Compare these monitors. Is panel type that important?

Dougx1317

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After reading a lot about TN panels vs IPS and PVA, I've found two options. One is the Samsung T260HD (26", 1920x1200, HDTV tuner, and TN panel), the other is the Samsung F2380 (23", 1920x1080, No tuner, and Not a TN panel. For a gamer, which would be best? The F2380 has a better panel, but you lose 3", 120 vertical pixels, and the TV tuner. I'm not sure how significant the following tests are. Since both cost the same, I want to know what people would recommend.

T260HD http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824001281
F2380 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824001332

Contrast comparison http://www.digitalversus.com/duels.php?ty=6&ma1=36&mo1=402&p1=3707&ma2=36&mo2=607&p2=6954&ph=1
Ghosting comparison http://www.digitalversus.com/duels.php?ty=6&ma1=36&mo1=402&p1=3707&ma2=36&mo2=607&p2=6954&ph=1
Input lag comparison http://www.digitalversus.com/duels.php?ty=6&ma1=36&mo1=402&p1=3707&ma2=36&mo2=607&p2=6954&ph=1
 

Dougx1317

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The F2380 seems to be good when you look at the tests, but I want to make sure it's an upgrade. I'm moving from a 22" TN panel. Since the new monitor won't be that much bigger, I want to make sure that it will look significantly better to the untrained eye.

How good would the F2380 look, and how bad would the T260HD look? Would I really notice a difference in gaming?

I'm also thinking that the 16:10 aspect ratio would be more practical to me since I don't watch too many movies. The TV tuner doesn't matter to me that much. Are there any other monitors you'd suggest?
 

Dougx1317

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The original reason that I wanted to upgrade was because I wanted the desktop space of two monitors, but my 22" and 20" have different resolutions that make the extension somewhat annoying. I also want to have a higher resolution than either of my current monitors (1680x1050, 1600x900).

The 22" looks duller, and the colors are less vivid than the 20", but they're both TN panels. The 20" looks quite bright and colorful.

My better monitor would have a higher resolution and look great in games. I'd also like it to be bigger, but I don't like the idea that I'm buying an inferior product. The TN panels I have seem fine to me, but I have nothing to compare them with.

The T260HD came out in 2008. Are there any newer versions of these monitors? Does the age of monitors mean as much as they do with most PC part?
 

a4mula

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That's a great deal. Where'd you come across it?
 


Monitor technology doesn't really advance as quickly as CPUs and video cards. So "two years" isn't really that old.

My NEC LCD2690WUXi and Planar PX2611w are both over two years old, but they still rank amongst the monitors out there assuming you are will to spend the $$$.

*VA and IPS panels in general offer better viewing angles, better color accuracy once properly calibated, better blacks, and (at least from my experience) less backlight bleeding.
 

a4mula

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I was very interested in 360$ New (hell even refurbed at that price) 2408WFPs. I looked into this EIT-Team. Scam alert big-time. Website lists 2007 as creation date, BZZZZT! Wrong. Dec '09. Phone number listed onsite is unpublished, address is residential. No BBB, No reviews, Only accepts Western Union, No shipping charges for over 900$ purchases, flat 5.50 cent international shipping for everything else.

I emailed the guy...

Dear customer,

We have not subscribed for BBB.
The product is in stock and is new in the box (not refurbished). Also there is a standard product warranty.
We have free shipping on orders over $900.00
On orders under $900.00 the shipping cost is $5.50

The delivery time for United States via UPS is 3-5 days.




Feel free to ask anything by replying to this email.





Sincerely Eit Electronics

I emailed back asking about the things I brought up here.... no response. I also asked for date stamped pics of ANY inventory, nada. Buyer Beware.


 

Dougx1317

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Thanks for looking deeper into that website. It defiantly sounds too illegitimate for me.

I'm tempted to buy a used monitor off ebay or something if age doesn't matter that much, but no warranties seem to transfer over when it comes to the monitor industry. I've seen some great deals, but I'd hate to buy a monitor and have it break immediately.

To make sure that I'm comparing the right monitors. With a budget of $350, are the original two monitors that I listed above the best TN and non-TN I can get for that price? Would you guys suggest anything else?