What monitor to buy?

[Aakrium]

So I want to buy a new monitor to replace my current 20", been going over a lot of monitors but its so hard to choose one. I play a lot of games but don't play much competitive games any more so don't know if I should go for a pure gaming monitor or an all round monitor. Have a budget of around 200 to 300 euros.

I got really interested in the Benq xl2411t but read that it has horrible viewing angles and the colours aren't that great.

Any of you guys know of some great monitors I could get interested in? Thanks :D

[Rove]

I want a 2560*1600 (or whatever is highest res available) Projector with permanent bulb, many need replacement after 3000-6000 hours.

Just thought I'd throw that out there. It's probably way over budget cause even a 1920*1080 with crap bulb was like $800 last time I looked. I can't afford it either (or have space for it) so don't feel too bad.

I'd go for something with 5ms or less response time, 2ms can be found affordably.

I have a 23 inch 1920*1080 with 2ms and good contrast and you can probably find one of the same online for $150~, it's a ASUS.

I think anything above 1920*1080 is still like $800 (regular price) unless you want a small Asian brand name.

Look on your local Amazon site, I can find some Korean ones and a few made specifically for American market by small Asian manufacturers that are 2560*1440 for about $300-600. Nixeus WQHD 27", QNIX QX2710, Crossover 27QD LED BLADE 27", X-Star DP2710 LED 27" are all on Amazon.com for example.

[Maverick]

HP monitors have been the best for me for lots of years, don't like their computers (they are good though) I just like too build my own.

[Velmarshal]

If you don't have high end GPU(s) you shouldn't go for 2560x1600, mostly for the reason that if you run any game in non-native resolution it will look slightly blurry.

For about 300 euros I'd suggest buying a small LED TV, like 32 inches, just avoid the smart ones.

[Aakrium]

@Rove isn't it risky buying an unknown brand instead of a well known brand?

@Velmarshal Arent monitors better for desktop computers then TVs? And also 32" is kind of big to view at a close distance.

[Velmarshal]

Aakrium님이 먼저 게시:

@Velmarshal Arent monitors better for desktop computers then TVs? And also 32" is kind of big to view at a close distance.

Been running Toshiba 42HL833N for a year now (always found multi-screen setups abysmally ugly), looking at it from about 1.3 ~ 1.5 meters. Now to be honest, LCD TVs do look slightly less colorful, but nothing you can't change by tweaking the picture settings. On the other hand, one of my friends is using a phillips 40 inch LED TV on his PC and it's colors look much more vibrant.
While using a large TV as a screen is a bit weird at the begining you get used to it just fine, though I admit, some people find 42' too much, so 32' would be recommended, just in case.

[Daniel]

Hello,

There's little difference to a gaming monitor and a usual one, other than the branding.
Here are a list of tech specs which make a decent monitor. You should be able to find ones well in your price range with these features.
• 1920x1080 resolution screen - the most compatible resolution for games and media these days.
• ≤5ms response time - a monitor with a high latency will make even casual gaming frustrating.
• HDMI, VGA and DVI connectivity - for maximum compatibility for consoles PCs and older devices!
• VESA mounting bracket on the back - incase you ever want to turn it sideways or mount it to the wall!

If you'll be looking at the monitor from head on, viewing angle isn't too important. Most offer a very high one nowdays of around 178°. Placement is also important. You should have the monitor placed perpendicular to a 20° angle of depression from your head for maximum confort, so it's good to have one that can be well-ajusted.

If you want to find monitors with good colour, look for LED displays or ones with very high contrast ratios. Brightness and anti-glare also make it easier to use when the sun is shining.

I hope this helps!

Daniel

[Rove]

Aakrium님이 먼저 게시:

@Rove isn't it risky buying an unknown brand instead of a well known brand?

@Velmarshal Arent monitors better for desktop computers then TVs? And also 32" is kind of big to view at a close distance.

Yes it maybe more risky in terms of quality, compatibility or warranty. Some of those brands specifically state that up to 5 or 10 dead or too bright pixels is not to be considered a defect and they will not refund because of this. On the other hand the pricing is much more reasonable. I can't recommend for or against it, I haven't got one of those.

I'll answer the other as well:
TVs are probably not as good for gaming, they generally have higher response time for one thing and they are meant to be viewed from a couch, not up close, for another thing.

What is your current monitor resolution?

I'm wondering if you are looking to upgrade resolution or just size?

If you do not have 1920*1080 you can probably find a good enough 23" 1920*1080 with 2ms response time and good contrast from a well known brand for around $150 less or more depending on if it's on sale.

Try PC Part Picker[www.pcpartpicker.com]

[Aakrium]

Thanks for the help,
I'v got a 20" with a res of 1680x1024 and i sit very close to the monitor, so im guessing a 24" with 1920x1080 would be enough.

Now I was thinking should I go for something purely designed for gaming with 144/120Hz and very low response time (≤2ms), or does this not do much of a difference in non-fps games?

[Rove]

IDK, more Hz is better but to me it's not worth paying a large premium for. I'd get a 60Hz, 1920*1080 23" 2ms for like $150~, like I did.

Will games even let you get your FPS that high? What about your GPU?

Also some 120Hz monitors I've heard aren't "real" 120Hz cause they just duplicate every frame for 3D purposes, so it's really still just 60 frames per second that are unique and 2 of each to make it 3D.

[Hbu]

Rove님이 먼저 게시:

I want a 2560*1600 (or whatever is highest res available) Projector with permanent bulb, many need replacement after 3000-6000 hours.

Just thought I'd throw that out there. It's probably way over budget cause even a 1920*1080 with crap bulb was like $800 last time I looked. I can't afford it either (or have space for it) so don't feel too bad.

I'd go for something with 5ms or less response time, 2ms can be found affordably.

I have a 23 inch 1920*1080 with 2ms and good contrast and you can probably find one of the same online for $150~, it's a ASUS.

I think anything above 1920*1080 is still like $800 (regular price) unless you want a small Asian brand name.

Look on your local Amazon site, I can find some Korean ones and a few made specifically for American market by small Asian manufacturers that are 2560*1440 for about $300-600. Nixeus WQHD 27", QNIX QX2710, Crossover 27QD LED BLADE 27", X-Star DP2710 LED 27" are all on Amazon.com for example.

I don't see a point in projectors. You'll need a nice dark room and proper calibration for the best. I'd just stick with a monitor but whatever.

Response time isn't everything, you also have to look at imput lag.

The Korean monitors are nice, and I do like them (look at all the stuff over at Overclock.net) but as great as a value they are, they usually don't have very good black depth or contrast ratios. Support and warranty for them are getting better though, but the problem is that these A and A- grade panels vary too much, unlike the A+ grade panels. Monoprice might be better with these though since they've taken some of the Korean 27" and 30" monitors and have had them go through their own quality control.

Rove님이 먼저 게시:

IDK, more Hz is better but to me it's not worth paying a large premium for. I'd get a 60Hz, 1920*1080 23" 2ms for like $150~, like I did.

Will games even let you get your FPS that high? What about your GPU?

Also some 120Hz monitors I've heard aren't "real" 120Hz cause they just duplicate every frame for 3D purposes, so it's really still just 60 frames per second that are unique and 2 of each to make it 3D.

Exactly, 120Hz is poinltess unless you can produce 120+ fps in every single game you play.

Those are mostly 3D monitors that do that, and there are some true 120Hz monitors. Televisions on the other hand...basically never.

[Tank Man]

I prefer hand me downs.