Shopping for a New Monitor

**Caiyuo** · 2011-08-16 14:47

Given up on tackling a laptop's screen that's on the fritz and looking to just use an external monitor with it over VGA, but after seeing a pretty giant ass field of monitors to pick from, I thought I should ask some questions before proceeding. Ideally my pick would be the best I can get that's sub-$180~ and 24" and under. Totally open to 21.5" monitors too as 24" is even kind of gigantic for the space I have. Chances are whatever I buy will get transplanted onto a desktop over time and the laptop will be used for something else entirely if it matters.

Any specific brands or features that stand out or I should watch out for? I recall and old thread that noted Samsung using caps in their monitors that flaked shortly after the warranty ended, but I'm not sure if that's still relevant and I've seen a number of reviews about budget LED panels having a lot of bleed from the back lights. Not sure what to believe!

Are there any sites that actually review and make recommendations about this shit anymore? It seems like the only things to go off of are a horribly unkept reviews section on cnet and the sales and reviews from sites like newegg and amazon. From what I've gathered so far, even if I were to find an affordable IPS monitor, the budget models don't seem to fare well.

This last bit is just opinion, but are there any particular considerations to make before considering a small TV or monitor with a tuner? The idea of having just the one monitor instead of having to accommodate for this and a TV seems nice.

**Isiolia** · 2011-08-16 15:38

I usually poke around the Display section of Hardforum if I'm wondering about monitors. They're usually a bit picky, but that's not necessarily a bad thing as long as you keep it in perspective (or are picky too). Hard to expect perfection on a budget though.
Tom's Hardware has done a few roundups semi-recently, which got complaints for not including IPS monitors...but with your budget might give useful info 22" and 23". They also did one for 27" that's still on the front page. Reviews are around, they're just sparser than you'd think given the number of monitors on the market.

Most of what I personally own/buy are HP ZRs and Dell Ultrasharps, but none of those fit remotely in your budget. ASUS has popular choices that line up better, albeit TN panels. (also this)

Regarding a TV, many smaller TVs aren't 1080p, and ones that are tend to cost more due to a tuner. IMO, going for 1080p and available HDMI is a decent compromise - allows for easily hooking up a lot of consumer electronics without an adapter, and doesn't tend to change pricing much.

**Caiyuo** · 2011-08-17 11:21

Invaluable as usual. Thanks for all of that, I found another site through Hardforum that seems to be along the lines of what I expected there to be a slew of when it comes to computer hardware: http://www.digitalversus.com/lcd-com...monitor-6.html - Still considering the field and double-checking these reviews with customer experience, but I feel a hell of a lot better equipped now.

**Caiyuo** · 2011-08-17 11:28

**Omnipotent** · 2011-08-18 01:01

Originally Posted by Caiyuo

Something I'm pretty excited about atm is http://www.digitalversus.com/lg-flat..._10200_35.html because it just so happens to be on sale @ newegg atm for $150

shit, list kind of ballooned

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...SUS-_-24236117

+1

**Kerberoz** · 2011-08-18 01:49

Monitor threads always make me sad, seeing how the industry decided that everyone has to downgrade to 16:9 shit or pay twice as much. Gotta love those relabeled television screens.

**hey** · 2011-08-18 04:30

Speaking of which, any suggestions for a cheap 1920x1200 monitor? Preferably under $200, and definitely no more than $300?

**Caiyuo** · 2011-08-18 07:28

Originally Posted by Kerberoz

Monitor threads always make me sad, seeing how the industry decided that everyone has to downgrade to 16:9 shit or pay twice as much. Gotta love those relabeled television screens.

Absolutely, it's pretty sad that my laptop from 2005 was natively 1920x1200 and six years later I get to buy something smaller to replace it because "full HD" is apparently the sales tag of the century

Originally Posted by hey

Speaking of which, any suggestions for a cheap 1920x1200 monitor? Preferably under $200, and definitely no more than $300?

I've only really been able to spot any of these using google shopping, but this was the top result and it just slides in under 300, but I can't speak to how it stacks up: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...ard-_-24176141

Hopefully not the only one that pops up

**Caiyuo** · 2011-08-22 12:52

I think I hate Hardforum. Every time I think I'm about to settle, inevitably a thread on that forum tells me it is the worst piece of shit I could possible consider and my eyes may fall out for even being alone in a room with such a monitor.

Still undecided. Have wanted to jump on that LG since nearly day one but it seems more and more people have bad, albeit nitpicky things to say about it, but almost unanimously agree that LG's quality control is full on bullshit on top of a short 1 year warranty. I think I'm just going to draw what I think the internet is on a notepad from now on.

**Arkanna** · 2011-08-22 13:02

My best advice for you is to not worry too much about [H]ardForum. Those people are the pickiest mother fuckers alive. I went through this same process a while back, and I settled on a Dell 2709W in spite of the fact that it got ripped to pieces on that forum (like every other monitor). I loved that monitor while I had it, though it did fail in the last month of its warranty. Dell rep'd it with a U2711, a much more expensive model that also happened to get ripped to pieces on [H]ardForum. I still have that monitor, and I love it too.

tl;dr: pick a monitor you think you'll like and I bet you'll like it.

**Caiyuo** · 2011-08-22 13:33

Thanks and you're right, it's something i know when I really consider it because who knows if jerk #1 on hardforum has a clue, but jerk #2 may actually have solid advice and that disconnect is what's really slowing me down. In truth I probably wouldn't know or even notice half the crap they take issue with, but the urge to get something extra nice while being extra cheap about it is killing progress lol. Can's say Isiolia didn't warn me on multiple fronts, I'm just desperate for peace of mind with a purchase instead of wincing all the way up until unboxing it.

**Isiolia** · 2011-08-22 13:33

Heh, I know what you mean (and I warned you!). Just seems to be the nature of the beast though - I was set on buying a new TV earlier this year until I started researching on AVSForum...ended up not buying anything, hoping maybe next year things suck less (they won't).

One consideration though, is that the popular models will always have more issues/opinions crop up. Chances are that models you don't find as much info on aren't vastly different. They're just not as well documented.

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