The LCD Buyers Guide

[Turok]

ok guys, there are still some things I would like to know to make this LCD Guide even better

Right now Im trying to decide between the Dell 2005fpw and the Dell 2405fpw
Ive never bought a LCD, so this would be my first time.

Would be of great help if someone who has both the 2005fpw and 2405fpw could compare the following: (and being 100% honest about it)

2005fpw vs 2405fpw
* Check for uneven backlighting, but this shouldnt be visible at all on a 2405fpw
* Compare motion blur and ghosting between both monitors using this link: *Click Here*
* Test fast paced FPS games like UT2k4, and compare motion blur and ghosting between both monitors
* Compare color quality, bright, and dark levels
* If you have a SLi solution, try running it and describe what happens

Note:
-Ghosting is when a image is duplicated with a ghost like trail
-Motion blur is when you see a blurry image in fast motion, but no trails are left behind

Please be acurate with your point of view. There is a lot of "biasing" about these monitors, since most of the users Ive seen with both are not compleately honest or dont define in great detail how it peforms in fast motion pictures.

If you have another monitor thats mentioned on the list, and would like to help in benching it, THG has a guide to help you benchmark your monitor:
http://graphics.tomshardware.com/dis...923/index.html

Depending on your acuracy, we could edit the summaries on each LCD with the less "bias" possible

Thanks for your time

Turok

[[XC] leviathan18]

wow we got sticky nice work guys :P:

[Supertim0r]

any info on the Samsung 913T ? I'm about to buy 2 of those

[Turok]

any info on the Samsung 913T ? I'm about to buy 2 of those

The specs look verry simmilar to the Hyundai L90D+
Im guessing its the same LCD but the Samsung version, since its a Samsung TN pannel rated at 8ms, and contrast ratios and brigtness levels are the same.

If you can get it cheaper than a Hyundai L90D+, then get it, but I would go with the L90D+ because its been reviewed and tested by several users. I cant find too much info on the Samsung 913T.
If its exactly the same LCD as the L90D+, then I might have to add it to the list as a alternate option.
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About my previous post: Can anyone review the 2005fpw and 2405fpw?
If not, could someone at least review a LCD from the list if they have it?
It would help prove any doubts on a LCD

[HiJon89]

CRT advantage

The only advantage with CRTs is response time, and darkness levels.
Right now, an average CRT can have a response time below 2ms and can have contrast ratios above 1000:1, but that will soon change as LCDs become faster without sacrificing too much image quality.

You're forgetting another important CRT advantage: Price

[totensiebush]

You say that the common ratios are 4:3, 16:10 and 16:9. You are forgetting that most 17" and 19" LCDs run 1280*1024, which is 5:4 (although it could be that they don't have square pixels, I don't know).

[Turok]

You're forgetting another important CRT advantage: Price

Yeah, I forgot about price comparison, but I'll put the best LCDs are more expensive since a slower pannels can cost about the same as a CRT at the same resolution and still get better image quality than the best CRT

You say that the common ratios are 4:3, 16:10 and 16:9. You are forgetting that most 17" and 19" LCDs run 1280*1024, which is 5:4 (although it could be that they don't have square pixels, I don't know).

Never heared about 5:4 aspect ratio monitors.
I googled about it and you are right that 1280x1024 is a 5:4 native resolution.
No wonder my CRT looks different in proportions when switching from 1280x1024 to 1600x1200

[MaxxxRacer]

It really boggles the mind why they went with 5:4 over 4:3 when creating LCD's. it really makes NO sense what so ever. All standard TV's and CRT's are 4:3.. why change something that is such a standard.. ohwell

btw.. amazing guide. absolutely amazing. really helped me out.

[notoriousformula]

Good guide.

PS: Hyundai L90D+ LCD Review links don't work.

[StrikeRTM]

Some Sony monitor reviews would be welcome.

[marius7]

Viewsonic VP171S is the same with VP191B except the color and size(silver vs black and 17'' vs 19'') ? Is s only 8ms or I have to watch out not to be an 25ms, like the red warning from the up ?

Edit:

They said to me it's an 16ms and 260cd/m2, hmmm.

[notoriousformula]

Viewsonic VP171S is the same with VP191B except the color and size(silver vs black and 17'' vs 19'') ? Is s only 8ms or I have to watch out not to be an 25ms, like the red warning from the up ?

Edit:

They said to me it's an 16ms and 260cd/m2, hmmm.

Yes, the 17" and 19"(vp171 and vp191) use diff pannel/diff specs, etc.. huge diff. if you ask me.

The S = Silver, whereas B = Black.

[[XC] leviathan18]

with 2005fpw from dell you can hook a dvd or satelite thing??? it has compsite video and s video so it should be possible right?

[marius7]

Yes, the 17" and 19"(vp171 and vp191) use diff pannel/diff specs, etc.. huge diff. if you ask me.

The S = Silver, whereas B = Black.

So only the specifications tells u the truth, nothing to do only with the model name.

[[XC] leviathan18]

TUROK

you have to add to the 2005fpw that it has composite and S-video IN and 4 usb 2.0

and the 2405fpw is 24.1 inches no 23.1 and it has 2 usb 2.0 and 9 in 1 card reader and S-video in and composite video in
http://pc.gamespy.com/articles/643/643265p4.html

[DeltZ]

i'm thinking of getting a monitor soon...i haven't really got enough to afford a decent 19 inch monitor...so i'm thinking of getting the 17 inch viewsonic vp171 ...any comments? whats my best choice?

[marius7]

Where can I buy VP171S or VP171B with 8ms from Cyprus ? Any online store u know ?

[Turok]

Where can I buy VP171S or VP171B with 8ms from Cyprus ? Any online store u know ?

Go to www.PriceGrabber.com

I found that NewEgg and ZipZoomZly sell it.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...C-pr1c3grabb3r
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/Produc...e=pricegrabber

Its almost as expensive as a Hyundai L90D+ (19" LCD)

[ferrari_freak]

Can you post pics of comparing the difference between a 4:3 aspect ratio moniter such as a Dell 2001FPW vs. a widescreen moniter like the Dell 2405FPW. Some pics like how much more viewing area you will have with a widescreen moniter in a widescreen compatible game would be welcome. And another thing would about how much a non-widescreen compatible game will stretch (preferrably UT2004 because that is the game that I will be playing most and it is the one game that is preventhing me from choosing a widescreen moniter, I'm afraid that it might be too distorted) when used on a widescreen. Awesome guide, btw.

Usama aka Ferrari Freak

[notoriousformula]

So only the specifications tells u the truth, nothing to do only with the model name.

All i know is that Viewsonic uses diff pannel for 17" and 19" model.. the 19" uses a better/faster panel.. check out the Viewsonic site for spec PDF on both monitor, Also google for VP171 and VP191 reviews.

[shadowing]

Turok: I have the 2405FPW. If you wish, I can probably review it for normal use.. but not like intense gaming and stuff.

[Dalle]

It really boggles the mind why they went with 5:4 over 4:3 when creating LCD's. it really makes NO sense what so ever. All standard TV's and CRT's are 4:3.. why change something that is such a standard.. ohwell

btw.. amazing guide. absolutely amazing. really helped me out.

Talking about AR's, one thing that I don't get is.. why are all the monitors 16:10 and not 16:9
and I also have to agree that i also find it retarded that LCD's are built with a 4:3 ratio but their native resolution is 5:4

[Turok]

Can you post pics of comparing the difference between a 4:3 aspect ratio moniter such as a Dell 2001FPW vs. a widescreen moniter like the Dell 2405FPW. Some pics like how much more viewing area you will have with a widescreen moniter in a widescreen compatible game would be welcome. And another thing would about how much a non-widescreen compatible game will stretch (preferrably UT2004 because that is the game that I will be playing most and it is the one game that is preventhing me from choosing a widescreen moniter, I'm afraid that it might be too distorted) when used on a widescreen. Awesome guide, btw.

Usama aka Ferrari Freak

I already posted a picture compareing the viewabl area between 5:4, 4:3, 16:10, and 16:9 aspect ratios in the "Common Aspect Ratios" section.
I also added a link below with the difference between 4:3 and 5:4 viewable area in CSS

Turok: I have the 2405FPW. If you wish, I can probably review it for normal use.. but not like intense gaming and stuff.

Something is better than nothing
Please PM me some comments on your LCD and use this site to test for ghosting:
http://www.prad.de/en/monitore/ghosting_test.html

If you dont mind, could you download a FPS demo like Halo, Doom3, F.E.A.R., etc.
If you dont have the video card to run it, try an old game demo like Doom, and Duke Nukem 3D

[dippyskoodlez]

Sharpness:
LCD run at a native resolution, wile CRT compresses the image as you raise the resolution, making it less sharp and more blurry in higher resolutions.

Don't the LCD's compress the image when your running a lower resolution and make it look like crap? I know every LCD ive seen does... bump down to 640x480 or something, and it gets really tiny, and 1024x768 on a 1280x1024 native LCD is really blurry and ugly.

[ferrari_freak]

I already posted a picture compareing the viewabl area between 5:4, 4:3, 16:10, and 16:9 aspect ratios in the "Common Aspect Ratios" section.
I also added a link below with the difference between 4:3 and 5:4 viewable area in CSS

Oops, must have missed it while reading your guide. Anyway, congrats, your guide is on the front page!

EDIT: I still don't see a section with how much a game can stretch. That would also be very helpful for people who will be playing a non widescreen capable game on a widescreen display.

Usama aka Ferrari Freak