17'' TFT help

pcfan · 13 Mar 2006 at 10:12

I am after a 17'' tft monitor and i am not sure where to go? i do play games quite a bit but also use the pc for photo work and general day to day stuff. I don't want a 19'' tft. i prefer a 17'' one for my work. any ideas / pointers would be of great help.

Baddass · 13 Mar 2006 at 18:47

they are all pretty similar nowadays and are all based mostly on the same panels (either an 8ms Samsung panel, look for 700:1 contrast ratio models, or an 8ms AUO panel, 550:1). The Samsung 730BF is a very good screen, and arguably the fastest in the 17" sector. Might be a good choice, as it offers some excellent gaming performance as well as some decent colour reproduction too. Can i ask why you don't want a 19" screen though?

bbreezeuk · 13 Mar 2006 at 19:20

Baddass can u help me make an educated guess on the make of pannel that use these specs 12ms / 300cd/m2 / 450:1
cheers

Baddass · 13 Mar 2006 at 19:22

which model?

bbreezeuk · 13 Mar 2006 at 19:31

Dell E176FP

Baddass · 13 Mar 2006 at 20:08

uncertain. Doesn't look like any of the main panel contenders (Samsung, AUO, Lg.Philips etc), most likely from CMO, CPT, Chei Mei, BOE Hydis or someone. It's certainly a 12ms TN Film panel though

bbreezeuk · 13 Mar 2006 at 20:23

ok cheers

pcfan · 15 Mar 2006 at 10:09

I just think a 17'' TFT would best suit my needs. I have seen a 19'' but did not fancy it! Anyway, my desk is such that a 17'' would suffice.

sparkster · 17 Mar 2006 at 17:59

My requirements are kind of similar to pcfan's and feel that a 19" screen may just be a little big for the space I have (tho' I haven't ruled a 19"-er out and am beginning to think Viewsonic VP930 if I do go down the 19" route).

So, I too have looked at the 17" alternatives. One I found that seems to be a possible all-round candidate is the Viewsonic VP730 (altho' not currently available at OcUK?).

Interestingly, Viewsonic UK's website lists it as an 8-bit, 16.7m colour TN panel. I thought all TN's were 6-bit that could be dithered up to 16.2m colours.

Any thoughts on this panel as a good all-rounder, and on it being an 8-bit TN panel would be appreciated.

Baddass · 17 Mar 2006 at 20:32

they do list it as an 8 bit TN panel, but they list it incorrectly

If it's using a TN Film panel then it is a 6 bit panel thanks to dithering. I think you will find it hard to find any 17" screen which is an all rounder like the PVA/ MVA models in the 19" range. The 17" market is pretty saturated right now, and nearly all of them use either the AUO TN panel or a Samsung 8ms TN panel.....

sparkster · 18 Mar 2006 at 09:44

Baddass said:
they do list it as an 8 bit TN panel, but they list it incorrectly If it's using a TN Film panel then it is a 6 bit panel thanks to dithering. I think you will find it hard to find any 17" screen which is an all rounder like the PVA/ MVA models in the 19" range. The 17" market is pretty saturated right now, and nearly all of them use either the AUO TN panel or a Samsung 8ms TN panel.....

Thanks for clearing up the Viewsonic TN 6/8-bit question Baddass and for your views on 17" panels as all-rounders. I'll be going down the 19" route...