Looking for a Good Monitor

[Azisien]

Anybody have great experiences, or recommendations?

Monitor specifications are just as annoying to try and gauge as HDTV specifications.

I am in need of a good gaming monitor for my new PC.

So far this one is the winner:

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236033

I could do without the webcam, so its low quality doesn't matter to me. All the other specs seem great, or at least better than the monitors I can buy from local Best Buys. And a solid $50 cheaper.

[NMR]

I think this might be a good choice: http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824009154CVF

Unless you really want the on-board speakers, the monitor I linked to has a massively better contrast ratio. They each have the same response time, which is the most important factor. I'm pretty sure someone else could link a much better monitor.

[Azisien]

I think this might be a good choice: http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824009154CVF

Unless you really want the on-board speakers, the monitor I linked to has a massively better contrast ratio. They each have the same response time, which is the most important factor. I'm pretty sure someone else could link a much better monitor.

Hm, definitely superior in terms of lacking the speakers and webcam I don't even plan on using. I do have a personal 'yuck' bias against Acer, and the shipping isn't free on this monitor, but I think I have a new second place! Man NewEgg prices beat the hell out of Best Buy.

[Mirai Gen]

Acer was pretty good for many years but now I think you'd be better off getting Asus monitors.

Your selection was pretty good except it seems like you're paying 100$ for another part-inch to the widescreen, and I got this one (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236052) and its totally awesome.

[Azisien]

Hm, good catch Mirai.

Though to be fair, I am paying for an extra 210,000 pixels! Really I was in the 24" range to grab that yummy 1900x1200 resolution. Maybe I could be persuaded to live with 1900x1080, though.

Edit: Upon closer inspection, smaller Asus monitor is 5ms instead of 2ms, not as bright. As far as that Acer monitor, looks like a digital contrast ratio, because no monitor a middle-classer can afford boasts real contrast ratios beyond a handful of thousand.

[EVILNess]

You could just do like I did and buy an actual HDTV and then use that as your monitor.

[synkr0nized]

anything Samsung


No, really. They are great. Crisp, clear, quick, and well-made.


Whatever you choose, though, as long as you get a better response time and contrast ratio, you'll probably be satisfied.

[Azisien]

All the local monitors on my hot list are Samsung. I like them very much, but the Asus I posted has better advertised specs and is cheaper. So tough call. My bedroom HDTV is Samsung, and I have nothing but good things to say about it.

Not too much interest in getting an HDTV, though, based on where I'll be putting the PC. More of a situational thing there.

[bluestarultor]

Technically, if you already have an HDTV, all you need is a cable and off you go, unless the distance between that and your computer would be prohibitive.

Samsung makes a good product, though. There's no arguing that.

Sadly, that's all the advice I can offer, though. Display hardware isn't my strong point and I really don't know what's out there past what Newegg can tell you. Definitely read the reviews, though. Not just the good ones, but also all the bad ones. Many times, less savvy people will be happy with an item with issues because of what they use it for or because they don't know there's better stuff out there. If certain issues keep popping up, you can expect to have them as well. The monitor in the OP has issues with dead or stuck pixels and many complaints that the backlighting is bad, the display gets discolored at the corners and edges, and other recurring concerns that you may want to look into.

[Marelo]

You could just do like I did and buy an actual HDTV and then use that as your monitor.

anything Samsung


No, really. They are great. Crisp, clear, quick, and well-made.


Whatever you choose, though, as long as you get a better response time and contrast ratio, you'll probably be satisfied.

I know you already shot these down/agreed with them, but I'm just popping in to say that I combined these and got a 32" Samsung television.

It's a pretty good setup, though you might prefer something a bit smaller. I sometimes have to physically move my head to observe extreme parts of the screen.

[Nikose Tyris]

There are some amazing HDMI Samsung Monitors that I highly reccomend. Synk is right on the money for quality and picture. However if you are the type that runs your home incredibly, stupid-hot, then be warned that the monitor runs so overheated that I've seen them fail in the office.

((The office average temperature is like C 28, though, and these failed after running in that enviroment for 4 months solid.)) They also generate a shitton of heat.

http://www.samsung.com/ca/consumer/detail/detail.do?group=computersaccessories&type=monitors&subtype=lcd&model_cd=LS22TWHSUV/ZA&pid=ca_home_image2_t220monitor

We're using these now and they get hot, but not -too- hot.

[Azisien]

After much deliberation with friends and suggestions of this thread, I've decided to try out the Asus brand. This is their one shot to impress me, otherwise I'll loyally return to Samsung.

Thanks for the suggestions all, now I am off to figure out how the bloody hell you're supposed to get 64-bit Vista.