Hello fellow techies!
I am looking to purchase a new primary monitor for my desktop for gaming, netflix, and general internet surfing/word processing/minor programming etc. My current monitor is a slightly aged HP ZR24W (The old model with a CFL backlight). This is a 1920x1200 (16:10) IPS monitor that has served well (and still does). I simply would like more screen real estate / resolution. I am running this monitor with an (equally aged) PC with relevant specs:
ASUS P6T motherboard
ATI 5870 graphics (With a jerry rigged, decrepit cooling solution) [Upgrade pending] {Has DVI / HDMI / DisplayPort}
Intel i7 960 CPU (lightly overclocked, 3.4GHz)
12GB RAM OCZ Platinum 1333MHz (clock speed may be wrong)
Corsair HX750W power supply
I would like a monitor of about 27" size, and higher resolution then I currently have... which would mean QHD. I would prefer to keep the 16:10 aspect ratio, but that seems impossible outside of ultra-expensive professional grade monitors, so 16:9 will have to do.
My current monitor has quite spoiled me for the color fidelity and viewing angles of an IPS monitor, so I preferably would like to stick with IPS monitors, unless somebody can convince me that the benefits are not worth the cost. Additionally, the games I play (Recently minecraft, League of Legends, Kerbal Space Program, Civilization 5) are not particularly affected by the 'slow' response time of IPS, so that is not a mark in TN's favor for me.
Enhanced RGB color-space is unnecessary. Sound/speakers unnecessary. Screen must have scalar to display resolutions below without black bars (at same aspect ratio). 60Hz refresh is sufficient.
My requirements/preferences in a monitor (in order) would be:
27" / QHD
IPS
Respectable company / good dead-pixel exchange policy
Good panel uniformity/low backlight bleed
Matte/semi-matte screen
Good color accuracy
Solid contrast ratio
Decent response rate
Ergonomic adjustments on stand
USB ports are useful.
Budget: Up to ~800$ CAD (~750 USD), would prefer lower.
I am hesitant to consider the 'cheap' Korean manufacturers, as I am worried about QC and warranty policies. I don't know too much about them, and would prefer to stick with the bigger 'more reputable' companies, unless somebody can allay my concerns. In addition, some of these panels seem not to have scalars.
A monitor that seems to fit my bill is the ASUS PB278Q (presently 525$ CAD on Newegg.ca http://www.newegg.ca/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Order=BESTMATCH&Description=+PB278Q&N=-1&isNodeId=1). The only two things on it would be that it lacks inbuilt USB ports for convenience (very minor concern), and that the non-calibrated coor accuracy is a bit poor according to this review: http://www.tftcentral.co.uk/reviews/asus_pb278q.htm.
Can anybody here give me reasons why this monitor may not be the best choice for me, or offer suggestions as to what I could purchase instead?
Thanks!
Edit: Fixed some formatting.
Edit2: Added some minor information.
I am looking to purchase a new primary monitor for my desktop for gaming, netflix, and general internet surfing/word processing/minor programming etc. My current monitor is a slightly aged HP ZR24W (The old model with a CFL backlight). This is a 1920x1200 (16:10) IPS monitor that has served well (and still does). I simply would like more screen real estate / resolution. I am running this monitor with an (equally aged) PC with relevant specs:
ASUS P6T motherboard
ATI 5870 graphics (With a jerry rigged, decrepit cooling solution) [Upgrade pending] {Has DVI / HDMI / DisplayPort}
Intel i7 960 CPU (lightly overclocked, 3.4GHz)
12GB RAM OCZ Platinum 1333MHz (clock speed may be wrong)
Corsair HX750W power supply
I would like a monitor of about 27" size, and higher resolution then I currently have... which would mean QHD. I would prefer to keep the 16:10 aspect ratio, but that seems impossible outside of ultra-expensive professional grade monitors, so 16:9 will have to do.
My current monitor has quite spoiled me for the color fidelity and viewing angles of an IPS monitor, so I preferably would like to stick with IPS monitors, unless somebody can convince me that the benefits are not worth the cost. Additionally, the games I play (Recently minecraft, League of Legends, Kerbal Space Program, Civilization 5) are not particularly affected by the 'slow' response time of IPS, so that is not a mark in TN's favor for me.
Enhanced RGB color-space is unnecessary. Sound/speakers unnecessary. Screen must have scalar to display resolutions below without black bars (at same aspect ratio). 60Hz refresh is sufficient.
My requirements/preferences in a monitor (in order) would be:
27" / QHD
IPS
Respectable company / good dead-pixel exchange policy
Good panel uniformity/low backlight bleed
Matte/semi-matte screen
Good color accuracy
Solid contrast ratio
Decent response rate
Ergonomic adjustments on stand
USB ports are useful.
Budget: Up to ~800$ CAD (~750 USD), would prefer lower.
I am hesitant to consider the 'cheap' Korean manufacturers, as I am worried about QC and warranty policies. I don't know too much about them, and would prefer to stick with the bigger 'more reputable' companies, unless somebody can allay my concerns. In addition, some of these panels seem not to have scalars.
A monitor that seems to fit my bill is the ASUS PB278Q (presently 525$ CAD on Newegg.ca http://www.newegg.ca/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Order=BESTMATCH&Description=+PB278Q&N=-1&isNodeId=1). The only two things on it would be that it lacks inbuilt USB ports for convenience (very minor concern), and that the non-calibrated coor accuracy is a bit poor according to this review: http://www.tftcentral.co.uk/reviews/asus_pb278q.htm.
Can anybody here give me reasons why this monitor may not be the best choice for me, or offer suggestions as to what I could purchase instead?
Thanks!
Edit: Fixed some formatting.
Edit2: Added some minor information.