New Monitor advice needed...

[mondo]

I second the BenQ's, espcially the FP241. At work I think we have almost every Dell ever made (upto and including 30" TFT's) here and none of them compare to the BenQ in picture quality.

When looking at TFT's, check the type of screen it is. SPVA is the best quality and TN panels are the lowest quality. With a TN panel your loosing out on colour depth etc.

Originally Posted by 99th_Flyby

I'll need to purchase a monitor soon. Things I've learned to consider are:
1- the native screen resolution and a video card that can support that easily enough. So a 24" monitor will need a gpu with some balls

You can pick up an old Radeon X1950XTX for almost nothing these days and that will power a 24" screen running 1920x1200 with ease, especially if all your running is IL2. Just make sure the card has 512mb of memory because of the texture sizes being loaded into memory.

Originally Posted by 99th_Flyby

2- the quicker the response time (how fast a pixel can change grey to grey, iirc) is preferrable to reduce the chance of ghosting. So if I can find a monitor with a 2ms response time I'm in good shape.

Beware of some advertising, a monitor that says it can do 2ms is only under specific conditions. If you can find out its average response time under real conditions. It might be more like 8 to 16ms. Cheaper panels that say they can do 2ms might average out allot higher than 16ms during normal operation.

Originally Posted by 99th_Flyby

2- there's something called lag time too. this spec is not mentined in most monitors, but again has something to do with ghosting. maybe it's like low response time

AFAIK mice and other input devices can cause input lag. Samsung TFT's are notorious for input lag from mice. Some models have upto a 30ms input lag time although I'm sure they have been improving over time because Dell uses Samsung panels and they don't have this issue.

www.widescreengamingforum.com is probably the most comprehensive site in regards to buying a new TFT/LCD. They do the best reviews and since there independant they generally will show every monitors good side as well as the faults. Well worth a look before you part with large amounts of cash.

[KOM.Nausicaa]

Hello,

I know you are a painter. I am an artist as well (movies conceptual design) and I really recommend you not to go into the usual brands like Samsung, Dell etc.
EIZO is a japanese brand that manufactures flat screens for graphic artists. (widescreen too)
They have the great advantage of being MUCH more true to colors and contrast, due to a different technology than the usual brands. Eizo screens don't have the usual backlight, means that black will be reprsented as truly black etc.The whole white to black gamma range is much better. The screen is also a lot sharper than the usual commercial ones. It will enhance your computer experience, looking at pictures, reading on screen etc. Also the gaming experience of course. I bought Eizo for my design company and nobody wants to go back to the old screens.
here is a link:
http://www.eizo.com/index.asp

I bought the Eizo FlexScan S2411W.

[mondo]

FYI EIZO use Samsung (Dell also use Samsung panels) and LG manufactured panels but I think most of the rest of the tech they use in there monitors is bespoke which can often make a difference.

[crazyivan1970]

Originally Posted by mondo

FYI EIZO use Samsung (Dell also use Samsung panels) and LG manufactured panels but I think most of the rest of the tech they use in there monitors is bespoke which can often make a difference.

Even Sony uses Samsung panels nowdays

[Thunderbolt56]

Originally Posted by KOM.Nausicaa

http://www.eizo.com/index.asp

I bought the Eizo FlexScan S2411W.

Eizo FlexScan S2411W = $1,398

[KOM.Nausicaa]

Originally Posted by Thunderbolt56

Eizo FlexScan S2411W = $1,398

Yes but worth every penny ihmo. The viewing difference is just amazing. For a while our 3D department was on Samsung monitors, but after a while they found out what a difference it made to look at the EIZO, and they took the habit to ask me to let them look at their work at my desk, hehe. I had one of them standing all 2 hrs here, "can I look on your screen at my latest work in progress to check the colors?"
For a guy like James Dietz who works as a proffessionel in visual arts the Eizo is defenitly worth a thought.

[Thunderbolt56]

I don't doubt whether it's worth it or not and feel similarly. JD stated that cost was a concern though and $1400 bucks is enough to build a new pc from the ground up. If it's primarily for gaming then he can do better as far as bang-for-buck while maintaining great IQ, but if there actually is a professional application involved, your suggestion is an excellent one.

[mondo]

If I was going to spend that much money on a screen I'd go and buy a new 1080p TV.

[KOM.Nausicaa]

Well James is a well known american artist. I am sure he will find a use for a true color monitor.

[jamesdietz]

Hmmmm I think I'll avoid high end until I get a whole new rig...when that happens I can slide my Monitor over to my wife & slide in perfection...in the meantime I will still have to suffer through a PC long overdue for repalcement , but unable to do so because of delay in release of Oleg's masterwork,which if memory serves was due out Christmas of '06. Its frustrating but I can't risk buying all the best right now & finding out that BoB still needs more or something else than what I bought....