What New Monitor?

Billy d wrote on 8/16/2006, 9:48 AM

I need a new monitor (current one is a 20" Panasonic heating up my house with 360W).
Been considering a Viewsonic VX2025WM 20" (price is right) but I'm a bit worried it might not have the right resolution to display my (Vegas generated) widescreen projects. Native resolution for this monitor is 1680x1050. Also my video card only goes up to 1600x1024 or 1600x1200. So obviously that will cause problems.

I like the idea of having a widescreen monitor.
Is there a more appropriate LCD monitor out there?
What do you guys recommend?

Comments

grh wrote on 8/16/2006, 11:19 AM

Read the other thread, "I didn't realize my monitors were crap"

That said, the monitor information file provides resolution information that is used by windows; you may find that there's a 1600x1050 mode once the new monitor is installed. But you can't look at your current CRT modes and conclude that any other monitor will have the identical set of options. Go to the store (Best Buy or whatever) and poke around in the Windoze display settings dialog to get a feel for what's available with a widescreen LCD.

That said, a recent excursion to Fry's revealed that the NEC OptiClear LCDs are a strong favorite. I don't think they come in a widescreen format yet, however. Beautiful monitor, though.

Billy d wrote on 8/16/2006, 2:02 PM

Yes, I did check "show all modes" to see if there were any more than 1600x1024 and 1600x1200 with my video card (NVidia FX5600). Unfortunitely not.
Good tip on checking in store though, I'll do that.

Chanimal wrote on 8/16/2006, 3:01 PM

I picked up a 20.1" 1600 x 1200 native resolution Samsung SyncMaster 204B (get the "B") for $299 (CompUSA special with rebates. Best Buy matched it but didn't require any rebates--so it was instant).

I loved it so much I purchased a second one (and swapped out my graphics card to support dual).

Rated very highly, bright and fast for video.

vicmilt wrote on 8/16/2006, 4:11 PM

One thing I never see mentioned here in monitor lore is the pivotable screen.

I've got one, and certain VEG setups where I'd like to see a grillion tracks; well by setting my "tool" monitor to vertical, I get a whole bunch more usable tracks to play with.
[Naturally, it's GREAT with verical layout still art]
v