What type of monitor do you use?

[Horrux]

I have a TN panel and it does not suck. It is pure greatness, especially for my uses as a serious gamer.

It is the 120hz Samsung 2233rz. I will be upgrading soon to the new 27" 120hz Samsung. Pure greatness, and I dare any serious gamer to compare any of these 2 monitors side by side with any IPS panel and say which one is better. You will side with the 120hz.

 

[Drone]

Other. LCD

 

[techtard]

3.5 year old LCD, TN I presume. It has gotten really dark, so I have switched back to an 18" Trinitron CRT.
It blew me away how much better everything looks on a CRT. If only it was widescreen, I'd use it until it died.
Maybe that's just because my LCD crapped out. I remember being impressed by it back when I bought it.

Will replace my dead/dying LCD with a 24" IPS when I upgrade my entire system. Any recommendations on a good 24" IPS panel?

 

[Horrux]

3.5 year old LCD, TN I presume. It has gotten really dark, so I have switched back to an 18" Trinitron CRT.
It blew me away how much better everything looks on a CRT. If only it was widescreen, I'd use it until it died.
Maybe that's just because my LCD crapped out. I remember being impressed by it back when I bought it.

Will replace my dead/dying LCD with a 24" IPS when I upgrade my entire system. Any recommendations on a good 24" IPS panel?

If you play games, you are MUCH better off with a 120hz monitor than a slooooow IPS.

 

[Robert-The-Rambler]

Could not find definitive info

Light bleed isn't a sign of the panel only, it has a lot to do with the backlight and the general build quality of the monitor. Yes, generally IPS monitors are built pretty damn good due to the price of the panel, but I've seen some shitting ones too. A single backlight IPS panel looks pretty terrible compared to a good quality TN LED panel, and suffers from some pretty terrible light bleed.

Also, not all TN panels are 6-bit, in fact most of the 6-bit panels("16.2 Million Color" panels) have faded out of the market in favor of TN panels that can do 8-bit.

And as I mentioned before, IPS panels aren't without their faults either.

Tried to find out whether the 8 bit you speak of with TN is actually 8 bit. It looks like most are saying it is still dithering but I will try to find more recent info if possible. I think it is more likely for an IPS for a variety of reasons to be a better picture.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TFT_LCD

http://hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1310083

http://www.tftcentral.co.uk/articles/content/6bit_8bit.htm

 

[BrooksyX]

Im just using an old tn viewsonic 14" TN. Definitely got my moneys worth out of it but can't justify going bigger/better yet. Probably will use this thing until it dies.

 

[Robert-The-Rambler]

Okay....

If you play games, you are MUCH better off with a 120hz monitor than a slooooow IPS.

To maintain a constant 120hz and get the most out of your PC you are going to need a beast of a PC. It also leads to more power consumption and heat running at higher FPS. So taking that aspect into account it may not be for everybody and with the latest power hungry games I would be hard pressed to find a system that can do DirectX 11 max detail or high detail at even 60 FPS much less 120 FPS. And in many games frames 61 to 120 would be wasted because it is not as visible or necessary in 2D. 120hz is really important for 3D gaming. I had the Sony 24" Trinitron CRT and that refreshed at 99hz for 1920 * 1200 and that was fast but not that much more appealing than 60hz or 80hz @ 2340 * 1440. I would rather have higher resolution IPS than lower resolution TN 120hz. (HP LP3065!!!!!)

 

[HossHuge]

I have a 27' Benq. I've had it for about a year now. A 23' Samsung (2.5 years old) and about 4 months ago I picked up a couple of used monitors for some Eyefinity action.

All of them TN panels.

Eyefinity FTW!

 

[robn]

TN here, but by no means a bad one, great pixel pitch, and a very flat no-bleed backlight. 2.5 years old. Better LCD tech exists, however I'm still hoping for OLED or similar.

 

[Horrux]

To maintain a constant 120hz and get the most out of your PC you are going to need a beast of a PC. It also leads to more power consumption and heat running at higher FPS. So taking that aspect into account it may not be for everybody and with the latest power hungry games I would be hard pressed to find a system that can do DirectX 11 max detail or high detail at even 60 FPS much less 120 FPS. And in many games frames 61 to 120 would be wasted because it is not as visible or necessary in 2D. 120hz is really important for 3D gaming. I had the Sony 24" Trinitron CRT and that refreshed at 99hz for 1920 * 1200 and that was fast but not that much more appealing than 60hz or 80hz @ 2340 * 1440. I would rather have higher resolution IPS than lower resolution TN 120hz. (HP LP3065!!!!!)

Well you are wrong in many aspects. Firstly, you don't need to maintain a constant 120fps in order to benefit from the 120hz monitor. Average 80fps and you are benefiting, and if you average 80fps in newer games, many older games will run at a constant 120fps. Let me put it this way: if you have a PC that can put out more than 60fps in any of the games you play, your display is holding back the quality of your experience as a gamer.

My PC averages at least 100fps in BFBC2 at max settings AF 16X and MSAA 8X. The silky smoothness of it has nothing in common with gaming on a 60hz display. Fluidity, reaction times, everything is enhanced. BUT YOU HAVE TO EXPERIENCE IT TO UNDERSTAND IT. That is probably the biggest problem with 120hz displays. YOU have clearly not experienced it. Frames between 60 and 90 are EXTREMELY visible, and 90 to 120 only add to the "smoothness" feel of the game, which means they ARE visible, but you might not distinguish them from the frame before or the frame after. AND THAT IS A VERY GOOD THING.

EDIT: Very nice setup, HossHuge. If I had the space, I would have 3 x 120hz displays.

 

[newtekie1]

Tried to find out whether the 8 bit you speak of with TN is actually 8 bit. It looks like most are saying it is still dithering but I will try to find more recent info if possible. I think it is more likely for an IPS for a variety of reasons to be a better picture.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TFT_LCD

http://hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1310083

http://www.tftcentral.co.uk/articles/content/6bit_8bit.htm

That depends on what you consider better picture quality. Better color reproduction? Probably. Better backlight? No not really. Bbetter responce time? Not likely. For most gamers, the responce time gives a better quality image than the color reproduction.

 

[ivicagmc]

Here are few pics made by me when I bought Dell eIPS U2311H and compared it with my friends BenQ G2420HD (very good TN, 2ms, etc)...
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/33/photo0869.jpg/
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/683/photo0871d.jpg/
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/6/photo0874c.jpg/
and this is my BenQ G2220HDA
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/26/aaarnm.jpg/
As you can see difference is quite noticeable...

 

[robn]

Here are few pics made by me when I bought Dell eIPS U2311H and compared it with my friends BenQ G2420HD (very good TN, 2ms, etc)...
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/33/photo0869.jpg/
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/683/photo0871d.jpg/
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/6/photo0874c.jpg/
and this is my BenQ G2220HDA
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/26/aaarnm.jpg/
As you can see difference is quite noticeable...

Yeah, that's the kind of subtle, but nice differences I expected. The IPS looks like it has better "gamma", I suppose from more colour bit depth. Of course I'm viewing your pics on my TN LCD, and the actual photography process would have altered things a bit too, so I don't know

 

[HossHuge]

Here are few pics made by me when I bought Dell eIPS U2311H and compared it with my friends BenQ G2420HD (very good TN, 2ms, etc)...
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/33/photo0869.jpg/
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/683/photo0871d.jpg/
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/6/photo0874c.jpg/
and this is my BenQ G2220HDA
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/26/aaarnm.jpg/
As you can see difference is quite noticeable...

You are right that the picture looks better but what if the object is moving? And you are comparing two monitors that are not even close to the same price point according to Amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003QTKV9W/?tag=tec06d-20

http://www.amazon.co_uk/dp/B002M1FH2Q/?tag=tec053-21

 

[ensabrenoir]

phillips 42" lcd tv 1080i
Asus vh236h 23" tft 2ms gtg

 

[ivicagmc]

You are right that the picture looks better but what if the object is moving? And you are comparing two monitors that are not even close to the same price point according to Amazon.

In my country Dell Costs around 180€, and BenQ 150€... Dell U2311H has almost no input lag, and I didn't notice any difference when playing games. In any case, small difference in response time doesn't justify very big difference in picture quality, not anymore... However there is one drawback that I noticed lately. Quality control is decreasing. There is a lot of faulty IPS panels. I had to replace mine first with one that I have now. There are other eIPS panels (LG makes them) from LG, Viewsonic, etc. Dell has best price because they moved to China, hence the lack of quality control...

 

[Nick259]

I have a TN panel. LG W2361V-PF. I bought it at the start of this year and i'm pretty happy with it.

 

[AhokZYashA]

PVA panel user, a Samsung 37A450 37" 1366x768 LCD panel,
its very good, and no contrast and color change at 178/178 viewing angle.

 

[CDdude55]

I'm not sure cause i don't know enough about monitors.

But have an ASUS 23'' 1920x1080 monitor. I guess it's TN cause it seems to be the most common in this thread.

 

[Robert-The-Rambler]

Here is what I want from a monitor

That depends on what you consider better picture quality. Better color reproduction? Probably. Better backlight? No not really. Bbetter responce time? Not likely. For most gamers, the responce time gives a better quality image than the color reproduction.

I have a dream.......

To have a monitor with perfect color reproduction, instant response time, a wonderfully uniform picture and decent power consumption. Oh, that is Plasma but I digress......

I value an ultra uniform backlight and better black levels because I like to game in a pitch black setting. I like bloody games with crazy explosions so I want the utmost accurate color reproduction. Maybe I'm a pyromaniac but I want fire to look just like fire. Since I game in the dark I am very sensitive to blotch vision.

All that really matters is you get the monitor that is right for you. Maybe this thread can clear up what the differences are between the various monitors.

I think with response time there is a point where it is less visible especially with the from black performance. I've seen too slow and I've seen fast enough and I've seen Plasma which for me is a pipe dream for PC gaming. I swear I played Dirt 2 and it seems like I was playing the game in hyperactive mode. It just seemed to move so fast. I stopped playing on the 50" Plasma because it isn't mine and I'm paranoid about image retention.

 

[MilkyWay]

A good IPS display is like a good mechanical keyboard, once you try one its hard to go back.

My monitor is just a normal Samsung SyncMaster 2253LW (TN) good for the price i paid at the time and it was my first 16:10 panel. Recently considered getting a 19:9 LED IPS as i cant afford a great monitor. Lots of crappy IPS have light bleed and problems with motion but just look and research what you want and you should be good.

EDIT: Gaming in the dark is bad because it strains the eyes.
I thought that plasma still uses more power than LCD.

 

[Black Haru]

I can definitely say that I would take a good 120hz TN over a good IPS. I don't notice colors or details too much in the midst of gaming (unless I am specifically oggling a games graphics) I do notice FPS changes. there is such a major difference that it is like night and day.

it all comes down to preference.

 

[HammerON]

Dell Ultrasharp U3011. Specs state it is a IPS.
I also have a HannsG 22" and a ASUS 24" - not sure what they are. I am in the same boat as CDdude55 and really don't know that much about monitors. I will say that I absolutely love this 30" Dell - everything looks freak'n awesome!

EDIT:
Just checked out this link to educate myself a little bit:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TFT_LCD

 

[Robert-The-Rambler]

Plasma does use more power

A good IPS display is like a good mechanical keyboard, once you try one its hard to go back.

My monitor is just a normal Samsung SyncMaster 2253LW (TN) good for the price i paid at the time and it was my first 16:10 panel. Recently considered getting a 19:9 LED IPS as i cant afford a great monitor. Lots of crappy IPS have light bleed and problems with motion but just look and research what you want and you should be good.

EDIT: Gaming in the dark is bad because it strains the eyes.
I thought that plasma still uses more power than LCD.

How much more is where it gets more complicated.

http://www.techlicious.com/blog/lcd-vs-plasma-what-are-their-true-energy-costs/#

 

[Tatty_Two]

28 inch TN @ 1900 x 1200, had it 2 1/2 years paid about £270.