Please, need help with LCD monitor purchase. CRT just died.

You're probably going to have to compromise....

If you want "deep blacks", you're looking at a PVA or S-IPS screen. They cost more than the TNs and are slower... you might have to put up with a bit of ghosting in your games.

If you want "no ghosting in games", and/or "low price", you're looking at a TN screen... but your blacks won't be as deep and your viewing angle will be less.

What we'd all like is a screen with "deep blacks, high contrast, best color fidelity, fast, and cheapest price". Such a monitor does not exist at this time.

Suggest you check out Samsung 940T (PVA).

NEC and LG-Philips are about the only ones offering S-IPS panels, and they are harder to view as not all the big retailers carry them.

Also... you might want to check out the NEC LCD90GX2. While it's a TN screen, it also has the shiny, Brite screen. If you like Brite screens, you will almost certainly like this monitor. Best Buy carries it.

NEC also has another special monitor.. the 20" Widescreen 20WMGX2... it's an S-IPS with 1600:1 contrast, Brite screen, with built-in TV tuner.

View some photos on those NEC Brite screen monitors. They are something special. (Many reviewers don't like Brite screens, period. So, they don't review this monitor as favorably as I. All I can say is see it for yourself. I can almost promise that you'll either say, "no big deal", or "WOW"... I'm in the WOW camp. Just be sure you can control the lighting in the environment it's used because the shiny screen can have glare.)