Buying a nice lcd monitor < $200

[leoblack9]

Did some research over the week and I've come upon these nice monitors.

Hannspree - 23" Widescreen Flat-Panel LCD HD Monitor Model: HF-237HPB - $199

SAMSUNG 2233SW High Glossy Black 21.5" 5ms Widescreen LCD Monitor - $199

LG W2252TQ-BK 22" LCD Monitor w/ DVI - $190
LINK

Open for Suggestions!

Monitor Usage
1. Watching movies
2. Watching TV via a tuner
3. Video Editing
4. Playing really OLD games (CoD 1, Battle Realms, WC3, Diablo II and the likes)
4. General Use

What I have in mind
1. Which of these monitors that would make me WOW over watching anything, movies, games etc.
2. Which of these wouldn't give me a crappy display when watching TV.
3. I prefer HDMI over DVI, but if there isn't an hdmi port then I'm fine with DVI, all for the sake of getting nice refresh rates (or am I missing something here.
4. Planning to Use Powercolor HD4770, or if not a 5850.
5. Not really needing anything higher than a resolution of 1280x1024, but heck there isn't a DVI/hdmi monitor of those sizes.
6. Oh crap, what TV Tuner (box or PCI) can you recommend me for these types of inputs (DVI or hdmi), seems that the Leadtek TV Pro doesn't have it.

 

[FallenSniper]

Either of these would be good too

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824009157

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236052

 

[leoblack9]

Woah! Nice find, thanks FallenSniper I'll consider that right away.

 

[FallenSniper]

I saw the Asus one in person when one of my friends used it, and I can vouch that it's very nice looking. Dunno about the Acer one, haven't heard bad things though.

 

[leoblack9]

Fortunately I think I just saw an Asus with Hdmi on one of the shops here, I think it's the same model. Gotta check it out!

No Acer monitor there unfortunately.

Oh, I like monitors with glossy finish (both on frame and screen itself), just sharing.

 

[leoblack9]

What about a Philips 220E1 22inch TFT LCD 1000:1 300cd/m2 1920 x 1080 5ms Monitor (Gloss Black)? Seems nice and < $200 as well.

 

[FallenSniper]

That one looks alright. My favorite is the Samsung though. The LG is only 1680x1050 by the way, so you might want to drop it compared to the others.

 

[leoblack9]

Yep, the Samsung, Hannspree and the LG monitors are the only ones present in the store right now.

The Samsung approximately costs $214 in the shop

While Hannspree costs $206, LG costs $190.

Other monitors I'm not sure if I could find them. I'm not really sure whether I need a screen resolution this high, since my video card is a mere 4770 budget card.

 

[leoblack9]

SAMSUNG or HANNSPREE? This is one of my final decisions, unless the Acer or Asus monitor appear somewhere.

 

[twanto]

Did some research over the week and I've come upon these nice monitors.


3. I prefer HDMI over DVI, but if there isn't an hdmi port then I'm fine with DVI, all for the sake of getting nice refresh rates (or am I missing something here.

I think you are missing something. DVI and HDMI are pretty much the same thing (datawise) when it comes to video. HDMI carries an audio signal. Even then you'll need a video card that outputs audio through the HDMI port correctly if you are going to be using it that way. Otherwise you lose nothing with DVI nor do you gain any with HDMI in terms of image quality or refresh rate or any of those things.

 

[leoblack9]

I think you are missing something. DVI and HDMI are pretty much the same thing (datawise) when it comes to video. HDMI carries an audio signal. Even then you'll need a video card that outputs audio through the HDMI port correctly if you are going to be using it that way. Otherwise you lose nothing with DVI nor do you gain any with HDMI in terms of image quality or refresh rate or any of those things.

Yes, I admit I'm really confused about this part. I've always kept in mind that both are the same, but what pushes me to hdmi is that the newer interfaces (1.3 onwards) offer faster transfer speeds than DVI (sorry can't cite it right now, don't remember where I read it).

Hey I found something: An article which says Hdmi is better than DVI

 

[twanto]

Yeah I dunno about that. DVI is more affected by noise? Wha?

 

[leoblack9]

Well I don't know about the credibility of the site. Even if it's just a marketing scheme to get people to buy hdmi, damn it works on me.

 

[twanto]

Think of it this way, you can buy a DVI to HDMI converter with no loss in signal quality. It's just the plug that is different. There is NO reason to go with HDMI for a computer monitor, none. Unless you're worried about future proofing or something, but then you can always get a converter without a loss in quality!

 

[leoblack9]

thanks