Help me choose a monitor

[pirahna1]

So I've been gaming on my HP 17" CRT for the past couple years. I just recently built a solid gaming rig, but now my monitor's holding me back and it's time for an upgrade, but I have a few questions.

I'm currently comparing two monitors, one 19" and one 20". Both are LCD widescreens. I wanted to get a 22" but I don't have the budget for that at the moment. My main question lies in the maximum supported resolution of these monitors. I wanted the 22" because that was the cheapest size that also supported 1080p, but they're much too expensive at this time for me. The 19" I'm looking at can support 1440x900 while the 20" can go 1680x1050. Keep in mind that I'll be using this as my display once I get a Xbox 360 as well in about a year.

Here are links to the ones I'm looking at:
19" Hanns-G (http://www.newegg.com/product/product.a ... 6824254005)
20" Acer (http://www.newegg.com/product/product.a ... 6824009126)

If I go 19, I'll save myself 20$ (the acer is on sale for 190 atm). How much of a difference would that 1 inch be? And on the resolutions, how much of a difference will I really see? Right now my 8600GT can only run at 1280x720 and still keep a stable 30 fps on newer games, so I would only be running my (PC) games at 720p. If I'll have to buy a new monitor in 2-3 years (or once I can afford an 880GT) to upgrade one of these, then I'll just buy the 19, but if the 20 will NOTICEABLY improve my gaming I'll splurge a bit and grab it.

Any help you guys can give would be awesome!

[Zigma]

I'd go with the Acer, higher contract ratio and looks solid. Are there no other alternatives for $200?

[scrockstar]

Get the 20"

1680x1050 looks so much better than 1440x900 on LCDs.

Although imo Hanns-G > Acer, if I had to pick between these two, I'd pick the Acer hands down.

I think newegg sold out, but try and find the Hanns-G's 20" LCD. I own one and love it.

Also don't worry about 1080p, I have a 42" Samsung as well, and I can't tell the difference between 720p and 1080p on it.

[Khamsin]

It's $20... just get the better one. Don't skimp over such small differences.

If you just happen to be so tight on money that even $20 is a big deal, then think of it this way:

Even if you plan on replacing it every 2-3 years, what's $20 over that time span? It's nothing. Plus, you'll be looking at your monitor every day for hours, you don't want to regret this purchase. Especially if you aren't going to get a new one for another 3 years. Skimp on consumables that you only use once. Don't skimp on stuff you'll interact with daily for years to come.

[pirahna1]

Thanks for the replies

There are a few other 20" for under 200 (that's my budget).
Acer
BenQ
Acer [the one in my previous post]
KDS
Here they are in a comparison page

I'm swaying toward the Acer, I've heard a lot of good things about them. I like the way Hanns-G monitors look, that's what I'm buying for my fiance (17") but they don't have any 20" listed on newegg.

[scrockstar]

If you watch HD movies get the Acer AL2016WBbd Black 20"

If you just want to surf the net and play games i think you might like the Acer X203Wbd Black 20" better.

It really comes down to which Dimensions you like better
(W×H×D)17.1"x 15.6" x 8.3" or
21" x 17" x 4.8"

[Zigma]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6824009126

IMO