Monitor for Digital Imaging / Gaming / General Use - 24 - 26"

MegaMisFiT · 8 Apr 2010 at 03:11

Hello all, right I'm in a bit of trouble here, I need a new monitor and have been surfin around the net for ages to try find a suitable monitor with sum decent reviews but hard to come by.

Size: 24" - 27" *Only have a very small room, sitting pretty close to the desk as well, but I guess a big monitor wud look coool*

Res: 1920 x 1200 *Must be this res, I don't want no 1080*

Price: Below £250, would like to keep it as low under as possible, unless you make a valid point if its above hmm.
Use: I want to get a monitor for crystal clear imaging, I work in Digital Art and would like something that can capture every colour and greyscale. Really is a must because the current monitor I'm on now is a 19" and its terrible, when I'm colouring and using greyscale, on my monitor it shows very dark and I can't see the lighting like other monitors can. I can look at the same image and I see very dark areas which I think I've coloured but really are very light which SUCKS! *I've tried the settings, just the monitor is crappy*
I will also be using it for gaming as my card is getting very under used at a hidious res of 1440x900 which the 5970 is crying over.

Please someone give me some advice on were to go. Please give some decent reviews or just something to backup what monitor your advicing.

Thanks to all who post! Hurry Hurry Hurry! I'm in neeeed of good colouring!

whitecrook · 8 Apr 2010 at 03:24

For a monitor of the size + quality you say you require, I don't think 250 will be enough.. Probably require double. And a calibration tool.

Troezar · 8 Apr 2010 at 07:25

There are a few new monitors in the latest news forum, the Samsung Plum looks pretty nice for the money...

PCM2 · 8 Apr 2010 at 09:10

You'll need to expand your budget or lower your size and resolution requirements I'm afraid. You will probably need a wide colour gamut screen - ruling out any TN panel that I know of on the market today.

MegaMisFiT · 8 Apr 2010 at 11:33

PCM2 said:
You'll need to expand your budget or lower your size and resolution requirements I'm afraid. You will probably need a wide colour gamut screen - ruling out any TN panel that I know of on the market today.

Can anyone suggest one of the 22" monitors with this type of spec?

I don't really understand what I'm after in spec wise for monitors, any help!

Arcane · 8 Apr 2010 at 11:47

At £299 you could get the 23" NEC MultiSync EA231WMi, it's 1080 (16:9) unfortunately but it's got excellent colour reproduction, an ips panel and serves well for gaming too.

cmndr_andi · 8 Apr 2010 at 13:00

For your budget the Dell 2209WA and the Samsung F2380 are some of the few monitors that can do the job you need of them.

The Dell uses an e-IPS panel, while the samsung uses a CPVA panel. Unfortunately the resolutions are less than requested - the Dell is 1680x1050 and the samsung is 1920x1080. However, for this price that really is the best you can get, a 1920x1200 one will be TN for this price.

You may want to consider going 2nd hand - you should be able to get a 24in S-PVA like the Dell 2408WFP or a 24in IPS for around £250 if 2nd hand.

If you want new- this is probably the closest one to your budget that meets your requirements. However, I haven't seen any in-depth reviews of it yet - so I would suggest waiting for them before buying that one.

MegaMisFiT · 8 Apr 2010 at 14:50

cmndr_andi said:
For your budget the Dell 2209WA and the Samsung F2380 are some of the few monitors that can do the job you need of them.

The Dell uses an e-IPS panel, while the samsung uses a CPVA panel. Unfortunately the resolutions are less than requested - the Dell is 1680x1050 and the samsung is 1920x1080. However, for this price that really is the best you can get, a 1920x1200 one will be TN for this price.

You may want to consider going 2nd hand - you should be able to get a 24in S-PVA like the Dell 2408WFP or a 24in IPS for around £250 if 2nd hand.

If you want new- this is probably the closest one to your budget that meets your requirements. However, I haven't seen any in-depth reviews of it yet - so I would suggest waiting for them before buying that one.

Well, what about any of the monitors in the 22" range @ 1080? Seems to be pretty similar to the 24" but lesser price tag on some, can you advise?

cmndr_andi · 8 Apr 2010 at 14:58

MegaMisFiT said:
Well, what about any of the monitors in the 22" range @ 1080? Seems to be pretty similar to the 24" but lesser price tag on some, can you advise?

All of these monitors use TN panels - which are not ideal for your uses. The Dell above uses an E-IPS panel and the the samsung uses a cPVA panel, the HP uses an S-IPS panel. You may want to check out this article for details of these panel technologies and the benefits and drawbacks of these different types.

PCM2 · 8 Apr 2010 at 16:05

If you're fine with 16:9 but want accurate colours I would recommend the Dell 2209WA. This is just within your budget.