LCD monitor recommendations?

1108 Views 24 Replies 8 Participants Last post by M2 Carbine, Aug 8, 2006

M2 Carbine

Discussion Starter · Jul 24, 2006

My old CRT monitor has about a dozen lines across the top. It happened before but stopped for a while. Hooked up to different computers. Still has lines.

So, I'm thinking maybe a 17-19 inch LCD but know nothing about them.

Is the LCD the greatest thing since sliced bread or nothing special to bother with?

If a fellow should switch, what's to look for to get the most bang for the buck?

Or more important, what's to stay away from?

1 - 20 of 25 Posts

Razrbk444

· #2 · Jul 25, 2006

Newegg.com has several lcd monitors on sale and with free shipping at this link http://www.newegg.com/ProductSort/Category.asp?Category=19
Unless you are a serious gamer, most likely any of these monitors will do you just fine. I prefer to stick with the better known name brands such as Samsung, Acer, LG, Viewsonic, etc. I run a pair of Samsung lcd's, and will never go back to the hot and bulky crt monitors. Also, if going from a crt monitor, in all likelyhood your video card is a VGA output card and your choices in LCD's will be VGA or DVI. If you get a monitor with DVI connection, you will need a small adapter to mate it to your video card. Hope this helps a little.

RaiderRodney

· #3 · Jul 25, 2006

Good points by Razr. If you game quite a bit I would stick with a good flat tube CRT. LCD's are really just the "thing" right now. They still do not look as good as a good quality CRT when gaming or watching movies on your PC. But if space is an issue then go for the LCD. I also agree with Razr about sticking to name brands...Samsung and Dell seem to be some very good choices right now. Good luck with your choice

IndyGunFreak

· #4 · Jul 25, 2006

Originally posted by M2 Carbine
My old CRT monitor has about a dozen lines across the top. It happened before but stopped for a while. Hooked up to different computers. Still has lines.

So, I'm thinking maybe a 17-19 inch LCD but know nothing about them.

Is the LCD the greatest thing since sliced bread or nothing special to bother with?

If a fellow should switch, what's to look for to get the most bang for the buck?

Or more important, what's to stay away from?

Roughly a year ago, I went from a 17in CRT, to a 19in Westinghouse LCD, and I absolutely love it. High quality picture, and I've had no problem with dead pixels, and all the other gloom and doom I read about. I'm not a heavy gamer, so I don't know how it performs in relation to games.

Best of luck

IGF

David_G17

· #5 · Jul 25, 2006

fwiw, at work, we had a 17" Acer LCD burn an outline of Microsoft Outlook into the screen.

Dell's used to be some of the best around. Not too long ago, I heard they started using cheaper parts. I don't know if it's true or not.

your CRT plugs into a VGA port on the back of your computer. Most LCD's that I've seen can use VGA or DVI connectors, but a few have only DVI connectors.

DVI will give you a better image quality. If you do not have a DVI port, you may want to ensure the LCD you pick out has VGA capability.

^ in the image above, the blue port is for VGA and the white port is for DVI.

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M2 Carbine

Discussion Starter · #6 · Jul 25, 2006

Thanks for the info guys and especially the picture David.

My computers don't have the DVI port.

My gaming is only running Flight Sims and playing like Call of Duty, Doom 3, etc, so I think I'll get a LCD. Maybe a 19 inch.

RaiderRodney

· #7 · Jul 25, 2006

Be sure to get one with a response time of 8ms or less for those games then

M2 Carbine

Discussion Starter · #8 · Jul 25, 2006

Thanks Rodney. I'll look for that.

So far in a quick search I haven't seen any that say VGA, just D-Sub or D-Sub DVI.
D-Sub?
But in the thumbnail pictures some show VGA cables along with DVI cables.

RaiderRodney

· #9 · Jul 26, 2006

DVI = pure digital signal
VGA (or 15pin DSub)= analog signal. If you get an LCD and then plug into a VGA port it has to change back to an analog signal. It kind of defeats the purpose from what I hear but can still look nice. Some LCD's come with both outputs and would be nice if you get a graphics card that has a DVI output later.

Be sure to get the right type of cable. There are ones for digital only, analog only, or that do both (I think). It is much more confusing than it should be

g29andy

· #10 · Jul 26, 2006

I have a Samsung 19in model 931B. You can get them around 200 bucks now on sale. I think it has 8ms response time.

If you game, consider upgrading your video card. Better gaming plus you will get a DVI port. Most of the new lower end cards have DVI now.

M2 Carbine

Discussion Starter · #11 · Jul 27, 2006

Thanks for all the info.:thumbsup:

I ordered a ViewSonic VA1912wb ($209, free shipping).
It seems to have everything, 8ms, VGA-DVI connections, etc.

After seeing that this monitor seemed to be what I needed, at a decent price, I shopped the net for a better price and newegg had the best price and free shipping.

I'm not a hard core gamer but it's nice to know that if need be I can get the DVI port with a new video card.

Razrbk444

· #12 · Jul 27, 2006

It took me a few days to get used to the lcd monitor after switching from crt, but once I did, I loved it. So much so, I bought a second one to watch tv on (with PVR 150 tv tuner card), and keep email up while browsing or gaming on the primary monitor. Most newer video card have dual out, so this is a breeze. No need to install a second video card. Newegg rocks, and has great customer support if needed. Let us know what you think of the new monitor after you're up and running.

M2 Carbine

Discussion Starter · #13 · Jul 28, 2006

Originally posted by Razrbk444
So much so, I bought a second one to watch tv on (with PVR 150 tv tuner card), and keep email up while browsing or gaming on the primary monitor. Most newer video card have dual out, so this is a breeze.

That's interesting. I never heard of that.

You would think I would be more knowledgeable considering all the time I spend on this computer.:supergrin:

ARs&AKs

· #14 · Jul 28, 2006

Picked up a 19" westinghouse LCD from Best Buy last week for $199.00. Best money I've ever spent. Mounted it to the wall and it looks great. It's good for gamers also.

Originally posted by IndyGunFreak
Roughly a year ago, I went from a 17in CRT, to a 19in Westinghouse LCD, and I absolutely love it. High quality picture, and I've had no problem with dead pixels, and all the other gloom and doom I read about. I'm not a heavy gamer, so I don't know how it performs in relation to games.

Best of luck

IGF

M2 Carbine

Discussion Starter · #15 · Jul 28, 2006

I never considered a wall mount but it would free up a lot of space on my computer desk.
I'd have to get some "computer" glasses that would focus at 3-4 foot though.

I have to give that some thought.

ARs&AKs

· #16 · Jul 28, 2006

My viewing distance with the monitor mounted to the wall is about 3 feet. No problems at all. This also frees up alot of desk space for other things.

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M2 Carbine

Discussion Starter · #17 · Jul 28, 2006

WOW, what a neat desk.
Mine looks more like this.
The Shotgun News is my high tech scanner cover and cat bed.
The rest of the desk is not nearly as neat.:supergrin:

Yes, I like the idea of the wall mount.

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ARs&AKs

· #18 · Jul 31, 2006

OH YEA!
I just got back from Best Buy where they refunded me $20 on that monitor I bought. Seems they had the exact same model on sale for $20 less than I paid. $179 is an even better deal than I got before. Sweet!

M2 Carbine

Discussion Starter · #19 · Aug 6, 2006

I received the 19 inch View Sonic monitor.

I've been right unhappy with the picture quality and especially text. The text was hard to look at and almost gave me a headache to look at it for any time.
I tried every setting I could find to improve it. Tried three, different age, computers. Tried downloading the newest drivers for my video card.
Tried two of my friend's computers.
The text still looked like crap.

My friend's boy, who is right sharp on computers, hooked the monitor up to his laptop and again went through all the settings we could find.
Finally he hit the monitor "Memory Recall", setting the monitor to factory specs and that did it. Now it looks great.

Trusting fool that I am, it didn't enter my mind that a new monitor wouldn't be set to factory specs when I got it.:upeyes:

Anyhow, thanks for all the info about these LCD monitors.

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IndyGunFreak

· #20 · Aug 6, 2006

Originally posted by M2 Carbine
I received the 19 inch View Sonic monitor.

I've been right unhappy with the picture quality and especially text. The text was hard to look at and almost gave me a headache to look at it for any time.
I tried every setting I could find to improve it. Tried three, different age, computers. Tried downloading the newest drivers for my video card.
Tried two of my friend's computers.
The text still looked like crap.

My friend's boy, who is right sharp on computers, hooked the monitor up to his laptop and again went through all the settings we could find.
Finally he hit the monitor "Memory Recall", setting the monitor to factory specs and that did it. Now it looks great.

Trusting fool that I am, it didn't enter my mind that a new monitor wouldn't be set to factory specs when I got it.:upeyes:

Anyhow, thanks for all the info about these LCD monitors.

I had that same problem with another model LCD(I think it was MAG or something like that). My friends picture looked like crap, etc. Anyways, after checking all the settings, etc, I hit the "auto" button on the monitor, which then automatically set the settings on the monitor.

It really looks nice now. I'm now in the market for another 17in LCD to use as a Dual Display. I found a refurbed 17in for 99 after rebate on Tiger Direct. Went to Best Buy yesterday, and they don't have the Westinghouse model I have now, or I'd get it. I may look at the MAG model my friend has.

IGF

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