The new forums will be named Coin Return (based on the most recent vote)! You can check on the status and timeline of the transition to the new forums here.
The Guiding Principles and New Rules document is now in effect.
new to LCD technology, how to shop for LCD monitor?
Chaotic Descent
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
I'm looking to buy an LCD monitor. I don't know if this warrants it's own thread from the computer thread.
I'd like something cheap. well under $200. I see some in the low end between $100 and $200.
I'm buying one mainly because of noise and heat. Less eye-strain is also a plus. Space would only be gained if I put away my CRT and didn't plan on hauling it out regularly.
Heat really bothers me, and in a small room, a CRT monitor can bump up the temperature another 2F. Noise really bothers me as well and eventually I'd like to get rid of the major annoying noises from my computer. I'll probably have to wait until the next PC upgrade before I can get rid of the fan noises though.
As you gathered from the heat and noise comment, I'm sensitive, so I probably will notice a higher quality monitor, so I'd like to get the best I can for a good price.
What am I going to be using my PC for? I dabble, but I suppose currently I mostly just browse the web and look at pictures and movies. Occasionally I draw and play games. Usually my computer habits shift once in a while, so I'll get into a game and then later get tired of games completely. and hey, I always have my CRT to go back to if I need it. (I heard it was better for drawing, since the LCDs aren't always spot on. or is that pretty much fixed these days?)
If I want to do like... FPS gaming on this, what do I need? Or should I stick to my CRT if I want optimal performance? Can I stick my CRT on as the primary and have an LCD as like a map/stats screen? I gather I have the same obstacles as normal if I'm dealing with a game that doesn't want me to alt-tab out. I remember when I played EverQuest I set up a 2nd computer just for maps. Will I be able to do something like that with two monitors, or do most games take over all displays?
what makes a widescreen better for some people? what makes multiple monitors so useful? if you get widescreen is multiple screens less important? maybe good to get one widescreen and one regular? Will I be paying by the screen surface, or will a single widescreen be a better deal than one or two regular size screens?
So how do I pick and compare and understand that stats?
While the guide I found was from 2004, there was one on Anandtech (which seems to be down right now) that did give some nice info on LCDs. But typical stats change over the years.
I guess if I want it cheap, I shouldn't try to find any higher resolutions for the lower sizes, even if I do have a good eye.
I've heard about the complications of this native resolution stuff. changing resolutions is either like changing the zoom level of a picture to something not 2x or 1/2 which makes it kind of blurry, or it just crops the screen, and some monitors do both? I sure would like to be able to pick. I wonder if that's more or less standard now. What do they call those features, so I can look them up?
I'd like something cheap. well under $200. I see some in the low end between $100 and $200.
I'm buying one mainly because of noise and heat. Less eye-strain is also a plus. Space would only be gained if I put away my CRT and didn't plan on hauling it out regularly.
Heat really bothers me, and in a small room, a CRT monitor can bump up the temperature another 2F. Noise really bothers me as well and eventually I'd like to get rid of the major annoying noises from my computer. I'll probably have to wait until the next PC upgrade before I can get rid of the fan noises though.
As you gathered from the heat and noise comment, I'm sensitive, so I probably will notice a higher quality monitor, so I'd like to get the best I can for a good price.
What am I going to be using my PC for? I dabble, but I suppose currently I mostly just browse the web and look at pictures and movies. Occasionally I draw and play games. Usually my computer habits shift once in a while, so I'll get into a game and then later get tired of games completely. and hey, I always have my CRT to go back to if I need it. (I heard it was better for drawing, since the LCDs aren't always spot on. or is that pretty much fixed these days?)
If I want to do like... FPS gaming on this, what do I need? Or should I stick to my CRT if I want optimal performance? Can I stick my CRT on as the primary and have an LCD as like a map/stats screen? I gather I have the same obstacles as normal if I'm dealing with a game that doesn't want me to alt-tab out. I remember when I played EverQuest I set up a 2nd computer just for maps. Will I be able to do something like that with two monitors, or do most games take over all displays?
what makes a widescreen better for some people? what makes multiple monitors so useful? if you get widescreen is multiple screens less important? maybe good to get one widescreen and one regular? Will I be paying by the screen surface, or will a single widescreen be a better deal than one or two regular size screens?
So how do I pick and compare and understand that stats?
While the guide I found was from 2004, there was one on Anandtech (which seems to be down right now) that did give some nice info on LCDs. But typical stats change over the years.
I guess if I want it cheap, I shouldn't try to find any higher resolutions for the lower sizes, even if I do have a good eye.
I've heard about the complications of this native resolution stuff. changing resolutions is either like changing the zoom level of a picture to something not 2x or 1/2 which makes it kind of blurry, or it just crops the screen, and some monitors do both? I sure would like to be able to pick. I wonder if that's more or less standard now. What do they call those features, so I can look them up?
Chaotic Descent on
0