to do complete testing but it's no match for NEC which also seems to be HDCP ready. It's 1" bigger which is cool. It's a PVA and has all it's downfalls.. weaker color and poor view angle.

 

[xtknight]

Originally posted by: darXoul
- the glossy coating may bother me;

Hmmm...I wouldn't worry about it unless you have bright lights. If you do, turn them down or reposition them and it should remedy the problem.

- 20" wide = fairly small vertically, roughly equivalent to 19" CRT;

I'd take it. I find my 19" LCD too big in height to be honest.

- 1680*1050 = no possibility to go down easily to a 4:3 resolution without horizontal bars (further reducing the image size) like on 23 inchers where you can go down from 1920*1200 to 1600*1200 if the game doesn't support widescreen;

I guess that's right...never thought about that.

- the LG L2000C isn't available in Poland yet, besides it could be a tad slower with its 8 ms g2g response time - and on S-PVA, the difference between 6 ms and 8 ms is HUGE;
- no one really knows when monitors equipped with the new 23" 6 ms S-IPS panel will be released.

Crap

What to do? What would you suggest, Zebo, xtknight and others?

Grab the 20WGX2 and if you find something you loathe about it, return it. You live in Poland where you can return without restocking fees right (unless I misinterpreted one of your posts)? I think you'll end up liking widescreen. While I've never used it myself, it offers a great horizontal span of vision and the difference vertically is negligible at best.

Maybe there's some acceptable scaling mode where it can make 1680x1050 out of 1600x1200. Wouldn't fixed aspect ratio scaling work (though sacrificing 150 pixels vertically and having black bars for 80 horizontally)? You'll have to ask Zebo about that I guess.

Remember (I say this again), the LG does not have the advanced automatic contrast adjustment like the NEC does. That could be making a huge difference in colors. But maybe not, I don't know. If the L2000C appears in Poland within 2 weeks, give it a test drive. If not, just get the 20WGX2.

 

[Zebo]

advanced automatic contrast adjustment

I turned that feature off - did'nt like it.. seems to be a slight delay I notice in 2d enviroment ..like minimizing this web browser I'm on with it's white background.. The task bar will dull because of my black desktop.. I don't like to be "controlled" like that.

 

[xtknight]

Originally posted by: Zebo

advanced automatic contrast adjustment

I turned that feature off - did'nt like it.. seems to be a slight delay I notice in 2d enviroment ..like minimizing this web browser I'm on with it's white background.. The task bar will dull because of my black desktop.. I don't like to be "controlled" like that.

Well, there you have it then. darXoul: Just hope that a 20" AS-IPS comes along soon or just grab the 20WGX2.

 

[Zebo]

Originally posted by: xtknight

Originally posted by: darXoul
- the glossy coating may bother me;

Hmmm...I wouldn't worry about it unless you have bright lights. If you do, turn them down or reposition them and it should remedy the problem.

- 20" wide = fairly small vertically, roughly equivalent to 19" CRT;

I'd take it. I find my 19" LCD too big in height to be honest.

- 1680*1050 = no possibility to go down easily to a 4:3 resolution without horizontal bars (further reducing the image size) like on 23 inchers where you can go down from 1920*1200 to 1600*1200 if the game doesn't support widescreen;

I guess that's right...never thought about that.

- the LG L2000C isn't available in Poland yet, besides it could be a tad slower with its 8 ms g2g response time - and on S-PVA, the difference between 6 ms and 8 ms is HUGE;
- no one really knows when monitors equipped with the new 23" 6 ms S-IPS panel will be released.

Crap

What to do? What would you suggest, Zebo, xtknight and others?

Grab the 20WGX2 and if you find something you loathe about it, return it. You live in Poland where you can return without restocking fees right (unless I misinterpreted one of your posts)? I think you'll end up liking widescreen. While I've never used it myself, it offers a great horizontal span of vision and the difference vertically is negligible at best.

Maybe there's some acceptable scaling mode where it can make 1680x1050 out of 1600x1200. Wouldn't fixed aspect ratio scaling work (though sacrificing 150 pixels vertically and having black bars for 80 horizontally)? You'll have to ask Zebo about that I guess.

Remember (I say this again), the LG does not have the advanced automatic contrast adjustment like the NEC does. That could be making a huge difference in colors. But maybe not, I don't know. If the L2000C appears in Poland within 2 weeks, give it a test drive. If not, just get the 20WGX2.

WS won't be a problem for him.. you get used to it fast thus no reason to want 16x12. It's the unfixable/un-getting used to monitor glare that sucks... Combined with having to buy a VESA stand or arm for height adjustment makes this monitor 4.5/5 and worth pause to find 16x12 fast IPS...

 

[darXoul]

Thanks for your comments.

The NEC's glossy coating shouldn't be too much of a problem. I'm coming straight from CRT Besides, I only counted a bit on the possibility to play games like FIFA or WoW during the day with the window behind me. I guess it would be too much though - even for a regular, non-glossy LCD.

As I posted in the sticky, LG Poland folks don't even know when and if the L2000C comes to my country. Pitiful.

As for height adjustment, I have a "mini desk" on top of my comp desk so the monitor is positioned rather high. Therefore, I think that the lack of height adjustment might be neglectable.

Regarding widescreen, the problem is this: many games don't support the 1680*1050 and 1920*1200 resolutions. If this is the case, on a larger widescreen with the higher res you can always use the 1:1 (lack of) scaling and play in 1600*1200 with vertical black bars. Using the lower widescreen res, it's not that easy. The closest options are: 1280*1024 (tiny thin horizontal bars) which is generally OK but I'm not particularly fond of the 5:4 aspect ratio; and 1280*960 which is 4:3 but produces 45 pixel wide horizontal bars - and that's over 1 cm size reduction both top and bottom on an already "squeezed" display - which kind of sucks.

 

[Arkelna]

Hey everyone, been following this topic for a lil while and just wanted to let everyone know that I will be ordering the L2000C sometime next week. (waiting for paycheck) Won't be able to really compare it to anything since I've never owned an LCD before and the ones at work aren't really all that great. Will be using it mainly for games and Video Editing with a lil bit of photoshop on the side. But I'll let you know my thoughts on it, and post some pics.

See it here on NewEgg for $560

 

[JBT]

Originally posted by: broly8877
Gateway FPD2185W - 21" Widescreen 1680x1050
Component, Composite, Svideo, VGA, DVI input


Fantastic LCD.

agreed

 

[xtknight]

Originally posted by: Arkelna
Hey everyone, been following this topic for a lil while and just wanted to let everyone know that I will be ordering the L2000C sometime next week. (waiting for paycheck) Won't be able to really compare it to anything since I've never owned an LCD before and the ones at work aren't really all that great. Will be using it mainly for games and Video Editing with a lil bit of photoshop on the side. But I'll let you know my thoughts on it, and post some pics.

See it here on NewEgg for $560

Nice. Can't wait to hear your thoughts on it.

 

[samduhman]

Im going to check out the Samsung 904b at Best Buy today.

What do you think the chances are of Best Buy soon carrying The NEC 20WGX2 or LG L2000C you guys have been pimping in the last 2 pages? The only way Im going to be able to afford a LCD anytime soon is through a no interest program. Newegg has one but I'd have to apply for a new/another credit card and it's only for 6 months. I know I could definately pay it off within (done it many times now) 12months with Best Buys plans but 6 months may be pushing it.

 

[Arkelna]

Been trying to find reviews on the L2000C and finally found a sort of somewhat decent review at Custom PC. Noticed in the review that it lists the L2000C as a 12ms display while I've seen it listed as 8ms everywhere else...even so the reviewer said it was ghost free.

Custom PC's LG L2000C Review

 

[darXoul]

Thanks, it's a good find.

I would be particularly interesting in a direct comparison of the new IPS monitors: NEC LCD20WGX2, NEC LCD2090UXi (when it's out) and LG L2000C. I wonder whether the displays are on the same level of responsiveness.

BTW, the response times are a bit confusing:

- 20WGX2: clear thing - 6 ms g2g, 12 ms bwb;
- 2090UXi: 8 ms g2g but many sites list 16 ms instead - does it mean it's slower also in the bwb transition?
- L2000C: 8 ms g2g according to specs but the above site claims it's 12 ms (bwb?).

flatpanels.dk says the new 20" 4:3 panel is 8 ms g2g, exactly like the new 20" 16:10 panel. Only the 23" 16:10 should be at 6 ms g2g. Why is the 20WGX2 6 ms then? NEC's electronics? No idea.

 

[Zebo]

Arkelna welcome to forums... and thanks for being pioneer- get it at ewiz for $480!!!

 

[Arkelna]

Thanks, Zebo. I was just on the ewiz website right now! Trying to see how I can manage to buy this today, instead of next week.

 

[Zebo]

Originally posted by: darXoul
Why is the 20WGX2 6 ms then? NEC's electronics? No idea.

How about "NEC's marketing"?

Until Toms reviews I'll just say it's as fast as overdrive TN's like VX 922/924's "2ms displays" which really hover ~13ms accross color range. Which is damn good.

 

[Zebo]

This NEC 20WGX2/20WMGX2 has insane color vibrance.. check this clone out..leaves frog and such. And the apple IPS as well.. old gen..
http://www.dumpanimage.com/image.php?i=K69WGcNmut

People over at http://www.widescreengamingforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=27986#27986

All seem happy - no dead pixels so far and all who buy conclude it looks like a million bucks..:thumbsup:

 

[Arkelna]

The 20WGX2 is just amazingly sweet, ubelievable...too bad I don't have the $700+ that it takes to buy it. I'm hoping the L2000C at $200 less gives me anything close to that. I would love to see them side by side first though.

 

[xtknight]

Originally posted by: Zebo

Originally posted by: darXoul
Why is the 20WGX2 6 ms then? NEC's electronics? No idea.

How about "NEC's marketing"?

Until Toms reviews I'll just say it's as fast as overdrive TN's like VX 922/924's "2ms displays" which really hover ~13ms accross color range. Which is damn good.

Actually the VX924 does almost ~7 ms. across the whole thing until the end transitions. The VX922 is probably even faster.

http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/other/display/response-compensation_19.html

I would not be surprised at all if the NEC managed 9 ms. across the whole thing at <15% RTC error. That's extremely good considering the small dot pitch of a 20.1" widescreen.

 

[Zebo]

Originally posted by: xtknight

Originally posted by: Zebo

Originally posted by: darXoul
Why is the 20WGX2 6 ms then? NEC's electronics? No idea.

How about "NEC's marketing"?

Until Toms reviews I'll just say it's as fast as overdrive TN's like VX 922/924's "2ms displays" which really hover ~13ms accross color range. Which is damn good.

Actually the VX924 does almost ~7 ms. across the whole thing until the end transitions. The VX922 is probably even faster.

http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/other/display/response-compensation_19.html

I would not be surprised at all if the NEC managed 9 ms. across the whole thing at <15% RTC error. That's extremely good considering the small dot pitch of a 20.1" widescreen.

That's not what toms says. Honestly I hav'nt read xbits methodolgy and testing methods.. but toms is sound..

http://www.tomshardware.com/2005/06/02/viewsonic_vx924/page6.html

 

[xtknight]

Originally posted by: Zebo
That's not what toms says. Honestly I hav'nt read xbits methodolgy and testing methods.. but toms is sound..

http://www.tomshardware.com/2005/06/02/viewsonic_vx924/page6.html

I think what happened is they reviewed an older revision of the monitor or something. That graph looks completely out of wack. Or maybe it took into account the RTC error.

I trust X-Bit...they debunked this LCD pretty well. http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/other/display/response-compensation_17.html

 

[Zebo]

I trust X-Bit...

Based upon what? Do you have a link to instrumentation and methodolgy used?


Toms'

 

[Zebo]

Originally posted by: Arkelna
The 20WGX2 is just amazingly sweet, ubelievable...too bad I don't have the $700+ that it takes to buy it. I'm hoping the L2000C at $200 less gives me anything close to that. I would love to see them side by side first though.

I'm sure you have nothing to worry about... What are you coming off of? Also the NEC has it's problems mostly ergonomically and screen film wise which the LG does'nt have. I actually thought of canceling NEC order to get LG after I found LG. xkniht and Dar talked me out of it.. glad they did

 

[xtknight]

Originally posted by: Zebo

I trust X-Bit...

Based upon what? Do you have a link to instrumentation and methodolgy used?

Here's how they do response time: http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/other/display/response_2.html

Also here: http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/other/display/lcd-guide_2.html

But due to Tom's bad measurement of the VX924 I never had it in my Guide, and probably never will unless it's retested.