What kind of monitor to buy for home?

[gwilks98]

Hey ladies and gents,

I want to upgrade my home PC since it's about 8 years old. (I usually use my work laptop on the couch for everything.)

I want to start by getting rid of my 19" CRT and replacing it with a flatscreen. I'm torn, would you recommend spending the money on 1 big 27" screen or two 23" screens? Should I bother spending the money on 3D? Are there any technologies to stay away from or to wait for? (.eg LED,CFL-LCD, OLED)

I wouldn't mind being able to run games again, but it's not the only use I'd have for it.

[Napoleon54]

What's your budget and what will you mainly be using it for?

Just looking to define design-phase inputs. :D

[gwilks98]

Currently only use it for gaming, but I'd love to be able to watch video on it.

I don't really have a set budget in mind either. I was thinking at most around $300 unless there was an excellent reason to buy more.

Ultimately, if I get some sort of bonus by spending an extra $50 or even $500, I'd listen to the idea. I'm not wild about lack of inputs because it really limits the monitors options, and I would like to be able to tilt the screen if necessary.

[cruelpupet]

Monitor tech doesnt change too much compared to other PC parts and you can go a long time before you need to change it (look at how long you had your CRT).

So my rule is dont cheap out on it. Having said that LCDs are much more reliable than CRTs in my experience, so $300 should be fine. Id just make sure it at least has a DVI port, bonus if it has display port, hdmi, or the soon to be released HDMI 2 port.

But as long as it has DVI you can always get an adapter.

[cruelpupet]

Oh and make sure it has a 4ms or lower refresh.

[gwilks98]

Good to know. Thanks CP.

[Prngr44]

Are the higher refresh rates what make using say, your 32" TV as a monitor a bad idea?

[cruelpupet]

Are the higher refresh rates what make using say, your 32" TV as a monitor a bad idea?


no the low resolution is. especially if its the distance a monitor normally is from your face

[Napoleon54]

no the low resolution is. especially if its the distance a monitor normally is from your face

:stupid:

http://xkcd.com/732/

:hihi:

[cruelpupet]

Awesome! i didnt realize Ralph Lauren has a LCD monitor line. Im gonna go to Ralph Lauren now.


Edit: There was a huge spam post about Ralph Lauren products on this post and 4 others in 'Hardware'

[Leon]

Awesome! i didnt realize Ralph Lauren has a LCD monitor line. Im gonna go to Ralph Lauren now.


Edit: There was a huge spam post about Ralph Lauren products on this post and 4 others in 'Hardware'

Indeed there was. It looks like reCaptcha isn't cutting it anymore for new user registrations.

[mcs328]

Now I'm looking into a monitor for my home. No more desktops for me. I'll be sitting about 2 feet away from the monitor(s) so 1 widescreen, 2 widescreens, 2 regular or one that rotates landscape to portrait?

[cruelpupet]

IPS is the thing to get these days, but they tend to not have the mount points on the back of the monitor.

[Markel]

Saw a pretty nice deal for an ASUS 24" LED monitor on Amazon for $140 (after $20 MIR):
http://www.amazon.com/Asus-VS247H-P-.../dp/B005BZNDS0 (http://www.gotapex.com/l/289551/What-kind-of-monitor-to-buy-for-home-1430830-1)

Some of the pictures show it wall-mounted. Has pretty good reviews.

It's also available with speakers for $10 more:
http://www.amazon.com/Asus-VE247H-24.../dp/B004EFUOY4 (http://www.gotapex.com/l/289552/What-kind-of-monitor-to-buy-for-home-1430830-2)

[mcs328]

Thanks. I'm still trying to re-arrage my "office" before I make any purchases.