24" Screens, Need Some Input!

[Hauk]

I'm thinking of venturing into the ~24" arena and would appreciate your advice! I'm a novice on screens and don't have super high requirements, just want it to work and look good. Will be driven by 9800 GTX's now and single gpu beast later.

Considerations
Should I go LCD TV or monitor route?
Should I be concerned about the infamous TN panel thingy?

General requirements
Under $600
~5ms for gaming
HDMI not a requirement but a bonus
Standard DVI required
Height adjustment highly desired but not required
TV tuner not required but wouldn't turn it away

I can control room lighting and have always wanted an NEC glossy screen. They're beautiful. My first consideration is NEC 24" Glossy.

My second consideration is Samsung 24".

Not limited to Newegg, but here's their 24" offerings.

 

[Jax Omen]

I wouldn't get an LCD TV, at that price/size range you're limited to 720p, whereas a monitor gives you 1920x1200.

I'm getting a BenQ G2400W, everyone seems to love it despite the TN panel.

 

[Atreus21]

I own both the Soyo 24" offered by Officemax and the Westinghouse that Newegg offers. Both are MVA panels, from the reviews, and both are pretty good, except that the newer Soyos, I hear, are TNs. The Westy is BRIGHT. Like almost blinding. It illuminates my room.

But the picture is gorgeous. I had to RMA the Soyo back to Soyo because the power supply crapped out, and it works fine now. It wasn't pleasant, though.

I'd recommend the Westy.

 

[Hauk]

Originally posted by: Jax Omen
I wouldn't get an LCD TV, at that price/size range you're limited to 720p, whereas a monitor gives you 1920x1200.

I'm getting a BenQ G2400W, everyone seems to love it despite the TN panel.

I saw that but didn't know if that was a big factor. Thanks. And thanks Atreus for the Westinghose info. That BenQ looks nice too.

 

[Jax Omen]

720p is like 2/3 the resolution of 1920x1200. It's a very big deal. It's also a 16:9 resolution: PC monitors are 16:10, and most PC games that support widescreen are designed for that (the Xbox ports usually support 16:9 though, and many newer games support both as well).

 

[Owls]

Do not get a 24" TN panel. The viewing angle for a screen that size is absolutely atrocious. TN is barely acceptable for 22" and at 24" it is absurd. I'm sick of seeing the market being flooded with shitty 24" TN panels.

You'll thank me later.

(tested 245BW and 2232BW)

 

[Jax Omen]

Not everyone is as sensitive to TN panels as you are.

I have no problems with viewing angles, colors, or response time on my girlfriend's very cheap 19" TN-panel 8ms monitor.

The G2400W that I want is a 24" that's supposed to have very good viewing angles and colors FOR A TN PANEL, and 5ms response time. Sounds good to me.

 

[dawza]

A 19" 12x10 TN panel is a whole different animal from a 24" 19x12 TN monitor. This is definitely a see before you buy scenario, given TN's terrible vertical color shift.

If your GF's 19" monitor is rated at 8ms, it is very likely a VA-based panel.

 

[scheibler1]

I got the 24" BenQ G2400W and couldn't be happier. Here is my short little review from my experience after using this monitor for a month

http://sharkyforums.com/showthread.php?t=309307

 

[cheinonen]

For $600 now you can get a Dell 2408WFP, which would look nicer than the 24" TN panels out there, and has all the inputs you could want (DVI, HDMI, DisplayPort, VGA, Component).

Since that is a little out of my price range, however, has someone that's seen both the G2400W and the 24" Westinghouse got an opinion on which would be best if I am not a gamer on it? This will be matched up with a Dell 2005FPW. I don't really play games, and if I did, I'd use the 20" to drive a lower resolution anyway. So, for office work and some image editing, should I do the Westinghouse or the BenQ?

 

[chizow]

Since you seem interested in TV and PC functions I'd definitely limit your search to 24-26" LCD monitor @ 1920x1200 with multiple inputs, as long as you have a sound system or receiver that can handle your audio switching. Biggest reason I recommend a PC monitor that can double as a TV is that I typically find LCD monitors double as TVs much better than LCD TVs double as PC monitors. A 1920x1200 LCD can do full 1080p which makes it incredibly versatile whether its HD content/Blu-Ray discs on your PC, HD cable/satellite, PS3/Xbox360, HD OTA, etc.

As for TNs vs *VA....this is something people feel very strongly about. I'd recommend looking at least one of each in person for reference and decide for yourself. When I got my monitor over a year ago TNs were much worst than the current models so I sacrificed response time and lower input lag for some inverse ghosting. Newer TNs are much better from what I have seen so if I were to get another panel now, I'd probably go with a TN with gaming in mind.

A few worth checking out if you like glossy, multi-inputs, fast response and aren't totally adverse to TN is the Gateway FHD2400. CircuitCity and BB stock it for sure so its pretty accessible. There also seems to be a new wave of 26.5" TNs with a matte finish that have multiple inputs but come in about the same price as the 24" panels. Otherwise I'd stick to some of the safer and pricier *VA picks like the Dell 2408, LG 24", Samsung 24" etc.

 

[ArchAngel777]

I am pretty happy with my Dell E2408. It is a TN panel, but it looks really good (to me). The problem with monitor recomendation's is that each person has their own preference. It makes it nearly impossible to make a purchase decision.

You can show two people the same two TV's and they will come up with different conclusions quite often.

Is there is a Dell Kiosk near where you live? You should be able to check it out in person there. As for TN versus IPS/MPA or PVA, I'd say to go to BB and CC and check similar type displays where you know the panel type and see how they look. Writing off a TN panel because the technical specs are not as high is premature, IMO. Some TN's look better than MPA/PVA/IPS. The end result matters more in this case than the technology behind it. Pros and Cons to everything. Just check them out and see what you like. No one can dictate what your eyes prefer, only you know that.

 

[Jax Omen]

Originally posted by: dawza
A 19" 12x10 TN panel is a whole different animal from a 24" 19x12 TN monitor. This is definitely a see before you buy scenario, given TN's terrible vertical color shift.

If your GF's 19" monitor is rated at 8ms, it is very likely a VA-based panel.

It is a 19" 1440x900 TN panel. It was all we could afford at the time.

Vertical color shift? I don't know how you compute, but I'm not usually changing HEIGHTS in relation to my monitor

 

[Owls]

Originally posted by: Jax Omen

Originally posted by: dawza
A 19" 12x10 TN panel is a whole different animal from a 24" 19x12 TN monitor. This is definitely a see before you buy scenario, given TN's terrible vertical color shift.

If your GF's 19" monitor is rated at 8ms, it is very likely a VA-based panel.

It is a 19" 1440x900 TN panel. It was all we could afford at the time.

Vertical color shift? I don't know how you compute, but I'm not usually changing HEIGHTS in relation to my monitor

If you slouch or sit up while looking at a TN panel you will see vertical color shift.

TN = devil. In addition to crappy viewing angles you get to enjoy the wonderful world of 8bit color and awesome dithering that remind you of the old days of VGA.

 

[Jax Omen]

I see.

I'm currently using a 19" CRT connected via VGA cable. I honestly don't know wtf you're talking about.

He said he wants a 24" gaming monitor. The only ones in his price range at 5ms are TN panels.

His other option would be to spend $700 on the doublesight 25.5" IPS panel monitor. Is that what you'd recommend to him?

 

[v8envy]

Even if you go to CC or BestBuy you can't try gaming on an LCD to see if you can tolerate it. And the environment is * BRIGHT * in those stores, so you may wind up lugging your LCD home, plugging it in and realizing you'll never see black again.

I suggest going with Costco. They have a great return policy -- go ahead and try displays, and if you can handle them keep them. That NEC glossy looks great, but I recall reading they have horrific input lag: on the order of 45 milliseconds. People love the DS IPS panel, so scraping up another $100 may be worthwhile when the budget is that large anyway.

I just did another week long LCD panel search to replace my dying CRT and found nothing I liked. Lucky for me I found a local TV repair shop experienced in high end CRT repair. Looks like I'll be able to get my CRT fixed for about the same price as a 24" LCD. Hope that lasts me until flat panel tech improves.

 

[Owls]

Originally posted by: Jax Omen
I see.

I'm currently using a 19" CRT connected via VGA cable. I honestly don't know wtf you're talking about.

He said he wants a 24" gaming monitor. The only ones in his price range at 5ms are TN panels.

His other option would be to spend $700 on the doublesight 25.5" IPS panel monitor. Is that what you'd recommend to him?

Unfortunately, you get what you pay for. If he can live with abysmal color reproduction and awful viewing angles, go ahead and buy a 24" TN panel. I can only speak from experience when I was in the market for a proper 24" LCD.

My ultimate solution after testing the 245BW and 2232BW was the BenQ FP241W, which I think is discontinued at this point. Got it for $550 at NCIXUS.com

 

[chizow]

Originally posted by: v8envy
Even if you go to CC or BestBuy you can't try gaming on an LCD to see if you can tolerate it. And the environment is * BRIGHT * in those stores, so you may wind up lugging your LCD home, plugging it in and realizing you'll never see black again.

Actually most CC and BB do have panels plugged into actual PCs so you can test them out. Many already have pre-loaded videos or game demos to get an idea of what a game would look like. I'm sure if you really wanted to, you could bring a game demo on a USB key or even download one to see what it looked like. If you have a MicroCenter nearby, even better, as my local MC has all of its high-end panels attached to fully functioning high-end PCs that you can play with in a real Windows environment. In any case you wouldn't even need to play a game to see if the viewing angles bothered you terribly, and IME TN problems like viewing angles, color uniformity, and color accuracy are much more pronounced in a Windows desktop environment compared to movies or games.

 

[Hauk]

Originally posted by: cheinonen
For $600 now you can get a Dell 2408WFP, which would look nicer than the 24" TN panels out there, and has all the inputs you could want (DVI, HDMI, DisplayPort, VGA, Component).

Since that is a little out of my price range, however, has someone that's seen both the G2400W and the 24" Westinghouse got an opinion on which would be best if I am not a gamer on it? This will be matched up with a Dell 2005FPW. I don't really play games, and if I did, I'd use the 20" to drive a lower resolution anyway. So, for office work and some image editing, should I do the Westinghouse or the BenQ?

This is a nice display, me like! So this is a VA not a TN? Lots to research to do in a short amount of time. Thanks for the input everyone.

One question. Progressing to this screen size should virtually eliminate the need for AA right? I'm going from 1680 x 1050 where I use 2x AA, if at all.

 

[ArchAngel777]

Originally posted by: SteelSix

Originally posted by: cheinonen
For $600 now you can get a Dell 2408WFP, which would look nicer than the 24" TN panels out there, and has all the inputs you could want (DVI, HDMI, DisplayPort, VGA, Component).

Since that is a little out of my price range, however, has someone that's seen both the G2400W and the 24" Westinghouse got an opinion on which would be best if I am not a gamer on it? This will be matched up with a Dell 2005FPW. I don't really play games, and if I did, I'd use the 20" to drive a lower resolution anyway. So, for office work and some image editing, should I do the Westinghouse or the BenQ?

This is a nice display, me like! So this is a VA not a TN? Lots to research to do in a short amount of time. Thanks for the input everyone.

One question. Progressing to this screen size should virtually eliminate the need for AA right? I'm going from 1680 x 1050 where I use 2x AA, if at all.

I find that I need AA just as much at 1920 x 1200 as I did when I ran a 30" 1280 x 768. So, I think you still need AA.

 

[Hauk]

We have a winner!

I just bought the Dell Ultrasharp 2408WFP.

Deciding factors, Chizow said it's a VA (which I'm researching now), the professional and user reviews, the staggering input flexibility, and for $60 more a five year warranty with zero "bright" pixels for the entire warranty term.

Phew, that's the most I've ever plunked down on a montitor! I've never bought Dell but have seen many faithful followers. I need a drink...

 

[ArchAngel777]

Originally posted by: SteelSix
We have a winner!

I just bought the Dell Ultrasharp 2408WFP.

Deciding factors, Chizow said it's a VA (which I'm researching now), the professional and user reviews, the staggering input flexibility, and for $60 more a five year warranty with zero "bright" pixels for the entire warranty term.

Phew, that's the most I've ever plunked down on a montitor! I've never bought Dell but have seen many faithful followers. I need a drink...

Congratulations. That should be a fine monitor for you. Dell has a nice look to their displays, I do not think you will be dissapointed.

 

[Owls]

Originally posted by: SteelSix
We have a winner!

I just bought the Dell Ultrasharp 2408WFP.

Deciding factors, Chizow said it's a VA (which I'm researching now), the professional and user reviews, the staggering input flexibility, and for $60 more a five year warranty with zero "bright" pixels for the entire warranty term.

Phew, that's the most I've ever plunked down on a montitor! I've never bought Dell but have seen many faithful followers. I need a drink...

Superb choice. I have a 2001FP that I still use as a 2nd monitor. These are about the only thing Dell does well with.

 

[mmnno]

Originally posted by: SteelSix
We have a winner!

I just bought the Dell Ultrasharp 2408WFP.

Deciding factors, Chizow said it's a VA (which I'm researching now), the professional and user reviews, the staggering input flexibility, and for $60 more a five year warranty with zero "bright" pixels for the entire warranty term.

Phew, that's the most I've ever plunked down on a montitor! I've never bought Dell but have seen many faithful followers. I need a drink...

Review of your monitor: http://monitortest.blogspot.com/ It's a VA.

Probably the most detailed tech review I've ever seen. Gets a good mark from the extremely picky reviewer (he basically hates VA and won't touch any of them over even the oldest, most grainy IPS.)

 

[MyLeftNut]

Originally posted by: Jax Omen
Not everyone is as sensitive to TN panels as you are.

I have no problems with viewing angles, colors, or response time on my girlfriend's very cheap 19" TN-panel 8ms monitor.

The G2400W that I want is a 24" that's supposed to have very good viewing angles and colors FOR A TN PANEL, and 5ms response time. Sounds good to me.

A 24" TN is affected enough by vertical viewing angles that pretty much looking straight at it on usually desk heights will show a dark shift in colors. Unless you tilt the panel slightly downwards, but then the picture doesn't look as good... So unless you're prepared to have the monitor leveled perpendicular to eye-level and have the monitor slightly tilted down, choose a VA panel.