Acer AL2216W v NEC MultiSync® LCD20WGX2

Nazbit · 25 Sep 2006 at 17:30

Hi there,

I am looking for a new monitor, currently I have a 17" sharp LL172GB which for the record has been excellent, but its time for something bigger.

From the title of the thread, you probably know which ones im considering.

NEC MultiSync® LCD20WGX2
For a few months I had been certain that when I had saved up enough money, this would be my firm choice, it has some pretty nice specs and unit itself is quite good looking. The only thing that bothers me is the coating on the screen, it will be place directly facing a window (about 5m away) and im concerned that the glare might be too much.

Acer AL2216W
Then this monitor came out and changed my mind a little, its obviously quite a bit bigger than the NEC and is a whole £100 cheaper, the specs are very similar and it now seems like the obvious choice. The only thing that worries me about this monitor is its lack of Dvi input, my graphics card is dual Dvi, and I have always used Dvi, just wondering if there will be any noticable decrease in quality using Dsub.

These are the two I have narrowed it down to, im pretty stuck here so any help would be greatfully recieved.

Cheers

Gibbo · 25 Sep 2006 at 18:01

Hi there

To me size is important and I'd go for the bigger screen. However the NEC is pretty much unbeatable in terms of quality so its a hard choice to make. Maybe you should just save for a 24".

mortals · 25 Sep 2006 at 18:49

I'm currently having a similar problem. I'm looking at the Acer 22" and am unsure about the non DVI thing, but when I bought my current screen people said DVI didn't really make that much difference over VGA. I think the extra 2" could be worth it, altho it is hard without seeing them side-by-side

Don't think I'll be spending £500+ on a 24" :eek:

Nazbit · 25 Sep 2006 at 19:02

Gibbo said:
Hi there

To me size is important and I'd go for the bigger screen. However the NEC is pretty much unbeatable in terms of quality so its a hard choice to make. Maybe you should just save for a 24".

I wish

Your right though, i think the size is going to win over the lack of Dvi, especially at that price!!

mortals said:
I'm currently having a similar problem. I'm looking at the Acer 22" and am unsure about the non DVI thing, but when I bought my current screen people said DVI didn't really make that much difference over VGA. I think the extra 2" could be worth it, altho it is hard without seeing them side-by-side
Don't think I'll be spending £500+ on a 24"

Yer, reading around it does seem like there is very little to be gained from DVI over VGA.

The NEC looks awsome, but the Acer is 2" bigger and £100 cheaper, oh the decisions!!! :mad:

dokko · 25 Sep 2006 at 19:06

I've got a AL1916W and can confirm Acer make bang on superb screens.

There might be better, but with Acer, you get more than what you pay for.

You've got good options there, whichever way.

geordiepaul · 25 Sep 2006 at 20:20

I have some concerns over the quality of the Acer panel due to having the Viewsonic equivalent and sending it back! The vertical viewing angles aren't great (greys could appear black with only a couple of degrees movent) which isn't great if you do any kind of design work.

Dead/Sub pixels have also been a major problem.

So it's between the 21" Samsung and the NEC for me!

Nazbit · 25 Sep 2006 at 20:31

geordiepaul said:
I have some concerns over the quality of the Acer panel due to having the Viewsonic equivalent and sending it back! The vertical viewing angles aren't great (greys could appear black with only a couple of degrees movent) which isn't great if you do any kind of design work.

Dead/Sub pixels have also been a major problem.

So it's between the 21" Samsung and the NEC for me!

Do the viewsonic and the acer use the same pannel? I have heard that the viewing angles are not great on the acer, but for the money, I think it may still be a winner.

dokko · 25 Sep 2006 at 20:35

Nazbit said:
Do the viewsonic and the acer use the same pannel? I have heard that the viewing angles are not great on the acer, but for the money, I think it may still be a winner.

Yeah, up and down angles arn't great on mine either.

Nazbit · 25 Sep 2006 at 20:50

dokko said:
Yeah, up and down angles arn't great on mine either.

But judging from your previous post its not bad enough to put you off the monitor?

dokko · 25 Sep 2006 at 20:57

Nazbit said:
But judging from your previous post its not bad enough to put you off the monitor?

Not at all, i'm just pointing out what i've noticed.

The biggest problem i have with this monitor is back light bleed.

Its quite noticable, but only on pure black backgrounds.

Not noticed it in game apart from playing splinter cell.

Even with that i'd give this screen 80% rating, then because i only paid £120 for it, i'd give it 100%

Hope that helps.

Nazbit · 25 Sep 2006 at 21:03

I dont suppose you have any pictures of the bleed?

This is the hardest decision ive had to make in a long time!!!

Richdog · 25 Sep 2006 at 21:07

Nazbit said:
Yer, reading around it does seem like there is very little to be gained from DVI over VGA.

The NEC looks awsome, but the Acer is 2" bigger and £100 cheaper, oh the decisions!!!

Read my review of the NEC in the TFT review thread. Swap something of this sheer unadulterated quality for a mere extra 2"? Not a chance.

dokko · 25 Sep 2006 at 21:10

Nazbit said:
I dont suppose you have any pictures of the bleed?

This is the hardest decision ive had to make in a long time!!!

I dont sorry, if you want a perfect screen then this is not it.

I got this for cheapness, the reason why your attracted to it.

But i hope at a later date i'll get another WS TFT (no matter what size) with DVI & 16.7m colours and sell this one for about the £100 mark to me dad.

If your spending £260, its a different thing, and a different need to mine.

I'd consider getting a 20" WS with DVI & 16.7m for about the £300 mark.

Maybe these two screens arn't the one you need.

Nazbit · 25 Sep 2006 at 21:14

Richdog said:
Read my review of the NEC in the TFT review thread. Swap something of this sheer unadulterated quality for a mere extra 2"? Not a chance.

Damn I cant decide where my money should go!

Is it really THAT good??

(Remeber that I might still have your address somewhere

)

dokko · 25 Sep 2006 at 21:15

Viewsonic VX2025wm 20" for £280 is what i'd be looking at.

DVI
16.7m
800:1 cont

Sounds good.

Or

Dell Ultrasharp 2007WFP 20 @ £320

dokko · 25 Sep 2006 at 21:16

Nazbit said:
Damn I cant decide where my money should go!

Is it really THAT good??

(Remeber that I might still have your work address somewhere )

Your not just swapping 2" though, your also adding £100, depends on what you can afford really.

Gibbo · 25 Sep 2006 at 21:18

Hi there

I forgot to mention actually there is a new player here.

The Samsung 215TW, our price on OcUK is superb as its cheaper than the 20" NEC and the quality of if its display is just as good, plus its bigger and has a vast array of input options.

My choice would be the Samsung 21" 215TW.

Nazbit · 25 Sep 2006 at 21:18

dokko said:
Your not just swapping 2" though, your also adding £100, depends on what you can afford really.

Exactly, its a very big price difference, Im just trying to determine whether the Acer is of acceptable quality or if I should spend the extra £100 and go for the NEC.

I think this might take a whlie.

Im not too sure about the viewsonic.

Richdog · 25 Sep 2006 at 22:00

Nazbit said:
Damn I cant decide where my money should go!

Is it really THAT good??

(Remeber that I might still have your address somewhere )

It all comes down to budget. If you need to save pennies, but the Acer or whatever. if youw ant sheer quality, buy the NEC. That's all there is to it.

Nazbit · 25 Sep 2006 at 22:04

Richdog said:
It all comes down to budget. If you need to save pennies, but the Acer or whatever. if youw ant sheer quality, buy the NEC. That's all there is to it.

Thats a good summary of where I am up to actually.

Time to get the calculator out and do some budgeting