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Computer Monitors: Bigger, or Better?
Bionic Monkey
Registered User, ClubPA regular
Registered User, ClubPA regular
Mid February, I'll be picking up a replacement LCD monitor for my computer, as the last one crapped out, and I'm stuck with a 17" CRT right now. I can afford somewhere between $400-450, which gives me several different options. I've narrowed my choices down to three, and I'm just trying to find the right balance between quality and size. I'll be gaming on this, so that needs to be taken into consideration.
24" Gateway FHD2401 - This is my high quality, low size option, and comes pretty much as the straight up recommendation from this AnandTech article.
26" LG W2600H-PF - This is the mid-range between size and quality. It's a bit bigger, but has a really good spread of reviews. I'm just not sure about LG's performance when it comes to LCD screens.
28" Hanns·G HG-281DJB - And this is the monster my gut and testosterone are telling me to get. Pro - It'll take up the majority of my desk. Con - It'll take up the majority of my desk. Seriously though, the reviews are still pretty good, and the only drawback seems to be a pretty bad vertical viewing angle.
I've seen the Gateway in a store, so I know that looks utterly fantastic. I'm thinking I'll probably go with that model, since 24" will still be a big step up from my old 20" but wanted to get some input from here.
Update 2/5
Okay, birthday is almost upon me, I have enough money to buy now, I've looked at some monitors in store, and I've brought my selection down between two models:
26" LG W2600H-PF - This was from my original line-up and pretty much what I settled on since making this thread. I've seen LG's from the same model line, though not this specific one, in store and they look utterly amazing.
26" ASUS VW266H - This one is giving me pause though. Stats are almost identical between the two, except for a faster response time, but a lower contrast ratio. It's also $80 cheaper, which is $80 more birthday money that can be spent on hookers and blow. But I also haven't had the opportunity to see it in person.
24" Gateway FHD2401 - This is my high quality, low size option, and comes pretty much as the straight up recommendation from this AnandTech article.
26" LG W2600H-PF - This is the mid-range between size and quality. It's a bit bigger, but has a really good spread of reviews. I'm just not sure about LG's performance when it comes to LCD screens.
28" Hanns·G HG-281DJB - And this is the monster my gut and testosterone are telling me to get. Pro - It'll take up the majority of my desk. Con - It'll take up the majority of my desk. Seriously though, the reviews are still pretty good, and the only drawback seems to be a pretty bad vertical viewing angle.
I've seen the Gateway in a store, so I know that looks utterly fantastic. I'm thinking I'll probably go with that model, since 24" will still be a big step up from my old 20" but wanted to get some input from here.
Update 2/5
Okay, birthday is almost upon me, I have enough money to buy now, I've looked at some monitors in store, and I've brought my selection down between two models:
26" LG W2600H-PF - This was from my original line-up and pretty much what I settled on since making this thread. I've seen LG's from the same model line, though not this specific one, in store and they look utterly amazing.
26" ASUS VW266H - This one is giving me pause though. Stats are almost identical between the two, except for a faster response time, but a lower contrast ratio. It's also $80 cheaper, which is $80 more birthday money that can be spent on hookers and blow. But I also haven't had the opportunity to see it in person.
Bionic Monkey on
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The real question is how close will you be to the monitor when using it? If you are gonna be close, then you can go smaller.
If its going to be further [ like other side of the desk and/or mounted to the wall ] I'd go bigger.
This, of course, does not take into account the manly manish man need for big monitors, Which if you have the slightest hint if, then..well, You know what to do
Lots of retailers have LG in stock, are there any places near you where you could get a look at the display? If you can and you're serious about it I recommend asking them to open a fresh one and hook it up to a machine for you, which essentially all retailers will do if you're serious about a purchase. LG makes their own panels in South Korea using the philips LCD tech they bought (from what was previously, and is still to a small degree a joint venture.) I have one, it's comparable to other good LCD's in it's price range, but it's not that one and as with any display you should see it in person first unless you just don't have a choice about it.
If you've seen the Gateway in a store and it stands out compared to other models, that's probably the purchase to make since you can actually judge how well it'll work for you.
As already mentioned, sitting distance is pretty important for monitor choice. If you have it up close to you a smaller display will work as well as a larger one of the same resolution assuming image quality is otherwise the same.
And yeah, my major concern was getting that 28" monster sight-unseen. I'll look around and see if I can see that LG in person, otherwise I'll probably go with my gut and get the 24".
Edit: Hmm... looks like Fry's has that LG in stock. Guess I'll make a trip over this weekend, and see it in person.
About size, the pixel pitch of the 26 and especially the 28 will be larger, meaning that each pixel will be bigger than on the 24 (obviously). Makes text possibly easier to read, but some folks see a more distinct "screen-door" effect. That's definitely personal preference and perception. 30" will generally jump up to 2560 x 1600 res, lowering the pixel pitch.
> turn on light
Good start to the day. Pity it's going to be the worst one of your life. The light is now on.
26" LG W2600H-PF - This was from my original line-up and pretty much what I settled on since making this thread. I've seen LG's from the same model line, though not this specific one, in store and they look utterly amazing.
26" ASUS VW266H - This one is giving me pause though. Stats are almost identical between the two, except for a faster response time, but a lower contrast ratio. It's also $80 cheaper, which is $80 more birthday money that can be spent on hookers and blow. But I also haven't had the opportunity to see it in person.
Edit: Ended up going with the Gateway FHD2401. I didn't really want to wait any longer, and I could get that in a b&m store. Plus, Best Buy has a hell of a better dead pixel policy than Newegg.
If it's for gaming he shouldn't be using an LCD period, ever. If someone asks about monitors and drops LCD's, and says "for gaming" he isn't enough of a gamer for it to matter what option he gets since they all blow goat ass for it. Or he simply isn't fast enough to realize the difference between them.
Now, if some companies would get off their ass and make a TRUE 120hz LCD monitor, that would be a start... but the tech is so broken on color levels and blacks might as well wait for OLED and do it proper.
Quake and Unreal. LCD is just not fast enough. For MMO's it's fine, but I can feel it on a fast FPS and it drives me up the wall.