TR Forums

mattsteg wrote:

Vrock wrote:

1280x1024 is preferred, 1600x1200 is fine. Any help or suggestions are appreciated

I suggest you prefer a resolution that isn't a bastard.

Heh. Yeah I know, imagine me resorting to 5:4...*sigh*.

mattsteg wrote:

Vrock wrote:

1280x1024 is preferred, 1600x1200 is fine. Any help or suggestions are appreciated

I suggest you prefer a resolution that isn't a bastard.

I gotta agree with mattsteg. I just made the swap. Going from a 20.1 inch 1600X1200 screen to a 19 inch 1280X1024 screen SUCKS BALLS. I cant fit near as much stuff on the screen with this monitor. OK off to play some games I will report back later

derFunkenstein wrote:

If height is what you want, why not get a 16:10 monitor that can be rotated?

Because I have a lot of old 4:3 games that I want to play on my retro-box, and I don't relish paying for screen real estate I can't use. Plus, 16:10 monitors are just unnatural.

If this is primarily a retro box, you should get a 15" CRT.

Some guy has a few 2007FPs new in box (minus cables) on fleabay, I've been thinking about those. We'll see what Hance reports. Really appreciate that you're checking that out for me, man...I owe you one.

Vrock wrote:

derFunkenstein wrote:

If height is what you want, why not get a 16:10 monitor that can be rotated?

Because I have a lot of old 4:3 games that I want to play on my retro-box, and I don't relish paying for screen real estate I can't use. Plus, 16:10 monitors are just unnatural.

You're doing the same on 1280x1024...

mattsteg wrote:

Vrock wrote:

derFunkenstein wrote:

If height is what you want, why not get a 16:10 monitor that can be rotated?

Because I have a lot of old 4:3 games that I want to play on my retro-box, and I don't relish paying for screen real estate I can't use. Plus, 16:10 monitors are just unnatural.

You're doing the same on 1280x1024...

Yes, but not as much. I can run 1152x864 1:1 and have a larger viewable area than I would with a widescreen due to the increased height you get with the more squarish screen.

1280x960, perhaps?

Just get a decent 1600x1200 display, Vrock. You'll be happier with it. Get one that pivots and keep it turned vertically for a very nice 1200x1600 desktop.

JustAnEngineer wrote:

1280x960, perhaps?

Just get a decent 1600x1200 display, Vrock. You'll be happier with it. Get one that pivots and keep it turned vertically for a very nice 1200x1600 desktop.

Or that too, if the monitor supports it. I might still get a 20" 4:3. There's a new LP1965 I'm thinking over...we'll see how it shakes out.

I have put in an hour or so playing a couple of games. I played Crysis and Need For Speed Underground. I have a 3.2ghz C2D, 2 gigs of ram, 9600gt so stuttering shouldnt be an issue with medium settings in crysis and high settings in need for speed. I havent seen ghosting anywhere in either of the games. They both look fine. I am going to put in a bunch more time on need for speed and see if i can find and issues with it. So far it really looks fine to me.

The one problem I do have is the resolution. 1280X1024 simply isnt enough pixels. I like high resolution screens so that right there would be a deal breaker for me. There is a huge difference going from 1600X1200 to 1280X1024. You can always back the resolution down on the 20 inch monitor but you can never go higher on the 19.

Hance wrote:

I have put in an hour or so playing a couple of games. I played Crysis and Need For Speed Underground. I have a 3.2ghz C2D, 2 gigs of ram, 9600gt so stuttering shouldnt be an issue with medium settings in crysis and high settings in need for speed. I havent seen ghosting anywhere in either of the games. They both look fine. I am going to put in a bunch more time on need for speed and see if i can find and issues with it. So far it really looks fine to me.

The one problem I do have is the resolution. 1280X1024 simply isnt enough pixels. I like high resolution screens so that right there would be a deal breaker for me. There is a huge difference going from 1600X1200 to 1280X1024. You can always back the resolution down on the 20 inch monitor but you can never go higher on the 19.

Thanks Hance. I appreciate you checking that out. Well I've got enough info now, I just need to make a decision. Thanks to all for your input and suggestions.

GokuSS2 wrote:

Not a gimmick for me.. I use the extra space. Like I posted earlier. Its getting hard to find a Non TN 4:3

What extra space? Widescreens all take space away from the user, they just give the illusion that you have more.

Meadows wrote:

GokuSS2 wrote:

Not a gimmick for me.. I use the extra space. Like I posted earlier. Its getting hard to find a Non TN 4:3

What extra space? Widescreens all take space away from the user, they just give the illusion that you have more.

In terms of screen area with equivalent diagonal screen sizes, you're absolutely right.

Okay, so I decided on the HP LP1965. Xbit labs liked it for the most part: http://xbitlabs.com/articles/monitors/d ... html#sect0 and it's a *VA panel with RTC so it's suitable for gaming as well as working. I liked the stand it comes with, and it has two DVI ports so I can have both the retro box and the main PC hooked up to it at once. Also comes with DVI to DVI and DVI to VGA cables in the box, which saves me more scratch. Yeah, it's 1280x1024, but I don't think that'll be much of a problem. I found one new in the box on ebay from a reputable seller for $228 shipped, so I couldn't resist. Thanks again to all who gave advice, suggestions, and submitted themselves to the horror of 19" 1280x1024 gaming for my benefit.

Sheesh all that torture playing on the wifes 19 inch monitor and you don't even buy one The HP looks pretty nice I am sure you will like it.
For those interested I did play a bunch more Need For Speed Underground last night and had absolutely no ghosting. As always YMMV but to my eye the 1905fp has no ghosting problems at all.

Hance wrote:

Sheesh all that torture playing on the wifes 19 inch monitor and you don't even buy one The HP looks pretty nice I am sure you will like it.
For those interested I did play a bunch more Need For Speed Underground last night and had absolutely no ghosting. As always YMMV but to my eye the 1905fp has no ghosting problems at all.

You know I just read that there's two models of the 1905p, a 25ms and a 8ms model.(PVA and the other P-MVA). You might have the faster one.

Meadows wrote:

GokuSS2 wrote:

Not a gimmick for me.. I use the extra space. Like I posted earlier. Its getting hard to find a Non TN 4:3

What extra space? Widescreens all take space away from the user, they just give the illusion that you have more.

Depends on what you are comparing to. 1280x1024 -> 1680x1050 is more, but 1280x1024 -> 1440x900 is less.

In case anyone is wondering, this HP 1965 is pure sex. The stand totally rocks: it's probably the most versatile stand I've ever seen regarding height and angle adjustment. The picture ain't so bad either. Played a bit of Quake II and couldn't see a bit of ghosting. No dead pixels. And 1280x1024 is the right resolution for 19" at my viewing distance of 2-3 feet. Glad I didn't go higher as I'd be straining to see text. Created a custom res of 1280x960 at 1:1 using the Nvidia control panel and aspect scaling works like a charm. Viewing angles are excellent. Very pleased.

Now, the only downside I have seen so far is that this monitor's colors aren't quite as rich and true as my old CRT: they look a tad washed out here and there. I attribute part of this to the weaker blacks, but I can probably tweak things a bit and get them closer to the CRTs look. The blacks are quite good for a LCD, so I can't really complain.

I am glad I waited so long to get a LCD. It was worth it.

Could you turn the digital vibrance up a notch to enhance the colors a little?

Usacomp2k3 wrote:

Could you turn the digital vibrance up a notch to enhance the colors a little?

I guess, but I think it's more a gamma thing than a color saturation thing. I'll give it a shot though.

I just want to add that my Buddy has the Dell 30" 2007 and on that thing widescreen is not a gimmick. 2560 x 1600 is just so much space. Makes me jealous everytime I go over.