Best 27" monitor?

[TopGun]

Are there any really awesome value 27" monitors out there? I'm beginning the search and would appreciate some advice. I'd be using mainly for LotRO and Guild Wars 2 type MMO games along with some web surfing.

I see a few on Newegg, but I'm not opposed to looking elsewhere.

The Planar PX2710MW for $259.99 after promo. Seems to have good reviews.

The ViewSonic VA2702w for $269.99.

The Asus VK278Q for $279.99 after promo.

The promo monitors only last until midnight tonight though...so if that is your suggestion, I need to act fast.

Is it better to have 1900 x 1080, or 1900 x 1200? Or does it not really matter? What are some of the other things I should be paying attention to? Is there any way to tell if these monitors have a mounting system in place (like screw-holes to use with a adjustable arm mount)? I don't really see that info.

Thanks,
-TG

 

[lp231]

1920x1080 is 16:9
1920x1200 is 16:10

16:10 gives more screen real estate and less scrolling if you lots of text like this forum for example.
1920x1080 is due to HD content like Blu-Ray where it's supports a max of 1920x1080. Manufacture market this strongly
and people that don't do research falls in this this thinking 1080P is the best because it's "HD"

Real 27" monitors will have resolutions of 2560x1440
http://www.amazon.com/NEC-PA271w-bk-27-Inch-2560-1440/dp/B003LD1QRY
http://tvcalculator.com/index.html?8996aa1ff10cbcd959f91084e86493e4

 

[MrBig55]

Yeah 16:10 ratio is my prefered one since I'm doing a lot of programmation and it makes my life easier. ^^ But they're rare to find compared to 16:9 models...

 

[TopGun]

Haha, ya...there's no way I'm spending $1400 on a 27" monitor at this time. I'm looking in the $300ish range please.

What does a game generally look best on?...a 1080, or a 1200?...and does it make that much difference?

 

[Outlander_04]

The Dell is the best I have seen .

Keep in mind that more pixels , means more calculations for the graphics card to make .... and lower frame rates .
A 1080p screen has 11% less pixels than a 1920 x 1200 screen so you can expect games to run roughly that much slower .

With the higher resolution 27 inch screens you had better have a powerful graphics set up

 

[TopGun]

The Dell is the best I have seen .

Keep in mind that more pixels , means more calculations for the graphics card to make .... and lower frame rates .
A 1080p screen has 11% less pixels than a 1920 x 1200 screen so you can expect games to run roughly that much slower .

With the higher resolution 27 inch screens you had better have a powerful graphics set up

What Dell are you talking about?

Planning on a 6950 or 560ti for graphics and possibly later SLI or Xfire...so, I should be OK on GPU muscle I think. I'm guessing the x1200's are more expensive then? Are they worth the premium, or would a 1080 be fine?

Any specific monitors people like?

 

[Outlander_04]

Dell only make one 27 inch monitor [ as far as I can tell ]. Its an awesome IPS panel and costs $1100 .

You are going to get good performance and quality settings on a 1080p panel with either of those graphics cards .
The 27 inch 1080p panels start to look a little grainy though .

Have a look at a few and see what looks good to you

 

[TopGun]

Dell only make one 27 inch monitor [ as far as I can tell ]. Its an awesome IPS panel and costs $1100 .

You are going to get good performance and quality settings on a 1080p panel with either of those graphics cards .
The 27 inch 1080p panels start to look a little grainy though .

Have a look at a few and see what looks good to you

Again...no way I'm spending $1100 on a 27' monitor...please remove anything above $300ish from future suggestions.

So, are you suggesting I shouldn't go with a 27" monitor at 1080p? I don't want grainy.

 

[Outlander_04]

Its not THAT grainy , but it is a little more noticeable than with a 24 inch monitor which is why most 27 inch screens now use the higher resolution .

I'd say with your graphics card you should stick to 1080p so you get much better frame rates .
But I also think theres nothing like actually seeing a monitor so you can make a good judgement of it for yourself [ if you can ]

 

[TopGun]

Maybe I'll try to check out a Best Buy or PC shop before I decide then.

Or maybe I'll just go with a 24" for a good price. Is that basically how it goes then?...22", 24", 27", 30"?...or is it something else? What res. should I look for on a 24" if I don't like how the 27" looks?

 

[Outlander_04]

You should buy what looks good to you and what you can afford .
With your graphics card choices then stick to the 1080p or 1920 x 1200 screens

I remember I used to think my 24 inch looked big . but since my friend got a 30 inch Dell I definitely have monitor envy . LOL

 

[TopGun]

What are the differences between ASUS VH242H Black 23.6" and ASUS VH236H Black 23"?

Also, would a 27" at 1900x1200 be at all grainy?

 

[Outlander_04]

Not totally grainy ... just a bit more than most people would want for a computer monitor . Remember a 32 inch 1080 p TV has the same resolution and thats ok for movies . Text would suck though because if would not be smooth .

Check out 1080p televisions to see the difference if you can see the monitor you are thinking of

 

[runswindows95]

I have a 27.5" Hanns-G 1920X1200 monitor, and the text is not grainy at all when run on the right input. Since I'm using VGA now, it's a little fuzzier, but that's the connection.

 

[lp231]

Got a Samsung 24" at 1920x1200 and not grainy here too.
How's this?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824009269

 

[TopGun]

I wouldn't think a 24" at 1920x1200 would be grainy at all...or a 24" at 1920x1080 either.

I think the concern is with a 27" at 1920x1080 or maybe even at 1920x1200.

That 32" you linked at 1920x1080 I think would be very grainy.

I plan to try looking at some tonight after work.

 

[lp231]

Not grainy, just fatter pixels. Of course if you plaster your face against the screen then
all screens will be grainy.

 

[Wolfshadw]

I have a 27.5" Hanns-G 1920X1200 monitor, and the text is not grainy at all when run on the right input. Since I'm using VGA now, it's a little fuzzier, but that's the connection.

^ +1

I also have a 27.5" Hanns-G @ 1920x1200 it all looks crisp and clean.

-Wolf sends

 

[TopGun]

Is your Hanns-G this one by any chance?

Hanns-G HZ281HPB 27.5''

It says 1080p in the name, but then recommended 1200...what gives with that?

Also, I have my monitor mounted on an arm above my recliner and I'm probably 2-3 feet away normally.

I tried looking at some monitors today, but not much in choices. The 27" 1080 I looked at seemed maybe a little less crisp than the 23" ones that were near it. I did like the size though...can really tell it's bigger than my 22". The 23-24"ers looked only a little bigger.

 

[Wolfshadw]

Actually, I have the previous model: Hanns-G HG-281DPB. The native resolution is 1920x1200, but will certainly display 1080p content (black bars above and below)

-Wolf sends

 

[TopGun]

Do you guys have any good sites that I could learn about contrast ratio, brightness, led backlit, response time, refresh rates, pixel pitch, etc., etc.? Like a videophile type site or something?

I just saw this while trying to do a little research...

SOLD OUT - Hanns-G HZ281HPB 28in LCD Monitor (1920x1200) $239.99 Free Shipping
Newegg has the Hanns-G HZ281HPB 27.5" LCD Monitor for a low $239.99 Free Shipping after Coupon Code: EMCKCJH55 (Exp 7/18). Tax in CA, NJ, TN. [Compare Prices]

1920x1200 @ 1080p; 3ms; 800:1 contrast; 400nits; HDMI/DVI/VGA; 3yr warranty

What does that mean 1920x1200@ 1080p? I thought it would be 1200p? Are all monitors 1080p then?

 

[lp231]

Here is a place to start
Warning! You may get even more confused.

1920x1200 @1080p means the this monitor can also play 1080P movies. All you get is
as Wolfshadw mentioned, 2 black bars on the top and bottom.
A monitor at 1920x1080 will not give you those black bars when you play a 1080p movie.
A link posted before shows you a comparison, maybe you have missed it?
http://tvcalculator.com/index.html?6b560f819b6cf8d1754bf3b515319d4c
The screen on the left is 1920x1080 16:9, screen on right is 1920x1200 16:10.
Both are 27", notice the 2 black bars with the screens on the right.

 

[TopGun]

I can get the Hanns-G HZ281HPB 27.5'' for $239.99 on sale for a couple days from Newegg...should I pull the trigger?

 

[Wolfshadw]

Well, I'd hate to recommend it; only to have you get one with a bunch of dead pixels. Comparing the reviews of this model to the previous model (the one I have), they look to be trending towards more 1 egg reviews. The issue with the newer stand is also of concern.

It was tough for me to pull the trigger when I purchased mine ($300), so I know you're looking for any help, but I'm afraid I can't offer any here.

-Wolf sends

P.S.

I'm leery of any Viewsonic monitor. I had a 22" monitor of theirs a while back that developed a violet vertical line about three inches from the right edge. While Viewsonic did eventually repair the monitor, they took the full five (6+ if you include shipping time) weeks they said it could take to repair and ship it back to me.

 

[lp231]

If you can spend around $300 then you will have more choices.
Out of the 3 you picked in your first post. The Asus will be the one I'll get and with the promo code of $50 off it comes out to $300. That Asus 27" could be cheaper if there isn't a built in webcam, and display port.

For 27" here are more choices
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824001431
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236103
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824009302
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824116455
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824160058