LCD Buyer's Guide

[syaped]

Hi there,

I'm looking to upgrade from my dead CRT to an LCD and was wondering if you guys could give me some recommendations. I do graphics work, not the hardcore kind but I would want the image quality to be at least as nice as a CRT. I also game a bit so something that doesn't have the dreaded ghosting would be nice. I guess what I'm looking for is a higher endish all round LCD. I'm also looking in the 19inch range.

Thanks

 

[Compellor]

Originally posted by: syaped
I guess what I'm looking for is a higher endish all round LCD. I'm also looking in the 19inch range.

Be sure to get an 8-bit panel. The Samsung 970P and ViewSonic VP930b are both excellent choices. I do a bit of graphics, Web design, and some video editing, plus I game quite a bit. I got the VP930b and it delivers on all counts. The Samsung looks to be a bit better but it costs more.

 

[dman918]

XTKnight, so what do you do with some of the other settings? IE contrast and brightness on the monitor controls, image sharpening, digital vibrance. I am curious on what things you recommend typically gives the best picture.

 

[xtknight]

Originally posted by: Compellor

Originally posted by: syaped
I guess what I'm looking for is a higher endish all round LCD. I'm also looking in the 19inch range.

Be sure to get an 8-bit panel. The Samsung 970P and ViewSonic VP930b are both excellent choices. I do a bit of graphics, Web design, and some video editing, plus I game quite a bit. I got the VP930b and it delivers on all counts. The Samsung looks to be a bit better but it costs more.

Precisely.

 

[xtknight]

Originally posted by: dman918
XTKnight, so what do you do with some of the other settings? IE contrast and brightness on the monitor controls, image sharpening, digital vibrance. I am curious on what things you recommend typically gives the best picture.

Digital vibrance and image sharpening are fakey IMO. To get the best calibrated picture for entertainment, use SRGB on your monitor, if it has such a mode. If not, use '6500K' mode, or maybe it's labeled "Normal" on some Samsung monitors. I just leave gamma=1.0 default, and brightness=100%, contrast=100% in the NVIDIA/ATI driver settings. It's best to control it at the monitor end. The colors (except the leaky black) on my VP930b are absolutely earthshattering with SRGB mode on and all default settings. That's how it was meant to be used I guess.

For text, I just do whatever the hell I want. I usually push up the red balance on my LCD a little to match a soft CRT picture. Eliminate some green and a lot of blue due to the greenish-blue of the fluorescent backlight. Something like: Red: 92% Green: 90% Blue: 70%.

 

[dman918]

Thanks for the reply. I guess I am most concerned with the best picture possible while on the Internet. I also do an occasional game here and there (COD2 rocks!). So, you would recommend the SRGB mode over 6500k and calibrate from there?
Thanks!

 

[xtknight]

Originally posted by: dman918
Thanks for the reply. I guess I am most concerned with the best picture possible while on the Internet. I also do an occasional game here and there (COD2 rocks!). So, you would recommend the SRGB mode over 6500k and calibrate from there?
Thanks!

Personally what I do is switch between the two depending on what I do. Text/internet is 6500K and a little dimmer brightness and contrast. Entertainment is SRGB mode. On my LCD (VP930b), SRGB mode locks brightness and contrast to something very high and all color adjustment so that it's just one mode. Then when I do text I just change it to 'user', where the low brightness/contrast is restored and so are the color values. Which LCD do you have again? Unfortunately yours might not have the same functionality.

Edit: OK, you have a VX924. It should have that.

 

[xtknight]

Here's my monitor settings in full:

ViewSonic VP930b

Entertainment: Color Adjust->SRGB (sets brightness/contrast/color balance for you)

Text/Internet:
Brightness: 33
Contrast: 68

Color Adjust->User:
R: 92
G: 90
B: 70

------------

When you choose SRGB it makes it calibrated/"SuperBright", then when you choose User it makes it comfortable for text or Internet work and sets the brightness/contrast you set prior.

I just go in the menu and switch between the two depending on what I'm doing. It's not that much of a hassle for me. It can be done with software as well. I might see if I can make a program to do it, some day.

These settings might make your LCD look crappy, because we have different monitors. But it should be roughly the same I'm thinking since we both have ViewSonic. The VP930b is probably a lot brighter (not necessarily a good thing), so again, your mileage may vary.

And again, just use defaults (standard gamma, brightness, contrast) in NVIDIA/ATI driver options. No digital vibrance, no image sharpening. Hook up your monitor over a DVI connection if possible, and run at 1280x1024. Do not use the ICC profile that came on the CD, in my opinion. It just doesn't work well for me. I probably said use it before but I've changed my mind.

For Windows XP, I also like to use ClearType. Get the ClearType Tuner PowerToy for Windows XP. Turn on ClearType, RGB stripe, and set the ClearType gamma until the text looks good and all color fringing is gone on the text.

For Linux, it looks even better with "grayscale subpixel blending" under text options.

For some Quake 3-engine games (Quake 3, RTCW, Wolfenstein: ET) I like to bump the "r_mapoverbrightbits" in console. I think it looks really cool on this monitor. I leave gamma at default within game settings as well (quake3=1.0, wolf/wolfet=1.3). If you have no idea what I'm talking about and don't play q3/wolf, don't worry about it.

Edit: added in some more info and don't use ICC profile.

 

[syaped]

Thanks for the tips guys

 

[xtknight]

Update: Added general usage recommendations.

 

[syaped]

Hey again, there are a couple of 2nd hand monitors I'm thinking of checking out. Just thought I'd run them past you, see what you think of the deals.

One is a CRT 21" Sony Trinitron E-540 Flat screen. $250

The other is a Dell 2005FPW 20.1" Widescreen Ultrasharp LCD. $400

There's also a Sony 19" SDM-HS95/B LCD

I'd really appreciate it if you guys could give me your opinions on these.

Thanks

 

[xtknight]

Originally posted by: syaped
Hey again, there are a couple of 2nd hand monitors I'm thinking of checking out. Just thought I'd run them past you, see what you think of the deals.

One is a CRT 21" Sony Trinitron E-540 Flat screen. $250

The other is a Dell 2005FPW 20.1" Widescreen Ultrasharp LCD. $400

There's also a Sony 19" SDM-HS95/B LCD

I'd really appreciate it if you guys could give me your opinions on these.

Thanks

Is the Trinitron a refurb? They don't make new Trinitrons anymore as far as I know...or the ones they do are very expensive. The Dell 2005FPW looks like a good deal, lots of people love theirs. How much is the Sony 19" LCD going for? It may have the X-Brite coating many people here love for contrast increasing. Just in case you didn't know, the Trinitron is a CRT flat screen. Flat screens aren't the same as flat panels. Flat screens mean just the glass in the case of a CRT, and flat panels are all LCDs. That doesn't mean it's not a good monitor, I just wondered if you got confused there. And the CRT vs. LCD is a whole 'nother issue. A big issue.

But if the Trinitron is new it looks like a really good deal and you might want to jump on it while Trinitrons still exist. Many a user here have had problems with refurbs though such as convergence, landing, geometry, text clarity, and badly aligned internals causing dimness. So just a warning when you're dealing with refurbs.

 

[syaped]

I'm not sure about the Trinitron. The guy said he bought it about 3 months ago, I guess he bought it 2nd hand aswell. When did they stop making them?

The Sony LCD is $300

 

[xtknight]

Not sure. 2-3 years ago I think they stopped mass-producing aperture grille monitors (Trinitrons and Diamondtrons) as far as I know. Who is the seller? From eBay?

 

[syaped]

No, the sellers are local. I might check them out tommorow.

 

[xtknight]

Out of those I'd say the Dell 2005FPW due to its excellent reputation. I'd say the Trinitron is bound to have problems if it's a 3rd hand. Those are pretty good CRTs so I don't know why anyone would dispose of them unless they went defective or had an overstock of them. The Sony LCD I'm not really sure about but I think you'd be happiest with the Dell.

 

[syaped]

Well the guy says he's selling the Trinitron because he's being shipped to Iraq so... But the Dell is looking like the best option. Thanks for the help.

 

[xtknight]

Originally posted by: syaped
Well the guy says he's selling the Trinitron because he's being shipped to Iraq so... But the Dell is looking like the best option. Thanks for the help.

Just curious. What model of monitor do you have now?

 

[syaped]

I was using a 17" Sony Trinitron Multiscan 200GS which we've had since who knows when. It died the other week though, that's why I'm looking for something.

 

[xtknight]

I think you'll love the Dell 2005FPW then. Just make sure you're aware of the widescreen stuff. Widescreen gaming forum (Google it) is a good place to start and also has lots of tips on how to configure your games for widescreen.

Link: http://www.widescreengamingforum.com/

 

[syaped]

Thanks alot for your help xtknight. I'm gonna check it out tomorrow and hopefully I'll have a new widescreen LCD to play with

 

[pcmodem]

Argh...

You bast--ds!!! :

I've been trying to resist buying an LCD...

But the Dell 2005FPW is on sale now 25% off and free shipping and no interest until 2007...

Argh... must resist!


Resistance is futile.
-PCM

 

[nib95]

Ok guys, I have a question.

I have a Dell 2405FPW on order. Got if for a great price! It sells for £980 here, I managed to squeeze it for £580. Still a rip off compared to US prices, but for the UK, its a steal.

Anyway heres my question, I do not plan to upgrade my GPU for at least another year (X1900 XTX or 7900 GTX) but when eventually I can no longer run games at 1920x1080 or even 1680 x 1050, will games at lower resolutions such as 1680 x 1050 or even 1280 x 768 look really bad on the 2405FPW?

This is my only concern in regards to the screen.
But the plus side is, it should be great for all my design work and video editing what with all the extra screen space.

 

[ddekany]

Be ware guys! Samsung 970p is NOT a 8 bit monitor, it's a 6 bit monitor. It uses virtual 8 bits with dithering (don't mix up with FRC). And I know it has S-PVA panel, but still... I'm glaring at it right now. I have seen another one too, the same. I have seens photos of others about it as well; the same. I have a page about it with photos... sorry it's not translated to english yet, but I believe the images are enough: article about 970p dithering, and mirror if the previous is down.

 

[xtknight]

Originally posted by: ddekany
Be ware guys! Samsung 970p is NOT a 8 bit monitor, it's a 6 bit monitor. It uses virtual 8 bits with dithering (don't mix up with FRC). And I know it has S-PVA panel, but still... I'm glaring at it right now. I have seen another one too, the same. I have seens photos of others about it as well; the same. I have a page about it with photos... sorry it's not translated to english yet, but I believe the images are enough: article about 970p dithering, and mirror if the previous is down.

Wow.... woohoo for misadvertising, Samsung. :Q

Thanks for bringing that to our attention. But it is inherent to the technology it be 8-bit so I'm not sure of that. I'll take a look at the article.

I noticed a little noise on my P-MVA panel as well, only in certain subtle colors. My guess is it's to reduce burn-in but it could very well be FRC.

It looks like you may be right about this. Startling discovery... I've added a link in the Guide under the 970P if anyone's interested.