Are LCD monitors worth it?

[etecnifibre]

I have read that the refresh rates/response times aren't that of a CRT, and they cost a lot more. Are they worth it?
What does TFT mean?
I really want to get one, but am not sure. I don't do any gaming, but do a lot of video editing, and watch the Indiana Hoosiers' basketball games right here on my PC while I capture the game.
What is an acceptable response time? I'm looking at an NEC/Mitsubishi. I'm also looking at a Sony 18". Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Beckinsale]

Your eyes are worth everything.

 

[murphy55d]

Yes they are worth it. Response time should be 25ms or below. Forget about refresh rate, it doesn't really apply for LCDs.

 

[etecnifibre]

What brands should I look at, which ones to avoid?

 

[Chu]

Originally posted by: etecnifibre
I have read that the refresh rates/response times aren't that of a CRT, and they cost a lot more. Are they worth it?
What does TFT mean?
I really want to get one, but am not sure. I don't do any gaming, but do a lot of video editing, and watch the Indiana Hoosiers' basketball games right here on my PC while I capture the game.
What is an acceptable response time? I'm looking at an NEC/Mitsubishi. I'm also looking at a Sony 18". Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

This article is a MUST READ if you are unsure the advantages/disadvantages to an LCD over a CRT.

-Chu

 

[Corporate Thug]

Originally posted by: murphy55d
Yes they are worth it. Response time should be 25ms or below. Forget about refresh rate, it doesn't really apply for LCDs.

my 25ms is even kinda iffy when gaming

 

[rb56]

I've used a 19" LCD for close to two years and I can tell you I would be hard pressed to go back to a CRT. As far as which brands to look at I would say you pay for what you get. Check reviews and remember that you going to look at it every time you sit down at the computer. Think quality first then price.

rb56

 

[jdogg707]

I love my LCD, no more eyestrain, 25ms is fine for gaming on everything I have seen.

 

[poppyq]

I have the Dell 1800FP which I have heard is only 30ms and it is still great for gaming (keep in mind that this applies only to the 1800FP, all others I would stay with 25 or below)

 

[Mem]

What brands should I look at, which ones to avoid?

Good brands like Samsung,Viewsonic,Sony,NEC/Mitsu,Hitachi,LG are all worth looking at.

 

[Atlantean]

Are you planning to play any games with it? If so some people would tell you not to bother getting one... I personally like gaming on a crt better but when the lcd technology improves I am sure I will switch over. LCDs are nice because they give you extra desk space if its needed... but if you are doing intense gaming, then get a crt.

 

[araczynski]

if you're not gaming (like you wrote) then definately get one. Although LCD's are supposed to be more limited in terms of color reproduction, so not sure how that will impact yhour video editing. And as far as watchign cable on the lcd, i'm guessing that woudl fall into the same category as gaming in terms of fast action on teh screen, so you might see a bit more 'blur' (very small though). But from what i've seen of tv's lately that seems to be the case with those 'fancy' plasma/lcd tv's, don't see the point of a tv that can't keep up with the action...maybe poeple want the home shopping network on a fancy screen?

anyway, best bet is to go to bestbuy and 'borrow' one for a week or so and see what you think of the video editing and cable watching, then make a purchase online for a good one, get one with DVI as opposed to analog input. i think all 18"+ have DVI capability (but don't quote me).

 

[egale]

Maybe it is my eyes but I have a Viewsonic 17" with the 16ms response and it is fine for gaming and everything else I do.

 

[Mem]

Are you planning to play any games with it? If so some people would tell you not to bother getting one... I personally like gaming on a crt better but when the lcd technology improves I am sure I will switch over

.

LCDs are better in some ways for gaming then CRTs,the main problem with LCDs in gaming is ghosting(depends on the LCD monitor in question since some are very good while others are not) and they look best in their native res,however for crispness I find they just look so much sharper in gaming(at least to my eyes in DVI mode).
Some of the games I play with my Samsung 191T are UT2003,Return Castle Wolfenstein,TFC,Q3,DoD etc so quite a few games.

 

[Overkast]

etecnifibre, what kind of budget are you looking to spend? Is there no limit?

Dell is going to release their new 2001FP LCD monitor in Q1 2004 for retail purchase. Supposedly it gets 16ms, which is just fabulous for gaming purposes as well as anything else you'll want to use it for.

I've got a good feeling about this monitor. I've already started a fund to start saving for one... I'll probably buy one in a year when the rest of the market has caught up to the technology and prices have dropped.

 

[Graphix]

I'm also interested in the new Dell...especially for gaming. The only thing that's stopping me right now is that I keep hearing that it's always recommended to run at the native resolution of the LCD, otherwise your display is gonna look like crap. In the case of the new Dell 2001FP, that's 1600x1200. Now that's great and all, but how does that affect the games tho?

I have a fairly new system, running a P4 2.8GHz (HT, 800fsb) and a Radeon 9700 Pro. Thing is, Deus Ex Invisible War barely gets a good frame rate at 800x600 and 1024x768. I can't imagine even thinking of running the game at 1600x1200, which again, would be recommended if using the new monitor. Now I've heard that it's ok to scale down for games, but won't the in-game text look crappy? How's upcomming games like HL2 or D3 gonna work on these new low response time LCDs at that high of resolution (which btw, 9800xt can barely get over 77fps with AA turned on)?

Anyone have any insight on this?

 

[Looney]

I've got a 1800FP for about a year now, and i can honestly say it's impossible for me to go back to a CRT, at least for anything more than a few hours.

 

[RaymondY]

I have 2 LCDs, a Planar PV174 (17.4") at home on my primary rig and a Viewsonic VG150 (15") on my personal office workstation. I love the LCDs, at work I am on my computer 6+ hrs daily and since I switched to the LCD, eye strain has been greatly reduced.

I would have to say, YES, LCDs are definitely worth the $$$ especially if u uses your computer alot of hrs.

 

[Chu]

. . . am I the only one here who prefers CRT? If your doing anything where quality is the most important factor . . . doing work on anything but a CRT is dangerous because your black point is so far off from where it should be.

-Chu

 

[Looney]

Originally posted by: Chu
. . . am I the only one here who prefers CRT? If your doing anything where quality is the most important factor . . . doing work on anything but a CRT is dangerous because your black point is so far off from where it should be.

-Chu

Probably because not many of us are professional digital artists.

 

[Chu]

Originally posted by: Moralpanic

Originally posted by: Chu
. . . am I the only one here who prefers CRT? If your doing anything where quality is the most important factor . . . doing work on anything but a CRT is dangerous because your black point is so far off from where it should be.

-Chu

Probably because not many of us are professional digital artists.

It's not just that. Put a *PROPERLY CALIBRATED* trinitron next to one of those Apple Cinema Displays. I doubt anyone will vote for the apple being better based on image quality. There are plenty of really good reasons to buy an LCD. Hell, after lugging my monster to a lan party a month ago I broke down and bought (and it was a great excuse to finally get a 2nd monitor). Image quality, however, IS NOT ONE OF THEM. When I see posts saying that LCD's are "less fuzzy," it just irks the hell out of me. Yes, your average LCD will beat the hell out of some no name rebadge, but it can't touch a trinitron at half the price on image quality.

-Chu

 

[Looney]

Originally posted by: Chu

Originally posted by: Moralpanic

Originally posted by: Chu
. . . am I the only one here who prefers CRT? If your doing anything where quality is the most important factor . . . doing work on anything but a CRT is dangerous because your black point is so far off from where it should be.

-Chu

Probably because not many of us are professional digital artists.

It's not just that. Put a *PROPERLY CALIBRATED* trinitron next to one of those Apple Cinema Displays. I doubt anyone will vote for the apple being better based on image quality. There are plenty of really good reasons to buy an LCD. Hell, after lugging my monster to a lan party a month ago I broke down and bought (and it was a great excuse to finally get a 2nd monitor). Image quality, however, IS NOT ONE OF THEM. When I see posts saying that LCD's are "less fuzzy," it just irks the hell out of me. Yes, your average LCD will beat the hell out of some no name rebadge, but it can't touch a trinitron at half the price on image quality.

-Chu

 

[Looney]

Originally posted by: Chu

Originally posted by: Moralpanic

Originally posted by: Chu
. . . am I the only one here who prefers CRT? If your doing anything where quality is the most important factor . . . doing work on anything but a CRT is dangerous because your black point is so far off from where it should be.

-Chu

Probably because not many of us are professional digital artists.

It's not just that. Put a *PROPERLY CALIBRATED* trinitron next to one of those Apple Cinema Displays. I doubt anyone will vote for the apple being better based on image quality. There are plenty of really good reasons to buy an LCD. Hell, after lugging my monster to a lan party a month ago I broke down and bought (and it was a great excuse to finally get a 2nd monitor). Image quality, however, IS NOT ONE OF THEM. When I see posts saying that LCD's are "less fuzzy," it just irks the hell out of me. Yes, your average LCD will beat the hell out of some no name rebadge, but it can't touch a trinitron at half the price on image quality.

-Chu

I have a over $3500CDN ($2500USD) Sony GDM-FW900 here beside my 1800FP, and i much prefer the 1800FP to my daily tasks. It's so much easier on the eyes. True, i can get dual browsers on my Sony, but the clarity and ease of eyes on the 1800FP is just so much better.

At the last store i worked at, we had LCDs and CRTS side by side, and i've heard more customers say 'oooh' and 'aaah' from them then i ever did from a CRT.

 

[Corporate Thug]

Originally posted by: jdogg707
I love my LCD, no more eyestrain, 25ms is fine for gaming on everything I have seen.

some games are ok w/ my 25 ms but there is sooooo much ghosting in COD

 

[Mem]

It's not just that. Put a *PROPERLY CALIBRATED* trinitron next to one of those Apple Cinema Displays. I doubt anyone will vote for the apple being better based on image quality.

LCD is awesome for text compared to any trinitron CRT ,besides trinitrons have a defect that comes with the screen,those two AG wires,no thanks I keep my perfect LCD at least I know the screen is 100% AG free ,and yes AG wires do bother me.