Monitor Selection Help

geis

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May 22, 2011
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Hey guys, asking for some educated opinions here. I am looking into buying a new monitor, and I'm currently running a 1280x1024 17inch monitor. I want to either get a 1600x900 or 1920x1080 (approx, 21 inch widescreen) monitor, but I'm a little concerned with how well my hardware will handle it. I have a phenom 2 955 BE processor and an XFX Radeon 6850 Gpu and will be running some non graphic intensive games and super graphic intensive games (such as Battlefield 3 :D). So what I want you guys to tell me is what your opinion is for what I should get.


For example, since I already somewhat enjoy my current res, is 1600x900 much better than 1280x1024, especially in widescreen format, and is 1920x1080 really much better than 1600x900? If 1600x900 is at least a good amount better than 1280x1024, I will probably just get 1600x900, unless of course 1920x1080 is so amazingly better that I should get that and just turn down the graphics on my games (I want to keep the balance between graphics and resolution good so I can get the best of both worlds). If you need clarification, please ask, and any opinions will be appreciated since tomshardware is such a great community :D
 
^yep. I think 1920x1080's definitely the way to go. You won't be able to max BF3 or anything, but IMO it's better to have a big, pretty screen and lower settings on than a tiny screen and all the eye candy enabled. I recommend a 23-incher, though. At that point the pixels still aren't big and annoying, but you can get much more into your games. Here we are: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824262012
I've got a 1gb 460 (comparable to the 6850) and a 24-incher, and even games like Crysis 2 stay above 60fps and look great on middling settings.
 

geis

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May 22, 2011
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I forgot to mention that I'm on somewhat of a budget and will probably be buying a low 100$ 21inch monitor, and I will also be making youtube videos, so is 1080p a must?
 

geis

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May 22, 2011
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So, I'm pretty convinced now with 1080 and all, but just curious to know what you think of 1600x900 (and keep in mind that this is coming from a person who has been using 1280x1024 and thinks that it is pretty good)
 

geis

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May 22, 2011
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One main reason that I wouldn't get 1600x900 is the fact that youtube has no option to view in that specific res. and you cannot render 1600x900 without problems from what I hear. O well, i guess graphical details aren't eveything, but I may have to ask how people with 1600x900 deal with uploading youtube videos and livestreaming.