Making my mind up on a new monitor

[SupaT]

My main problem while shopping for something, is that I'll make a decision that I feel comfortable with, then whilst shopping around for a better deal I come across other products that just add that element of doubt into my mind

I'm off to Maplins at the weekend to size up the monitors, as I can't decide if I want 20" or 22" (I've heard that at the same resolution, 20" monitors provide the better picture as downscaling it better than upscaling?)

Anyway my current short-list is:

http://www.b4udirect.com/index.cfm?c...071624/&bhcp=1

http://www.amazon.co.uk/LG-L204WT-Wi.../dp/B000IY0F9O

http://www.pixmania.co.uk/uk/uk/5893...m=2#tech-specs

http://www.scan.co.uk/Product.aspx?WebProductId=628496

http://www.laskys.com/pcs_and_laptop...WIDESCREEN+TFT

Any recommendations/warnings gratefuly received.

(Edit: Missed one)

[dfour]

Also worth checking out is this one.

http://forums.hexus.net/current-barg...vx2255wmb.html

Ignore the pants speakers and built in webcam (unless you want one)

Im just awaiting mine to be delivered

[colmo]

I'm off to Maplins at the weekend to size up the monitors, as I can't decide if I want 20" or 22" (I've heard that at the same resolution, 20" monitors provide the better picture as downscaling it better than upscaling?)

You don't upscale or downscale anything on a monitor - you use it at the native resolution, which in the case of most wide 20 and 22 inchers is 1600x1050 or thereabouts - the difference is that size only changes the pixel pitch.

I wrote a fairly comprehensive low-down on choosing a monitor here:

Re: Monitor help

It would help to let us know what your primary and secondary uses would be.

[SupaT]

Sorry, primarily for gaming, secondarily for watching movies/web-surfing.

[colmo]

Sorry, primarily for gaming, secondarily for watching movies/web-surfing.

Great, that narrows it down to a monitor with:
1. TN film panel (cheapest per inch)
2. Fast response time (2-3 ms)
3. at least 2 DVI inputs (if you use a separate video source than the PC)
4. HDCP compliance (your video card will need this too for HD output)
5. Widescreen (not likely to find a HDCP monitor that isn't wide)
6. No pivot function necessary

So:
Scrub the Asus 20", it's a DSUB connector only. The rest appear to be HDCP, but may only have one DVI input (in addition to a DSUB). You'll have to check yourself - I can't claim to know much about different retailers, save that Amazon have always been good about returns.

Here's a search for the spec you are after on Idealo.co.uk

[MuckinFunkie]

i have a asus 19" wide and its perfect at 1440x900 but scan dont have them anymore but a mate of mine got this and its crystal and worth the money.

it was on a today only deal last week with £20 knocked off.

[SupaT]

Colmo, you sir are a true gent.

Very helpful advice (I've decided to go for the LG), and because of that IDeal.co.uk I've found it at a cheaper price than I was looking at yesterday.

You have my deepest gratitude!

[Ciber]

My advice would be not to skimp on quality and save up to get the biggest you possbly can. After all you are likely to be spending many hours looking at your screen over several years. I saved for months to buy my current screen and I'm so glad I did.

Of those screens I would get the samsung 22" every time, but not from pixmania. I hear that pixmania are awful for customer service.

I would suggest this for your approximate budget: http://www.scan.co.uk/Product.aspx?WebProductId=604046

Or this: http://www.ebuyer.com/product/125098

[SupaT]

Thanks for the input, but I've already ordered.

I decided to go with a 20" as my desk isn't the biggest, and while pyhsical size of fitting a monitor onto it isn't a problem, I don't sit that far away so I got the smaller screen to make it easier on my eyes.