Chimpy Chompy on 2/12/2008 at 15:28
Hi all, I'm after some recommendations for a 22" lcd widescreen monitor. Gaming is first priority, then dvds. Actually I'm open to a 24" too, but only if i can get a good one for within £250.
EvaUnit02 on 2/12/2008 at 16:30
Samsung Syncmaster series. Sammy make the best price-to-quality ratio budget screens, highly suitable for gaming. They use TN panels with fast response times, which are important for gaming.
The downside to TN panels though is that they display a lower number of colours, so they're definitely not recommended if you do a lot of work in photo editing suites and the like. More expensive Dell screens use higher quality panel types that should be all-purpose, they are highly recommended.
In fact you should get a 24" Dell if it's in your price range.
Matthew on 2/12/2008 at 16:49
I have the older 24" Dell (the 2407) and am very pleased, but I think the 2408 is more expensive than your £250 limit.
bikerdude on 2/12/2008 at 16:55
Hi chimpy
I did a LCD test some time ago and concluded the best monitor for thief was the NEC multisync 20wgx2 pro(AS-IPS) that I currently own, but this monitor is still retailing for £300+ a year after I bought one.
The next best monitor I found in my testing was the Dell 2007 WFP, but that has most likely been superseded. The best website I could find that really give the low-down on monitors was - (
http://www.tftcentral.co.uk/).
there are a lot of good monitors out there now, but the several things you need to look for:
1. Panel type - AS-IPS is the best but expensive, or S-PVA
2. Contrast ratio - native 1000:1 or higher
3. Viewing angles - 170/170 (V/H) or higher, look for reviews, as this isnt always true
4. Response rate - 4ms G2G (grey 2 grey) or less
5. Colour depth - 8bit (16 million colours) or higher, cheap panels (eg. TN) only do 6bit(262,144 colours)
6. Dot pitch - 0.27 or lower, lower pitch = sharper picture
if I think of anything else Ill come back here.
biker
dj_ivocha on 2/12/2008 at 18:21
I'm planning to buy a TFT monitor soon too, so I've been doing some research. So far one of the better monitors I've found (for the price I'm willing to pay) is the Samsung SyncMaster T220 (22"). As EvaUnit said, they have good contrast, fast response times - 2ms for the T220, and also look quite good, if you care about that.
The T220HD costs only a bit more, but has an integrated DVB-T tuner, speakers and a lot more connectors on the back, so you can use it as a TV too. IIRC it has a 5ms response time as opposed to the non-HD version's 2ms, though - no idea why that is. Both T240s (24") have 5ms response times too.
bikerdude on 2/12/2008 at 19:29
Quote Posted by dj_ivocha
So far one of the better monitors I've found (for the price I'm willing to pay) is the Samsung SyncMaster T220 (22")
this is what i would consider a "pc world special" , let me see if i can find you a better one for under £200.
Dell 2007wfp £160, its a S-IPS monitor, so sharp and good viewing angles - (
http://www.itcsales.co.uk/acatalog/20__TFT_Displays.html) - I have personally tested one of these and its the only monitor that comes close to the NEC.
or
you get the best monitor bar none...!!!
NEC Multisync 20WGX2pro £296 - (
http://www.eclipsecomputers.com/product.aspx?code=MON-20WGX2-BK&af=50)
b.
Chimpy Chompy on 2/12/2008 at 23:34
Hey Biker, thanks for the tips. I'm not looking for something smaller than 22" tho, I already have a half-decent 19" non-widescreen so will just save my pennies if i can't find anything i like within my budget.
If I was going to go for Dell then maybe the (
http://http://accessories.euro.dell.com/sna/productdetail.aspx?c=uk&l=en&s=dhs&cs=ukdhs1&sku=130004) 220WFP.
dj_ivocha the SyncMaster T220 looks cool too, I already have a TV tuner so would go for the version without extras.
thanks Matthew and Eva too.
bikerdude on 3/12/2008 at 08:02
That's a nice looking monitor, the problem for me is 99% of all 22" monitors are cheap TN based screens, which means the narrow viewing angles(you have to sit head on), 6bit colour(colour banding). Here is a link to what people thought of this monitor - (
http://reviews.dell.com/2341/320-6107/reviews.htm). There is a better speced version of that monitor, "Dell SP2208WFP" this is a 2ms G2G "AU Optronics" or "better quality Samsung TN" type panel and this might address some of the inherent drawbacks of the other TN based 2208wfp and here is what people that of that (
http://reviews.dell.com/2341/320-6252/reviews.htm?pageNumber=3). Also cheaper screens suffer from back-light bleed, which the Dell 2007WFP and my Nec 20wgx2pro dont!!!
The only way your going to get a better panel type (S-IPS based) is to go with either a 20" or a 23/24" and personally I think your better of getting a 20" as it will look sharper than a 22".
If you want to save money and get a good monitor thats been tested by someone by someone who knows a thing or two(me) then get the 2007wfp, or if you want bigger then get the Dell 2407wfp.
biker
Chimpy Chompy on 3/12/2008 at 11:47
I'm guessing the xx07 models are Dell's last year's. The 2408wfp is about £400 on ebuyer, which is really more than i want to spend right now. There's a 2009WFP which looks reasonable.
£300 on a 20" is definitely too much though, so I'll have to rule out the 20WGX2pro.
Displacer on 3/12/2008 at 12:37
I have a Dell SP2208WFP and its beautiful. It has one drawback though, it has a very narrow viewing angle. Even if you are only slightly off center looking at it you can see the screen changing. If you can live with that, then I'd get it.
