LCD Decision

zXen · 3 Apr 2006 at 13:50

Hi,

Thinking of getting an LCD momnitor to replace my CRT in the price range of £200-£300. The Viewsonic VX922 and the Samsung SM940BF have caught my eye, mainly because of the response times.
I currently use my monitor for general use (Internet/coding/watching DVD's/DivX/Xvid's etc) and playing games. Though I dont play games as much as I used to, but that will likely change when I get back to WoW in the summer

.
I'm just trying to find a high quality monitor that is flexible for the uses I described above.

Baddass · 3 Apr 2006 at 18:19

the problem you have with the "fastest" models out there like the VX922 and 940BF is that the technology used doesn't really lend itself too well to use for movies. While these models are certainly very fast and responsive, they use TN Film panels and heavy doses of overdrive (RTC) technology to boost response times. The technology does suffer from restrictive viewing angles, especially vertically, and noise in movie playback can be an issue too, especially with this overdrive being applied so aggressively. The models you mentioned are more aimed at the pure gaming market, and you might find yourself more suited to a slightly slower and all round panel. With the price range, you are probably limited to TN Film panels still, but perhaps some of the 8ms and 12ms models might be a little more suited, especially in movie playback. If you're not a major gamer then it might be shame to settle for the sacrfices that the heavily overdriven models make....

If you could extend the price range a little, you could even look at some of the excellent all round models like those based on other panel technologies. Models like the Viewsonic VP930, Belinea 101920 (8ms edition - might even be in your price range) and maybe even the Belinea 102035W might be good choices, without really stretching too much,. These are all based on P-MVA panels, and offer much wider viewing angles, deeper black depth, smoother movie playback and better colour reproduction. They are still responsive when it comes to gaming, just a little behind the top 3ms and 2ms models out there. These are much more all rounded, so if you are wanting this type of performance, these would be good choices imo.

Rincewind · 4 Apr 2006 at 14:44

I was looking at the SM940 as well, surely the overdrive can be turned down? or am i getting the wrong end of the stick, also, how on earth would you be able to have a monitor running at 500Hz, or don't they work like that either? sorry i'm confused... -Dan

Baddass · 5 Apr 2006 at 19:45

Overdrive is not a user controlled feature really. It's a technolgy used at the panel level which effects the way in which voltage is applied to the liquid crystals. It is in effect like overvolting them to force them into their new orientation faster. As such, you can't turn it down

the refresh rate for a TFT as far as Windows is concerned is 60Hz (optimum recommended refresh rate). When we are talking about response times, we are referring only to the speed at which a pixel can respond (in milliseconds) to a reorientation to change the colour / shade it displays. hope that helps

zXen · 6 Apr 2006 at 13:22

I may put off getting one for a while now, most LCD's seem to be good at one thing, but bad at another. Also, if one review praises a certain screen, a lot of the time there is another that completely contradicts the other.
I may just stick with my CRT for another year or so.

Baddass · 7 Apr 2006 at 18:27

TFT's certainly aren;t to everyone's tastes, maybe you need to see if you can try one out to see what you think. If you want a more all round TFT you'd probably be looking at something more expensive at present