themaskedvirgin

can you please recommend the best gaming pc monitor? from the cheapest to the most expensive?...im building a gaming pc setup ....thanks

kgrogers1979

Monitors aren't that big a deal. Most brands are nearly the same. You just pay more for the "big" names. My monitor is a Hanns G, which is a lesser known brand, but I have used it for going on three years now with no problems.

The biggest thing you want to pay attention to is the contrast level and response time. If the contrast level is too low, you won't get true black. It will be a dark gray. If the refresh time is too high, you will get "ghosting" which means that when something moves fast on screen it will leave a blurred afterimage for a second.

Also for some reason, monitors don't generally come in 16:9 but rather 16:10.

edstein

Make sure it's HDCP compliant so HD playback won't be an issue.

msdmoney

I have a 26" asus VW266H that's been a great monitor so far. It was a good price for the screen size, I wanted 1900x1200. Stepping up to a 2560x1600 means a very expensive video card. typically.

My mind went numb researching monitors, with all of the recommendations for S-IPS screens which are expensive, and differing opinions on which is the best TFT screen.

themaskedvirgin

great for the tips...any features i should be looking at when buying a gaming pc monitor?

DeadLamb

for gaming it's not really going to matter that much.. Almost all the newer screens are pretty good. Outside of the dirt cheap no name brands..

the "best" lcd screens are the best due to color reproduction in photoshop and so on, not really gaming. That's why the Dell Ultrasharp ISP LCD screens run over x2 the cost of a same sized Dell TN LCD screen. Don't get me wrong, a $$$$ LCD will game fine too but it's still "the best" for stuff that really has nothing to do with gaming.

for gaming, you will do fine with a cheaper TN style screen.. Same for 1920x1200 vs 1920x1080.. Yes, 1080 is a horrible HDtv sized abomination that has slowly started to replace the 1920x1200 PC monitor "format" as almost a near standard for the cheaper screens. Errr but again for gaming, a big 24 inch screen at 1920x1080 is fine.

higher end budget? Get something with a display port so you can take advantage of the new ATI muti-screen gaming, but then again you need a bunch of screens to make the most of that (as in at least three)

normal budget? Just hit Dell's site and look for a sale on a screen in the size you want. If you ever got to a LAN party you will sell the bulk of the LCD screens are Dell. They just seem to make decent screens for pretty good prices..

I have a 24inch Dell mounted on a Ergotron LX arm.. screen was sub $190, that's hard to beat..

at the time I type this Dell has the a 24” for $189 and a 23” for $159.. Look around other place of course but that's a lot of screen for the $$$..

Raul3

For gaming you'll prefer a TN monitor. They don't look as good as an IPS monitor but they have the best refresh numbers, under 5 ms.

You can also look at the monitors with LED back lighting, they are TN monitors using LED instead of LCD.

RichC2

I like the Samsung XL2370, but it's a bit pricey.

timewaster

i am also looking for a new monitor. will use it mostly for gaming and occassionally blu-ray movies.

I am looking for:

1. at least 24 inches
2. 1920x1200
3. height adjustment

height adjustment is a big must for me and seems to be difficult to find.
any suggestions?
would like to keep it under $400, preferably around $300.

Raul3

For that prices check the Dells. Most of the time they are the best bang for your buck.

Easy

I got a Panny 32" LCD TV (L32S1) for < $400. Just fine as a monitor (1920x1080 native). I have no idea on computer games though...