Halo 1 & 2 for PC
This topic has moved here: Subject: Which monitor would be best?
  • Subject: Which monitor would be best?
Subject: Which monitor would be best?
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Ok guy's, I just built my first pc and the only thing I am lacking is a decent monitor. Fund's are a bit low from putting almost every dime into the tower. I can come up with around 300.00 for a new monitor, and want your guy's opinion on what would be best for the system I have, and for gaming. Halo mainly.

I am using a 17 inch, 4 year old Dell monitor. It does the job, but would like a newer, nicer one. Will I gain any visual performance with a new one? Will it effect my framerate? Horizontal tearing?

I have my current one set at 60 hz and my throttle on Halo set at No Vsync. I notice tearing in intense battles, although it doesnt bother me, just makes it look cheap.

Thank's for any advice guy's.

  • 03.09.2006 6:45 AM PDT
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how large were you looking for?

i personally recommend a viewsonic... but i havent done all the research into the brands.

  • 03.09.2006 8:01 AM PDT
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Your system is way above and beyond so why would you not use vsync? Thats what your tearing is from. Turn it on and have another look.

edit: forgot about the monitor thing. I recommend going to the store and looking at them directly. I have looked at monitors that people swear by and then I saw them in the store and didn't like them.

Personally I have a refurbed 21" dell thats got a trinitron tube that plays Halo very sweetly. It was also half the price of a new 21" monitor.

[Edited on 3/9/2006]

  • 03.09.2006 8:18 AM PDT
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Posted by: ZZZENNN
Ok guy's, I just built my first pc and the only thing I am lacking is a decent monitor. Fund's are a bit low from putting almost every dime into the tower. I can come up with around 300.00 for a new monitor, and want your guy's opinion on what would be best for the system I have, and for gaming. Halo mainly.

I am using a 17 inch, 4 year old Dell monitor. It does the job, but would like a newer, nicer one. Will I gain any visual performance with a new one? Will it effect my framerate? Horizontal tearing?

I have my current one set at 60 hz and my throttle on Halo set at No Vsync. I notice tearing in intense battles, although it doesnt bother me, just makes it look cheap.

Thank's for any advice guy's.


http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E1682417901 4

That monitor has a refresh rate of 80khz. The higher the refresh rate, the less horizontal tearing you'll see.

  • 03.09.2006 8:53 AM PDT
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Posted by: Brainpr0n
Your system is way above and beyond so why would you not use vsync? Thats what your tearing is from. Turn it on and have another look.

edit: forgot about the monitor thing. I recommend going to the store and looking at them directly. I have looked at monitors that people swear by and then I saw them in the store and didn't like them.

Personally I have a refurbed 21" dell thats got a trinitron tube that plays Halo very sweetly. It was also half the price of a new 21" monitor.


I have it on no vsync cause my monitor is set at 60 hz. I get better framerates than 60fps. So I deal with the tearing. My monitor seem's to flicker too much above 60 hz.

Thanks.

  • 03.09.2006 8:55 AM PDT

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Try to see if you can find a monitor that can handle 85 or 90 Hz. Also if you can get a flat screen those seem to have better color then the tubes. My monitor at work is a 19" flat screen and I have a Halo screenshot as my background. I drool at that picture everyday and I'm hoping to sneak this monitor home at some point.

  • 03.09.2006 9:51 AM PDT
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Thank's Igg. The funny thing is, I also have a 19" flat screen at work and have thought of bringing home for a night.

I will check online some more.

Thank's again all.

  • 03.09.2006 9:55 AM PDT
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I have Gaba 15". It rocks,on the settings the refreshing rate is 75hz,altough i got a crap as video card...thats my thing that you need a new screen,i need a new card.....

  • 03.09.2006 10:07 AM PDT
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Thats cool. I can get better framerates on my rig too, but to me a higher framerate with tearing looks much worse than a slightly lower framerate with no tearing at all.

It boils down to personal taste I guess. Have you at least tried it for a while with the vsync on with your monitor at 60hz?

  • 03.09.2006 10:49 AM PDT
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You might want to look into the the dell flatscreens, especialy the 2405fpw, i'm not sure of american prices though, so it may be out of your price range.

  • 03.09.2006 10:55 AM PDT
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Posted by: Brainpr0n
Thats cool. I can get better framerates on my rig too, but to me a higher framerate with tearing looks much worse than a slightly lower framerate with no tearing at all.

It boils down to personal taste I guess. Have you at least tried it for a while with the vsync on with your monitor at 60hz?


I had it on vsync for a few day's and couldn't hit a damn thing. I then turned it off and had one of my best night's, which was last night. I almost took a few death's on purpose so I wouldn't get the usuall bot accusation's. Could have been just a good night.

But I will mess around with it a bit more.....Thank's!

  • 03.09.2006 12:11 PM PDT

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Posted by: ZZZENNN

I had it on vsync for a few day's and couldn't hit a damn thing. I then turned it off and had one of my best night's, which was last night. I almost took a few death's on purpose so I wouldn't get the usuall bot accusation's. Could have been just a good night.

But I will mess around with it a bit more.....Thank's!


Well damn I'm turning off vsynch to see if there is any truth to that!

  • 03.09.2006 12:23 PM PDT
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Make sure to check the dot pitch of a monitor before you buy. Try not to buy anything that has a dot pitch higher than .26

The dot pitch and the refresh rate are two really good ways to determine how crisp and clean everything on a monitor will look. The higher the refresh rate, the better. The lower the dot pitch, the better.

Do NOT sacrifice dot pitch for refresh rate. I consider dot pitch to be more essential than refresh rate to a good looking screen. Most monitors won't go below 70-75MHz anymore, which is a perfectly fine refresh rate, so keep a sharp eye out for the dot pitch.

  • 03.09.2006 12:50 PM PDT
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check out these monster sized displays:
http://www.apple.com/displays/

  • 03.09.2006 8:38 PM PDT
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you want something with a really low response time.

In my opinion, along with much of the world, samsung makes the best LCD monitors. I have had 4 of them and they are all amazing. I bought one about 3 years ago which I sold to buy the 2nd one. That 2nd one is on my brothers pc. Now i have on on both of my computers.


Try to find something with an 12ms response time or lower. Screw the refresh rate, the average monitor is like at least 80hz so that wont really be a problem. Check out the samsung synchmaster 740N, its about $250 for a 17". Thats the one that i have on my brothers computer, its really really sharp, bright colors, great for gaming, and a 1280x1024 native resolution.

Here is the samsung 740N. This is a great monitor, and one of the best sellers at bestbuy(where i work). I own one of these and its great. Amazing for gaming, and epseically for the price of onlu $212. This is a very nice monitor epseically for the price

IF YOU EVER SEE A 19" THAT IS UNDER $300 DONT BUY IT!!!! or else you will regret it. The larger the monitors are, the more the appearance deteriorates. Most of the "cheap" 19" lcd's are very grainy looking, and dull colors. dont bother with 19" monitors unless you have at least $325-250 for a nice one.

  • 03.09.2006 8:58 PM PDT
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Thats funny Zen because I am the exact opposite. I play much better with vsync on. Go figure. (shrug)

  • 03.10.2006 5:05 AM PDT
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The better monitors will be your brand name options. Stick with your Samsung's, Sony's and the like. I've worked with many Dell products on a LAN and I feel their quality is a little short of the goal, although I've never had a problem with a monitor labeled Dell. Avoid buying equipment from the internet unless they have a solid reputation or call the manufacturer.

Purchasing equipment from the internet is almost always cheaper than walking into a Circuit City, Best Buy or other brick and mortar business. However, the brick and mortar shops normally are authorized dealers of what they sell. What that means is that on Sony equipment you normally get about 12 months parts and labor for service if you have a problem. But, if you made the purchase from someone that is not an authorised dealer of the product, that warrenty is no good. Most web RESELLERS are not authorized dealers, thus your warrenty would be junk.

Again, if you are really looking to purchase something on the internet, get the name of the company and call the maker. Remember that the name of the company that you are making the purchase from may be different from what they pay their bills buy. So if you call Sony and ask if hhgregg is an authorised dealer, they would say no. If you ask if Gregg's Appliances, Inc. is an authorized dealer, they would say yes.

[Edited on 3/10/2006]

  • 03.10.2006 8:41 AM PDT