25.5" 1920x1200 vs 27" 1920x1080 help!

[newno55]

Title says it all... because I can't make up my mind I currently have TWO LCD's sitting on my desk.

One is a Samsung 2693HM 25.5" 1920x1200, the other is a Viewsonic VX2739WM 27" 1920x1080.

Opinions? I've owned the Samsung for a while now, but bought the viewsonic. Can't decide if its really worth it...

Screen real estate is pretty close (see --> http://tvcalculator.com/index.html?303cad5efa37e049ac5161a7cad87f3f)

I'm an all around PC user (gaming, videos, work). IS 27 wide too big for desk lol?

I can't seem to find anything bigger than 24 or older 25.5 screens that sport the 1920x1200 resolution (which I honestly like for regular PC use!)

What do you guys think?

 

[jaguarskx]

I prefer 1920 x 1200 over 1920 x 1080. Even though my Asus VK246H 1920 x 1080 resolution monitor is only used 4 - 6 hours per month nowadays, I am considering to replace it with a 1920 x 1200 monitor.

Is a 27" monitor too big for your desk? That's for you to decide.

 

[jaguarskx]

The two 25.5" 1920 x 1200 monitors on my desk are just fine for me.

 

[ssddx]

i use a 40" 1920x1080 about 2 feet further away than i would put a monitor.

movies look great. games look great. fps can be overwhelming at first, i prefer smaller monitors for those but i can deal with it.

some like big monitors some don't. its a personal thing, compare them both and decide.

 

[newno55]

Hey guys, thanks for the input so far,

I suppose it is all personal preference! I just wanted to see if anyone would come on here with a BIG aversion to one or the other... and find out what their reasons were.

How aobut LCD technology... both are TN screen (which I am O.K. with) but has that specific tech changed in the years? the samsung is pushing 3 years while the viewsonic is practically brand new.

Since I've got them both, resolution aside, which would be a better screen?

 

[jaguarskx]

No real change in TN panel tech since temporal dithering has replaced spacial dithering in the past 3 years. That basically resulted in less color banding issues, but you'll still get some color banding issues since it is inherent with the dithering process to create 16m colors out of an actual 256k colors.

More expensive LCD panel tech like IPS and VA don't use dithering at all; they can truly create 16.7m colors. They only display color banding issues if:

1. The source material has color banding.
2. Created by a bad firmware in the monitor. One of the Dell monitors had this issue.


Note: An e-IPS panel is an inexpensive version of a typical IPS panel and it uses temporal dithering so you can still get color banding issues.

 

[newno55]

Yeah, I'm having a hard time even seeing a difference in the quality of the screens (despite one being 2-3 years older).

oh well. I will ask you (and the other posters this then...), if you had both sitting on your desk, which would you keep? haha. (lets assume they of about equal value).

thx!

 

[jaguarskx]

I would take the Samsung because I prefer 1920 x 1200 in games and for surfing/reading.

In games, 1920 x 1080 looks slightly zoomed out which you may or may not like. Below are screenshots from two games, the only thing that was changed was the resolution.


Crysis Warhead - 1920 x 1200

Crysis Warhead - 1920 x 1080

Galactic Civilization II - 1920 x 1200

Galactic Civilization II - 1920 x 1080

 

[newno55]

Hey again, wow thanks. This is why I love tom's hardware haha.

I'm actually long overdue to go to sleep already, but I was doing exactly this (except switching from one monitor to the other) in Crysis2, starcraft2, Poral2 haha...

27 Wide while I like it, kind of feels like im in the front row of a movie theater.

And GOD FORBID I lose the extra 120 pixles... i now have to give a 1/2 scroll down on my fav news websites, to see the lower headlines down the page.

Ah, what has my life come to!

Thanks for the screens tho man!

 

[newno55]

heh... just noticed your monitor was a 25.5/ x1200

of course you would recommend similar (albeit I've got a TN)

 

[newno55]

Any other input? While I do really love the x1200 screen, I'm included to choose the new viewsonic (as its literally brand new-got an amazing deal) versus the Samsuns which is pushing about 3 yrs. Screen real estate is basically the same going from the 25.5 to the 27, so really the 120 pixles of res are the only thing to miss

that, and the 27 is REALLY wide...... testing it out the last few days, i am NOT used to it just yet haha!

 

[Guest]

1920x1080 is far better for gaming because the games are designed for 16:9. More and more games have black bars on 1920x1200 monitors (Assassins Creed Brotherhood, Witcher 2 etc). Wait one year or two and probably basically all games will have black bars for 1920x1200 monitors.

 

[newno55]

Hey, thanks for the post. Yeah I am leaning towards the x1080 too now. Just to keep with what is mainstream. x1200 is really nice don't get me wrong... but using the x1080 for a week now has been just fine. Planning on wall mounting it too!

 

[ssddx]

most games i've played allow you to adjust the resolution of the game (if it doesnt auto detect it!) to match your monitors resolution. the only games i've dealt with which do not are some older titles.

i highly doubt that *all* games will be 1080 only as this inconveniences everyone without a 1080 monitor. this includes all the eye-finity users, smaller monitor users, and 1200 users. quite a large market segment to just ignore.

i haven't played the witcher 2 or assassins creed brotherhood but it seems odd that there wouldn't be an option to change resolution. most likely just a bad call by the developer.

however, if the cut-scenes were rendered at 1920x1080 resolution then yes, you will get black bars no matter what. in-game resolution can be modified easily but the movies are set in resolution.

----

1080 isn't a bad resolution to use. i use this all the time without issue. however i also agree that the extra pixels could be put to good use if it fits your circumstances. it all depends on what you want to use your rig for.

 

[casemods]

I would stick with the bigger screen. The aspect ratio is the only difference, and it's not like 720p vs 1080p.

It's very small.

A picture of the monitors side by side would be nice.

But I would keep the bigger one.