Speakers or Monitor

[Badger86]

My last upgrade, a year ago, was an overhaul of performance, building a completly new system. To save on money none of the perepherials where changed. Today I have a decent system with an old 15" monitor and ancient Koss speakers. I have enough money to buy either the Samsung 900NF or Cambridge MegaWorks 550. The monitor is $450CDN and the speakers $300CDN. The speakers are a great deal for I have seen them for over 400 in other stores.

My question is as a gamer who also listens to music which will be a bigger impact? Will the sorround sound make games that much cooler? (as it stands the right speaker sometimes stops working...) Will the large 19" flat screen (I researched that the 900NF is the best 19" that isn't insanly expensive) make a big graphical increase as any hardware boost? Which of the two will blow me away more? Any input would be great because I figure i can't keep using the same peripherals now as I did with my 486 and expect a great experience. Thanks

 

[kinetic_tw]

I'd go with the new monitor if it were my decision to make. I had a set of PC surround speakers briefly, but I rarely got any real use out of them since I dont use my PC for DVD's. My suggestion: Buy the monitor, then buy an inexpensive 2.1 speaker setup. Klipsch, CambridgeSoundworks/Creative Labs have good quality setups in the $60-80 USD range.

 

[ontelo]

Those aren't even "speakers". Plastic birdiecottages 😉

 

[jmecor]

Visual entertainment is much more intriguing than sound. I mean just go with the monitor.

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[dfoisy]

My choice would be for the monitor as well, the visual experience wil blow you away and make you almost forget the sound.
Also, as someone else said, you could make a little upgrade on the speakers for much less money.
It also depends on what kind of upgrade you did on your machine.

Dan

 

[jmecor]

Heard of megaworks 650?

 

[kinney]

I'd get the monitor and save up later for a decent 4.1 setup. I love 3d sound and I think its well worth it. But I wouldnt recommend going and buying a set of $400 klipschs either.

You can get a set of really good (for the money) logitech 4.1... i think its the z540.

I use the z560s myself and mine have alot more boom and are actually on par with klipsch 4.1 which are much more money. Mine go for $140 new shipped online but I dont need this kind of volume or performance myself.

Z560s are honestly loud enough to be too loud for a house in town, and definitely to loud for a dorm apt.
Get your monitor then later pickup a cheaper 4.1 setup.

Also, I'd take a cheaper 4.1 than even a good 2.1 if forced to decide if you game.

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