NewB Q's on monitors...

D

dupedd

New Member
HI there everyone, I'm new to the forum and this is my first post. I'm looking into buying a new LCD monitor to go along with my new computer purchase, a MAC pro 2.66ghz.(!) I have been using my Dell Dimension XPS T700r(with matching CRT monitor)for years now.

So thing is...I don't know anything much about picking a good monitor. I'm looking to spend around $300 or so. A widescreen is preferable as my main use for the computer will be for home recording and the width for the 'spreadsheet' layout will be convenient I think. Second, on board speakers sound like a plus for now since my current pair of speakers have died and my studio monitors won't always be hooked up to the computer(not even sure they'll work that well in this way?). About 21-23" would be cool. I will eventually get into some video editing but only for fun stuff recorded with fiends and band stuff, so it doesn't have to be tops for that sort of work really. Please let me know what might be a great choice for me. I'm really anxious now to make my monitor purchase now that I have my new computer on the way.

ALSO, I'm not even sure I'll be able to use my current CRT with the DVI based monitor connection on the Mac pro. I suppose there's probably a converter of some sort, right?

Thanks a bunch for reading:)
 
i bought this one about 2 months ago and i LOVE IT. i did ALOT of research before buying and spend about 2 weeks doin it.
Movies/games/3D modeling all lot amazing on this thing.
i also hooked it up to my laptop (in sig). and it looks great.

GL
 
Last edited:
Thanks Charmpeddler, but I'd like to get something a bit bigger than 17" really. 21"-23" would be ideal.
 
So you guys think a wide screen is the best? I don't know, perhaps I just havn't used them enough, but I still don't care for them. Many web pages are still designed more for standard 4:3. A personal preference for me is to have the screen maximized. Having it off to the side with "blank" areas to the left or right, or just having gaps in some websites just isn't something I care for... Eh, but maybe my opinion would change once I actually get one...
 
Cool, yeah that one looks great. I like the price. Any other suggestion for the $300 range? How about with the Viewsonic, Samsung, Sceptre names I keep hearing?
 
Hi y'all. I just looked through and compared all of Newegg's 22", $200-$400 LCD's and have come up with a several that seem nice. Is there one that maybe stands out over the others? Anyone have experience with any of these? Thanks for looking!

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824005088
$370 LG L226 wtx BF 22" 2ms 300cd/m2 3000:1, 3yr warranty, no DVI cable.

-First off I should maybe point out that I am not a gamer AT ALL. Is this overkill maybe? Maybe there's a point where non-gamer applications don't really benefit from super fast refresh times and 3000:1 contrast ration. Then again I could be totally worng, I just don't know. I'll be on the computer for audio recording mostly and a little video editing down the line(for fun stuff with friends and band, non-professional really). The price seems pretty great for the features I think, no?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824001096
$300 on sale, SAMSUNG 226BW Black 22" 2 ms (GTG) DVI Widescreen LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 1000:1(DC 3000:1)
-This was recommended to me. It also looks nice.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824222029
$250, X2GEN MW22U Black 22" 5ms DVI Widescreen LCD Monitor 500 cd/m2 1000:1 Built in Speakers
-Great price, attractive features. Only 1 yr warranty, no DVI cable

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824116060
$300, ViewSonic Graphic Series VG2230wm Black 22" 5ms DVI Widescreen LCD Monitor 280 cd/m2 700:1 Height & Tilt Adjustments

-This one seems to be really popular. I'm attracted to the height and tilt adjustments but what's with the 700:1? MOst in this price range have higher- 800:1, 1000:1....why is this one so popular?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824252008
$250, CHIMEI 221D-NBC Black 22" 5ms DVI Widescreen LCD Monitor 330 cd/m2 800:1

Reccommended in this post- it looks like a good deal too. $250 is a great price too.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824254020
$300, Hanns·G HW-223DPB Black 22" 5ms HD 1080P supported DVI Widescreen LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 1000:1 Built in Speaker

-This one looks really cool too. 3yr warranty, 1000:1, 5ms


Which one would you decide on?
 
Alright, well I ve narrowed it down to these three. I read most of the reviews on Newegg and it's lead me to believe to basically stick with the bigger names as far as reliability and longevity.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16824001096
$300 on sale, SAMSUNG 226BW Black 22" 2 ms (GTG) DVI Widescreen LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 1000:1(DC 3000:1) 160H160V 16.7million

The Samsung 226BW looks great. It's missing the height adjustabilty but 2ms refresh and the contrast ratio sounds great.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16824116060
$300, ViewSonic Graphic Series VG2230wm Black 22" 5ms DVI Widescreen LCD Monitor 280 cd/m2 700:1, 170H160V Height & Tilt Adjustments
This one is so popular. Same price as the Samsung but with slower refresh and only a 700:1 ratio. I'm still curious why no-one remarks about the lower ratio compared to others in it's price and size range. I know the name is reliable. I'm attracted to the height and tilt adjustment features

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16824252008
$250, CHIMEI 221D-NBC Black 22" 5ms DVI Widescreen LCD Monitor 330 cd/m2 800:1, 170H160V, 16.7million

It sounded promising from the reviews. It's also $50 cheaper than my other two choices. It's not as big of a name though.


What do you all think? Should I just go for fastest refresh, best ratio and get the Samsung or is the Viewsonic still supposed to have a better picture maybe? I'm not sure better contrast equates to having a better picture...Maybe they're all about the same and I should save $50 and get the Chimei. What do you all think?
 
well just from the info you have in this post ^, i narrow it down to the Samsung or the chimei. i personaly would spend the extra 50 for the lower(and crazy fast) response time (gtg) , and the great contrasts ratio.

i must not have seen that one when i was choosing mine... but then again you say its on sale atm??? must have been out of my price range when i was looking, maybe.


more info on the chimei though... i have seen quite a few monitors and i have nothing to complain about here. also, i have my xbox 360 hooked up to it via vga cable made for the xbox, and it looks AMAZING!!! no shadowing or artifacting that i can see. and the words onscreen look great too.

BUT if you have the money i can only imagine that the samsung would be even better.

personally i would get the samsung if ya got the money... GL and Good Gamming!
 
I think I've decided to just go for the Samsung. I looked around and found it a little cheaper at Buy.com They look pretty legit, but I can't find any info on their return policy. Does anyone have any experience with them? I know Newegg's has to do with LCD's not being elegible for refund unless there are at least 8 dead pixels or some such thing. Samsung's own policy is even more, 20 something dead pixels. Does anyone know Buy.com's deal?

I can get it for $289 with free shipping at Buy.com

Newegg is $299 with $13+ shipping.

:D
 
Well I pulled the trigger over at Newegg. I read some pretty bad stuff about Buy.com, regarding extremely long delivery times and terrible customer support, sometimes dropped orders without notification or immediate refund. They sound sketchy. Newegg, however does not sounded right on. So I have it on its way, much thanks to you all.

To top it off, my waiting on the Mac refurb page the last week straight paid off tonight....OH YEAH!, 2.66ghz Mac Pro on its way! :D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top