Author Topic: Flat Panel Monitors (Read 316 times)

Boat · « **on:** November 18, 2002, 04:09:18 PM »

Is anybody using a flat panel monitor? If so, what do you thing of it for AH? I'd love to get this big box off my dest but not if it's going to lower my already pathetic K/D ratio........

Boat

Innominate · « **Reply #1 on:** November 18, 2002, 04:13:47 PM »

I don't use a flat panel, but like everyone else, I do have an opinion.

Flat panel displays are quite good, however insanely expensive. For the cost of a certain sized flat-panel, you could get a significantly better/larger CRT. About the only use of flat panels is when you're severely short of space IMO.

Chairboy · « **Reply #2 on:** November 18, 2002, 04:17:46 PM »

I bought my wife a Spectre 19" LCD monitor for $850 or so a few months ago, and it's been great. The difference in space requirements is amazing, as is heat generation.

LCD monitors aren't quite at a sweet spot yet, and getting one now is still a luxury, but they are very nice.

bloom25 · « **Reply #3 on:** November 18, 2002, 07:30:49 PM »

I personally don't care a whole lot for them for gaming, but I just don't have time to explain why right now... Like anything, they have their strengths and weaknesses.

One thing I will say is to make sure you are able to see the monitor work (or at least be able to exchange it for another easily) to be sure there aren't too many dead pixels. LCD monitors almost always have a few dead pixels, but just be sure there aren't a lot of them. LCD monitors from the cheaper brands often have a lot of dead pixels. (Dead pixels in AH look just like enemy dots that don't move... very annoying

)

ALF · « **Reply #4 on:** November 18, 2002, 07:47:01 PM »

Key to buying an LCD is that unlike a CRT, you gotta spend huge piles of cash to get a good monitor. For $200 you can get a very nice 19" CRT, for $300 you get a piece of crap (and a small 15" one at that) LCD.

Dont even think about getting an LCD for less than $899 for gaming. You need to look several things for an LCD that arnt an issue on a CRT.

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BRIGHTNESS

The typical LCD isnt as bright as a CRT, look for a high number here, 250+ for a good LCD.

CONSTRAST RATIO

Like brightness, this is an important distinction from CRT, look for higher ratios 500:1 is nice. This mesurement has its detractors as there is no "standard" to messure this specification. But it is important, as a low contrast ratio means blacks are gray, and whites are light gray. This is one of those reasons you dont buy a monitor mail order (or you at least look at it in person THEN mail order it)

RESPONSE TIME

This is CRITICAL for gaming, and movie watching. Even the cheapest CRT has a response time of 10-12ms, while the BEST LCD is in the 25ms range. Also the LCD may have 2 respose times listed, a rise (turn on...usually pretty fast 10-15ms) and the fall (turn off...usually much longer 30-40ms). Many manufacturers list just the "respose time", LOWER is better, and be very very VERY cautious of any manufacturer that doesnt list this on the box...RUN AWAY!

VIEWING ANGLE

Less critical, since most of us sit right in front, but can be annoying, especially if you are doing work around the room, and cant see the picture clearly from some parts.

NATIVE RESOLUTION

Unlike the CRT, the LCD has one main resolution, any others are interpolations of that resolution. Lower resolutions tend to look blocky/blurry as the monitor trys to adapt, and higher resolutions are out. This becomes very important when you realize you may not be able to use a lower resolution (cause it looks ugly) to increase your games FPS.

PIXEL WARENTY

With LCD displays, you can lose a single pixel...it either turns off, and stays black, or (worse) wont turn off and stays whatever color (this is BAD BAD BAD...trust me). Some manufacturers warranties will not cover ONE pixel defects (AKA only one pixel is FUBAR), I cannot speek to the number or if this is even still an issue, but I have a co-worker whos warenty would not cover a 2 month old monitor with a single pixel. Major manufactorors proably dont play this game, but what out for mr no-name LCD.

There are other considerations, but these are the big LCD only issues.
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Manedew · « **Reply #5 on:** November 18, 2002, 10:09:28 PM »

I'd wait for LCD's( I am)

heard alot a cool new ideas for LCD's ... still vaporware but i'd rather wait than spend $500+ over a 'normal' screen ... one day they'll proably be as cheap as RAM lol (remeber paying 100$'s for a few mb's?)

Kaz · « **Reply #6 on:** November 19, 2002, 07:18:24 AM »

Another thing worth mentioning, Flat panels are fairly limited in the resolution department. 15" typically has a max. res of 1024x768, 17" usually 1280x1024 but they're still kinda expensive. If you really want one and can afford it, go with the brand names NEC, SAMSUNG, ViewSonic, SONY etc. But read reviews first just in case

lord dolf vader · « **Reply #7 on:** November 22, 2002, 11:07:20 AM »

found a weird 20 inch mitsubishi monitor in a comp store in houston its a diamond pro 20 . max res is 1200x1600 and it is huge but i paid $125 for it and am in love . it has really weird connectors but came with a adaptor for them like one for red blue and green.

anyone know what the hell it is ? found like one reference to it on google . didnt really explain much .

Manedew · « **Reply #8 on:** November 22, 2002, 12:23:22 PM »

What kind of refresh Hz does it get at 1600X1200 .. mine only does 60 hz .. which is too low IMO so i stay at 1200x1086 or whatever the exact #'s are.

Hajo · « **Reply #9 on:** November 24, 2002, 06:58:58 PM »

I built my father a system, which included a Samsung LCD Monitor. I paid 350 dollars for it, but it's what my Dad wanted. Drawbacks......text can be blocky.....which makes text not as sharp as on a CRT display. Many reasons to stay away from them listed in posts above. Stay with CRT until LCDs' become better in performance. The LCD monitor does not warrrant my consideration as being a viable monitor at this time for gaming. Two reasons performance low, and price is high. The Samsung is nice for windows but you'll notice a difference in text appearance, I loaded Aces High onto it and the cockpit gauges looked like the old air warrior gauges with crooked line indicators. LCD just can't handle it.