I would like some advice before making a purchase.

[AwsmGy]

Here's the short summary of my situation. My desk is getting really crowded and my Viewsonic G90f is not by any means a space saver. So I've been looking in to throwing around....$300ish towards a nice LCD monitor. However I have no idea what's good and what's bad. I've been looking at this Samsung (link at bottom) but before hitting the purchase button I would like to know if I could get something better for the same amount or something multiple times better for a little more. Any help would be greatly appreciated, thanks!

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16824001081

Edit: Forgot to mention I also have no idea if my card can even support the resolution that widescreens offer. I have a 7600GT, I imagine it can, but don't need to buy a new video card right now.

 

[Hose]

Here's the short summary of my situation. My desk is getting really crowded and my Viewsonic G90f is not by any means a space saver. So I've been looking in to throwing around....$300ish towards a nice LCD monitor. However I have no idea what's good and what's bad. I've been looking at this Samsung (link at bottom) but before hitting the purchase button I would like to know if I could get something better for the same amount or something multiple times better for a little more. Any help would be greatly appreciated, thanks!

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16824001081

Edit: Forgot to mention I also have no idea if my card can even support the resolution that widescreens offer. I have a 7600GT, I imagine it can, but don't need to buy a new video card right now.

1. Your card is probably new enough to support widescreens, but you can check in Display/Settings some place and see what resolutions it supports.

2. Though Newegg buyers give the 205BW good reviews, I'm not a widescreen fan at all. Nevertheless, the Samsung 204B and the 931C (neither widescreens) have better specs to my eye for about the same money. After Rebate on the 204B.

Newegg.com has all 3 models, so you can check out the specs there.

 

[AwsmGy]

That 204B is very impressive, and the rebate makes it even more so. Another question I have about LCD's is; what's the likelyhood of getting one with burned out pixels? I've read alot of reviews on a bunch of different monitors and that seems to be the number one complaint on any one. I would be pretty pissed if I got a monitor with 7 burned out pixels or something and they wouldn't do shit about it.

 

[Hose]

That 204B is very impressive, and the rebate makes it even more so. Another question I have about LCD's is; what's the likelyhood of getting one with burned out pixels? I've read alot of reviews on a bunch of different monitors and that seems to be the number one complaint on any one. I would be pretty pissed if I got a monitor with 7 burned out pixels or something and they wouldn't do **** about it.

Samsung also has a new 19" with superior specs.... 971P. 6ms, 1500:1 CR (probably static, too)... and a SPVA panel for $359 at Newegg.


Can't help you on the pixels. Samsung formerly had a "zero dead pixel" policy, but rescinded it. I don't know of anyone with one now.

It seems the makers subjectively apply their policy depending upon "how many" and "where" they are.

Odds of getting one with zero dead/stuck pixels are good, though.