Wheres the "sticky" ?

Hello, another noobie enters the forums.

I am about to build myself a new Gaming/Video edit computer. I want to top it off with a new widescreen monitor.

But I don't like buying crap! It's like Scotch, I'd rather have the good stuff Ocasionaly than cheap stuff every day.
I was hoping I would see a sticky post in this section leading to a study on all the important values in choosing a monitor, but no luck.

Any leads on where I can educate myself ?

I'm looking for a 20 in +.
I would have to say that $400 Canadian or $350 US is the budget. But if this is too small money I would rather just delay than compromise.
Becuase you said

And I'm saying "I wan't it All !!!" No compromises, CRT qulity and speed in a LCD
I am a gamer but I allso do video editing and will likely watch movies from my PC. Is it necesary to compromise? Is the technology not there yet?

I read in another thread
in reference to poster "wookiemofo "

I could not quite figure out whether those acronyms were refering to name brands or types of LCD"s
I have been looking at two possibilities from a local shop.

LG Flatron L203WTX 20in Widescreen LCD w/ DVI, 8ms, 1400:1 Contrast, Silver-Black
Back Ordered
$339.95
SKU: 08434 Part No: L203WTX
LG Flatron L203WTX 20in Widescreen

Samsung SyncMaster 205BW 20in Widescreen LCD w/ DVI, 6ms, Black
$339.95
SKU: 08410 Part No: LS20HAWCBQ/XAA
Samsung SyncMaster 205BW

There is room to spend a "little" more.
But theres another question here, the LG is posted with

And the Samsung with

, and I would like to understand what the "ms" refers to ? My guess is MilliSeconds in response time ?

Thanks for your help

Not possible. No lcd can achieve "CRT qulity and speed"

LCDs vs CRTs
lCDs, why do people buy them if they are inferior in my ways?

[*:6887dd47bc] Because thin monitors look neat? -- and I'm not referring to the picture quality.
[*:6887dd47bc] Because it's the new technology?
[*:6887dd47bc] Because somebody else got one?
[*:6887dd47bc] Nobody makes CRTs anymore, so you have to buy refurbished or used or hunt around for a new CRT.
[*:6887dd47bc] Because they only sell LCDs in the stores (except for 17" curved screen Compaq CRTs)
[*:6887dd47bc] Manufactuer's choice: it is cheaper to produce LCDs
[*:6887dd47bc] Because LCDs are now cheaper to buy than a similarly sized new CRT.
[*:6887dd47bc] Because LCDs are sharper due to the digital signal and the way pixels are. There is no moire effect as a result.
[*:6887dd47bc] Because LCDs have no flicker and thus, theoritically may reduce eyestrain (athough, tecnically, the fluorescent backlight does flicker at a very fast speed.)
[*:6887dd47bc] LCDs output less radiation.


Now, for the bad:

[*:6887dd47bc] Matte finish LCDs are bad for image editing because the matte finish scatters light causing large areas of a single color to not look completely solid -- bad for image editing.
[*:6887dd47bc] If you go for the glossy finish, then these panels have a reputation for not being able to get all colors right; though it doesn't appear to be that bad according to tests. Also a glossy finish supposedly reflects background light, and the reflection is supposedly not good for your eyes.
[*:6887dd47bc] All LCD monitors currently sold (no matter how low the response time) has blurring. CRT monitors have nearly 0 blurring in fast motion. Compared to a CRT, LCDs are absolutely abysmal.
[*:6887dd47bc] LCD monitors look bad at the non-native resolution when using the desktop; though in games they look fine at non-native resolutions.
[*:6887dd47bc] LCD monitors have issues with viewing angles. Althoughy many specify a high viewing angle, the fact is that when you are image editing you need 0 variation in color to do things accurately; however, even slight angles on LCD monitors can cause a small shift in color (though it may not be a large shift that many other people would notice). This issue is present even in P-MVA panels; I do not know about S-IPS or PVA from experience.
[*:6887dd47bc] LCD monitors, even with a small pixel pitch still display a screen door effect that is noticeable from time to time. This screen door effect shows up on patches of light color in video and games.


So, in summary, LCD monitors have issues with displaying good images and fast motion. Basically LCD monitors do not excell at anything except producing a sharp flicker free image and being light and thin. On the other hand, CRTs excell at displaying good images and fast motion. So, why are we getting rid of CRTs?

With LCDs you do compromise. I don't think LCDs will ever be as good as CRTs -- at least not in the near future.

I could not quite figure out whether those acronyms were refering to name brands or types of LCD"s
S-IPS is the panel type. It supposedly has good viewing angles, which it wold be good to have perfect colors for the first few degrees if you do image editing.

And the Samsung with

, and I would like to understand what the "ms" refers to ? My guess is MilliSeconds in response time ?
Yes, that is the response time, but the box is alost always wrong. If you want to know the real response times (yes plural) of LCDs, then you need to consult sites that test it like xbitlabs.com.



What to look for in an LCD?
Probably the best options are to find out the panel type (TN, P-MVA, S-IPS, etc...) to determine rough picture quality. Then find out if it is 8-bit or 6-bit. Then see if xbitlabs tested it to find the real response times.

Specifications on the box are pretty worthless and often a lie.
Let's take this example from newegg: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6824116371
Brightness: a pointless spec; higher is not better; in fact it may hurt your eyes, so you may need to turn it down
Viewing angle: Who knows if it is an outright lie or, at the least, misleading? Instead find out the panel type to gain insight on the true vewing angle (TN, P-MVA, S-IPS, etc...).
Display Colors You want true non-dithered 8-bit for graphics work. 16.7 million colors often means 8-bit, but may not always (not sure).
Response time Almost always wrong. Consult xbitabs, which is the only site that thoroughly tests and shows response times (plural). Tomshardware comes close.

The 2 Samsungs have SPVA panels and should be very good on color and best on contrast. The 971P is indicated as an 8-bit. (The 970P has been ragged upon as being a 6-Bit, though it has received the highest color fidelity marks at THG.)

The HP, with its SIPS panel should be best on color but not quite as good as the SPVA on contrast.

Let me also suggest the NEC 20WGX2.. it has an Advanced S-IPS panel with overdrive... 6ms claimed... it also has a Brite screen, if you like that sort of thing.

You can't "have it all" in any monitor today... doesn't exist. However, the choices you've listed are a LOT closer to the "whole enchilada" than anything with a TN panel... save maybe the new Samsung 931C... still too new to tell. You have to decide what is most important to you and put up with its shortcomings.

Hello Kevin.

(I'll proceed on the assumption that I’ve now hijacked this thread )

Thank you for that information. I took a look at Xbitlabs as you suggested and it appears that the Samsung 215TW and the NEC 20WGX2 are indeed where it's at, with the edge apparently going to the Samsung:

"So, where’s the catch? There isn’t. The SyncMaster 215TW is an excellent monitor that suits perfectly for work as well as for entertainment. With its neat design, accurate setup, an abundance of video inputs (including a component one), a matrix with a fast response, high contrast ratio and good viewing angles, and with a price of about $600, the 215TW is surely a leader of this test session and should be the first entry in your shopping list as you go out after a large monitor. On the downside are its rather inconvenient onscreen menu, which is somewhat compensated by the MagicTune program, and the certain non-uniformity of backlighting. But I’ve often met such drawbacks in much more expensive models.

Among the monitors included into this review, the NEC 20WGX2 is the main competitor to the 215TW. But the NEC costs more, lacks video inputs and screen height adjustment, not to mention its one-inch-smaller screen. A slightly faster matrix is in fact the single advantage of the 20WGX2 over the SyncMaster 215TW."

Trusted Reviews also highly rates both of these monitors but again the Samsung appears to steal it:

http://www.trustedreviews.com/article.aspx?art=2990

http://www.trustedreviews.com/article.aspx?art=3081