Quality 19-24" LCD Monitor

[mubs]

I want a smaller monitor than Snowhiker, hence this new thread.

When I bought my Dell 2007WFP, my daughter got my 1997 vintage Viewsonic PT775 CRT. It's now dying, and we need a monitor. One option is to get a lowball LCD for her. The other (that I prefer) is to get a better LCD for me and give her my 2007WFP.

I want a good monitor for photo work, but don't want to break the bank in the process. Every monitor I've checked out has some con or the other, so I'm just going around in circles. The other problem is that many models are not available here. Dell and Viewsonic have pretty contemporary lineups; the rest are hit and miss. Samsung, LG, Asus and Acer have strong showings but probably somewhat outdated models (as you read left to right).

Dell doesn't list prices on their local website; one has to send in an inquiry and wait for a rep to call. They have the U2211H, U2311H and U2410 available.

While a multitude of models are available from different manufacturers, I am listing the models that may be somewhat better and are available here.

Samsung: 2233SW, 2233SW Plus, B2030, B2230, P2250

Viewsonic: VA1912WB, VA926, VA926

Asus: VH242H

I'd appreciate any insight / advice.

TIA!

 

[time]

The HP ZR24W is the runaway star in the non-graphics-pro stakes. I tried to confirm availability in India, but I'm still unsure. It's a 24" IPS panel with 1920x1200 pixels, adjustable height stand with the ability to rotate between landscape and portrait, and a DisplayPort connector.

Having said that, a quick price check shows prices have gone through the roof - probably because there really isn't anything else in this segment at the moment.

In my country at least, Dell is now limited to a 23" IPS with only 1920x1080 pixels.

AOC iF23 is a budget option, 23" 1920x1080 with a fixed stand, but it's cheap and it's an IPS panel.

You're then back to TN panels. My pick is a fairly old design now, the Samsung 2443BW, a 24" 1920x1200 with height-adjustable stand (we have one here). I recommend it because of the extra lines (16:10) and because it's a pretty decent example for a TN panel.

The budget option is 23.6" 16:9 TN, there's no economical point in going below this. I suggest Samsung B2440L, it includes a height-adjustable stand for much the same money as its competitors ask for fixed.

 

[CougTek]

I've often sold the Asus VH242H and no one ever complained about it. It received pretty good reviews on the Net, has plenty of connecting options and better-than-average integrated speakers. The picture quality is also fairly good for a TN panel. Of course, it's not comparable to an IPS, but so is its price.

 

[mubs]

Thanks Time & Coug.

Time, HP's India site sucks (as do most computer mfrs). Their monitors are buried deep, but here's a direct link.

I'd think HP would be too expensive here; they're fond of gouging. Here's the list of LCDs and prices for some (I've converted the local to US $ at the current approx exchange rate):

HP DreamColor LP2480zx Professional Display: $3,573 + taxes

HP LP2475w 24" : $1,034 + taxes

HP LP2275w 22" : $646

HP LP2065 20" : $684

HP ZR22w 21.5" S-IPS: price not listed

HP ZR24w 24" S-IPS: price not listed

HP ZR30w 30" S-IPS: price not listed

 

[mubs]

The HP dealer got back to me.

HP ZR22w 21.5" S-IPS: $454

HP ZR24w 24" S-IPS: $676

Research is still in progress, but for now the shortlist is (all IPS):
Dell 2209wa
Dell U2211H
Dell U2311H
Dell U2410
HP ZR22w
HP ZR24w
Viewsonic VP2365wb
Viewsonic VP2655wb

Can anybody speak to using wide-gamut monitors and any special challenges they pose? I do have a SpyderExpress 2.

 

[snowhiker]

I'm really liking my HP ZR24w.

It's bright as hell, but I turned down the RGB colors from 255 to 170 and dropped brightness to 10 using the OSD controls and it looks great. My 6+ year old (referb when I bought it) CRT monitor was so dim I think I may be used to a dimmer monitor. ?!?

From all my extensive research and forum reading I've done, I've come to the conclusion that no matter what brand you choose it's a quality control gamble (near crap-shoot) and you just have to pray you get a good unit.

Place warranty/repair/replacement options high on your list of things you want and pray you don't need to utilize them.

 

[mubs]

Thanks for the tips, snowhiker. I'd go for the ZR24w, what's giving me pause is the chunk of change it costs. I'm also trying to learn about wide gamut displays, and the pros and cons thereof.

 

[mubs]

Done. Dell 2209wa. 22", e-IPS, 83% color gamut, 1680 x 1050 (16:10), $363 delivered.

Decided against the wide-gamut types. I'm still a newbie (just out of the crawling stage, barely standing with support) in the Photoshop stuff, and didn't want to overload my wee brain with too many complications

 

[time]

Has anyone seen any of the Viewsonic VP (IPS) range? I've only just noticed the VP2365WB, available locally for <US$330.

 

[Santilli]

I've used, and returned, thanks to software/firmware and screen quality on a 27"
Viewsonic from Costco.

I replaced it with a 2233W Samsung: I find this passable, but price fixed, and a poor value, along with limited, poorly designed connection setups.

Get a 10 bit screen TV.

 

[time]

Thanks Greg, but I explicitly asked about the VP range, which uses IPS panels like your beloved TV.

Anyone else?

I came across this useful website with images you can use to test or tune a monitor. Some of the tests are very revealing, I recommend people give them a try.

http://www.lagom.nl/lcd-test/

 

[Santilli]

My comments on the 2233 are on point, and, I'm thinking the clunky adjustments on the Viewsonic might not just be with the model I tried, but, I could be wrong.

Looked again today, and, for a 1080 120 Hz TV they are starting about 380.00, at 32".
Plasmas seem to be free, 52 inches for 500 dollars, and, 37-42" seem to be coming in around 500.00 as well.

 

[Pradeep]

52" plasma for $500? Must be an old 720p model on clearance?

 

[Santilli]

It is, but, it was a quality brand, like Samsung, or Panasonic.

Costco has a LOT of cheaper, big screen, lower resolution TV's.

 

[Stereodude]

I received a refurbished BenQ GW2450 monitor this week. IMHO, for $118 shipped it's quite the monitor bargain. I wish it was 1920x1200 instead of 1920x1080, but the ~3000:1 contrast ratio is pretty nice compared to the 800:1 to 1000:1 panels in most monitors. No dead or stuck pixels either.

TFT Central reviewed it's brother with HDMI.

 

[sedrosken]

Hmm, when I get money I may have to look into that. I hate my SE198WFP. It's scratched (courtesy of our move up here), it is dimmer in some areas than others, I think it may be dying, and yet it's the only monitor I own with a DVI port and that's all my Radeon will put out, other than S-Video.

Speaking of which, apparently you can wire up a Commodore 64 S-Video plug using it's composite DIN port. Chroma, Luma, that sorta stuff. Neat little trick but I don't think S-Video ever gained wide acceptance.

 

[Howell]

S-video was used most heavily in A/V. Similar to HDMI today.

 

[Chewy509]

Hmm, when I get money I may have to look into that. I hate my SE198WFP. It's scratched (courtesy of our move up here), it is dimmer in some areas than others, I think it may be dying, and yet it's the only monitor I own with a DVI port and that's all my Radeon will put out, other than S-Video.

IIRC, all ATi 9550 (R300 based cards) used DVI-I ports and you just needed a DVI to VGA adapter to use VGA based monitors...

eg. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16815101007

 

[mubs]

Wow, a four year old thread comes back to life!

 

[CougTek]

Stereodude, the little Christ, told "rise and walk!" and the Lazarus thread came back to life.

 

[Stereodude]

Wow, a four year old thread comes back to life!

Why not? There's nothing wrong with a little thread rebirth. Don't threads get better with age or is that just alcohols?

 

[LunarMist]

The Something Random thread is a decade old.

 

[Mercutio]

I always think it's delightful when we can bring back a five year old thread and continue posting on topic.

I really do have to say I love those Asus VS247 IPS displays. I've seen them as cheap as $130. There's something to be said for being able to build a $400 5760 pixel-wide wall of screen.

 

[mubs]

Why not? There's nothing wrong with a little thread rebirth. Don't threads get better with age or is that just alcohols?

Nothing at all wrong, SD, just appreciation.

I am just amazed that you found it and revived it. Most people, including me, would have just created a new thread. Even I didn't remember this thread till you revived it.

 

[Stereodude]

I am just amazed that you found it and revived it. Most people, including me, would have just created a new thread. Even I didn't remember this thread till you revived it.

My memory isn't that good. I figured there was already a relevant thread on monitors, so I broke out my Google-fu and found this one.

 

[CougTek]

I really do have to say I love those Asus VS247 IPS displays. I've seen them as cheap as $130. There's something to be said for being able to build a $400 5760 pixel-wide wall of screen.

You mean the VS239H-P? Because the VS247H-P uses a TN panel. Their VN248H-P also features an IPS panel and is fairly cheap.

 

[Mercutio]

Possibly. I'm sure I've purchased multiples of all of the above over the last few months but they're all back at my office.

 

[time]

Their VN248H-P also features an IPS panel

No it doesn't. Apart from the PA series, Asus monitors with IPS panels have model numbers ending in 9, eg VS239H-P.

 

[time]

Mercutio, could you mean the Asus VS24AH-P? (which is another exception to my 9-suffix rule of thumb).

 

[Bozo]

If you Google 'asus ips panel monitors', you will find an assortment of part numbers from ASUS.

 

[CougTek]

No it doesn't. Apart from the PA series, Asus monitors with IPS panels have model numbers ending in 9, eg VS239H-P.

Then New Egg is wrong. It wouldn't be the first time.

 

[time]

Here was I thinking, "CougTek's actually made a mistake!". WRONG AGAIN.

I misread VN248H-P as VS248H-P. The former is IPS, the later is TN. F*** you, Asus.

 

[Handruin]

I ended up going with two of the Dell P2414H WHXV7 24-Inch Screen LED-Lit IPS Monitor. I probably didn't know about that Asus panel otherwise I would have compared to this Dell before buying since the Asus is less expensive. I paid $217 at the time when I bought them but now they're $250. I'm pretty happy with them so far. I forgot to add that the Dell P2414H is not a PWM backlight so there is no flickering.

 

[Stereodude]

...but the ~3000:1 contrast ratio is pretty nice compared to the 800:1 to 1000:1 panels in most monitors. No dead or stuck pixels either.

TFT Central reviewed it's brother with HDMI.

I only measured ~1000:1 contrast ratio after calibration with the Spyder3, which is quite a bit off from what TFT Central measured. However, with my new x-rite i1Display Pro it measures 2345.2:1 after calibration.