Please help! Glossy screen monitor with hdmi

leeh1971 · 19 May 2011 at 22:42

Hello everyone,

I'm new to the forum. I was hoping to get some advice, because I’m at my wits end!! I'm looking for a pc monitor, ideally between 22 - 26", with a full glossy screen display and an HDMI input. I've been browsing the net now for the last month and I’ve come up with nothing! I know HP do a Brightview range, but i can't find one with a HDMI input here in the UK.I've also looked up ASUS Color Brite, i think they only do one current model and it's a 22" screen....a little small really. I've also looked up a few other manufacturers, but to no avail!

I just don't understand why the major players. i.e. - Samsung, LG, Phillips etc do not produce a line of glossy displays and the few makers who do, (HP, ASUS, Acer, Benq) don't advertise them in any distinctive way so you know what you're ordering, cause I’ll more than likely buy online, i mean who buys anything form PC World stores anymore?! I'm even considering buying one from the USA and shipping it over, HP model 2511x from Amazon.com but I’m worried about the warranty, scope for accidental damage during transit and the power rating, AC supply etc. I can't win, it seems the monitors made for the American market are of a much better specification £ for £. In HP's case the UK site is frankly crap! I found one monitor under the business section that had a HDMI, no gloss screen and it cost about £400!! and that was it as far as HDMI inputs were concerned.

Can anyone please, please help. Is there anyone out there who knows of a list of monitors, new models i.e. 2011 that match my criteria? I didn’t realise glossy screens were so thin on the ground. I know the argument for matte over gloss regarding reflection issues, but where my setup is situated it's just not an issue....diffuse light, blinds no facing window. I think gloss displays far excel matte in colour and contrast; also they look far more sophisticated and expensive :-)

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Please help!! I intend purchasing very soon.

cmndr_andi · 19 May 2011 at 22:53

If you really need an HDMI input, why not get a DVI monitor that fulfils your other requirements and just use a cable like this or an adapter?

Since DVI and HDMI video signals are the same then there is no video quality loss using an adapter like this - it just swaps around the pin connections.

leeh1971 · 20 May 2011 at 00:03

cmndr_andi said:
If you really need an HDMI input, why not get a DVI monitor that fulfils your other requirements and just use a cable like this or an adapter?

Since DVI and HDMI video signals are the same then there is no video quality loss using an adapter like this - it just swaps around the pin connections.

Yea, I'd though of this, it's just my graphics card,(XFX HD Radeon 6950 xxx) has a hdmi output and i would have liked to connect directly to the monitor with this connection. I'm not really sure how much difference there would be connecting by DVI? someone informed me hdmi takes care of the sound too? It would be far easier to find a glossy screened monitor without hdmi....there are a few HP models readily available here in the UK. I just dont understand why most of the UK range of HP glossy monitors dont include a hdmi input and nearly all the US market ones do!! It's really frustrating :mad:

cmndr_andi · 20 May 2011 at 00:12

Unless you really need sound output from your monitor - then there is no difference between a DVI and HDMI connection (in terms of image quality). Most people hook their speakers up to their PC's sound card (or motherboard onboard sound card).

Your 6950 looks like it has two separate DVI outputs - so there really isn't any reason to use HDMI unless you really need sound to run through your monitor for some reason.

As for the lack of HDMI ports on professional monitors - HDMI is often seen as a more "entertainment" type connection since it's what used by games consoles and set-top boxes. While DVI is a more universal connection for computers (especially older computers without HDMI ports), it also offers the same image quality and higher bandwidth (in dual-link configuration) than HDMI and doesn't have the same issues with scaling often encountered with HDMI connections and PC monitors/TVs.

May I ask what you are mainly using the monitor for? I'm guessing something to do with image editing.

leeh1971 · 20 May 2011 at 03:01

Yes. I intend the monitor for all round general use with a emphasis on gaming. No photo editing or the like, although i do use photoshop occasionally.

To be honest i've just built my pc, the first in quite a few years and i haven't kept abreast on new technology....there seems to be so many choices these days! I bought a good graphics card because i'm quite keen on gaming and thought with it having a hdmi connection, this would be the best route for a new monitor? But after what you said, i'm not too sure, it seems like very good advice, i suppose i wouldn't be loosing anything by connecting through dvi, my seperate speakers are directly connected to the motherboard, so sound's not really a issue. I know this sounds a little shallow, but the glossy display was a more important consideration than a hdmi input. I've just always prefered glossy screens to matte, where my pc is situated, reflected light and glare are not really a problem. I just think colour, sharpness and detail are far more apparent on glossy diplays....a personal thing i think!

I'm really greatful for the advice and i think you've help me make my mind up....I'll more than likely route for HP, probably one of the LED models with Brightview screen, i'm beginning to think the hdmi connection isn't that inportant. I think i was just focusing on the hdmi connection because of the option on the graphics card.

Thankyou again for all the advice

cmndr_andi · 20 May 2011 at 03:35

If you like glossy displays and are mainly gaming then I would suggets having a look at this 120Hz ASUS monitor. It is very responsive and the 120Hz refresh rate will help PC games feel nice and smooth - it also uses a glossy panel. It also comes with a HDMI connection, however I would not suggest using it for your primary PC as HDMI doesn't have enough bandwidth to drive a 1080p signal at 120Hz, hence you really want to use the dual-link DVI connection to your graphics card. Here is a review of this ASUS monitor.

If you want to push the boat out this monitor has a glossy (glass covered) screen, is 27in across, uses a high quality H-IPS panel, massive 2560x1440 resolution and is great for gaming. Have a look at this review. However, I must warn you that quite a few of the people who bought the first batch of these had issues with a small number of specks of dust trapped between the glass and the panel (more info in this thread).

leeh1971 · 20 May 2011 at 04:27

Thank you very much for the suggestions. The Hazro monitor looks superb! Glass coverings are a great idea, like the Apple monitors i suppose. The Asus model looks nice, is there a specific letter or number in the Asus range that denotes glossy displays? I know they do a range, possibly Color Bright?? I could only find one Asus VH242c, which is no longer available, and probably never was in the UK? I like the look of the Asus VG236HE, but i suspect the price is high due to the Nvidia 3D bundled software, which i'll probably never use. But the monitor itself is real nice. Thanks again Lee H.

cmndr_andi · 20 May 2011 at 07:30

I'm not sure what the codes are for the asus glossy monitors are, but that 120hz one sure is nice- quite a few folks on these forums have one and they are very happy with it. The price of that one I linked to on the ocuk shop actually doesn't include any nvidia 3D stuff (although it is compatible with it if you want to buy it in the future, and use an nvidia card), the price is higher due to the use of a 120hz panel- which helps make 2D gaming smoother and can be fully utilised even if you have an AMD card.

klaus · 20 May 2011 at 09:25

cmndr_andi said:
However, I must warn you that quite a few of the people who bought the first batch of these had issues with a small number of specks of dust trapped between the glass and the panel….

I suppose that I have been lucky, but I can tall you that the Hazro HZ27WA that I have bought a week ago is stunning, and has no pixel defects, and I have not found any dust behind the glass (only 2 very small specs behind the panel, in one corner, hardly visible, and no problem at all). And it has en excellent price.

Cheers - Klaus

leeh1971 · 21 May 2011 at 19:38

Just out of interest how much was the Hazro HZ27WA? if you don't mind me asking. They don't seem to be too readily available in the UK. I've seen one advertised for around £500, would this be a fair price.

Thanks Lee H.

cmndr_andi · 21 May 2011 at 19:43

I believe you can only buy the Hazro 27in monitors in the UK from OCUK. Have a look here for the new prices.

I believe the non-glass ones still use a glossy coating and shouldn't suffer from dust issues that have affected some of the glass ones.

Also, unless you need the scaler I would suggest going with the excellently priced (£375) WC model.

klaus · 21 May 2011 at 20:02

leeh1971 said:
Just out of interest how much was the Hazro HZ27WA? if you don't mind me asking. They don't seem to be too readily available in the UK. I've seen one advertised for around £500, would this be a fair price.

It was 409,99 pounds without VAT, with free shipping to Spain, ordered from www.hazro.com .

For clients in the UK it is sold by overclockers.uk

Cheers - Klaus

leeh1971 · 21 May 2011 at 20:32

Thanks Klaus. Do you think it's worth it?

klaus · 21 May 2011 at 20:39

leeh1971 said:
Thanks Klaus. Do you think it's worth it?

Yes. I am happy with it, and the price is good. Only alternatives are the Dell or Fujitsu 27" hi-res models, and they are more expensive, and have that aggressive anti-glare coating that I didn't want to suffer. Samsung SA850 might be an alternative in the future. Nothing known about its price.

Cheers - Klaus