Which is the best 120hz gaming monitor out there?

[nitenichiryu1]

Hi everyone,

I'm in the process of building my new rig, and I'm pretty certain I want to go with a 120hz monitor. The ones i've been following are the asus vg236, benq xl2410t, acer gd245, and alienware aw2310. Of these, which is the best for cs:source, mw2, blackops, mw3 when its out, and starcraft 2?

I am somewhat concerned about price, but if the monitor is well worth the money, I'd rather pay up for something really good.

I've heard good reviews and bad reviews for all these monitors, but what do you all think? Are there any other monitors i should consider? Thanks for any and all help!

 

[nitenichiryu1]

bumping this for those of you who have had hands-on experience with any of these monitors (or further insight for comparison). Thanks!

 

[ViRGE]

I've heard very good things about the Asus in particular, but I must admit I've never had more than a glance at one.

 

[Borealis7]

my potential-buy shortlist of 120Hz screens includes:
Viewsonic V3D241wm-LED
ASUS VG236H
LG W2363D
BenQ XL2410T
Dell alienware AW2310

all varying in costs, but overall good screens. i'm more inclined to get the LG because it offers the best price/performance (price in my local stores, of course) and there is a nice calibration article for it on Flatpanelshd.com.

i'm just not there yet...

 

[Ben90]

If raw performance is what you are after, the BenQ is where its at. I don't believe there is a monitor with less input delay than that one.

I won't call it the absolute best 120hz monitor however. I cannot comment on its color accuracy because frankly, I don't care about image quality. I'm not saying its horrible, I'm just saying I have no idea at all how this monitor compares to others.

 

[Zargon]

Vizio has a nice pair of 120hz ccfl tv's that are 3d compatible that just hit, a 32 and a 43.

The 32 is 500 bucks, just under 700 for the 42

I've used the 42in on a PS3 to do 3d on it and its amazing(polarized glasses, no cables!)

 

[smackababy]

Vizio has a nice pair of 120hz led tv's that are 3d compatible that just hit, a 32 and a 43.

The 32 is 500 bucks, just under 700 for the 42

I've used the 42in on a PS3 to do 3d on it and its amazing(polarized glasses, no cables!)

DO they actually accept 120hz inputs though? Most TVs don't.

 

[tweakboy]

The downfall is its going to be 5ms response ..... laggy.

 

[nitenichiryu1]

Thanks for your input everyone! Based on reviews, it seems the benq is the way to go for straight up fps games, although the settings must be changed because of the terrible out-of-box settings. I was about to pull the trigger on the asus, but since it's a glossy screen, i'm a little worried about the glare. I haven't exactly narrowed it down, but if price were an issue, then the acer and asus are probably the logical options.

now if the benq were offered at a lower price point, i might jump on it..

 

[Nintendesert]

I built a system with an Asus on it andd really liked the monitor a lot. I have an alienware on mine and also like it. It went on sale at the time so was the same price as the asus. Had it not I would have gone with the asus and had no regrets. Both are great monitors.

 

[Petey!]

Vizio has a nice pair of 120hz led tv's that are 3d compatible that just hit, a 32 and a 43.

The 32 is 500 bucks, just under 700 for the 42

I've used the 42in on a PS3 to do 3d on it and its amazing(polarized glasses, no cables!)

Please stop talking. Those are not true 120hz.

 

[Zargon]

Please stop talking. Those are not true 120hz.

how can you tell?

http://www.amazon.com/VIZIO-Class-Th...5734201&sr=1-3

thats the line of them I am talking about.

i fyou are going to rudely post that, you should post something to back up what you are saying. I can't find anything saying its not real 120hz, as from what I can read the supposedly PS3 sends a 120hz signal to do real3d in games. althoguht I am finding some saying it does a 60hz extra wide set of pixels

that doesnt mean I am right, but if you are so sure, please post a link to the factual information

and they are ccfl not LED, my bad

 

[QuantumPion]

I went with the LG w2363d. Based on the various review sites, it seemed to have the best image quality, least overdrive artifacts, thru-mode, and good price. My only complaint is that the menu buttons are hard to use, but once you set it up you don't have to mess with them. I was considering the Benq for its LED backlighting but at the time its initial reviews indicated it had bad backlight bleeding (which may have been fixed in later production).

If I were you though I would wait a little bit, as I've heard rumors of IPS 120 hz monitors coming out this summer from LG and Mitsubishi.

 

[snuuggles]

how can you tell?

http://www.amazon.com/VIZIO-Class-Th...5734201&sr=1-3

thats the line of them I am talking about.

i fyou are going to rudely post that, you should post something to back up what you are saying. I can't find anything saying its not real 120hz, as from what I can read the supposedly PS3 sends a 120hz signal to do real3d in games. althoguht I am finding some saying it does a 60hz extra wide set of pixels

that doesnt mean I am right, but if you are so sure, please post a link to the factual information

and they are ccfl not LED, my bad

I know you are trying to help, but I'm fairly certain the PS3 *can't* send 120hz@1080p because it has a 1.3a HDMI port and that port doesn't support the bandwidth needed for 120hz@1080p.

As far as if the tvs will or wont support 120hz input, I hate to say it, but I'd place the burden of proof on you. I've been looking and asking for 6 months about this feature on any tv in existance and noone has been able to come up with a single tv that actually supports 120hz@1080p input.

Again, I know you are trying to be helpful, but this particular issue is *so* fraught with misinformation and outright lies (by the manufacturers), it's become a sensitive spot for those of us who have spent the time to get the facts as best we can and give the best information to those who don't know.

In this case, being careless with your guesses is going to attract some anger.

I hope that puts his reaction in context.

OP, have you considered going for the HN274H? It's the only 27" 120hz monitor available. I'm personally waiting for it to be available locally or at a place I can exchange it if I hate it, but you might want to consider it. Though your budget might not allow for it.

 

[snuuggles]

I went with the LG w2363d. Based on the various review sites, it seemed to have the best image quality, least overdrive artifacts, thru-mode, and good price. My only complaint is that the menu buttons are hard to use, but once you set it up you don't have to mess with them. I was considering the Benq for its LED backlighting but at the time its initial reviews indicated it had bad backlight bleeding (which may have been fixed in later production).

If I were you though I would wait a little bit, as I've heard rumors of IPS 120 hz monitors coming out this summer from LG and Mitsubishi.

Whoops, I'm an idiot, I didn't notice you had already gotten something. Hey, where are these rumers you are talking about, I'd be very interested in an IPS@120hz!

 

[Xed]

<3 my planar 120hz

 

[nitenichiryu1]

This is all great info, everyone. I think, though, I should have been more clear on my purposes for the monitor. I'm not interested in the 3d gaming aspect as much right now. It's mostly for the 120hz for computer gaming. I might explore 3d gaming in the future, but again, my main purpose for the monitor will be normal 2d gaming.

I think i might end up going with the best priced monitor at this moment as all have their goods and bad. I did hear bout the benq bleeds, but some have had great success with it.

as for the asus, was glare an issue since it's a glossy screen??

also, a 120hz ips sounds amazing....these rumors are where?

 

[Anarchist420]

I want a GLOSSY H-IPS W/ EXTERNAL POWER SUPPLY, RGB LED, AND 120Hz INPUT WITH <=12.5MS INPUT LAG AND A CALIBRATED CONTRAST RATIO OF >=1050:1.

Sucks that it will never exist.

 

[ViRGE]

I know you are trying to help, but I'm fairly certain the PS3 *can't* send 120hz@1080p because it has a 1.3a HDMI port and that port doesn't support the bandwidth needed for 120hz@1080p.

As far as if the tvs will or wont support 120hz input, I hate to say it, but I'd place the burden of proof on you. I've been looking and asking for 6 months about this feature on any tv in existance and noone has been able to come up with a single tv that actually supports 120hz@1080p input.

Again, I know you are trying to be helpful, but this particular issue is *so* fraught with misinformation and outright lies (by the manufacturers), it's become a sensitive spot for those of us who have spent the time to get the facts as best we can and give the best information to those who don't know.

In this case, being careless with your guesses is going to attract some anger.

I hope that puts his reaction in context.

HDMI does not currently support 120Hz at all. On paper the bandwidth is there for 120Hz@1080P (you need about 8Gb/sec before overhead), but it's not part of the spec. HDMI uses frame packing for 3D; 2 images in a single frame. 1080P 3D is 1080P@24Hz, while 720P 3D is 720P@60Hz, with each frame containing the left and right eye images. So really while a TV may display images at 120Hz for the purposes of driving active shutter glasses, it's decomposing the frames at 60Hz to get 2 images. The internal hardware cannot accept a 120Hz source.

Basically if it doesn't have a DL-DVI or DisplayPort port, then it doesn't have a way to accept a 120Hz signal.

 

[Dribble]

I also have the LG W2363D. It has a naff stand and rubbish buttons, but 0 input lag, very low ghosting and decent colours after calibration (see flat panels HD review). Very good for fast gaming.

 

[jackstar7]

Experience of a friend is that the LG is the best.

 

[Borealis7]

you guys are gonna make me spend money i don't have!
(looking at the LG in an online store right now, mouse dangerously close to the add-to-cart button)

 

[sMiLeYz]

I have the Acer GD235HZ, LOVE IT for gaming. I think digitalversus.com said it was the best gaming monitor they've seen. The colors are accurate after calibration, the only gripes i have about it is that its TN, and there is slight backlight bleeding.

 

[Dkcode]

Had the BenQ for a couple of days and hated the image quality. We have cheaper TN's at work that look better.

Exchanged for the ASUS VH236HE and never looked back - fantastic picture quality, even next to my 30" VA.

 

[Zargon]

I know you are trying to help, but I'm fairly certain the PS3 *can't* send 120hz@1080p because it has a 1.3a HDMI port and that port doesn't support the bandwidth needed for 120hz@1080p.

As far as if the tvs will or wont support 120hz input, I hate to say it, but I'd place the burden of proof on you. I've been looking and asking for 6 months about this feature on any tv in existance and noone has been able to come up with a single tv that actually supports 120hz@1080p input.

Again, I know you are trying to be helpful, but this particular issue is *so* fraught with misinformation and outright lies (by the manufacturers), it's become a sensitive spot for those of us who have spent the time to get the facts as best we can and give the best information to those who don't know.

In this case, being careless with your guesses is going to attract some anger.

I hope that puts his reaction in context.

OP, have you considered going for the HN274H? It's the only 27" 120hz monitor available. I'm personally waiting for it to be available locally or at a place I can exchange it if I hate it, but you might want to consider it. Though your budget might not allow for it.

HDMI does not currently support 120Hz at all. On paper the bandwidth is there for 120Hz@1080P (you need about 8Gb/sec before overhead), but it's not part of the spec. HDMI uses frame packing for 3D; 2 images in a single frame. 1080P 3D is 1080P@24Hz, while 720P 3D is 720P@60Hz, with each frame containing the left and right eye images. So really while a TV may display images at 120Hz for the purposes of driving active shutter glasses, it's decomposing the frames at 60Hz to get 2 images. The internal hardware cannot accept a 120Hz source.

Basically if it doesn't have a DL-DVI or DisplayPort port, then it doesn't have a way to accept a 120Hz signal.

I managed to find a 'whitepaper' on the specs of 3D on the PS3 from Sony on a PS3 blog post, and confirmed that it essentially sends a 'wide' 60hz signal for 3d, 2 720p signals with 30 blacnk pixels of deadspace between them

its too bad, I am tired of the false BS advertising involving that shit on TV's. the day they make a real 120hz TV, we can get affordable decent 120hz gaming panels