Tips for Buying a PC monitor

[jonathan1107]

Hi guys.

I currently own a ASUS 24inch VE248H 1080p monitor. I'm quite satisfied with it up to now. But recently I purchased a PLASMA tv (panasonic ST60) and God is the image quality insane on that TV...

I've discovered that I REALLY like the depth of the blacks on a plasma display as well as the color palette... Not to mention how movement goes on a display like that...

It's gotten me so impressed I've started to wonder if there's such a thing as a PC monitor with the advantages of PLASMA display... Or at least PC monitors that have better blacks (glossy screen I guess...)

So yeah, I'd like to know if anyone here would have a good recommendation for a monitor upgrade for me. I don't intend to go shopping for 4k monitors... they're still quite too expensive... and 4k technology is not yet optimized to my liking for me to be remotly tempted by them 4k monitors.
http://www.google.ca/url?sa=t&rct=j...0SZBRBnIjLEySSjQA&sig2=QPLZaWXwtxGTPKmOOvsnOQ

 

[fusionblu]

You may want to check out the more expensive displays meant for professional photo editing purposes and the brand that comes to mind is Eizo, but I knowledge of these types of displays isn't good so my choice is probably amateur in comparison to those who are more aware of these displays.
The particular display I am mentionioning is fairly thick which is one of the clear give away characteristics of this display.

I think Dell might do them too, but I am only certain that Dell does high quality displays with good picture quality.

I'm not aware of there being any PLASMA PC monitors and it is likely you will have to use a PLASMA TV as a monitor with a PC, and unfortunately I have no idea how well or bad a setup like this would work.
Other unfortunate knowledge I've heard is that many display manufacturers are phasing out PLASMA R&D and replacing it with 4k R&D instead which I heard of sometime ago. I think it was with Samsung.

I hope the basic knowledge I have will help a little at the very least.

 

[FreedomEclipse]

Highly Recommended

 

[64K]

Highly Recommended

I will second that. I got one about a month ago and it's made a big difference in display quality for me in gaming. I went from a 27" 1080p monitor so you might not notice as much of a difference as I did since you're going from a 24" 1080p but you will certainly notice a difference and I think it's worth the money. PLS is the Samsung equivalent of LG's IPS. Dell makes a really good 1440p IPS too but they cost more. I will say this about ASUS. I have owned ASUS monitors for a long time now and never had dead pixels or any other problem with them. If you do decide to go with the ASUS Amazon has a good sale on them.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009C3M7H0/?tag=tec06d-20

 

[TrainingDummy]

If you can afford a professional grade monitor, I would definitely recommend getting one. I upgraded from a 23" LG IPS and got myself a Dell Ultrasharp U2711 last year and I absolutely love it.

From what I've read though, ASUS has some really great bang for buck monitors

 

[SaltyFish]

You may want to check out the more expensive displays meant for professional photo editing purposes and the brand that comes to mind is Eizo, but I knowledge of these types of displays isn't good so my choice is probably amateur in comparison to those who are more aware of these displays.
The particular display I am mentionioning is fairly thick which is one of the clear give away characteristics of this display.

I think Dell might do them too, but I am only certain that Dell does high quality displays with good picture quality.

I'm not aware of there being any PLASMA PC monitors and it is likely you will have to use a PLASMA TV as a monitor with a PC, and unfortunately I have no idea how well or bad a setup like this would work.
Other unfortunate knowledge I've heard is that many display manufacturers are phasing out PLASMA R&D and replacing it with 4k R&D instead which I heard of sometime ago. I think it was with Samsung.

I hope the basic knowledge I have will help a little at the very least.

Besides Eizo, the other big name manufacturer for professional monitors is NEC. Keep in mind that such professional-grade monitors cost a lot more.

And yes, plasma screens seem to be in the process of being phased out. Reasons cited seem to be issues with the technology and its trade-offs don't seem to be as appealing compared to other display technologies: burn-in, lifespan, power consumption, etc.

 

[Aquinus]

There is a reason that you don't see Plasma TVs much smaller than 42" and that's because of the panel. You can only make a plasma so skinny because of how it works. Every pixel is a cell that contains plasma and electricity excites that cell to make it glow and the hardware to do that is more bulky, more fragile, and consumes more power than LCD TVs which I think are the biggest down sides of plasma. I have a plasma that bought 4 years ago and it still works great. Like my IPS displays, it has excellent color reproduction but unlike them, the picture is much smoother for scenes with motion. Also with respect to burn-in, there are features plasma TVs come with now to mitigate burn in such as pixel orbiting. There have been many times that my wife has left the OnDemand menu on the TV but yet there has never been any persistent burn in that hasn't gone away either naturally or using a feature in the TV to clear the screen. I personally find that the contrast ratio with plasma simply can't be beet, that's it's shining advantage.

 

[jonathan1107]

Thanks for all the good suggestions guys.

Since my job is selling TVs and Home theaters, I'm well aware off the downsides of the Plasma technology, but I must admit that at the time, I just couldn't find better looking TVs than my ST60 panasonic plasma tv... Nowadays, some 4K displays have the glossy feeling of a plasma tv as well (some sony 4k tvs have that)... so it does look like plasma will get replaced by better technologies...

But yeah, I'm just not satisfied with my (yet very good) ASUS LCD monitor which is ok, but in comparison to my TV lacks deep blacks, looks WAY too cold (I hate how LED and LCD displays look Soooo white compared to plasmas)

I'll take a look into those recommendations and find me a nice upgrade

 

[jonathan1107]

I will second that. I got one about a month ago and it's made a big difference in display quality for me in gaming. I went from a 27" 1080p monitor so you might not notice as much of a difference as I did since you're going from a 24" 1080p but you will certainly notice a difference and I think it's worth the money. PLS is the Samsung equivalent of LG's IPS. Dell makes a really good 1440p IPS too but they cost more. I will say this about ASUS. I have owned ASUS monitors for a long time now and never had dead pixels or any other problem with them. If you do decide to go with the ASUS Amazon has a good sale on them.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009C3M7H0/?tag=tec06d-20

this looks like a really good monitor, but it'S been out for a while... is there a new version of this one or a better one to consider?

EDIT:

- What about "curved monitors"
- I hear terms like IPS and TN monitors being thrown out on youtube, not sure what they mean
- Also, that ASUS monitor looks nice, but it has 5ms Input response and its a 60hz monitor as well.

 

[dr0thegreatest]

60hz monitor are pretty standard. If you talking about gaming, and you play fps then 120 hz would be something to keep in mind.

 

[v12dock]

this looks like a really good monitor, but it'S been out for a while... is there a new version of this one or a better one to consider?

EDIT:

- What about "curved monitors"
- I hear terms like IPS and TN monitors being thrown out on youtube, not sure what they mean
- Also, that ASUS monitor looks nice, but it has 5ms Input response and its a 60hz monitor as well.

http://www.tftcentral.co.uk/articles/panel_technologies.htm

This is an extremely informative article about panel technology

 

[jonathan1107]

OH and I wanted to say thank you for your suggestions, but I really want to make sure I'm switching for a 24 inch or 23 inch display... 27 inch from where I'm sitting is way too big.

Any good recommandations for a glossy or semi glossy monitor (23 or 24inch) ??

 

[FreedomEclipse]

OH and I wanted to say thank you for your suggestions, but I really want to make sure I'm switching for a 24 inch or 23 inch display... 27 inch from where I'm sitting is way too big.

Any good recommandations for a glossy or semi glossy monitor (23 or 24inch) ??

Dell 23 or 24" ultrasharps are amazing bang for buck. GREAT monitors - cadaveca has 2 or 3 of them and quite a few members here also have them or have used them. Have heard nothing but positive feedback about them

 

[rtwjunkie]

OH and I wanted to say thank you for your suggestions, but I really want to make sure I'm switching for a 24 inch or 23 inch display... 27 inch from where I'm sitting is way too big.

Any good recommandations for a glossy or semi glossy monitor (23 or 24inch) ??

If you're willing to go up one more inch, this is the one my Fiance' got last month:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824276020

The color, vibrancy and consistency of this IPS monitor is just AMAZING! The glossy glass covered screen really makes it "pop." And it plays games with no lag or ghosting. We got it on sale for $159.00 last month, so couldn't pass it up!

Edit, I've got an HP monitor too, although not IPS, and I've become very impressed with them as a monitor producer.

 

[jonathan1107]

Dell 23 or 24" ultrasharps are amazing bang for buck. GREAT monitors - cadaveca has 2 or 3 of them and quite a few members here also have them or have used them. Have heard nothing but positive feedback about them

are those glossy, semi glossy or matte ?

 

[FreedomEclipse]

Glossy

 

[jonathan1107]

how much res is that dell ultra sharp monitor?
can u shoot me a link real quick?

 

[FreedomEclipse]

http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/productdetail.aspx?c=us&cs=04&l=en&sku=860-BBCG

 

[jonathan1107]

http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/productdetail.aspx?c=us&cs=04&l=en&sku=860-BBCG

I did a lot of research on the web, and apart from me losing 1 inch, this monitor seems to be a little better than the dell ultra sharp
ASUS VG23AH

Better colors, speakers, 2x hdmi etc...

 

[Easy Rhino]

Highly Recommended

 

[FreedomEclipse]

that Asus doesnt look to bad either.

 

[jonathan1107]

is there such a thing as a perfect monitor?

- Glossy Screen
- Deep Colors and blacks
- 120hz+ refesh rate
- supports 3D gaming?

the ones we've found up to now are all 60hz although they do have a kickazz image quality

 

[SaltyFish]

is there such a thing as a perfect monitor?

- Glossy Screen
- Deep Colors and blacks
- 120hz+ refesh rate
- supports 3D gaming?

the ones we've found up to now are all 60hz although they do have a kickazz image quality

http://www.blurbusters.com/faq/120hz-monitors/#specialty
Those two (the VIEWPixx Scientific Display and the Eizo FDF2405W) are probably the closest things available at the moment. However, this SED/FED thing looks promising.

 

[jonathan1107]

http://www.blurbusters.com/faq/120hz-monitors/#specialty
Those two (the VIEWPixx Scientific Display and the Eizo FDF2405W) are probably the closest things available at the moment. However, this SED/FED thing looks promising.

nice stuff indeed. I'm browsing through em right now. Hard to find their prices tho

 

[SaltyFish]

nice stuff indeed. I'm browsing through em right now. Hard to find their prices tho

They're, uh, "specialty" monitors. The VIEWPixx is marketed towards use in vision research while the EIZO is intended for satellite images. If I recall correctly, prices for those start at upper four-digits USD. For something more consumer oriented, EIZO also makes the Foris FG2421 based off the FDF2405W for about 600 USD. But there seems to be quality control issues with it or something. Other than that, maybe try a high end CRT?