Best 24" panel for PC use

Gregster6

Gregster6

Gregster6

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I want to know what is the best 24" panel monitor for PC use only (gaming and a bit of office).

I am not interested in connecting an XBOX, DVD player or a toaster.

I've had a look at this forum from time to time and judging from the sheer volume of posts I would assume that the Dell and Benq are right up there.

At the same time Eizo, Samsung, NEC, Viewsonic (23" I think) all seem to offer good looking professional series monitors which don't seem to get much airplay. So I'm interested to know:

1. Are the current Dell and Benq monitors really the best ones (PC use only)?

2. If they're not the best ones, what are the current leaders?

3. Is there anything just around the corner (rest of 2007) which is set to put the current crop of TFTs in the shade?

Thanks

Greg
 
Gaming and Office apps mainly --> TN Panel (e.g. Samsung, as yet unseen but good on paper)

Professional or "serious" Photography (not just family snaps) or Home Cinema ---> PVA/MVA (Dell)

The reason TN panels are not best for home cinema is viewing angles. The reason PVA/MVA aren't ideal for gaming is latency. The reason TN panels are in theory not ideal for photography is colour resolution (although you need to be careful as other panels can be 6 bit and real world performanace of some TN panels like the 22" Samsung can be very good).

Phasechange
 
That's interesting!

So from what you say e better for gaming / general office use and cheaper.

Are there any downsides apart from the viewing angles / movie use?

What about image quality / colour reproduction / contrast etc.

In a world where you get used to paying more for what you want it seems odd to be able to pay less for once!

Cheers

Greg
 
I thought the Dell 2407 used a Samsung TN panel? Same one the Benq uses?

edit/
I have a Dell 2407 and it is excellent, I use it for office apps, video editing and games and it is a fantastic monitor.
 
I think too much information here is screwing up my judgement :(

Not sure of panel types, I wanted the sammy 22" until the panel lottery... then the new HP w2207 until screenshots and comments about blacks (even though cheaper).. the thread with screenies alongside the Dell was making me lean to one of the Dells, a 22" or 24" (if I go mad on the money!)

I will be sat in front of it for gaming, general PC work and coding. I want something without the lag / ghosting in games (FPS & wow) but okay for watching the odd movie.

Would have been easier if I had ordered the sammy 22" when they were originally in, would not have this problem :)
 
TN+Film panels don't have any real advantage apart form being cheaper. If you can afford the Dell 2407WFP then I would always choose that over the Samsung SM245B. The differences would be much better viewing angles on the Dell, true 24-bit colour and generally better colour accuracy. Plus the TN screens I've owned in the past haven't displayed quite the same clarity as the PVA/IPS screens I've owned. The Dell is perfectly quick enough for fast gaming. In reality there's very little perceiveable (or even measurable often) difference between a 2/3 ms and a 5/6/8 ms screen, it's mostly just marketting. Also worth pointing out that the 3000:1 contrast ratio on the Samsungs is dynamic not static contrast ratio, so again that's a bit of clever marketting. The actual panel used has a static contrast ratio of 1000:1, same as the Dell.

The main difference though is definitely the viewing angles, on TN I found myself forever adjusting the screen tilt becuase of the vertical viewing angles. You'll even find what should be the same colour looks a noticeably different shade at the top and bottom of the screen because of the vertical viewing angles and you can see the extremities of the screen pale/darken just from moving your head an inch up and down.
 
Hi Greg, got your email too :) hopefully can help here....

1. I'd say the Dell is probably the best 24" model in terms of price vs performance ratio. A very impressive screen performance wise, along with a bucket load of ergonomic functionality and interface options. The BenQ is more limited really, and I don't think it would eb easy for anyone to justify the price difference compared with the Dell tbh.

2. I think you've probably established the popular models are the Dell 2407WFP, BenQ FP241W, and recently the Samsung SM245B is on the scene at a nice price.

3. Unless you're maybe considering top end gaming screens, which it sounds like you're not, i dont think you'll see any marked improvements which would out-shadow the Dell 2407WFP for instance. In fact, i'd still consider the Dell 2405FPW and excellent choice for your needs really!


If you're looking for a general PC screen, i'd say the Dell would be your best bet. Very nice screen, great design, great performance, great connectivity and very nice price :) if you need any more advice, gimme a shout
 
Another one here for dell, only thing that is annoying me is the front panel buttons feel "cheap" and ive heard they break easily so i dont like touching the power button :p
 
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