Help convert a die hard CRT'er

I use dual monitors, one Dell 2405 (24" TFT) for all my 3D design / Photoshop / Games engines work where response time isn't important and a Samsung 1100DF 21" CRT for gaming.

I like the wide-screen of the Dell, but the response time makes FPS un-enjoyable for me. Some people say its fine, but having used high-end CRT's all my life, TFT's just feel slow and laggy.....Textures blur, everything looses detail, and a native resolution bugs me.

BUT, im going to give them a new shot. Its been a couple of years since I looked at gaming TFT's. I thought they were crap then, so I'm wondering if my opinion will change with the event of an additional 2 years of technology.

So recommend me the best "gaming" TFT's out there with the lowest response time, minimum of 22". I'm looking for actual experiences with them and not manufacture quoted figures.

Cheers all :)

My Syncmaster 940BF is spot on for gaming, haven't' got higher than that yet.

Samsung SM225BW just bought one of these for a build it is excellent and at £179.99 del.

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/117386

Cheers you two.
In addition to my above post: I'm not to worried about the cost :)

I just wish they still made new widescreen CRT's :(

If it\'s for gaming, can you drop the colour quality a bit? If so, you should be able to find a gaming LCD. I can\'t personally recommend one though - every one I\'ve tried as been good, but still inferior to a CRT.

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Originally Posted by kalniel

but still inferior to a CRT.

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............and what you don't know about, you don't miss.....eh

Quote:

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Originally Posted by redlight

Samsung SM225BW just bought one of these for a build it is excellent and at £179.99 del.

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/117386

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I've also got this monitor and can recommend it. Theres a new version out now though with a better response time - SM226BW.

This thread on Anandtech is very good http://forums.anandtech.com/messagev...readid=2049206

I don't believe response time is an issue so much these days but input lag is the real bugbear for TFTs and that is never quoted by the manufacturers. Like yourself I use a 22" CRT for FPS games and a TFT for everything else. I am trying not to use the CRT at all so that I will become "accustomed" to the TFT lag.

Well the refresh issue with LCDs isn't with the LCD itself, it's with your eyes own memory effect. An LCD changes from one colour directly to another - if the change isn't large your brain just ignores it and remembers the old colour for a while. A CRT on the other hand only flashes up colour for a brief moment in time before it fades to black, ready for a new scan. This flick to black between refreshes is enough to clear out your 'brain cache' and your eyes update to the new frame much quicker.

Some of the newer gamer screens now change to black inbetween frames to emulate the same thing, not sure if they've got it right yet. 120hz displays will be fast enough to do this without any drop in quality, but they're not quite here yet.

Do read that Anandtech thread, it was very useful to me.

Don't get a 22" screen - they all (at least up to a few months ago) use inferior TN panels which don't show true colours.

For what it's worth, I'm a Graphics Designer and had the same keenness to remain with CRTs but I am looking at a pair of Asus PW201s (20.1" P-MVA panels, 1680x1050 in dualview setup) and I'm perfectly happy with them. They cost about £320 each. If you're not worried about the budget, you've got nothing to worry about!

I'm afraid CRTs are just not about anymore so your choice is pretty much made up, but thankfully TFTs have got a hell of a lot better.

DM

Ive got a 19" NEC 90gx2, and I have to say Im really pleased with it. I couldnt really give an accurate assessment of response time, but I cant say ive ever noticed it being sluggish with respect to games. Im also a graphic designer / web designer / photographer and whilst the monitor is essentially a gaming monitor, its more than adequate for most types of design work.
Id definitely recommend it, its a good compromise between a full on design monitor like a lacie and a gaming monitor.
In case you were wondering, current pirce is around £200