This Widescreen Monitor (any feedback?)

[/////AMG]

Does anyone have this monitor? I hope someone does, if so do you have any feed back? Most of the reviews I have seen are very good.

Widescreen Acer AL1913W 19" 20ms 500:1 Multimedia Monitor
http://image.ebuyer.com/UK/P0093748_C0000012_P0000000.jpg

Product Information
* Pixel Pitch - 0.284mm x 0.284mm
* Brightness (typ.) - 350 cd/m2
* Contrast Ratio (typ.) - 500:1
* Max. Refresh Rate - 1440 X 900@60Hz
* Viewing Angle (typ.) - 170°(H), 170°(V)
* Response Time (typ.) - 20ms
* Input Signal - VGA (Analog D-sub)
* VGA cable removability - Yes
* Speaker - 2.5W x 2(optional) Power Adaptor (100V-240V) - External
* Power Consumption - 60W
* Dimensions (WxHxD mm) - 462 x 385 x 180
*(3 Years Warranty)

I know the specs aren't so great, but its better than nothing and it's cheap ($365ish). I was going to go with a normal 19" but found this widescreen monitor.
I believe I have to check if my graphic card will support 1440 x 900, right? Can anyone tell me how can I do this?
I'll post which one I have after figuring it out lol

PS. Whats the major different with having DVI Inputs?

[Vagabond142]

DVI (Digital Video Input) allows for a cleaner signal to get to the monitor as it is coming directly out of the digital source instead of being created in digital, transformed to analogue and then sent to the monitor. Basically, with flatscreens LCDs, it means that each pixel is being controlled digitally direct from the video card, instead of having to retransform the analogue signal back to digital. Basically, if the monitor is good, you'll get a superb picture that blows the crap outta any CRT monitor.

Something that is a bit of a detriment to me on this monitor is the response time of 20ms. In a day and age when 8ms and lower is possible, 20ms is high. If you're a gamer of *any* sort, aim for at the very least 12-16 ms in response times.

Then again, balanced against the price, that monitor, from specs, sounds very nice. If you're going to be doing anything that isn't gaming, that is a very nice monitor. Good resolution, good refresh, average contrast ratio.

If you're a gamer, get a BenQ or a Samsung 12 or 8 ms monitor (~$400-$1000 depending on size). If not, then this monitor is, in my eat-breathe-compute world, decently priced :D

[/////AMG]

Thanks for the comments.

I know 20ms is nothing, there is a BenQ or Samsung monitor for less than that and it's 19" AND it's got DVI Inputd AND its 8m, but it isn't widescreen.

I don't plan on playing any games yet, but I know I'll eventually play CS:S and maybe GTA thats about it.

Does DVI really make a big differene, even to non graphic people? If you know what I mean lol.

[soupey]

i dont really think that u need widescreen amg....i'd go for a regular 4:3 lcd that has better specs...and yea DVI does make things sharper, u can really tell when ur using LCD displays, so make sure u get a monitor that has it, im fairly sure the computer u have has the DVI output too, make sure u confirm that just incase tho...hope that helps

[/////AMG]

Yea it does have DVI output (always wondered what that was lol). I dunno, I really want a widescreen, plus it's good for AutoCAD cause those stupid toolbars don't take up as much space.

[/////AMG]

I think I may go for it, I'll live without everything I'm missing.
But I'm guessing there will be a lot of problems because most programs/games/whatever might not adapt to the widescreen, right? Or is it just me?

If it isn't just me I won't got for it cause I can't be bothered to let that bitch of my computer control me hahaha.

soupey, do you remember which graphic card I got? I'll have to find the papers cause I can't remember.

Edit: MY graphic card is Gigabyte Radeon9600XT. I've looked in my manual but it does not list 1440 x 900, it has to though!

From their website:

Monitor Resolution ....... Hz

640x480.......120
800x600....... 120
1024x768....... 120
1152x864....... 120
1280x1024....... 120
1600x1200....... 85
1920x1080* 16:9....... 75
1920x1200 ....... 75
1920x1440 .......75
2048x1536 ....... 60

[i]*16:9 aspect ratio monitors are supported on 1920x1080 and 848x480 on Windows® XP, Windows® 2000 and Windows® ME. The complete list of resolutions depends on the driver version and operating system. NOTE: resolutions are limited by the performance of the attached monitor.[i]

^Think it'll be alright for me? I'm on XP Pro with the monitor in the first post.

[Xtrema]

Originally posted by Vagabond142
Something that is a bit of a detriment to me on this monitor is the response time of 20ms. In a day and age when 8ms and lower is possible, 20ms is high. If you're a gamer of *any* sort, aim for at the very least 12-16 ms in response times.

Ah, someone fell for marketing hype.

Try to find a complete review of the LCD panel, preferrablely like this one @ tomshardware

http://graphics.tomshardware.com/display/20050606/images/latency_l1980u.gif

Manufacturers would advertise "Best" panel number. So a 8ms panel would actually reach 8ms 1% of the transitions while doing anywhere 25-30ms 99% of the time. While a 20ms panel may stay very close to the range thrughout.

Bottom line is read what others have to say and see one in person if possible.

[/////AMG]

^^ On that site there is one review and its negative.
I will try to se eit in person, but not that many electronic stores here, doubt they will have one on display.

[hampstor]

On an LCD, the refresh rate means almost squat relative to a CRT.

You're going to find that the response time matters tremendously more then the refresh rate on an LCD.

Refresh rate refered to how fast your monitor can redraw your screen (85 Hz = 85 times per second). The higher the refresh rate the less flicker you'd see on your screen because your eye would "blend" the images.

However on an LCD, the screen is not re-drawn in the same manner as a CRT. The monitor tells each pixel what colour to it needs to be. The speed at which the pixel changes colours is called the response time (it is typically measured from grey-to-grey).

If you watch a fast moving object (ie: a red car) drive across the screen on a monitor with a high response time you will see a ghosting effect as it moves across the screen. If it's a low response time, the effect will be a lot less noticable. Since you're buying a wide-aspect monitor, i'm assuming you're watching movies. If you're just needing a wide-aspect monitor to do a wide spreadsheet, then the response time doesn't matter unless you're a super fast data entry guy who can see the ghosting on #'s being entered
:rofl: :rofl:

[ZorroAMG]

Sorry to whore, ///AMG but since we are on LCD topics, I am looking at this TV:

http://www.polaroidelectronics.com/pages/landing/monPlasmaLCD.asp

http://www.polaroidelectronics.com/images/products/monPlasmaLCD/FLM_3701_image.jpg

Product Features
37'' 16:9 HD-Ready LCD Monitor
1080i/720p/480p/480i digital compatibility
DCDi by Faroudja smooths diagonal edges for film-like response
3:2 & 2:2 pull-dowm with motion
SRS Panoramic 3D sound
BTSC sound
3D Comb Filter
Built-in stereo speakers
VESA standard mounting system
Trilingual on-screen display (English, Spanish, French)
Sleep timer
Closed captioning
DVI with DHCP input
1 D-sub input
2 sets of Component Video inputs (YPbPr/YCbCr)
2 sets of S-video inputs
3 sets of A/V RCA inputs
Includes full-function remote control_

Technical Specifications
Resolution:__ 1366 x 768
Brightness:__ 500 cd/m sq
Contrast ratio:__ 600:1
Response time:__ 16ms
Viewing angle::__ 170 x 170
Unit dimensions::__ 24.69"H x 44.69"W x 9.84"D
Power:__ AC 110-240V, 50/60Hz

Thoughts? The price is right and reviews have been decent...."It's a great tv for the money" etc...

EDIT: Found more specs on the manual, what does this signify? Good or bad?

Display format supported by this unit

For VGA/DVI
640x480@60Hz,72Hz,75Hz
800x600@60Hz,72Hz,75Hz
1024x678@60Hz,70Hz,75Hz
1280x960@60Hz
1280x1024@60Hz

For YPbPr: 480P, 480i, 720P, 1080i are all @ 60Hz

[Xtrema]

^ other than that it doesn't do 1990X1080 (1080p), it's a decent unit.

[ZorroAMG]

what would be the benefit of that? I thought 1080x720 was the current best.....

Thanks for the help....i'm an LCD noob....

[Impreza]

Originally posted by ZorroAMG
what would be the benefit of that? I thought 1080x720 was the current best.....

Thanks for the help....i'm an LCD noob....
There really isn't any benefit at the moment since there won't be any 1080p content available for a while. Hell, there still isn't too much 1080i content in Canada...

[/////AMG]

Originally posted by /////AMG
Edit: MY graphic card is Gigabyte Radeon9600XT. I've looked in my manual but it does not list 1440 x 900, it has to though!

From their website:

Monitor Resolution ....... Hz

640x480.......120
800x600....... 120
1024x768....... 120
1152x864....... 120
1280x1024....... 120
1600x1200....... 85
1920x1080* 16:9....... 75
1920x1200 ....... 75
1920x1440 .......75
2048x1536 ....... 60

*16:9 aspect ratio monitors are supported on 1920x1080 and 848x480 on Windows® XP, Windows® 2000 and Windows® ME. The complete list of resolutions depends on the driver version and operating system. NOTE: resolutions are limited by the performance of the attached monitor.

^Think it'll be alright for me? I'm on XP Pro with the monitor in the first post.

^If anyone can give me some input on that I'm set.
Thanks.

I won't be watching movies, I got a DVD/Divx player now so I usually burn them on CD/DVD-RW and watch it on my TV. I'll play the odd game maybe, but Im not a gamer freak so I won't mind 'OK' graphics compared to a 8m monitor.
One reason for me to get widescreen is I can put the toolbars on the side in CAD and I won't lose much space compared to a 4:3 monitor.

[soupey]

yes u'll b fine resolution wise, if ur lcd can support something other than what xp gives u by default im sure whatever cd or drivers off the net the lcd comes with will enable other resolutions for u...

[RC-Cola]

Have you thought about getting two 4:3 monitors instead of the widescreen?

[/////AMG]

No because it would cost more lol. And I'm in England, I don't really have space for 2 monitors!! :banghead: :banghead:

[Vagabond142]

Originally posted by Xtrema


Bottom line is read what others have to say and see one in person if possible.

Umm... no. I did not fall for the marketing hype. Being a gamer, I have attended many a LANparty, including the big ones such as lanageddon and Fragapalooza. I have used, at said events and when borrowing LCD monitors, at least 20 different LCDs.

Ones that were rated at 20ms or higher had HUGE ghosting problems, as well as a noticeable but very slight delay between keypress and action. The last time I tried a BenQ 19' 8 ms monitor, NO ghosting, NO lag, crystal clear sharpness and it convinced me so much that I am buying one when the cash comes my way.

So, sir, next time you want to accuse someone of falling to market hype... get to know them a little better. Thank you and good day :whipped:

[/////AMG]

Saw a 19" LCD on the same site but it is isn't 8ms, it's 4ms!! But it's like over 250 quid.

What causes ghosting anyway? Can't be that common.

[Vagabond142]

Ghosting is caused by pixels not responding fast enough to incoming signals to clear their pixel in time for the next instruction, meaning that there is an overlay of pixel commands: the "ghost," or the previous command that has been cleared but is still receiving a signal to keep itself lit, and the new signal, which demands a different lighting... in the end, ghosting is a pixel staying lit longer than it should, creating a "ghost" image of the image that was there a millisecond before.

I hope that didn't get too technical :nut: :nut: :nut:

[/////AMG]

lol no that was good! Aren't laptop screen basically the same? I'm sure the older ones don't have as god reponse time, but they still look good. anyway it's 20ms, that should be fast enough! Unless you really look out for ghosting?
I dunno, I think I will go for it, from the reviews no one has had any ghosting prblems, the only thing is the resolution (which Iwas concerned about).

Thanks for the info though.