<$300 Gaming Monitor (Big)

[xtrmerik]

Approximate Purchase Date: ASAP

Budget Range: ~$300 After Rebates

Monitor Usage from Most to Least Important: gaming (specifically playing WOW since that will be 98% of it's usage), watching movies, editing photos/videos, surfing the internet

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Any

Country of Origin: U.S.A.

Brand Preferences: Whatever is best. I am a fan of Samsung, Dell, Viewsonic (heard there not what they used to be)

Physical Size (Diagonal): Prefer a 27", but would go with 24" if there just isn't the quality in a 27".

Resolution(s) You'll Consider: 1920x1200, 2560x1440, 2560x1600

Computers and Other Devices To Attach: 1 desktop (DisplayPort, DVI, HDMI)

Panel Type(s) Desired: I honestly don't know the difference.

LED Backlight: Indifferent
Speakers: Indifferent
Wall-Mount: Indifferent

Stand Functions: Not important as long as it's functional

Additional Comments:
This is what I have been looking at:
HP LA2405wg Black / Silver 24" 5ms Height/Pivot/Swivel adjustable Widescreen LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 DC 3000:1(1000:1)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824176141

So it should be said that I like a big screen. My laptop is a 17", and my home theater projects onto a 151" screen. I like my eyes to be "full"! That being said. I am looking for the best quality monitor for the money in a big size. I would love something with a higher max resolution or bigger size, but have been unable to find anything in this price range. I would ideally like to stay below $300, but there is a little wiggle room for something that blows me away.

 

[MauveCloud]

Filling in the template would help us help you: http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/59847-3-template-monitor-advice
Higher max resolution would jump you to 2560x1440, which is usually over $800
I'm not sure there is a better monitor for less, but on Google Shopping I see the VX2739WM for $250, and the related VA2702w for about the same (the VA2702w may quote a weaker response time, but the VX2739WM only achieves 1ms response time in "ultra fast" mode which has severe inverse ghosting issues due to RTC overshoot - see http://www.tftcentral.co.uk/reviews/viewsonic_vx2739wm.htm)

 

[xtrmerik]

Filling in the template would help us help you: http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/59847-3-template-monitor-advice
Higher max resolution would jump you to 2560x1440, which is usually over $800
I'm not sure there is a better monitor for less, but on Google Shopping I see the VX2739WM for $250, and the related VA2702w for about the same (the VA2702w may quote a weaker response time, but the VX2739WM only achieves 1ms response time in "ultra fast" mode which has severe inverse ghosting issues due to RTC overshoot - see http://www.tftcentral.co.uk/reviews/viewsonic_vx2739wm.htm)

Searching the internet, the only place I found this monitor at the $250 price that you quoted (or under $300 for that matter) is at a place selling refurbished units and they are currently on back order.

 

[MauveCloud]

Searching the internet, the only place I found this monitor at the $250 price that you quoted (or under $300 for that matter) is at a place selling refurbished units and they are currently on back order.

I hadn't looked into it that far. I was just looking at the overview where it said "$250 from 179 stores". That store was mislisted at Google as offering that price for a new model; when I visited the actual site, it's for a refurbished unit like you say. However, I see the Viewsonic VA2702W for about $260 here:
http://www.buy.com/prod/viewsonic-va2702w-27-full-hd-1080p-widescreen-lcd-monitor-with-dvi-and/q/loc/101/217185013.html

 

[xtrmerik]

The VA2702W has a lower contrast ratio. It also doesn't have HDMI, which I guess isn't mandatory, but I kind of expect it from current technology. I don't want to limit myself on connectivity. Even though I know there is adapters for everything these days.

Anyone have any other recommendations? Is there anything at 1920x1200 in this price range?

 

[MauveCloud]

Lower contrast ratio? Only if you're looking at the specified dynamic contrast ratio, which isn't a useful comparison because 1. it's effectively comparing black at minimum brightness with white at maximum brightness, whereas static contrast compares black and white showing on the screen simultaneously, and 2. the dynamic contrast ratio is often greatly exaggerated in the specifications - TFT Central only measured a 2798:1 dynamic contrast ratio for the VX2739WM.
TFT Central measured the static contrast ratio from 1142:1 to 1317:1 at different brightnesses for the VX2739WM, which is in the neighborhood of the claimed 1200:1 static contrast ratio. The VA2702W is also listed with a static contrast ratio of 1200:1, but I haven't found a professional review for that one that measured the static contrast.

 

[xtrmerik]

Lower contrast ratio? Only if you're looking at the specified dynamic contrast ratio, which isn't a useful comparison because 1. it's effectively comparing black at minimum brightness with white at maximum brightness, whereas static contrast compares black and white showing on the screen simultaneously, and 2. the dynamic contrast ratio is often greatly exaggerated in the specifications - TFT Central only measured a 2798:1 dynamic contrast ratio for the VX2739WM.
TFT Central measured the static contrast ratio from 1142:1 to 1317:1 at different brightnesses for the VX2739WM, which is in the neighborhood of the claimed 1200:1 static contrast ratio. The VA2702W is also listed with a static contrast ratio of 1200:1, but I haven't found a professional review for that one that measured the static contrast.

Thank you for the Static numbers. I only saw the dynamic numbers posted so I had to just go off of them. That's one of the reasons I love forums, people that know more than me help me to get the information that I am missing! So it seems that the quality is just as good, but for $40 less. So now I just need to find out if there is anything with a higher resolution for around my price range. I haven't had much luck yet.

 

[xtrmerik]

What do you think about these two:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824254052

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824262013

I know they are not the highest quality ever, but they have a 1920X1200 resolution at really low prices. I'm a little worried about the abysmal contrast ratio numbers, but the reviews for them on newegg actually sound pretty good.

 

[MauveCloud]

I am cautious about Hanns-G, and possibly more so about recertified monitors. Also, don't rely too much on user reviews, because you can't always tell if the manufacturer is paying users to inflate their reviews or paying the site to delete many of the bad reviews. Have a look at these independent reviews of the HZ281HPB before you settle on it:
http://www.pcpro.co.uk/reviews/monitors/357835/hanns-g-hz281hpb
http://www.totalpcgaming.com/hardware/monitors/hanns-g-hz281hpb-monitor-review/
http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-mac/monitors-and-projectors/monitors/hanns-g-hz281-908745/review

 

[Guest]

Don't buy 1920x1200 for gaming. You will just end up with black bars and HannsG is poor quality too.

 

[AnUnusedUsername]

I have yet to find a game that doesn't support 1920x1200, (although in a few cases old games that don't support over 1280x1024 require .ini file edits to support it), so I wouldn't worry about black bars unless you plan to watch movies on it.

I will second Hanns-G as an unreputable brand though, I've heard almost universally bad things about them. Finding a decent 1920x1200 monitor that isn't massively more expensive than a 1920x1080 monitor would be a challenge, however, as most companies only use 1920x1200 on their "professional" models. (If you're willing to go with a refurb it might be possible, but thats a gamble and even finding a good refurbished 1920x1200 monitor under $300 is somewhat rare) It's also generally only on 24'' monitors, 27'' monitors (usually) use either 1920x1080 or 2560x1440 (but the latter is about triple your price range).

How concerned are you with quality? If it's a big issue, I'd look for an IPS panel, but that's going to make 27'' too expensive and 24'' pushing your budget. If quality isn't so important, there are a fair number of 1920x1080 27'' monitors out there that use TN instead (and are within your budget).

 

[xtrmerik]

Don't buy 1920x1200 for gaming. You will just end up with black bars and HannsG is poor quality too.

What do you mean that I will end up with black bars. I am currently playing wow at 1920X1200 on my 17" screen and it looks great, just small. I want the same image just much bigger. Please explain.

 

[Guest]

Well. Assassins Creed 2 and Witcher 2 are the biggest PC titles this year and none of them support 16:10.

You simply dont buy a 16:10 monitor for gaming in 2011. It is plain stupid!

 

[xtrmerik]

Well. Assassins Creed 2 and Witcher 2 are the biggest PC titles this year and none of them support 16:10.

You simply dont buy a 16:10 monitor for gaming in 2011. It is plain stupid!

I guess I should have been more specific in my original post. All I play is WOW. So, it really doesn't matter what the biggest titles of the year are and what they support, if I don't have any plans on playing them.

 

[xtrmerik]

I have yet to find a game that doesn't support 1920x1200, (although in a few cases old games that don't support over 1280x1024 require .ini file edits to support it), so I wouldn't worry about black bars unless you plan to watch movies on it.

I will second Hanns-G as an unreputable brand though, I've heard almost universally bad things about them. Finding a decent 1920x1200 monitor that isn't massively more expensive than a 1920x1080 monitor would be a challenge, however, as most companies only use 1920x1200 on their "professional" models. (If you're willing to go with a refurb it might be possible, but thats a gamble and even finding a good refurbished 1920x1200 monitor under $300 is somewhat rare) It's also generally only on 24'' monitors, 27'' monitors (usually) use either 1920x1080 or 2560x1440 (but the latter is about triple your price range).

How concerned are you with quality? If it's a big issue, I'd look for an IPS panel, but that's going to make 27'' too expensive and 24'' pushing your budget. If quality isn't so important, there are a fair number of 1920x1080 27'' monitors out there that use TN instead (and are within your budget).

I am trying to balance my desire for quality with my budget and desire for size. (I'm open to a refurb if it was from a reputable brand and was a great price for the model.) I would be willing to get a 24" if it was much better quality with great resolution. Please give some recommendations of IPS panels that you speak of. My knowledge of monitors is a bit limited. My dad has a 27" 1080P monitor, and when I saw him play wow on it, I was really not impressed with the picture. It looked a little blurred to me. Probably cause I've been playing at 1920X1200 on a 17" widescreen so it is super crisp.

 

[Guest]

I guess I should have been more specific in my original post. All I play is WOW. So, it really doesn't matter what the biggest titles of the year are and what they support, if I don't have any plans on playing them.

WoW is Hor+ just as most other games today so if you have a16:9 monitor you get larger Field Of View and an advantage over players with 16:10 monitors.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Field_of_view_in_video_games

 

[AnUnusedUsername]

This isn't really the place to debate it, but 16:10 provides more vertical viewing area, and 16:9 provides more horizontal. In some games, vertical is more important, in others, its horizontal. 16:9 is simply a thinner, wider picture while 16:10 is thicker and a bit less wide. That's really the only important difference between them (other than that 16:10 displays generally cost more, as they have more screen area than a 16:9 screen when both are measured diagonally). Use whichever you prefer.

(I don't want to get into a messy argument over aspect ratio, but saying it's stupid to buy 16:10 for gaming now is just wrong. If you want 16:10 over 16:9, there isn't any reason not to use it. If you want 16:9 or even 4:3, the same is true. You can always force a game to a given resolution, although it's true you can't always modify field of view easily.)


Back to the topic:

1920x1080 or 1920x1200 at 24'' is going to look slightly blurred if you're used to it at 17'', as you are putting the same number of pixels across a larger area. I made the same transition with the last monitor I bought, and found I got used to the larger screen eventually, and it's likely you will too. If it seriously bothers you, you could either stick with 17'' or go for a ~$800 2560x1440 27'' screen, and I don't think either of those is really an option. IPS and/or VA panels provide a better picture (in terms of color/contrast/viewing angle/etc), but pixel density is only a factor of resolution and screen size.


When I was looking at monitors myself I was only looking at 16:10 IPS and PVA panels, so my knowledge of what I'm listing is rather limited. Make sure to read reviews of whatever you choose before you buy. Here's a link to what I bought, but it's a refurb, so you'd be testing your luck, and more importantly, it's currently out of stock. It's a VA panel 1920x1200 24'' made by hp (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824176144)

The 16:10 options with IPS or VA panels seem to be out of your price range (around $400-$450), so I'd recommend you go with the cheaper 16:9 ones (If you decide you want IPS/VA instead of a much cheaper TN panel monitor, of course)


Dell makes the U2311H, a 23.6'' IPS panel, and dell as a company is well respected for their monitors. It's slightly smaller than 24'', but it is an IPS panel in your price range at $319 on their site, so likely cheaper from other retailers. http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/productdetail.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=19&sku=320-9270

NEC, another very good company, makes this monitor, another 23'', but with an LED backlight. It's a tad cheaper than the dell if you don't look for a better price.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824002578&Tpk=EA232WMi

Another 23'' IPS, this one from viewsonic, around the same price as the NEC.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824116421&Tpk=VP2365wb

Two more that I found, one from ASUS and one from LG. The ASUS uses a MVA panel, which isn't as good as IPS but is cheaper and still better than TN for image quality.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824005232
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236121

The same LG is available open-box for $60 cheaper
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824005232R

I'll point this one out, there are conflicting reports from different sources that it either has a IPS or TN panel. I don't know which is true, but if its IPS it's extremely cheap for it. At the price, I think it's safe to assume its TN, but some sources say it uses IPS regardless. Probably at least worth looking into.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824005237R

Basically, a better panel is going to get you a better picture, but it will cost about the same for a good panel in a 24'' as it would for a mediocre panel in a 27''. I'd suggest finding a store that has both TN and IPS panel monitors on display and deciding if you care about the difference in person. You'll be using the same resolution at both sizes, as the next one up costs a minimum of ~$800.

 

[jaguarskx]

Two more that I found, one from ASUS and one from LG. The ASUS uses a MVA panel, which isn't as good as IPS but is cheaper and still better than TN for image quality.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824005232
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236121

MVA panel technology is not necessarily inferior to IPS panels. It is superior to TN panels though.

VA panels generally have higher static contrast ratio compared to IPS panels. I believe it is up to 4000:1 vs. 1200:1 for IPS panels. That allows for better details with dark color tones. Also they generally have a lighter anti glare (AG) coating than IPS panels, or at least less noticeable. One common complaint about IPS panels is that the relatively heavy AG coating causes a sparkle or "dirty" effect on white background. Kinda like little tiny specks of dirt. It bothers some people, it doesn't bother others.