Spec me a 24" screen

Guest2 · 29 May 2009 at 23:04

I have had my 19" Acer AL1916W for a few years now and would like to upgrade soon as its had good innings at 4 years or so. I dont really game much, mainly desktop stuff like net browsing and watching DVDs. I do play some games, crysis a couple of times and trackmania

I dont understand all the contrast ratio and response time info. There is a dell on ocuk that has a 1:1000,000 contrast ratio whilst others are 20,000 for the same price. Dont know what PVA or other things mean either.

My screen has got a green line that is just visible at the top of the screen and it looks like it is running (or bleeding as it may be called?)

Wanting to spend less rather than more but would like a mid range screen. I dont mind second hand but have never bought a second hand screen before

manic111 · 30 May 2009 at 00:40

The NEC 24WMGX3 is, from the sound of things, king of screens for multimedia. While its colour reproduction is not totally perfect, it's pretty close, and is only bettered by a few IPS screens; it more than makes up for this in its lack of input lag.

Ignore contrast ratios, those quoted nowadays are based on "dynamic" contrast ratio, which isn't to do with much more than the backlight setting.

There are 3 types of panel. TN is the cheapest, and tends to have minimal input lag, but relatively poor colour reproduction, poor viewing angles, and is 6bit rather than 8bit.

VA screens (of which the NEC is one) are somewhere in the middle. Like IPS, they have 8bit colour, displaying 16,777,216 colours, rather than the 6bit TN panels which only display 262,144 colours, and employ dithering to give the impression of displaying more, leading to considerably poorer picture quality. VA screens tend to have slightly slower response times than TN screens, but better than IPS screens (to the best of my knowledge).

IPS screens are the top end , with nigh on perfect colour reproduction. With the exception of a couple of screens, though (the BenQ and the HP to the best of my knowledge), input lag makes gaming in particular somewhat poor on these (and even the 2 listed aren't as good as the NEC.)

To put it simply, if you are looking for a top drawer multimedia screen at the moment buy the NEC...if you can't afford it, see if you can get one second hand (although OcUK's prices are considerably lower than anywhere else's at the moment anyway), or in the OcUK clearance section, where I believe they currently go for about £315.

If you can't afford that, have a look at the Sammy SM2433BW, which is meant to be one of the better TNs around.

That said, if I was after a new screen and couldn't afford the NEC I'd give serious consideration to dropping a couple of inches and getting the Dell 2209WA, which is, by all accounts, the best "budget" screen out there at the moment.

doiks14 · 30 May 2009 at 01:37

Looks like my dreams of owning a NEC 24WMGX3 has been pretty much shattered... -_-'
I just don't see them going on clearance anymore... I would buy it if it goes down close to £300 (although I can't buy anything till August).

Anyways, The NEC 24WMGX3 is pretty much imo the best overall performing monitor in the planet right now. If you have the cash, go for it.

I would also personally go for the Dell 2209WA, as it competes in the 22'' market as much as the NEC 24WMGX3 does in 24''.

Guest2 · 30 May 2009 at 09:35

thanks manic. That was one of the most complete, details answers ive ever seen. So the NEC looks like king of multimedia 24"ers. I dont £350 at the moment but when i do and if i could sell my screen for a bit then hopefully soon

All the 24" screens on OcUK have a 5 star rating apart from 2 that have no stars at all. very helpful star rating system they have! :confused:

Stanman67 · 30 May 2009 at 11:23

I have a dell S2409W on order will tell you what its like but got good reviews from ither forum members, changed to it from a Iilyam B2409HDS

Microwave · 30 May 2009 at 11:44

There's 2 Samsung 24" screens. I have the more basic looking one as I hate the reflective, round other one and it's amazing, really happy with it.

TaKeN · 30 May 2009 at 12:42

Have a look at the Samsung SM2433BW

Cracking screen for the money! (can be had for £200ish) . I got one last week

Steviepunk · 30 May 2009 at 13:40

Guest2, another thing to keep in mind is that almost any monitor you get is going to be great compared to the Acer you are coming from.

I have Acer AL19xx series monitors at work (which vary from 3.5 to 4.5 years old) and the difference between them and them all the new monitors I've seen is amazing (ie. the Acer isn't that good by comparison).