New monitor - 24" or 26"?

[Medium Dave]

'allo - if anyone who knows more about this than I do (which is more or less all of you, I expect) could give me a hand picking a monitor, I'd be very grateful...

To start with - I'm currently looking at a 26" Iiyama E2607WSD, 1920*1200 (sorry, I can't post a link - won't let me). Does anyone have any opinions on it? Is 26" just too much monitor?

I think I would prefer a 1920*1200 to 1080, as I use my machine most often for general computer stuff, rather than watching films. That said, I do watch some films (rarely HD), and play a bit of l4d.

I'm not sure whether to go 26" or 24", given that it'd be the same resolution either way. Would having a 26" stress my graphics card more, or is that entirely down to resolution?

I'm not looking to spend masses of money, as it's being bought for me as a gift, and I'd feel bad about asking for too much. 200 quid would be about the limit.

So - if you don't like the Iiyama above, any recommendations? Preferably 24 (or 26)", preferably (but not definitely) 16:10, and definitely 200 quid tops.

Cheers!

 

[Rastalovich]

I'm not sure whether to go 26" or 24", given that it'd be the same resolution either way. Would having a 26" stress my graphics card more, or is that entirely down to resolution?

I went 24" myself, in the Dell flavor. Don't know the Iiyama model.

The resolution is all ur gfxcard will care about. 26" over 24" wouldn't make a difference to it.

My way of looking at it was, as 26"/27" would be a stretched 24" standard, I'd stick with 24". Any bigger and I'd think 30".

 

[Sihastru]

Once you go 30" you never look back... lol. That's 2560x1600 (16:10).

There are new monitors with a 27" diagonal, that support 2560x1440 (16:9). That would be a good choice.

 

[sammytomjohn]

been lookin at this 1! thought it wud be good for the price!

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MO-051-IY&groupid=17&catid=510&subcat=

 

[k4p84]

After nearly 3 months of hunting and asking lots of questions I ended up getting this

HPLP2475W

So far I can say it is great.

There is a review here:

LINK

I would look at the DELL line too. I use them at work and they are good but there are lots to chose from, avoid the cheaper ranges though.

Ed

 

[Rastalovich]

After nearly 3 months of hunting and asking lots of questions I ended up getting this

HPLP2475W

So far I can say it is great.

There is a review here:

LINK

I would look at the DELL line too. I use them at work and they are good but there are lots to chose from, avoid the cheaper ranges though.

Ed

We use the 19" versions of these in work by the 100s, the 24"s we have are rare. Heck of alot better than the Samsung & Sharp ones we have by the 1000.

Have to say tho, the HP brand is good.

This isn't as easy a decision as it was so many years ago. Dell used to be the quality factor, but Samsung (who Dell are cherry picking screens from these days), iiyama, acer, asus, hp - infact quite a few brands, are making some really good ones these days. I've adopted an Eizo in work and it's definition is different again, usb controlled menus too

So much so that the £160 24" Sammy has linked to is so comparatively cheap, it'd be hard to argue against. Number of inputs sets it aside from many others - but so what ? Iiyama obviously identified that consumers what an affordable 24" screen without the many inputs professionals may use.

And ofc, £160 - what exactly can u complain about when u spend that ? And tbh u can only tell when 1 monitor is better than another when u see them side by side - usually.

(just make sure u haven't got a m8 who might bring his Dell over )

 

[sammytomjohn]

And ofc, £160 - what exactly can u complain about when u spend that ? And tbh u can only tell when 1 monitor is better than another when u see them side by side - usually.

thats what i was lookin at rasta! and the fact he said!

I think I would prefer a 1920*1200 to 1080, as I use my machine most often for general computer stuff, rather than watching films. That said, I do watch some films (rarely HD), and play a bit of l4d.

I'm not looking to spend masses of money, as it's being bought for me as a gift, and I'd feel bad about asking for too much. 200 quid would be about the limit.

i mean if he wanted a bargain there's always 1 of these! but he mentioned iiyama already! note this can be tilted horizontally too!

http://www.saverstore.com/product/20038801/AOC-24-LCD-Monitor-2436Pwa

 

[Medium Dave]

cheers

I shall llook into those now.

I've got a few in mind - there's a respectably-priced samsung with a PVA screen (F2380), a Dell with led backlights(G2410), the huge iiyama (which replaces the E2607WSV), a good samsung all-rounder (2443BW) - but a johnny-come-lately to the list is the Sync Master 2343BW. It's quite an odd resolution - 2048*1152 - but this means it seems to have the best of both worlds (16:9 format, but just about as useful as a 1920*1200). It's 23 inch - this combined with the pixel density should, to my mind, result in a very sharp picture - and the colours are said to be vivid and even.

I'm not understanding what's not to like about this screen - there must be something, or more people would be raving about it. What is it that I'm missing? I'm really leaning towards it, at the moment...

 

[Bungral]

Those Iiyama's can be a pain.

For a single purchase they are probably ok, but we bought a 30 - 40 of them for a project at work and a few more here and then afterwards and they had the most faulty on arrival than any of the other monitors we happen to buy.

I actually have the exact one Sammy linked to on my desk for every day use at work. It's picture is ok but definitely not as good as some of the more established brands. The connectivity on the other hand is great, with DSub, DVI and HDMI.

For the money it's alright so long as it turns up working as a no frills monitor.

 

[biscuitboy]

I went through this aswell before I dived in and bought my Samsung SM2433BW 24" and have to say, the sammy is the nutts.

Brilliant blacks, perfect contrast and out of the box a great picture.

Also, very good looking screen and standard samsung spacings for the wallmount meaning a cheap generic wallmount can be picked up off ebay easily.

Have to recommend spending the extra £40 on the samsung tbh. Ebuyer offer free postage aswell if you can wait 5 days!

 

[vesley]

many of the BenQ monitors are good

 

[jeff4952]

I'd go with a 26" if you can spare the money.

 

[Skorchio]

24 tbh, 26 is to big and if the res is the same 100% 24" as each pixel will be smaller = better picture!

 

[cl0ck_ed]

24 tbh, 26 is to big and if the res is the same 100% 24" as each pixel will be smaller = better picture!

Thats it, you sit close to monitors therefore 26'' will be too big. For me my 24 is pretty big and I have to really turn my head to see what is on the whole screen. I think the best screen size is 22 or 24. If you want a high res then go for the 24 but, if resolution isn't a probelm then I would suggest that you should save some money and go for a 22.

 

[Epicpccases]

many of the BenQ monitors are good

When working at a computer store many years ago, we had at least 6-10 benq's come back a day with dead pixels. Really cheap but questionable quality. It might have changed since then though...

 

[oc_masta]

if you want a hot deal.

you can get a 32" full hd tv from tesco for £199. they're all sold out online, but check with your local store to see if they have any left

full 8 bit colour, wide viewing angles (possibly pva or mva panel) and all the extras of a TV aswell....not to mention 32" of it.

just my 2 pence