New Monitor Advice

[wismas]

Okay then, Rennn, I was thinking that was the best way to go.

[FMod]

One other item in regards to gaming keyboards, is wired or wireless typically preferred?

It only takes one team wipe because someone's mouse froze up and they were running around afk looking for batteries to dissuade them from using wireless for a long time. That plus slightly better responsiveness.

 

So for any hardcore content, multiplayer in particular, the choice is clear. Virtually all high-end gaming gear is wired; and as for cheap gear, wireless adds cost.

 

But for casual strolls around in Skyrim etc, it doesn't matter much, pick whichever is more convenient.

[wismas]

I have three monitors in mind. Do you see any red flags with any of them?

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824014345

BenQ RL2455HM. Seems like a nice overall monitor, it's claim to fame is the 1 ms GtoG.

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236153

Asus VS248H-P. There are a whole raft-load of Asus monitors in my price range. They are priced well and seem to receive favorable opinions from owners other than wobbly displays it's hard to find a lot of negatives.

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA24G1B68249

Dell E2414H. I could not find this one on the Dell site so I'm guessing it's an older model but it seems quite nice and Dell also receives high praise in general in regards to it's monitors.

Edited March 21, 2014 by wismas

[FMod]

Not one of these is a VA or IPS model. Not one of these is 27", not one is a 120Hz model, not one is 2560x1440.

I understand you're trying to get a monitor cheap, and that makes sense if you're short on balance right now and plan on replacing it in a year or two. Otherwise, not really. These three are basic low quality office screens for Word and Outlook.

 

If you want a monitor on the cheap, I'd suggest this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824009588

It's $200, doesn't get cheaper than that, and it ticks all the essential boxes.

[Rennn]

I have three monitors in mind. Do you see any red flags with any of them?

 

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236153

Asus VS248H-P. There are a whole raft-load of Asus monitors in my price range. They are priced well and seem to receive favorable opinions from owners other than wobbly displays it's hard to find a lot of negatives.

 

 

I actually own this monitor right now. You'll be disappointed with the poor viewing angles and color inaccuracy of a TN panel eventually. I don't recommend it, the first monitor I suggested is cheaper and generally better.

Also, speaking from experience, there's not a noticeable difference from 5ms to 1ms.

 

As Fmod said, you really should try to find some form of IPS monitor.

I don't really recommend 2560x1440 though, not only are they more expensive, but then you'd be at risk of not running new games at high framerates on ultra settings on a 770.

 

If you plan to replace the monitor as soon as you can afford a new one, then you just need something as cheap as possible that won't make your eyes bleed. This is a pretty crappy and small 1600x900 monitor, but that's sort of the point if you're not going to keep it long; it sucks less than other monitors for $100. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspxItem=N82E16824009551

 

if you plan to keep the monitor for a while but don't have much to spend, then either the first one I suggested, or the latest one Fmod suggested would be good choices.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824009588

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236363

 

Other than that... I know you may not think the difference between IPS and TN is a big deal, since you just posted 3 TN monitors, but TN is really not desirable for a high-end PC. My 9 year old Playstation Portable has better colors than my $180 TN panel monitor.

Edited March 21, 2014 by Rennn

[wismas]

Alright guys, you're right, I really don't know how important an ips monitor really is. For a reference I work on a 2009 27" iMac and I think the color is outstanding. I don't think it's an ips, the viewing angle is excellent too. Having said that, I didn't post here to ignore good advice so I went back to New Egg and focused my search and came up with two others in addition to the two you recommended. I also upped my budget a bit, I think I still have room for a keyboard and mouse and keep it close to that $300 I wanted to stay under. What do you think of these two monitors, I believe both are IPS.

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824005495

A 27" LG monitor, with the current promo I can get it for $235 with free shipping.

 

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

A 25" HP monitor, with the current promo I can get it for $203, also with free shipping.

 

I'm also considering that Acer that FMod had recommended but I think I will pass on that Asus, Rennn, I was hoping for at least a 24" monitor.

 

The HP monitor has a 7ms response time, is that a concern?

 

Thanks again, the feedback is very appreciated.

[FMod]

Alright guys, you're right, I really don't know how important an ips monitor really is. For a reference I work on a 2009 27" iMac and I think the color is outstanding. I don't think it's an ips, the viewing angle is excellent too.

27" Macs use a high quality 8-bit IPS panel. It's better than even the $308 one I linked, and they come with reasonable color accuracy settings already in.

 

You want IPS or VA, which one is a toss. 6-bit IPS are generally a little worse than modern VA panels, so I'd lean toward the latter, but it's open to preference. VA (MVA, PVA, AMVA) panels have good viewing angles, but not unlimited as IPS do, and color accuracy is limited (still much better than TN), in exchange VA offer better contrast.

 

As far as I know they still haven't gotten around to making a 6-bit VA panel, so it should be 8-bit, which is better. All TN panels are 6-bit, so are cheap IPS, as found in all sub-$300 (and most sub-$500) displays.

 

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824005495

A 27" LG monitor, with the current promo I can get it for $235 with free shipping.

Decent, but my concern would be its 200 cd/m^2 brightness. Even the monitors I had 5+ years ago pushed at least 450 cd/m^2, today's top TVs output even more in enhanced modes.

 

They usually use 250 for monitors today to save on LEDs for backlight and on the power supply (and, perhaps, to satisfy corporate buyers). For office programs with white background you don't want more than 100-150 anyway, but for games, more is better period. Higher brightness lets you set a lower gamma, to get the same average, but with brighter highlights and darker shadows.

 

The Acer screen I linked has 300 cd/m^2, which isn't great, but it's above today's average. Just a little above, but it helps, and a VA panel is good for games. It's matte, which I personally strongly prefer for games (helps smooth out the pixels a little, avoids reflections), though this isn't a universal preference, and the display is surrounded by a cheap glossy bezel.

 

 

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

A 25" HP monitor, with the current promo I can get it for $203, also with free shipping.

The HP monitor has a 7ms response time, is that a concern?

Don't worry about response times, they ceased being relevant about 5 years ago. Not to mention everyone cheats with these numbers today, making them meaningless.

 

Don't see anything wrong with it, other than that it's a little smaller.

Overall, since you already have an IPS Mac for doing any color-related work, shouldn't be any drawbacks to a VA panel. So I think the linked Acer would, as a display for games, be the best pick out of everything we've linked in this thread so far.

[wismas]

I went on New Egg this morning to place my order the Acer with the VA panel you recommended and then this new one appeared. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824009590 It's another Acer and I think it has a glossy screen but it is an IPS. Really the only thing it lacks that I was thinking may be a good addition is a VESA mount, because of the size of the screens I have been considering getting a desk mount arm so I could swing the gaming screen out of the way when not in use but that isn't critical just a nice option and the VA Acer has VESA mounts.

 

The IPS Acer is running a promo and it's a reasonable $230 with free shipping, the promo ends today. I could also get a 27" HP, identical to the 25" I posted earlier but a bit more spendy at $252, http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824176425. I know I'm getting budget creep at the moment but I would like a decent solution in my budget and not a temporary solution.

Edited March 23, 2014 by wismas

[FMod]

I went on New Egg this morning to place my order the Acer with the VA panel you recommended and then this new one appeared. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824009590 It's another Acer and I think it has a glossy screen but it is an IPS.

 

Like I said, VA panels today are generally better than IPS.

 

Not every VA panel better than every IPS, and not everyone likes the former more than the latter. But cheap 6-bit IPS, and that's the kind in question, aren't very good to begin with. Unless you have a decisive preference, the relative advantages of VA are more important for a gaming display than the drawbacks.

[wismas]

Thanks so much FMod and Rennn, not just for the great advice but for the patience of walking me through this. I've been absorbing lots of information lately, not just the monitor and keyboard but the entire computer build and it's been a bit overwhelming. My decisions in the past were how large an iMac screen do you want and how much memory so there was lots to learn for this new project.

 

I know this VA panel Acer model isn't the best monitor by a big stretch but it fits my budget and ticks almost every box. Without this forum I would have made a much hastier and poorer decision.

 

Again, thanks to both of you and for not making me feel stupid. I'll report back and give a review of the monitor once I get everything in and up and running, should be about a week or so.

 

By the way, Rennn, your Dark Souls signature line cracks me up.