Tft Monitors (nlc)

[Sol]

Completely non car related, but I wounder if some of you IT guys could help. Basically, Im running with a 19inch crt monitor which is pretty good quality. But, the size is an issue now and am looking to getting a TFT. 50% of its use is for development/dtp/surfing and 50% for wtching dvds/tv/high speed games.

 

My first concern is ghosting on the more high performance needs(ie Colin McRae etc) Also, I dont want it to be a step down on any aspect seeing as the crt I have is a good quality one. With a budget around £350, Im probably looking at a 17inch. Anyone here got any recommendations as I havent been keeping up with technology at all recently? Seen a Samsung 173p and the reviews are good, but about a year old, so not sure whether much has changed in the last 12 months. Even better, are there any good sites with up to date (unbiased) reviews?

 

Thanks for your help,

[ipanter]

I'm not too sure about how well the screen will display high res graphics, but i've never had any problems getting the ones i use at work to display anything. We use samsung, philips and samatron.

 

Here's a tip:-

 

If you are looking to get a samsung one, look for Samatron ones, they are made by samsung at the same factory, they come with a samsung warranty, but are about 30% cheaper.

[Wuddie]

http://graphics.tomshardware.com/display/20040609/index.html

 

have a look at that article, it tells you what kinda things to look out for, and what not to always believe. Also do a search on that site for TFT's and Response times.

The main things you need to look for are what type of Board the TFT uses, What the contrast ratio is 300:1 and less is crap you need 400:1 plus for a better display. The response time is also a good one to look for, the lower the reponse time the better, But dont always take the repsonse times as gosspil, that article above should explain more about response times.

 

I have a AG Neovo 17" tft, I do get the occasional ghosting on very high speed games but after about 10 mins you get used to it anyway.

 

HTH

[Sol]

Thanks! The article on Toms Hardware was really interesting- Ive been making a pure spec comparison, which it seems is not really the best way to judge it..The search continues

[Scott_Mac]

IIyama

[Fiona]

Some nice stuff here:

 

http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/products/in...&subcat_uid=353

 

Good site - I buy quite a bit from here.

[Sibs]

btw - I was thinking of doing a poll

 

Who here doesn't work in IT - I've noticed that most Elise drivers seem to?

[Ladders]

I dont, plus to p*ss even more people off I use a Mac!

 

PS, Sol, what you want is a nice Apple cinema display

[MattyB]

I really, really really don't understand why anyone would want a TFT unless you need the space.

 

Yes, they're coming down in price now, but for 1/2 the price of a TFT you can get a *much* better, bigger CRT. A pretty much top-of-the-line 19" CRT is about half the price of a entry level 17" TFT.

 

And the CRT doesn't suffer from optimal resolutions and has a greater display range...

[enxrjm]

The useable space of a 17" TFT is about the same as a 19" CRT, plus the TFT's are better for your eyes.

[GrahamW]

If you want to spend nearer your budget, you could get a 19" TFT from £260. The bigger the better

[MattyB]

CRT's are only bad for your eyes at low refresh rate, ie <70hz. The "good" CRT you should buy will easily support 100Hz which is more than enough. You'd be suprised at how many workstations in offices are "locked" at the default 65Hz, which really IS bad for your eyes.

 

If anything, cheap TFT's are worse. We've got some at work, and scrolling through certain pages - and the resulting ghosting, especially with light text on dark backgrounds - hurts my eyes.

 

Not sure about the size thing. A 19" CRT is a 17" screen, give or take. You do lose less with a TFT but not nearly enough to make a 17" TFT = 19" CRT

[Glennman]

Solobutt

 

I have a trusted contact i can put you

onto who sells TFT's at very competitve

prices in fact i am using one at this very

second. He generally deals in Samsungs.

Let me know via pm/E mail if your interested.

 

Glennman

[Sol]

Well! You have a point, Matty. My 19inch does what it needs, but its whether the money spent is worth the space/native resolution issues/etc..

 

For me, the monitor is possibly the most important component because of the amount of time I spend in front of it. Raw processing power is less important than RAM for me as I tend to use it for development and database stuff. The gfx card is pretty good too in my machine which helps.

 

If I get a tft, it has to be one of really good quality/reasonably priced. But I guess thats what all consumers want!

 

Also, a girl I work with who does graphic design uses a Mac with 21" tft(which looks beautiful) but I know we have huge problems with colour. Whether its a tft issue of just bad calibration, I dont know, but it does make me wary. My brother has an IIyama on order so I might wait till his arrives and see how it performs before I make a final decision.

 

Glenn, you have mail..

[Wuddie]

I really, really really don't understand why anyone would want a TFT unless you need the space.

I got mine cause i transport my machine around, have you ever tried getting a midi tower PC case and a 17" CRT in an elise!!!!!