Monitors good for Gaming?

[Pudgyboi]

So the basics are that finally decided on getting Xbox360...or PS3..whichever it might be, I am getting a console soon but I still a something to play it on. Being a college student, living with four other people, I really don't have much room so I was thinking of getting just a LCD monitor to play on. Anyone have any suggestions on monitors that they are currently using or should I wait even longer to buy a freaking HDTV. Remember, College student..don't have much of the money.

 

[Theo Samaritan]

Ok bare in mind a major fact.

HDTV's are over-expensive PC monitors, with a lower resolution than you can actually get on a PC monitor of the same size (average PC monitor above 24" is 1920x1200. 1080p, the "magic HDTV number" is 1920x1080. 32 inch monitors can and often do go to 2560x1600, 32inch TV is still 1920x1080).

Get any PC monitor that has a refresh rate of 60hz, 16.7million colours (over 16.2m - colour changes can resort to banding with those colours lost) and a response time of 8ms or less and you will be fine. Contrast ratio around 400:1 will get most jobs done. Don't believe the numbers when they say 3000:1 or some such in the descriptions, they are often software controled iterations of 500:1 or below.

If you want to take advantage of the HD features you'll need a decent widescreen monitor that supports 1080p (so 1920x1200 - most quality monitors will leave black bands top and bottom of the image if the image is 1080p). 24inch monitors are reasonably cheap these days.

Ofcourse you will also need to buy a convert for your xbox so it can use the monitor (if the monitor doesnt have native HDMI or component, and they tend not to).

 

[Pudgyboi]

Ok bare in mind a major fact.

HDTV's are over-expensive PC monitors, with a lower resolution than you can actually get on a PC monitor of the same size (average PC monitor above 24" is 1920x1200. 1080p, the "magic HDTV number" is 1920x1080. 32 inch monitors can and often do go to 2560x1600, 32inch TV is still 1920x1080).

Get any PC monitor that has a refresh rate of 60hz, 16.7million colours (over 16.2m - colour changes can resort to banding with those colours lost) and a response time of 8ms or less and you will be fine. Contrast ratio around 400:1 will get most jobs done. Don't believe the numbers when they say 3000:1 or some such in the descriptions, they are often software controled iterations of 500:1 or below.

If you want to take advantage of the HD features you'll need a decent widescreen monitor that supports 1080p (so 1920x1200 - most quality monitors will leave black bands top and bottom of the image if the image is 1080p). 24inch monitors are reasonably cheap these days.

Ofcourse you will also need to buy a convert for your xbox so it can use the monitor (if the monitor doesnt have native HDMI or component, and they tend not to).

I was browsing through best buy today and I did see only one monitor with the Input cords in the back which cost like 500 dollars. Where might one get the convert so I could LCD monitors? and Is Samsung.. preferred? If you know.. anything bout it.

 

[crimson5pheonix]

Ok bare in mind a major fact.

HDTV's are over-expensive PC monitors, with a lower resolution than you can actually get on a PC monitor of the same size (average PC monitor above 24" is 1920x1200. 1080p, the "magic HDTV number" is 1920x1080. 32 inch monitors can and often do go to 2560x1600, 32inch TV is still 1920x1080).

Get any PC monitor that has a refresh rate of 60hz, 16.7million colours (over 16.2m - colour changes can resort to banding with those colours lost) and a response time of 8ms or less and you will be fine. Contrast ratio around 400:1 will get most jobs done. Don't believe the numbers when they say 3000:1 or some such in the descriptions, they are often software controled iterations of 500:1 or below.

If you want to take advantage of the HD features you'll need a decent widescreen monitor that supports 1080p (so 1920x1200 - most quality monitors will leave black bands top and bottom of the image if the image is 1080p). 24inch monitors are reasonably cheap these days.

Ofcourse you will also need to buy a convert for your xbox so it can use the monitor (if the monitor doesnt have native HDMI or component, and they tend not to).

So the basics are that finally decided on getting Xbox360...or PS3..whichever it might be, I am getting a console soon but I still a something to play it on. Being a college student, living with four other people, I really don't have much room so I was thinking of getting just a LCD monitor to play on. Anyone have any suggestions on monitors that they are currently using or should I wait even longer to buy a freaking HDTV. Remember, College student..don't have much of the money.

Also keep in mind that this is true, but computer monitors also tend to not have TV tuners which means you can't watch antenna TV on them. If you have cable or satellite, you also have to have a cable/satellite box with the right outputs to watch TV on it. Or a tv tuner in your PC. That being said look here, http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824254026

Edit: If you get a 360, you can use a VGA cable for the 360 and a DVI to HDMI for your computer monitor.

 

[Pudgyboi]

Well, I'm not to crazy bout TV, it's mainly going to be for watching movies and for xbox360..or PS3 whichever..

 

[crimson5pheonix]

Well, I'm not to crazy bout TV, it's mainly going to be for watching movies and for xbox360..or PS3 whichever..

Just informing you of the facts. In either case, I've heard good things about the LCD on the other side of that link. It has VGA and HDMI. It also has speakers if you don't have external speakers already.

 

[Pudgyboi]

I plan on getting.. http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8913385&type=product&id=1213399955235 any thoughts?

 

[jezz8me]

I got a nice Asus 19" widescreen 1440 x 600 monitor for a great price which was either about $200 AUS or $120. Awesome image and clarity. I put my PS3 through with a HDMI to DVI converter and looks stunning.

 

[Frybird]

If you don't mind sitting a bit closer to your Screen (not nose-touching close, but you can't sit back in your vast living room watching the screen on the other side of the room), a PC Monitor is perfectly fine for all your gaming needs.

The Xbox360 (don't know about the PS3) supports just about any resolution, and the picture is as sharp as on a HD-TV. Just might not have as much contrast, but given the price difference, that is a pretty fair sacrifice.

 

[hypothetical fact]

Get an HD TV if you want things big since monitors are designed to be watched from right in front of them while TV's from the other side of the room, and the loss of screen resolution is negligible.

 

[crimsondynamics]

Since both HD consoles struggle to even output in native 720p resolution, I would recommend to go for a 720p monitor / TV, as that would be the closest to the native resolution of the games you will play.

 

[whyarecarrots]

Just to throw in something completely radom here, but what are people's views of CRT screens?

A friend has just bought one for his new computer for £5, and is saying that the quality will be just as good as an LCD screen, but for much less.

Is this nonsense (sounds like it to me)?

 

[HeavyMeddle]

Just to throw in something completely radom here, but what are people's views of CRT screens?

A friend has just bought one for his new computer for £5, and is saying that the quality will be just as good as an LCD screen, but for much less.

Is this nonsense (sounds like it to me)?

CRT screens have a better viewing angle and around the same if not better refresh rate than the low end LCDs which would still be much more expensive, unless he's in dire need of the desk space taken up by a CRT then he's getting what he needs. However I wouldn't trust a monitor that cheap to last long.

 

[DYin01]

Ok bare in mind a major fact.

HDTV's are over-expensive PC monitors, with a lower resolution than you can actually get on a PC monitor of the same size (average PC monitor above 24" is 1920x1200. 1080p, the "magic HDTV number" is 1920x1080. 32 inch monitors can and often do go to 2560x1600, 32inch TV is still 1920x1080).

Get any PC monitor that has a refresh rate of 60hz, 16.7million colours (over 16.2m - colour changes can resort to banding with those colours lost) and a response time of 8ms or less and you will be fine. Contrast ratio around 400:1 will get most jobs done. Don't believe the numbers when they say 3000:1 or some such in the descriptions, they are often software controled iterations of 500:1 or below.

If you want to take advantage of the HD features you'll need a decent widescreen monitor that supports 1080p (so 1920x1200 - most quality monitors will leave black bands top and bottom of the image if the image is 1080p). 24inch monitors are reasonably cheap these days.

Ofcourse you will also need to buy a convert for your xbox so it can use the monitor (if the monitor doesnt have native HDMI or component, and they tend not to).

A response time of 8ms? I wouldn't go for anything but 2ms. You'll get major ghosting if you get 5ms or higher. I had it, and it sucks. When you play games, you DON'T want ghosting.

 

[Theo Samaritan]

A response time of 8ms? I wouldn't go for anything but 2ms. You'll get major ghosting if you get 5ms or higher. I had it, and it sucks. When you play games, you DON'T want ghosting.

The response time is only one thing that effects ghosting, you should know this!

Personally I have no trouble with 8ms monitors (but my own is still a 2ms) and they are worth looking into when on budget.

Corroded: The problem I have with it is that I can still get higher resolution for the same cost at the same size.

 

[clarinetJWD]

The response time isn't as important as it is often made out to be, though it's mostly a moot point because most monitors are 5 or less now.

Samsung is my brand of choice, but the most important part of the monitor is the panel type. S-IPA and S-PVA is what you want to look for. They are pricier, but trust me, it's worth it. I bought a 24" monitor with a TN panel, and even though they claim 160 degree viewing angle, you can see color shift just by sitting up straight... It's not awful, but it is worth the upgrade price