Monitors

[Eagle82]

I would like to purchase a new monitor.  Presently I'm using and old 17" hp flat panel LCD, but would like to get at least a 20" monitor.  I don't know much about monitor specs, resolution, etc. so I was hoping to get some feedback as to what I should be looking for.  I have FSX Deluxe with Acceleration.

My system is as follows:

Intel Core 2 Quad Overclocked to 3.2GHz
4GB DDRII Ram
500GB Memory
nVidia eVGA 8800 Ultra 768 MB
Vista Home Premium 64 bit

[garymbuska]

I would like to purchase a new monitor.  Presently I'm using and old 17" hp flat panel LCD, but would like to get at least a 20" monitor.  I don't know much about monitor specs, resolution, etc. so I was hoping to get some feedback as to what I should be looking for.  I have FSX Deluxe with Acceleration.

My system is as follows:

Intel Core 2 Quad Overclocked to 3.2GHz
4GB DDRII Ram
500GB Memory
nVidia eVGA 8800 Ultra 768 MB
Vista Home Premium 64 bit

 Size is your choice and does not matter what you want to look for is resolutions,viewing angle, and refresh rate, would be good starting points. Even a 20" monitor wont do you any good if it has poor resolutions or does not have a good viewing angle. You want a viewing angle of at least 170 degrees and a resolution of  1280 x 1024 the more dots you can get the better the image.  8-)

[NickN]

for an 8800 video card if the montior is not at least 1600 x 1200 or 1920 x 1200 (or higher) you are throwing your money down the drain

unlike cheaper video cards which fair better on 1280 x 1024, a 768MB 8800GTX (or even the 620 GT model) need a very high resolution monitor or you wasted your money on the video card. It will actually perform worse -visually- on 1280 x 1024 and you wont be using the core/card you spent so much money on.

If you really want an awesome monitor that is full HDTV as well, I use this one and can highly recommend it..

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6824014124

Its very cheap now too. When I purchased mine a year and a half ago it was 1200 dollars.


Also, there is more to a TFT than just scale and MS response time. The monitor I posted above is using a 8bit screen processor where most cheaper units run 4-6bit and require at lease a 4ms response time to avoid motion blur and other issue. With the 8bit screen the 6ms response time is well under any motion blur issues and is good to go up to 160FPS without problems in that area.

The contrast ratio makes that monitor explode with realistic color and hue and delivers and excellent black level

If you are going to spend the money on the rig you did, dont skimp and destroy what you gained with the tower hardware by putting a cheap/low res monitor on it... if you do, you wasted your money on the rig

[ozzy72]

If it was my money on the table I'd look at either of the following 22 inchers;
AG Neovo H-W22 ($269) or ViewSonic VG2230wm ($319)

[Eagle82]

Thanks for the advice.  I looked at the monitor that NickN suggested and the monitors that ozzy72 suggested.  I'm kind of torn.  From reading the numerous posts in this forum by Nick, there's no opinion I would value more, however I don't know if I can afford that monitor.  The monitors ozzy suggested are more in my price range, but I'm concerned about the 1680x1050 resolution.

for an 8800 video card if the montior is not at least 1600 x 1200 or 1920 x 1200 (or higher) you are throwing your money down the drain

[ozzy72]

If you really want 1920*1200 you'll really need to get a 23 or 24 inch monitor. Unless you're doing serious graphics work I don't personally think you need it.
I'm still muddling by with a stone age rig and a top display rate of 1280*1024 on a good day
Mind you if I had the money I'd get the Gateway XHD3000 30 incher! Resolution of 2560*1600. Alas I don't have $1700 to spare at the moment

[NickN]

This one is very similar to the BenQ and coming from Samsung I would bet it would produce an excellent image.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6824185005

Thats 24 inches of real estate on a 8bit screen processor and a 1000:1 contrast ratio for 460 bucks with the rebate

[richardd43]

I am a big fan of the BenQ monitors also. My wife and I both have a 24 in and really like them.

BenQ has a new less expensive monitor out priced at $420 CDN. It does not have all of the bells and whistles of its bigger brothers but looks to be a nice monitor.

http://www.memoryexpress.com/Products/PID-MX18903(ME).aspx

This is a Canadian site so the US prices might be a little lower.

[MWISimmer]

I upgraded to this 3 weeks ago from a Dell 19" Ultrasharp and the difference is amazing! Considering this is a so called budget TFT monitor I'm highly impressed. FS9 looks so much better at 1680x1050.
Since buying it I've learnt that HannsG use Iiyama screens, which as a brand are 40% dearer.
I paid

[NickN]

I am a big fan of the BenQ monitors also. My wife and I both have a 24 in and really like them.

BenQ has a new less expensive monitor out priced at $420 CDN. It does not have all of the bells and whistles of its bigger brothers but looks to be a nice monitor.

http://www.memoryexpress.com/Products/PID-MX18903(ME).aspx

This is a Canadian site so the US prices might be a little lower.

That one is 2 year technology. The screen being used was top of the line back in 2005

It uses the old 6bit screen and only has a 250cd/m brightness rating. Because it is 5ms it will also have a much lower blur tolerance to higher frame rates. If a TFT uses a 6bit screen it should have a 4ms timing for gaming. The viewing angle is also 18 degrees less.

For 60 dollars more I would stick with the Samsung in this case

[NickN]

[quote]I upgraded to this 3 weeks ago from a Dell 19" Ultrasharp and the difference is amazing! Considering this is a so called budget TFT monitor I'm highly impressed. FS9 looks so much better at 1680x1050.
Since buying it I've learnt that HannsG use Iiyama screens, which as a brand are 40% dearer.
I paid

[richardd43]

For 60 dollars more I would stick with the Samsung in this case

I agree, I was thinking with my wallet and not looking at the specs when I posted that link.

[Wii]

HP w2207 22" monitor
1000:1 Contrast Ratio and Resolution at 1680 x 1050
I have FS9 running on it and it looks AMAZING. The price is REALLY high but I got mine on sale for just more than $100. (4am black friday )

[Ashton Lawson]

If you really want 1920*1200 you'll really need to get a 23 or 24 inch monitor. Unless you're doing serious graphics work I don't personally think you need it.
I'm still muddling by with a stone age rig and a top display rate of 1280*1024 on a good day
Mind you if I had the money I'd get the Gateway XHD3000 30 incher! Resolution of 2560*1600. Alas I don't have $1700 to spare at the moment

Hehe, 30" FTW!

BTW, the Dell one, if you're in the US or UK is the cheapest, it floats around 1200-1400 bucks.  Could drop sooner because they're going to release a better version at around $2000.

My Samsung one is really good too.  Look better than the Dell, has better specs than the Dell, but yeah, it is more expensive.  Still, sexy looking...

[Eagle82]

Thank you everyone for all your feedback.  I've read all the links you guys have sent and right now it looks like the Samsung DoubleSight DS-245W will be the best monitor for my buck.