Help with choosing a monitor

[Nightwatch]

Hey Guys,

While the monitor that has been been a good friend to me for the last 5 years has started to show sign of "change me now" I have been offered a nicely-discounted ASUS 22"VW222U with specs of: 2 ms, DVI/VGA, 1680x1050, 2000:1.

Theer are mixed reviews on the internet and couldn't find one on one of the trustable sites, other than those that might be written by rivals or ASUS personel.

So I wonder if anyone has an insight view and knowledge about this monitor and can advise if I should buy it before throwing the money at it, even though it comes with a discount?

Also is there any other monitors in that range that is more recommendable?

Thanks guys.

[rockingmtranch]

All I know about monitors you could fit in an empty .22 shell casing. I did however purchase this on Black Friday and love it:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6824001310

My old monitor was a 21in NEC CRT that did a great job at keeping the room warm.

[Nightwatch]

heh he My Sony CRT is also keeping the room warm. Samsungs are selling quite a lot as it seems. I had been considering a Samsung before I was presented with the offer of an ASUS one.

[EggChen]

I cannot help you here buddy, I too am using a CRT, I think the image quality and refresh rate win hands down. Plus (in winter) the extra heat is welcome!!

I am tempted by widescreen gaming, and have had a casual look at a few Samsung monitors. The main reason, is the no dead pixel guarantee you get with them. Asus also have good reviews though.

[Nightwatch]

I didn't know that Samsung was giving a no dead pixel guarantee. I'm running my CRT with 75 Hz rate, am correct assuming that the LCD displays offer only 60 Hz?

I found some contradictory statements about ASUS on the internet, and noticed that I don't have much knowledge on LCD monitors actually.

[EggChen]

I don't have much knowledge either!!

An issue of PCGamer reviewed a few monitors, perhaps six months ago now. When they do a review they also provide background information on the various technologies, and future proofing, etc. They mentioned that only Samsung guarantee no dead pixels, so you can return the monitor if it has one. Other manufacturers adhere to a "anything less than 4 dead is OK" policy!!

Of course, from what I understand this is less of a problem nowadays, as improved technology means dead pixels are less common. However if your unlucky enough to get one, it seems like most manufacturers are covered for that eventuality!!

[Nightwatch]

Thanks EggChen I will also check the PCGamer as you refer to. This ASUS monitor is on offer with a nice discount, but if it's not that good, I may continue to use my current old CRT until I find a better alternative.
This one has started shifting the lines, a bit quite slightly now but these are the signs that telling me that I need to start shop around to find the best deal before it's too late.

[rockingmtranch]

The only refresh rates available, or showing on Nvidia panel, are 59 and 60 Hz.

[ket]

If its a good price in comparision to other equivilent sized monitors, go for it. Asus monitors are not the best quality, but they are above average and are reasonable. You also get a longer warrenty with an Asus over a lot of other manufacturers - should be at least 3 years.

[Nightwatch]

Thanks rockingmtranch, so it confirms my guess that LCD monitors don't go over 60 Hz. Well, comparing my old CRT that currently does 75 Hz (with potential to do more) is a step backwards, but everthing nowadays are LCD I guess, and I'd apprecaire a wide screen also. Are you happy with your LCD 's color saturation and all?

Yes, thanks Ket, I was afraid of that ASUS is not amongs the best in LCD screen tech, despite they are top in other areas. They're not TFT I guess? I need a monitor that gives a very good colour performance (right terminology? ) / colour saturation. What's ASUS's position when compared with Samsungs?
How about Ilyama? Are they any good?
I think I might be able to move the discounted offer towards Ilyama as well.

[rockingmtranch]

I am head over heels happy with this monitor over my CRT to be quite honest. Visually, well, stunning.

[Nightwatch]

I am head over heels happy with this monitor over my CRT to be quite honest. Visually, well, stunning.

So, no loss when changing from CRT to LCD? That's good to know, it means LCDs are improving very nicely.

Opinions on Samsung, Ilyama and ASUS comparisons?

[ket]

Yes, thanks Ket, I was afraid of that ASUS is not amongs the best in LCD screen tech, despite they are top in other areas. They're not TFT I guess? I need a monitor that gives a very good colour performance (right terminology? ) / colour saturation. What's ASUS's position when compared with Samsungs?
How about Ilyama? Are they any good?
I think I might be able to move the discounted offer towards Ilyama as well.

Asus generally keep pace quite well, I can't comment on illyama apart from a lot tend to have dead pixels and illyama won't RMA the monitor unless there is something stupid like 10+ dead pixels, Asus on the other hand, even one dead pixel they will RMA. On the ratios front, it all of course depends on the model but for example a Samsung could have a 1000:1, where an Asus of similar spec would be around 800\900:1. Generally as long as the monitor has a good response time (2\5ms) it should perform exceptionally well.

[Nightwatch]

Thanks, so I drop Ilyama from the possible contenters to ASUS list like a bag of potatoes.
I'm always warry of manufacturers who don't sown good interest in their customers' problems, if any were to arise.

I've heard that ASUS uses (this model at least) TN panels (whatever that may be) and that it's supposed to be inferior to S-IPS or MVA type panels (on which I have no idea as well), is any of those anything to do with being TFT as well or not? I notice now, as currently a CRT user, I have absolutely no idea about LCD monitors (apart from knowing what LCD is, of course )

[ket]

Don't quote me on this as monitors aren't my main "thing" with PCs, but I think the only real difference between a LCD and TFT is that a typical active TFT panel is made up of nearly 2.5 million transistors (commonly known as small 3 legged lumps of silicon found in TV's and most other electronics) eccept in this case, the transistors are etched onto glass, to microscopic precision, hence the name "Thin Film Transistor". A normal LCD has two layers of glass, one with rows, one with columns, this makes up a grid that can be referenced to control each pixel. The control is done with an IC (integrated circuit or silicon chip) on the LCD's circuit board. TFT's tend to be quicker ( response time) and nicer to look at in general.

[Nightwatch]

Great, I'm getting a bit more up to date with reading each new post.

[ket]

LCDs and TFTs are basicall the same thing, their both based on more or less the same principles, just implemented slightly differently, heres a good value, quality LCD so you have some kind of base

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/128036

or

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/152548#

[Nightwatch]

Yes, that samsung looks quite attractive, I mean not by its looks only If I continue to have second thoughts about that ASUS one(though I haven't seen any bad comments yet apart from one review only) I might go for this Samsung. If I can manage, I may wait for after Christmas period though, as I heard that -while browsing internet on monitors- monitor LCD display prices are going down significantly due to new improvements in manufacturing and after Christmas many shops are going to offer further sales, anyway.

[ket]

Thats my plan too Haven't decided if I'll be getting a Wolfdale E8x00 or a new monitor yet though. Who knows with the current situation come just after christmas things may even be cheap enough to do both