To LCD or to not LCD?

[Sa3atsky]

Okay, I'm on the verge of completing my total system rejuvenation until I came to the realization that my old 17" Gateway CRT just cant cut the pastrami!
So I was thinking of getting a new monitor and I did all these readings about CRT's and LCD's, I think this post is gonna be useful for anybody wanting to update his current display..

Why I choose LCD:

• They look really good, slim, weight little, cool colors (stylish silver and black)
• Anything bigger than 15".. so 17" and 19" area all good ..
• Brightness, theyre really bright.. The main reason I'm updating is that my monitor doesnt deliver in the brightness department
• No magnetic interferance from my speakers
• No refresh rates - no headaches

What I want from my LCD:

• Response time - Im a gamer!! and im gonna watch some movies here and there so I need the BEST POSSIBLE RESPONSE TIME.. Right now I'm reading the best response times LCDs deliver nowadays is 12ms, which I hear is really good enough.. Also, I read that ViewSonic and BenQ are going to introduce LCDs with 8ms response time in 1Q 05.. I think if youre a gamer the most important factor to look at when buying an LCD is Response time
• Wide Angle of view so that my friends can see what I'm doing from the side
• Color Accuracy.. It doesnt have to be a 100000% accurate, but hey.. The colors should fit fine.. I do photoediting from time to time and I hear LCDs lack here
• Color Purity, pictures and games should be strikingly vivid and beautiful, you know what I'm talkin about.
• Clarity: text clarity for reading, really small dot pixel so that everything looks crisp and perfect
• GREAT contrast that separates the white and the black yin and yang style
• Lasts long, no dead pixels for at least 5 years

What I need to look at before buying the LCD:

• Viewing Angle (H/V): 160/140 degrees or more
• Interface: Analog, Digital (If your videocard supports it, like my 9800pro always go digital) I hear there are different types of DVI (digital inputs). Could somebody explain in detail whats best to be looking for?
• Max/Native Resolution: 1280x1024 - This is a very IMPORTANT thing people seem to overlook, and the main reason making me discouraged about getting an LCD.. I like my desktop to be 1280x1024 and like playing games like Battlefield 1942, Wolfenstein etc. at 1600x1200 resolutions.. Say I have to sacrifice that - but how am I sure my 3dcard will run games like Doom3 and Farcry on my native resolution playably? Wouldnt wanna play games at 1024x768 on the LCD and lose all the quality!!
• Contrast ratio 250:1 or more!
• Brightness 250cd/m or more!
• Dot Pitch .264 or less!
• Response time 12ms to 8ms or less!

So:
What Ive gotten to learn so far is that:
I need ZERO ghosting and trailing effects.. I'm looking for 12ms response time... or even the upcoming 8ms!
I have to be all thumbs up Desktop-wise and Gaming-wise with the Native Resolution coz once you got the LCD theres no looking back..

Sorry for the REALLY long post but what do you guys think? What are the candidates for the LCD?
Thanks for reading, expecting your expert replies any second now, my eyes are all peeled on my crap soon-to-be-replaced Gateway CRT

 

[gingo]

I've owned my NEC 17" LCD for over a year now and I dont see myself going back to a CRT. My LCD has a 16ms response time so I dont get much ghosting, but I can notice a little bit everynow and then, but it doesn't bother me at all. Having an LCD has greatly reduced the eye strain I have had with my previous CRT's even at high refresh rates.
Also my desk has very limited space so it is nice to have something slim.
Colors look excellent to me and I love the brightness of it.

 

[Section8]

I need ZERO ghosting and trailing effects.. I'm looking for 12ms response time... or even the upcoming 8ms!

No LCD is as good as a good CRT yet. I have played with them all and I still can see ghosting on the best of the best LCD's. There is going to be a change in technology right around the corner that will allow for 0 Ghosting with a totally new technology but it isn't quite commercial yet. I am anal and I run an LCD and a CRT and I just can't let go of the CRT for gaming quite yet. It just performs better than my LCD or any LCD I have tried to date.

 

[Sa3atsky]

I've owned my NEC 17" LCD for over a year now and I dont see myself going back to a CRT. My LCD has a 16ms response time so I dont get much ghosting, but I can notice a little bit everynow and then, but it doesn't bother me at all. Having an LCD has greatly reduced the eye strain I have had with my previous CRT's even at high refresh rates.
Also my desk has very limited space so it is nice to have something slim.
Colors look excellent to me and I love the brightness of it.

Youre absolutely right.. But from what youre saying I think I should go below 16ms, 12ms and below is for me

I need ZERO ghosting and trailing effects.. I'm looking for 12ms response time... or even the upcoming 8ms!

No LCD is as good as a good CRT yet. I have played with them all and I still can see ghosting on the best of the best LCD's. There is going to be a change in technology right around the corner that will allow for 0 Ghosting with a totally new technology but it isn't quite commercial yet. I am anal and I run an LCD and a CRT and I just can't let go of the CRT for gaming quite yet. It just performs better than my LCD or any LCD I have tried to date.

When I meant zero ghosting I was sorta exaggerating.. The lower the ms the better. From my reads I think 16ms would pretty good.. and 12ms\8ms would be just better and better..

But I'm still looking at the possibility of getting myself a new CRT instead of LCD

 

[Jizzzared]

I have a Planar PX171M and haven't noticed and ghosting issues. It has 16ms response time with dvi inputs. Nice monitor.

 

[Free_Loader]

I just purchased a Samsung 712N it is 24bit colour, 600:1 contrast ratio,12ms response, and 300 brightness. This is the monitor you have been asking about. Samsung have the best looking LCDs on the market. This one is very resonable in price $370.00, I had Fry's price match CompUSA and I still qualified for the $30.00 mail in rebate.

 

[Sa3atsky]

I just purchased a Samsung 712N it is 24bit colour, 600:1 contrast ratio,12ms response, and 300 brightness. This is the monitor you have been asking about. Samsung have the best looking LCDs on the market. This one is very resonable in price $370.00, I had Fry's price match CompUSA and I still qualified for the $30.00 mail in rebate.

Wow! The price is beautiful but I checked about it and it only lacks a DVI input, which I read I can get the 710T instead (same specs but with DVI )
I still cant get over the price

What else brands are there? Is there a really good 19" LCD in the $500 range?

 

[Terminat.]

NECs.

The Samsungs are good, but the NEC 17” is reputed to be the best. It’s highly rated in several magazines, including Computer Shopper I think.

It's $389 with DVI input.

http://www.dealtime.com/xPO-NEC_MultiSync_LCD1760NX_17_in

 

[Recursion]

I had the 710T the supposed best LCD on the market with 12 ms response times and It sucked, No ghosting but alot of blurring which is the same as ghosting to me

 

[JoT]

What resolution were you using?

 

[Mr.Guvernment]

lower response time has not alwasy shown to be better - some 16ms LCD"s are better then 12ms ones - sicne 12ms is such a new technology so to say.

 

[Sa3atsky]

Hmm.. the dead pixels thing seems to be a problem.. Lets add in the "things to consider when buying an LCD" list:
Its better if you personally check out the LCD before buying it beforehand

So it looks like I'm gonna go shopping.. and it has to be 12ms.. Would 8ms be a big difference?

 

[Recursion]

What resolution were you using?

the Monitors native resolution in 1280x1024

 

[Free_Loader]

Just spend $1000 you will get the best of everything....ahahah

 

[Sa3atsky]

1 grand is way too much.. Id rather get a CRT and the upcoming X800xt 512mb !! thatd blow all your systems AWAY