28" VS 30" LCD Monitor (help!)

The HP uses an S-IPS LCD panel which is considered the best type of panel when it comes to color accuracy and viewing angles. Hence why monitors using S-IPS and H-IPS panels are expensive. These monitors can truly reproduce 16.7 million colors. Higher end model can have a palette of over 1 billion colors to choose from, but can still only display 16.7 million colors at a time.

The Hanns G uses the less expensive (and generally inferior) TN panel tech. TN panels are generally perferred by gamers 'cause they tend to have faster response times. The downside is poor viewing angles; you will see increasing amounts of discoloration the more off-center you view the monitor. Better LCD techs tend to display less dicoloration than TN panels. Also, TN panels are not known for color accuracy. They can only truly produce 256k colors. Thru a process called "dithering" it can produce up to 16.7 million colors, but they are not accurate.


Playing at 2560 x 1600 resolution will require two very powerful video cards.

Both monitors use TN panel tech which are generally considered fast, but are notoriously known (by people who care) to have inferior color accuracy compared to more expensive panel tech.

TN panel are made by several manufacturers and therefore some TN panels will be better than others. In my book, Acer is either a 2nd or 3rd tier LCD monitor brand name, Hanns G is most definitely 3rd tier. Therefore, visual quality will probably be the same.

HP do not use TN type of LCD, maybe except cheapest ones and i am not sure about those.
3065 model use SIPV i think.

Easiest way to distinguish TN displays from others is that TN panels have realy low wieving agle (usualy up to 140°) and SIPV, SPVA and others have nearly 180° wieving angle.

Typical usage of TN panels are in cheap notebooks where if you look from side, you will get realy cripled wiev.

As those are both 3ms, they are probably TN. I'd avoid them. The Dell Ultrasharp 2709WFP is a good choice in a similar size range, but has much better colors and viewing angle (which does matter, even if you're in the center). I also wouldn't eliminate the Ultrasharp 2408 from consideration - it is a great monitor too, and has the same resolution as the larger screens.

I am liking the dell ultrasharp 2408 the more I read about it, but are there any 26" monitors with similar quality/price?

Skip the HannsG.

I just sent one back after having it for 3 days. It was a nice monitor...fit and finsh were good, no dead pixels, but the adjustment buttons were hidden and the viewing angle was, in a word, bizzare. The price is right....and if all you want it for is gaming, it will do OK, but even sitting head on, you will notice 'dead' blacks. To get the best view and minimize viewing angle distortion, you will have to actually view the monitor from above....a rather annoying position.

so pass on the HannsG huh.Thanks in advance for your thoughts. i was considering that model as well.My other considerations were an LG W2452T and a Westinghouse 25.5 both around $400. I to have an 8600gt card and it will be basically for gaming and movies. Any thoughts on those monitors? thanks