Need advice on getting a new 19" LCD Monitor.

[Lothar1974]

I have been looking at several including viewsonics vp930b and the syncmaster 193p+. I am hoping to keep my price under $600. Does any one have any better suggestions or comment about the two I listed? Thanks!!

[ROF]

The syncmaster is a big steaming POS. The viewsonic 930b isn't bad but is extremely overpriced. A nice monitor but 19" LCDs can be had for half that price while keeping the same 8ms response time and contrast ratios. Look at Hyundai or Acer. Both have several 19" LCD panels under $300. You might also want to look at the Sceptre X9G. I bought 6 of the sceptre monitors for budget PCs I've built for customers. All of them are quite satisfied and I may be purchasing more.

[Lothar1974]

ROF: How will these hold up playing Doom 3 and HL2? I also do alot of video and picture editing. Never heard much of the ones you have mentioned, will have to take a look. I think I am being to anal about my decision as I have read about 200 different review sites on LCD's!

[ROF]

They hold up quite well. For extreme gaming look for response time < 16ms. While 12ms is good, 8ms is noticeably better especially in newer gaming software titles. I've sold several Acer models from 15" - 19" and I've only seen one from Acer I didn't care for which was a 15" one. Two things to watch out for is the word refurbished which means someone didn't like it and returned it or more than likely it had dead pixels. The other thing to watch out for is like I said above, the response time. This is the time it takes the screen to go from all black to all white. This is extremely important to gamers because of the amount of colors and shadows which must be presented to you in quick succession. Most people buy an LCD because of name brand, color of the bezel, or the screen resolution. In my buying opinion, none of those are important. What's important is that the screen is bright when it needs to be, text is vibrant and easy to view, and response time is the lowest it can be.

If this is your first LCD purchase, be warned, alot of monitors especially the more expensive brand names have dead pixels in the upper right hand, lower left hand, or both corners. Dead pixels are a dot on the screen that is either always on(white) or always off(black). This can often be easily cured by gently massaging the pixel to life. It may sound strange but by gently(GENTLY) rubbing the area in a circular motion you can actually bring the pixel back to life. After this, you should never have to massage the same pixel again. This occur in storage or shipping, so once you have your monitor and all pixels are working they will never die again. At least not that I've ever seen.

For reliable sturdy monitors, Acer is my choice. For those with extra cash I usually splurge on an LG or Sceptre. I own an LG and a Sceptre myself. The LG is starting to show it's age, but in the 19" category they make some really good monitors.

[Lothar1974]

Hmm, I didn't think LG had been around very long in the US? I will do some checking and compare specs. Thansk!

[ROF]

If you have further questions whether general or specific just ask.

[Lothar1974]

Thanks ROF, sad to say , I pretty much know what I want and need in a LCD, and what makes one better than the other. I drive myself nuts because I want the best for what I pay (like anyone) and reading every review online doesn't help when most always contradict the other!

[JSB1]

If you have further questions whether general or specific just ask.

so something like this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16824009067

Acer AL1914 AB Black 19" 8ms LCD Monitor 280 cd/m2 400:1 0.294mm Pixel Pitch - Retail
Model #: ET.L4509.031
Item #: N82E16824009067
$249.99

Do you have any advice on contrast ratio?

JSB

[Lothar1974]

For video and picture edditing I would like something at least 700:1 for the contrast. I just went to BB and they had a new Samsung 960BF that I have never seem. Looked really good! Anyone ever see this one before? Or how about a LG L1920PQ, this also looked pretty good. Cant find any reviews on these though.

[ROF]

I've found that text is most effected by contrast ratio. Alot of companies falsely report lower or higher than actual contrast ratio. I've even seen significant difference between two identical monitors when it comes to this value. Like alot of this it depends on what you want and what you need.

Contrast ratio is the value difference between the brightest white and the darkest black displayed by the monitor.

In a low light setting a high contrast ratio (700:1 +) would be more suitable than say an average ratio (500:1). Like I said, the true test of this and other settings is to visit a store and view different monitors running similiar or same applications. Make sure the monitors are in their native resolution before testing. The native resolution is typical the one posted on the shelf tag. After some experimentation with the On screen Display Settings you should get a feel for the difference between a 400:1 and a 1000:1 contrast ratio when comparing same size monitors. You might also notice some monitors are more sturdy than others, while some include a adjustable base similiar to laptops. If you do not plan to mount your monitor on a wall this tilting might be important to you. For me, I tend to have the monitor so far back on the desk tilting isn't really an option. I adjust it and leave it alone.

The Acer 1914 is a big improvement over the 1913. I'd dare say the contrast ratio is underreported. The 1913 was an ugly white monitor with big ol' speakers on either side of the power button. The 1914 looks great on the desktop and newegg has a good price on it. Don't be frightened when you are greeted at the door with this monitor in only it's manufacturers box. The thing is tightly packed and as long as the box is fine on the outside the monitor should be safe on the inside. Newegg tends to ship them like that.

[JSB1]

I hate to threadjack......

So my 19" Dell branded Trinitron is dying... A guy at work has a brand new NEC 22" for $250 (It was his dad's who passed away....)

Do I got for the Acer lcd... Or the NEC 22" monster... or pick up something cheap on Black Friday?

JSB

[Lothar1974]

I hate to threadjack......

So my 19" Dell branded Trinitron is dying... A guy at work has a brand new NEC 22" for $250 (It was his dad's who passed away....)

Do I got for the Acer lcd... Or the NEC 22" monster... or pick up something cheap on Black Friday?

JSB

I wish I could help! I found one last option to drive me crazy. I came across a Samsung 913T that looked great. So far all the info I have read on it are all good, no bad comments. Just wondering if anyone out there has this model and can shed some light. Or if anyone has heard anything about it. Thanks!

[Lothar1974]

Well I purchased a Samsung 913T from Sam's Club for $350 - $50 gift card. I have to say I am really impressed with this thing! No dead or stuck pixels that I can see. Great color and all around performance. I played HL2 for a while and it looked great! This is my first LCD and I am totally impressed with the choice I made! One question I do have, is there any kind of software or something to test my LCD to see if there are any stuck pixels or dead? Thanks!!!!!

[ROF]

That Samsung is a beauty. A good buy at $350 too. No speakers to clutter it's framework and both DVI and VGA input signals. To test for dead pixels I visit Guillaume Dead Pixel Testing.

[BJ_M]

you should be happy with the samsung -- they make some really great panels and i use a 930B and have some 730B's also .. I see a LOT of them in studios ..

The only difference between the 930BF and the 930B (and 913T really) is the fact that the 930BF uses a latency figure compiled from black to white speed where it can do so in 4ms. However, the 930B uses a measurement of black to white then back to black in a time of 8ms (the latest trick monitor makers are playing on us consumers). There is virtually NO difference between them except maybe a few $$. When you are talking light grey to dark grey, neither one of these monitors can even approach speeds they advertise. In the best case both monitors can do this change of shades in about 15ms (which is better than almost all others). Keep in mind both of these monitors are at the top of the class when it comes to gaming.

Go for the 930B or 13T -- more money than those (as they are pricey), you would get into the graphics pro monitors

[Lothar1974]

Rof:

Thanks for the dead pixel site. Not a one! Thanks again everyone for all the input!!!