Overseas woes, limited gaming monitor options

eLbot · 27 Aug 2011 at 01:26

I’m out in America for the next three years so I’ve been putting together a gaming rig to use out here but I’ve stumbled on what I thought would be a rather easy step: the monitor!!
I’m looking for a 1920x1080 or 1920x1200 widescreen monitor to use strictly for gaming; the majority being fps’ and 120hz seems to be the latest craze for that, is it really worth it or are most people riding the hype and enjoying confirmation bias?

I have my eyes on the LG W2363D but there seems to be two variations of it out here (-PF,-PU), I can’t tell the difference between them other than warranty and I’m worried there might be something else too it. Besides, they’re both difficult to find and the Humpty Dumpty store I want to buy it from are completely out of stock.

There are however three 120Hz monitors in stock at the Humpty Dumpty store that may work so if possible I’d like opinions on:

Acer’s GD235HZ (my current first choice)
Planar’s SA2311W (never even heard of this company but this unit seems to be getting half decent reviews when I read around)
Asus’ VG236H (stretching my budget a little but if it has to be done it has to be done, also very worried about how reflective it is)
EDIT: Also Dell's OptX AW2310.

Ignore: There’s also one 60Hz monitor that may fit the bill, and it also comes significantly cheaper than the other three:

Asus’ VH238H.

Any advice or personal experiences would be great, especially on the Acer.
Thanks for your time.

Surveyor · 27 Aug 2011 at 01:28

Wouldn't it be easier, and probably cheaper, to buy one in the USA?

If you source one in this country you'll need to make sure it works on that funny American electricity, the 110V stuff.

eLbot · 27 Aug 2011 at 01:33

Sorry, guess it's a little hard to tell but I am indeed purchasing in the USA (Humpty Dumpty may be a little obscure!)

Surveyor · 27 Aug 2011 at 01:39

eLbot said:
Sorry, guess it's a little hard to tell but I am indeed purchasing in the USA (Humpty Dumpty may be a little obscure!)

Aaah, sorry, I get it now

The yolk's on me.

Rroff · 27 Aug 2011 at 01:45

With regard to 120Hz and gaming - if your a competitive FPS player there is no alternative IMO for me its night and day in terms of responsiveness/low input lag and reduced residual image issues compared to any 60Hz panel I've ever tried and I'm quite consistantly getting double the KDR in games like COD when I'm on my 120Hz panel (Samsung 2233RZ) compared to my 60Hz panel. However for single player or slower paces games like mmos, etc. you generally get more benefit from having a decent res/quality IPS panel as the increase image quality will be more noticeable and you won't be held back by the slower response and issues like ghosting will be less noticeable due to the slower pace.

eLbot · 27 Aug 2011 at 02:05

Rroff said:
With regard to 120Hz and gaming - if your a competitive FPS player there is no alternative IMO for me its night and day in terms of responsiveness/low input lag and reduced residual image issues compared to any 60Hz panel I've ever tried and I'm quite consistantly getting double the KDR in games like COD when I'm on my 120Hz panel (Samsung 2233RZ) compared to my 60Hz panel. However for single player or slower paces games like mmos, etc. you generally get more benefit from having a decent res/quality IPS panel as the increase image quality will be more noticeable and you won't be held back by the slower response and issues like ghosting will be less noticeable due to the slower pace.

I'll be honest, I certainly feel like 120Hz will be a benefit, it’s certainly all the chatter within the community but when a comparable 60Hz model is available for literally 1/3'rd the price i need to have it drilled in my head that it’s something to jump for, especially when I’ve never had the pleasure of a high refresh monitor since the CRT days! That said I think all I needed was one more person to say it, I’m only looking at 120Hz solutions from this point forward, thank-you for your input.

Surveyor said:
Aaah, sorry, I get it now

The yolk's on me.

No worries! It's definitely something that needed to be checked on, anyone thinking of importing would be in for a world of trouble!

I stumbled upon the Acer's thread in these forums (yikes this monitor is older than I realised) and from that found out about Dell's AW2310 so that's on the table too!