which is better Dell 2407WFP-HC component input or ati 650 pro

[garyk]

Hi, I currently own an ATI AIW9600. I have a dvd player hooked into it and I like to watch movies in a window or fullscreen while I work on my computer. I am thinking about upgrading to a new system, but I can't take my ATI AGP with me-everything is PCI-E now. I am looking at a Dell system and I was wondering which type of configuration would be right for watching standard def DVD movies or satelite TV on the LCD.

my options

1-Dell 2407WFP-HC-24" LCD or another similar type monitor using the component inputs for its fullscreen and PIP capabilites (expensive)

2-smaller cheaper LCD with the ATI 650 PRo PCI card.

Main concern is image quality, especially at fullscreen resolution. Also a little worried about how much a pain in the butt it might be to move around the PIP function on a monitor as opposed to just dragging the window like I do now.

If anyone has any experience using these types of monitors for Standard Def stuff, or if you have any thoughts concerning my problem, I'd appreciate your help.

Thank you.

[rallynavvie]

I don't think I can move the PIP screen around on my 2407WFP, I think it's tagged to the upper right corner. I haven't messed around with it much though.

One thing you need to consider is load on your system. Playing a DVD, even if your have a hardware decoder on your video card, is still taxing your system. Depending on what you do with the system while watching movies you may want to go the PIP route with the big monitor. Other nicety of that is you have a 1080p monitor you can use for HD content. Do you have a cable box that has s-video or component out on it?

[garyk]

Thanks for your reply.
My DVD player (non-progressive scan) and my cable box have both component and s-video outputs.
If I purchased the ATI Theatre PCI card, I would plug the DVD player / cable box in the back of my computer and let the ATI card do the work of putting the picture on the LCD. My ATI AIW9600 isn't very taxing on my Athalon system currently - then again, its only running on a 1024x768 CRT.

Thanks for your info on the monitor. I did an online chat with one of the Dell people about it, and with regards to the whether or not you can move the PIP around she said "I'm pretty sure, but I don't know - I could look into that..." That was a week ago and still no response.

Does the monitor deinterlace/comb filter etc... standard def. inputs? I've heard a lot of great things about the monitor but nobody talks about the quality of standard def. content on it.

Thanks.

[rallynavvie]

Unfortunately I haven't a need to run any alternate inputs into the monitor, I've just not found any that I'd deem useful other than the VGA for my laptop when it's docked. I'd rather not move my PS3 from its current dustbin so I can get out my PS2 and plug it in with the component connectors and see what a DVD looks like on it. I don't think the PS2 de-interlaces those outputs (or at all I'm thinking) so I'll see how the monitor handles it.

I would assume, given how the 2407 was touted with all its inputs, that it will do just fine using analog inputs just like a television would. You just need to have a tuner. Now you may be able to use HD programming from your cable box if your plan supports it, you just need to use the component cables or better from the box.

I'll let you know how it does with the PS2 this weekend.

[garyk]

Thanks, I'd really appreciate it.

[rallynavvie]

DVD playback via composite video from the PS2 looks fine on the monitor. It can easily double as a TV as long as it has a video source.

[garyk]

Great to hear. Thank you very much for your help.