Widescreen LCD woes...

jamesbond007

Diamond Member
Dec 21, 2000
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I currently sport a Dell 17" 1704FPT and a vanilla 6800 PCI-e 256MB. All my games run very nice, full FSAA, AF, 1280x1024, looks great, etc etc! I've got the upgrade bug and don't exactly feel like spending an arm and a leg on a SLI setup and a Dell 2405FPW.

I can't decide between keeping my 6800 and getting a 2405FPW to enjoy the desktop that everyone wants...but on the other hand, I'm worried about not being able to play my games at a decent resolution and am worried about them looking like poop if they get stretched out. I know I won't be able to play them in native resolution, which is kind of a bummer. I have never played a game on a LCD in non-native res, but I have only heard they don't look so hot. At least with a CRT, they look fine at any resolution. I like the thought of the 2405FPW just for the sheer size of the screen, how nice HD conent will look, and of course you get all the bragging rights that go along with it! :p

The other option that I've thought about is getting a 7800GT and a 2005FPW. This way, I'd have a decent standing chance at playing games at the monitor's native resolution, I think. The thing that bugs me about these two monitors is the response time. My 1704FPT is a 8 or 6ms screen and I've been *VERY* happy with it after coming down from a 25ms panel, so you can only imagine how I felt when I loaded up CS: Source.

I am not a *HEAVY* gamer, but at times I can be demanding...it depends on my workload in college of course, but I am not one of the many people who play some games daily. That's when I'm not sure if I should drop the nice coin on the 2405 or get the 2005 + 7800GT.

The games (and only games) that I play are Quake 3, CS: Source, HL2, and BF2. I need some input from the people who own the monitor instead of reading reviews.

Thanks in advance!

EDIT: How important is HDCP (I think that's it) in choosing a monitor today? One of my friends keeps saying that I need it, but I would like a second opinion. :p
 

JonnyBlaze

Diamond Member
May 24, 2001
3,114
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get the 2405. it looks fine at non native resolutions and you can allways upgrade the video card later.
 

jamesbond007

Diamond Member
Dec 21, 2000
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Originally posted by: JonnyBlaze
get the 2405. it looks fine at non native resolutions and you can allways upgrade the video card later.

Will the monitor stretch the video to fit the display when using DVI? One of my friends has a 2005FPW and his UT2004 looks nasty and fat! If push came to shove, could I just run the game so it doesn't take up the whole screen but retains correct aspect ratio without stretching?
 

JonnyBlaze

Diamond Member
May 24, 2001
3,114
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it has 3 options for non native resolutions. 1:1, aspect & fit. you should use aspect if you dont want the ratio distorted.

 

videopho

Diamond Member
Apr 8, 2005
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91
Originally posted by: jamesbond007
Originally posted by: JonnyBlaze
get the 2405. it looks fine at non native resolutions and you can allways upgrade the video card later.

Will the monitor stretch the video to fit the display when using DVI? One of my friends has a 2005FPW and his UT2004 looks nasty and fat! If push came to shove, could I just run the game so it doesn't take up the whole screen but retains correct aspect ratio without stretching?

most older games's resolution can be tweaked for ws with the exception of the newer ones eg. hl2, fear, cod2 etc which you don't have to. Tell your friend about this site widescreenforum.

 

jamesbond007

Diamond Member
Dec 21, 2000
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Originally posted by: videopho
most games's resolution can be tweaked for ws. one has to google for it. tell your friend about this site widescreenforum.

Yeah I found that site last night and am reading up right now. :p

I'm literally torn because some people say the 2005 is enough and then some say the 2405 is the most beautiful thing you'll see in your life, next to a nekkid woman! ;)

If I can play with a cropped view on the screen using DVI, then I think I'm leaning towards the 2405. :D
 

JonnyBlaze

Diamond Member
May 24, 2001
3,114
1
0
go with the 2405. i have a 2005 at home and work. my boss has 2405. its so much bigger. it makes mine look tiny.
 

videopho

Diamond Member
Apr 8, 2005
4,185
29
91
Originally posted by: jamesbond007
Originally posted by: videopho
most games's resolution can be tweaked for ws. one has to google for it. tell your friend about this site widescreenforum.

Yeah I found that site last night and am reading up right now. :p

I'm literally torn because some people say the 2005 is enough and then some say the 2405 is the most beautiful thing you'll see in your life, next to a nekkid woman! ;)

If I can play with a cropped view on the screen using DVI, then I think I'm leaning towards the 2405. :D

it's all about personal prefrences. i could have gotten one 2405 but decided with two 2005 which i paid $365 each. since i do lots video streaming, photo editing, and play flight sim with two seperate scemeries simultaneously so dual view is what i really need.
not to mention, on a sunday afternoon i can watch the dallas cowboys on fox-hdtv in one screen and do photo editing work on another.
 

Woofmeister

Golden Member
Jul 18, 2004
1,385
1
76
Originally posted by: jamesbond007
I currently sport a Dell 17" 1704FPT and a vanilla 6800 PCI-e 256MB. All my games run very nice, full FSAA, AF, 1280x1024, looks great, etc etc! I've got the upgrade bug and don't exactly feel like spending an arm and a leg on a SLI setup and a Dell 2405FPW.

I can't decide between keeping my 6800 and getting a 2405FPW to enjoy the desktop that everyone wants...but on the other hand, I'm worried about not being able to play my games at a decent resolution and am worried about them looking like poop if they get stretched out. I know I won't be able to play them in native resolution, which is kind of a bummer. I have never played a game on a LCD in non-native res, but I have only heard they don't look so hot. At least with a CRT, they look fine at any resolution. I like the thought of the 2405FPW just for the sheer size of the screen, how nice HD conent will look, and of course you get all the bragging rights that go along with it! :p

The other option that I've thought about is getting a 7800GT and a 2005FPW. This way, I'd have a decent standing chance at playing games at the monitor's native resolution, I think. The thing that bugs me about these two monitors is the response time. My 1704FPT is a 8 or 6ms screen and I've been *VERY* happy with it after coming down from a 25ms panel, so you can only imagine how I felt when I loaded up CS: Source.

I am not a *HEAVY* gamer, but at times I can be demanding...it depends on my workload in college of course, but I am not one of the many people who play some games daily. That's when I'm not sure if I should drop the nice coin on the 2405 or get the 2005 + 7800GT.

The games (and only games) that I play are Quake 3, CS: Source, HL2, and BF2. I need some input from the people who own the monitor instead of reading reviews.

Thanks in advance!

EDIT: How important is HDCP (I think that's it) in choosing a monitor today? One of my friends keeps saying that I need it, but I would like a second opinion. :p
Wow, excellent questions. If only somebody would write a definitive post on gaming with the 2405.
 

videopho

Diamond Member
Apr 8, 2005
4,185
29
91

woofmeister:
can you pm me how the heck you can o/c the xfx to 494mhz? i tried but it froze my rig when it went beyond 489 or so i settled with 482 for now. my temps are low 40c idle and hi 50c in load for most games.

off subject sorry op.
 

Unkno

Golden Member
Jun 16, 2005
1,659
0
0
yea, i have the 2005fpw and it scales VERY well. The 2405fpw can only be better...