Help with buying a monitor!

[Nikolas1221]

I am looking at buying a new computer monitor used for gaming and watching videos/movies.

I currently have a BenQ 22" G2200W but I'm starting to think it's a little small, and it can only go up to 1650x1050. I was originally going to upgrade to a 24" so I could get the full 1920x1080 (or even perhaps 1920x1200) but then I started to think that spending $200-400 on a 2" upgrade is a bit much. So I'm starting to lean towards buying a 25" or maybe 26" or 27".
I don't really want to go bigger than that ^ because I was using my 32" TV at one time as my monitor and it was too big for me 🙂

I really would like to have a 1920x1200. I have $800 AUD but I would rather not go much higher than $400... And $400 is pushing it if I want to get a 1920x1200 so I am willing to settle for 1920x1080.

Also, some guidelines about buying a monitor would be good. What am I looking for when I buy a monitor? Refresh rate, contrast ratio, resolution? What is a good number for those specs?

So basically, I want to know:

1. What size monitor should I get (between 24" and 28") and what specs should I look out for (contrast ratio, resolution etc) ?
2. Recommendations/reviews on monitors. What do you guys think is a good monitor to fulfill my needs?



Here are my specs:

Operating System
MS Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit SP1

CPU
Intel Core i7 2600 @ 3.40GHz
Sandy Bridge 32nm Technology

RAM
8.00 GB Dual-Channel DDR3 @ 668MHz (9-9-9-24)

Motherboard
Gigabyte Technology Co., Ltd. Z68XP-D3 (Socket 1155)

Graphics
1280MB GeForce GTX 570 (ASUStek Computer Inc)

Hard Drives
1954GB Hitachi Hitachi HDS723020BLA642 ATA Device (SATA)

Optical Drives
TSSTcorp CDDVDW SH-222AB ATA Device

Audio
Realtek High Definition Audio

 

[azeem40]

Out of those sizes, I would say 25" is a good size. More pixels and they aren't too big. Response time is exaggerated. I find any response time under 8ms is just fine. I will need to know what you want in a monitor to actually suggest one.

 

[Nikolas1221]

I guess what I really want is at least 1920x1080 resolution, and a high refresh rate.

I have heard that response time is exaggerated before, so I'm not too fussed about that, just as long as it's under 8ms.

The other things like contrast ratio and panel type (TN-panels and whatever) and all the other specs I'm not too sure about..

 

[Nikolas1221]

http://www.lmc.com.au/products/LCD_Monitors/Asus/577105/ASUS_25%5C%22_VE258Q_Wide_LED_2ms_10M:1_Buit-In_Speaker_-_Black

Seems to have some good reviews ?

 

[azeem40]

That's a great monitor. I was looking to buy that one until I came across the U2312HM. 😛