Which monitor do you guys/gals suggest I get?

[Chinchilla]

AOC e2236Vw 21.5" Widescreen LED LCD Monitor - 1080p, 1920x1080, 16:9, 2000000:1 Dynamic, 5ms, VGA, DVI

AOC e2236Vw 21.5" Widescreen LED LCD Monitor
With the AOC e2236Vw 21.5" Widescreen LED LCD Monitor you can view hours of LED sharpness. The e2236Vw provides brilliant pictures with low energy consumption that lowers energy bills. The e2236Vw comes with a USB connector to connect storage devices with ease. Enhance your pc center with the AOC e2236Vw 21.5" Widescreen LED LCD Monitor.

What It Is And Why You Need It:

21.5" Viewable Screen Size
2,000,000:1 (DCR) Contrast Ratio
5ms Response Time
USB Port


OR


ASUS ML238H 23-Inch Wide Ultra-Slim LED Monitor (Black/White)

Technical Details
23-inch LED Wide (16:9) - 1920 x 1080
2 ms Response Time
HDMI 1.3, DVI-D (via HDMI-to-DVI cable), 15-Pin D-Sub
Ultra-slim 16.5 mm Profile
ASUS Splendid Technology



Besides the price difference I want quality more.  Now if the difference isn't very large then price is probably worth considering.  The size isn't all that different I think.  What do you guys feel

[Furiously]

Are either of them 120hz? I'd look at those so I could use 3d with it in the future.

[Chinchilla]

AOC specs are:

Specifications
 
   Display Type:   Widescreen LED
 
 
   Screen Size:   21.5"
 
 
   Widescreen:   Yes
 
 
   LED Backlight:   No
 
 
   Diagonal Size:   21.5"
 
 
   Pixel Pitch:   0.248mm
 
 
   Display Colors:   16.7 million
 
 
   Display Format:   16:9 Wide LED
 
 
   Backlighting:   LED
 
 
   Vertical Refresh Rate:   55~75Hz
 
 
   Horizontal Frequency:   30K~80KHz
 
 
   Interface Type:   DVI
    VGA
 
 
   Maximum Resolution:   1920 x 1080
 
 
   Condition:   New
 
 
   Features:   Tilt
    USB
 
 
   Dynamic Contrast Ratio:   2,000,000:1
 
 
   Brightness:   250 cd/m²
 
 
   Response Time:   5 ms
 
 
   Horizontal Viewing Angle:   170 degrees
 
 
   Vertical Viewing Angle:   160 degrees
 
 
   Dimensions With Stand:   20.9" x 15.6" x 8.1"
 
 
   Unit Weight:   12 lbs.
 
 
   Power Consumption:   22W
 
-------------------------

Asus found this...

Product Specification:
Environmental Standards ENERGY STAR Qualified Yes
Power Power Consumption Stand by / Sleep 1 Watt
Power Consumption Operational 33 Watt
Form Factor External
Miscellaneous Compliant Standards CE, UL, VCCI, C-Tick, BSMI, cUL, WHQL, CB, CCC, PSB, FCC, RoHS, WEEE, PSE Mark, GOST-R, MEPS, J-MOSS
Features Tilt adjustment, swivel adjustment, K-lock security slot
Cables Included 1 x HDMI-DVI cable
Expansion / Connectivity Interfaces 1 x VGA - 15 pin HD D-Sub (HD-15) ¦ 1 x DVI-D - 24 pin digital DVI ( with adapter ) ¦ 1 x HDMI - 19 pin HDMI Type A ¦ 1 x headphones - mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm
Audio Output Type Headphone
General Weight 8.6 lbs
Height 16.9 in
Depth 8.7 in
Width 22 in
Display Type LCD display / TFT active matrix
Enclosure Color Black, white
Image Image Max V-View Angle 160
Image Max H-View Angle 170
Image Contrast Ratio 10000000:1 (dynamic)
Image Brightness 250 cd/m2
Video Input Analog Video Signal RGB
Digital Video Standard High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI)
Display Max Resolution 1920 x 1080
Diagonal Size 23" - widescreen
Max Sync Rate (V x H) 75 Hz x 85 Hz
Dot Pitch / Pixel Pitch 0.265 mm
Signal Input HDMI, VGA
Controls / Adjustments Brightness, contrast, input select, color temperature
Color Support 16.7 million colors
Features HDCP, LED-backlit, ASUS Splendid Video Intelligence Technology, Skin-Tone Selection, Trace Free Technology, ASUS Smart Contrast Ratio (ASCR), ASUS Splendid Video Preset Mode
Response Time 2 ms
Display Positions Adjustments Swivel, tilt
Tilt Angle 25

[Shrike]

Might want to check out the 120hz Asus model. Supposedly, it's pretty hot. Not cheap, though.  http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824009222 .TN panel, but haven't heard too much bad about it.

Personally, I'd be looking at the HP 30". Ahem. Too much is never enough. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824176177 . I've seen them--once--at about a grand even. But heck, look at the thing! What's not to like?

[Severian]

What's not to like?

Well, when it comes to gaming one thing to consider is the additional graphic horsepower you need to drive a higher resolution like 2560 x 1600 at equivalent refresh rates to a 1920 x 1080.

[Sky]

I have a 61" monitor for sale quite reasonable :)

[Ghambit]

Remember the 1st rule of display tech.:

1)  Size trumps all other considerations

e.g.
If you can get a high quality 21"er at the price of a standard 24"er, buy the 24.

[Viin]

Gateway is coming out with new models that look real slick:




http://www.maximumpc.com/article/news/gateway_goes_style_points_three_new_ultra-slim_led_monitors

[Sky]

1)  Size trumps all other considerations

Exactly! Buy the 61" for what you'd pay for a 24"!

Plus...you'd be owning a part of history, the famous "George" tv. You can now hug and kiss it your very own self!

(Really, I need this thing out of my garage and more wood for the pile, offer open to any f13 members in the region, I'll cut you a wicked deal)

[Ghambit]

What by George IS 'your area?'

[Shrike]

Well, when it comes to gaming one thing to consider is the additional graphic horsepower you need to drive a higher resolution like 2560 x 1600 at equivalent refresh rates to a 1920 x 1080.

Eh, details.

[Sky]

What by George IS 'your area?'

Upstate NY.

[Lantyssa]

I'll buy you a drink, and maybe dinner, if you drive it to Texas.

[Trippy]

AOC e2236Vw 21.5" Widescreen LED LCD Monitor - 1080p, 1920x1080, 16:9, 2000000:1 Dynamic, 5ms, VGA, DVI

AOC e2236Vw 21.5" Widescreen LED LCD Monitor
With the AOC e2236Vw 21.5" Widescreen LED LCD Monitor you can view hours of LED sharpness. The e2236Vw provides brilliant pictures with low energy consumption that lowers energy bills. The e2236Vw comes with a USB connector to connect storage devices with ease. Enhance your pc center with the AOC e2236Vw 21.5" Widescreen LED LCD Monitor.

What It Is And Why You Need It:

21.5" Viewable Screen Size
2,000,000:1 (DCR) Contrast Ratio
5ms Response Time
USB Port


OR


ASUS ML238H 23-Inch Wide Ultra-Slim LED Monitor (Black/White)

Technical Details
23-inch LED Wide (16:9) - 1920 x 1080
2 ms Response Time
HDMI 1.3, DVI-D (via HDMI-to-DVI cable), 15-Pin D-Sub
Ultra-slim 16.5 mm Profile
ASUS Splendid Technology



Besides the price difference I want quality more.  Now if the difference isn't very large then price is probably worth considering.  The size isn't all that different I think.  What do you guys feel

If by "quality" you mean image quality you are basically talking about which panel does a better job of polishing a turd as TN panels (which both of those are) are the crappiest in terms of image quality you can buy. If you mean build quality I would assume the ASUS is better.

Also size does matter, or more accurately Pixels Per Inch matters. Depending on your eyesight and typical viewing distance 1080p on a 21.5" may make things way too small. Yes you can adjust the DPI/scaling depending on your version of Windows but that only goes so far. However if you go with a larger screen with the same resolution without changing the viewing distance you have another problem which is that TN's craptastic viewing angles become noticeable in normal usage.

[Sky]

I'll buy you a drink, and maybe dinner, if you drive it to Texas.

Sadly, it doesn't have wheels.

[PkProjects]

Remember the 1st rule of display tech.:

1)  Size trumps all other considerations

e.g.
If you can get a high quality 21"er at the price of a standard 24"er, buy the 24.

This only applies to anything <32", but I think a PC screen won't be bigger than that.
Might be 61".

[Bunk]

Size over quality does not apply if you plan to use it heavily for photoshop.

My parents (my Dad) asked me to come up with an idea for a Christmas gift I wanted this year that had some cost, so that they (my Mom) wouldn't just end up buying a shit load of cheap gifts this year. So I'm asking for a monitor. My old 20" died last month.

My parents live in the boonies, so shipping is good, and I know my Dad deals with Dell on a business level all the time, so this is what I'm looking at:

 Dell UltraSharp U2311H 23"
http://accessories.dell.com/sna/products/Displays/productdetail.aspx?c=ca&l=en&s=dhs&cs=cadhs1&sku=320-9270

The newer U24 is nicer, with some additional features, but is twice the price and outside the range I feel comfortable asking for.

[Cyrrex]

I've decided that monitors fall into three categories (and in an amazing coincidence, I have all three):

You got the technically advanced one...the 120hz 3d model or something else amazing.  Size matters not.

You got the big, beautiful one.  24 inches or larger, with a bright, hi-res display.

You got the projector or other massive screen for the OMG IT'S FUKKIN HUGE factor.


In my opinion, don't buy a monitor that isn't one of the above.

[PkProjects]

I've decided that monitors fall into three categories (and in an amazing coincidence, I have all three):

You got the technically advanced one...the 120hz 3d model or something else amazing.  Size matters not.

You got the big, beautiful one.  24 inches or larger, with a bright, hi-res display.

You got the projector or other massive screen for the OMG IT'S FUKKIN HUGE factor.


In my opinion, don't buy a monitor that isn't one of the above.

Big and beautiful can still be in the OMG ITS FUKKIN HUGE.
And have you ever used 3d, in games as in movies. What is it like? And how big is your 3d screen.

[Cyrrex]

I've decided that monitors fall into three categories (and in an amazing coincidence, I have all three):

You got the technically advanced one...the 120hz 3d model or something else amazing.  Size matters not.

You got the big, beautiful one.  24 inches or larger, with a bright, hi-res display.

You got the projector or other massive screen for the OMG IT'S FUKKIN HUGE factor.


In my opinion, don't buy a monitor that isn't one of the above.

Big and beautiful can still be in the OMG ITS FUKKIN HUGE.
And have you ever used 3d, in games as in movies. What is it like? And how big is your 3d screen.

Sure, you can combine the categories.   That's icing on the cake.  My 3d screen is the small one (22")  For certain games, it is glorious to behold.

[Chinchilla]

Wow great info and suggestions!  Thank u very much. If I may ask what is a TN Panel?  I know both of those per what Trippy said, but was wondering what they are?

[Trippy]

Wow great info and suggestions!  Thank u very much. If I may ask what is a TN Panel?  I know both of those per what Trippy said, but was wondering what they are?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TFT_LCD

TN panels are the cheapest of the consumer computer display TFT technologies which is why they are so prevalent. Unfortunately other than response times they are worse than the other panel types used in consumer computer displays.

[Sky]

In my opinion, don't buy a monitor that isn't one of the above.

Yeah, all three is awesome! 

[Stormwaltz]

Remember the 1st rule of display tech.:

1)  Size trumps all other considerations

If I want sheer size, I look at TVs. When I look at monitors, I'm primarily looking at resolution. Size is only a factor to the extent that the screen is big enough to display the resolution well. The reason I've stuck with non-widescreen monitors for so long is that widecreen LCDs took time to match the 1600x1200 resolution I've enjoyed since the turn of the century.

EDIT: That said, prices on the 1920x1080s seem to be down enough that I might consider shopping around as well.

[Bunk]

They dropped quite a bit. Looking at Dell's site, they have 24" 1920s for under the $200 price point now.

[PkProjects]

I recently got me a BenQ 22" screen, 1920x1080 for only €80,- Now THAT was a deal!
I'm using it to check my mail, chat on MSN, and run other programs on while I'm gaming on my TV, 32" Samsung screen. Great setup.

[Fraeg]

I bought a samsung syncmaster xl2370 23"  LED backlit with 2ms response time.  IIRC it was about $300 and I would buy it again in a heartbeat.   Sure you can drop serious cash on much better monitors but for 300 bucks you can own something great.

newegg has it for$299
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824001380

If you are on a tight budget I would recommend this bad boy.

[Sheepherder]

The response time spec that monitors are given are effectively meaningless.

[Salamok]

The response time spec that monitors are given are effectively meaningless.

As opposed to the truly meaningful specs like contrast.  Lets face it, as soon as the marketing folks get involved in spec writing then all the specs become effectively meaningless.

[Shrike]

Go big or go home.

The only meaningful specs are the panel type (from which your performance derives) and the size. The rest is so much marketing folderol. It's effectively meaningless unless it's from an independent test from a reliable enthusiast site. The best thing to look for is the retailers return policy. That way if you get a dog, you have some recourse. LCD quality is so wildly variable even among the same model that you'd best have this in mind.

[Sheepherder]

As opposed to the truly meaningful specs like contrast.  Lets face it, as soon as the marketing folks get involved in spec writing then all the specs become effectively meaningless.

I'm not disputing that.  I'm drawing attention to the fact that the boast of 2ms response time specifically singled out as being meaningful by Fraeg is in fact horseshit.

The only meaningful specs are the panel type (from which your performance derives) and the size.

You're forgetting native resolution, which should be a massive fucking consideration depending on the age and quality of your GPU.

[Shrike]

Most size categories of panels only have one or two native resolutions associatied with them. The 26"-27" region is the only one that really springs to mind, with 1920x1080 and 2560x1440. Unless your eyesight is particularly bad, I don't see why you'd want the former with a dot pitch that coarse.

Regardless, lots of pixels are hard to drive, but that really shouldn't be news in the really large monitors. Actually, I consider resolution the primary spec. The physical size derives from that. At one time, I did have a 19" 1600x1200 Sony F400, but it was a real oddball in its category. Man, that thing was fine, but print was way small. I iniitally drove it with an nVidia G2Ultra.

Some of this depends on what sorts of games you play. Things like WoW and most RPGs don't require the same sort of video horsepower as games like Metro 2033 or Crysis. Big, hi-res monitors are truly glorious, though. With more games supporting DX11 (even WoW is now heading in that direction with 4.0 and on), we're all looking at vid card upgrades very soon. This next coming generation or two of cards should be able to handle things like 2560x1600 reasonably well and at increasingly affordable costs.

[Draegan]

Gateway is coming out with new models that look real slick:




http://www.maximumpc.com/article/news/gateway_goes_style_points_three_new_ultra-slim_led_monitors

Those are some pretty good prices too.

[jth]

I just dug out this one from storage for my "retro gaming station":


http://www.c64-wiki.com/index.php/Commodore_1084

Despite it's age it has much better picture quality and more accurate colors than almost any CRT TV, and thus perfect for older consoles. I currently have SNES, Sega CDX, Sega Master System and Saturn connected to it via RGB (using a switchbox) and NES, N64 via composite video.

[PkProjects]

I just dug out this one from storage for my "retro gaming station":


http://www.c64-wiki.com/index.php/Commodore_1084

Despite it's age it has much better picture quality and more accurate colors than almost any CRT TV, and thus perfect for older consoles. I currently have SNES, Sega CDX, Sega Master System and Saturn connected to it via RGB (using a switchbox) and NES, N64 via composite video.

That's a great TV for when you don't need a high resolution.