Looking to get a new monitor, want to go bigger but not sure of the impact

Hope you guys can help

I'm looking to upgrade my monitor for pc gaming

At the moment I have this as a monitor.
Computer hardware and software at amazing prices, available online from Scan Computers UK

It's ok but I think I want to go bigger :)

I was looking at this Computer hardware and software at amazing prices, available online from Scan Computers UK

I'm currently running a GT8800 GTX and I play my games in 1680 x 1050

I'm most likely going to upgrade to this card BFG Nvidia 9800GX2 1024Mb PCIe2 HDCP

What I want to know is:

1) What resolution will that new screen run games at? Are there any problems with going over a certain size, most games I've seen only go up to 1680 x 1050?

2) Will the current card I have be capable of running that size and will the 9800GX2 be ok or do I need to go down the SLI route?

3) Is it worth it ? Is bigger actually better?

4)I'm just using the standard digital connectors, are there better connectors that I could buy to give a better picture?

5)Will this panel suffer from ghosting?

6)Is this the best 26" panel around for the money?

7)If I go for it, I just need to check it will actually fit on my desk :) Am I right in thinking the 26" is the diagonal size from corner to corner?

Thanks in advance

Wait 2 weeks to see what the new cards offer... or to get the current range for cheaper :)

1) 24/26 inch screens are 1920x1200 which is what you will have to game at
2) It will run most games, but it will struggle with the likes of crysis on high detail with AA/AF (that applies to the GX2 too, although it will cope better)
3) Don't get monitor for the size, get it for the resolution. That viewsonic monitor does not have DVI. I suggest you go for the Dell 2408.
4) Digital is digital. Quality won't be different if it works properly. But that viewsonic monitor does not have a digital input! The new connector is called displayport but it is only really needed for super-uber high resolutions.
5) Don't know.
6) Probably not. Get one with DVI
7) Yes

1) any supported resolutions, although non-native wont look the best
2) The 3870 X2 is (much) cheaper and powerful enough for anything you can throw at it.
3) in this case, yes.
4) no, bit 1 is bit 1, unless you're getting randomly foobar'ed pixels, stick with what you have, it's like monster selling £60+ HDMI cables claiming the quality is better than bundled cables, it's bollocks.
5) With a 3ms response?.. naw
6) Probably. But "best" is a very subjective term when it comes to monitors.
7) Correct.

Cheers guys very useful indeed.

I think I'll hang on a few weeks then for the card.

I have a PK5 Mobo and a Enermax Infiniti Modular 650W PSU will that be ok to run these new cards.

Don't suppose you know how much they are going to retail for?

Finally is the 1920x1200 not a native resolution then?
Will that make the picture look strange?

Going to look into that Dell model, but it's 24", I'm at 22" at the moment so I really wanted to go to 26" to notice a difference, any recomended retailers about for those other than scan?

1) like its already answered 1920x1200 and lower resolutions
2) a 8800gts 512mb will be enough for alot of the games that resolution so your's should be fine. like SiM suggested, wait till the new cards come out and awhile longer for the prices to stabilise
3) bigger is better to a certain extent.... that monitor has the same resolution as a 24", since the resolution is the same that means the number of pixels are too. but the one you're looking at will have bigger pixels because the screen is bigger. bigger pixels aren't very good looking compared to smaller ones :)
4) no need for me to say it again....
5) hmm... 3ms response time.... it is a bigger screen, and the bigger they are the slower they are generally.... not sure if i would completely trust that figure, but i don't think it would be bad if there were. don't quote me on that though!
6) for the price, probably. for the quality and inputs etc, definitely not.
7) yep yep

i would recommend getting a decent 24", it's big but not too overwhelming and there's a lot more choice out there

EDIT: 1920x1200 IS the native resolution for this monitor, anything other than that is non-native. (you can't go higher than the native resolution on a lcd). also 24" monitors do full 1080p.... thats the major selling point over 22" imo

Quote:

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Originally Posted by kinkladze10

I think I'll hang on a few weeks then for the card.

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Personally I'd wait a little longer for the new batch of GPUs which are due 'shortly'. If anything, it'll drive the prices of the current gen cards down a fair bit.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by kinkladze10

I have a PK5 Mobo and a Enermax Infiniti Modular 650W PSU will that be ok to run these new cards.

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Yup.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by kinkladze10

Don't suppose you know how much they are going to retail for?

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I'm afraid not, both AMD and nVidia are remaining rather tight lipped about their new chips.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by kinkladze10

Finally is the 1920x1200 not a native resolution then?

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Yeah, the only problem with that monitor is that it lacks a DVI port, which means you're forced into analog signals which is poorer for image quality, I wasn't even aware there were VGA only monitors these days.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by kinkladze10

Going to look into that Dell model, but it's 24", I'm at 22" at the moment so I really wanted to go to 26" to notice a difference, any recomended retailers about for those other than scan?

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Could deal with Dell directly. Froogle is good for looking for prices too.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by aidanjt

Yeah, the only problem with that monitor is that it lacks a DVI port, which means you're forced into analog signals which is poorer for image quality, I wasn't even aware there were VGA only monitors these days.

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That's why this one is so cheap. VGA only monitor are still sold.... mainly to profit from the unsuspecting average joe who doesn't know what DVI is...

Great, thanks again for all the help here.

I'm glad I asked otherwise I would have gone for that monitor not knowing I was missing out on the DVI signal.

I'll do some scouting for a decent 26" with DVI and then upgrade the card in a month or so's time all being well.

I noticed this info on scan's site for the new cards

"* Please note that you must have 6pin AND 8pin PCI Express graphics card connectors on your PSU and both of these connected to the Graphics card.*

** Please DO NOT plug in your 8-pin motherboard (CPU) connector from the PSU to the graphics card as this will blow the card and invalidate your warranty. Please refer to document enclosed with your card for further instructions.**"

I'm a bit of noob when it comes to this and I don't fancy blowing up a card I've probably spent around £400 on, how will I know which is the correct connectors or what they look like?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by SiM

That's why this one is so cheap. VGA only monitor are still sold.... mainly to profit from the unsuspecting average joe who doesn't know what DVI is...

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Indeed, <3 capitalism.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by kinkladze10

I noticed this info on scan's site for the new cards

"* Please note that you must have 6pin AND 8pin PCI Express graphics card connectors on your PSU and both of these connected to the Graphics card.*

** Please DO NOT plug in your 8-pin motherboard (CPU) connector from the PSU to the graphics card as this will blow the card and invalidate your warranty. Please refer to document enclosed with your card for further instructions.**"

I'm a bit of noob when it comes to this and I don't fancy blowing up a card I've probably spent around £400 on, how will I know which is the correct connectors or what they look like?

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Wouldn't worry about that much, you'd have to force the 8-pin motherboard connector onto the GPU to make it fit. A good PSU will have the connectors labeled, just look for something like "PCIe" labels on the cables.

ok thanks again for that :)

1)Games tend to only show the resolutions your current monitor supports. Current games should have no problem with that or 2560x1600 (next one up) but older games may struggle with sidescreen. 1600x1200 has been standard for years though so worst case if that you just have black bars on either side and have to play non-widescreen. As you've already got a widescreen you can probably be certain that any games that work with your current monitor will work with a 1920x1200 screen..

2) As others have said, wait a few months for the new cards. Anything a GTX has trouble with is going to cause pains for a GX2 as well.

4)I'm pretty sure DVI incorporates some sort of error correction so the signal sent is the exact same one that arrives which means the quality of the cable doesn't matter so much, higher quality cables will carry the signal for longer distances but for the 1-2m of the standard monitor cable a £3 cable will do. Oh, and dual-link only matters if you're running a 30" display or a 24" at more than 60hz (not very common).

5)The one you've got is apparently a 5ms tr/tf TN which seems to be the least responsive type on the market today so I wouldn't worry about ghosting

6)As others have said this is a very cheap screen with no DVI. 26" and 28" aren't terribly well populated sectors of the market yet so there isn't a lot of choice and what choice there is tends to be overpriced. If you want an upgrade and can't afford a 30" screen (£900+) or the NEC 26" (£750) then your best bet may be to upgrade to a better quality panel in a 24" where they're abundant such as the Hazro HZ24W, BenQ FP241W or Dell 2408WFP for about £400-450. If that's a bit much then I believe there are some good quality 20" screens like the 20WGX2 at the same resolution as your current 22" for about £300.

7)26" is the screen diagonal rather than the entire monitor, add an inch or two on for the surround. A 26" screen is about 56cm centimetres across (excluding the surround).

Monitor resolution and size: 24" has a pixel pitch of 94dpi, 26" has one of 87dpi and 22" has one of 90dpi. If you go for a 24" everything will be slightly smaller and if you go for a 26" everything will be marginally bigger. Which is best depends on how close you are. Personally I sit quite far away so I like big pixels as the small ones make text hard to read but other people sit very close so like small pixels because they can see the edges of the bigger ones. Assuming you haven't got a hole in your desk like I have you can always move the screen back and forward a bit to cope and the difference between 2" at the same resolution isn't that big.

Thanks man again very useful info there.

I've just seen this monitor

Dell Ultrasharp 2707WFP 27" Widescreen LCD Flat Panel Monitor
Link here http://www.pcbuyit.co.uk/dept.asp?de...pt%5Fname=Dell

Again similar questions How would this compare for gaming to the Dell 24" (At the moment I'll be going for the 24") would this out a strain on the GPU?

I do intend to upgrade to one of the newer cards coming out in the next month or so, until then how would my little 8800GTX cope ?

Both monitors have the same resolution so it won't make any difference in terms of FPS.

Your GTX will murder most games at that res :)

Check out the new 26" samsung's soon to be available though, they are looking pretty tempting.

Good stuff then,
Any links on the new Samsung, I do like the sound of the a 26", I'm at 22" at the mo and 24" doesn't sound that much of a jump certainly not for 400 odd quid anyway.

How are Samsung, I've read other posts and heard sometimes their quality leaves a lot to be desired, is there any truth in that?

Don't suppose there is a site which compares these things
I'm still trying to understand which would look best out of the 24" and a 26" or 27"
IF they all display in the same resolution does it mean the image on the larger screen would look worse and more blocky as it's bigger pixels?

Some call it 25.5 some call it 26"

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=804247

offers the same sort of input range as the dell's, beter in fact

1 x Component Video
1 x D-Sub
1 x DVI-D
2 x HDMI
1 x RF
1 x S/PDIF out
1 x SCART

It's 1080p and got freeview built in as well. It's what I want right now :)

I quite like samsung monitors, they are normally much like LG's good screens but with decent bases :)