Who uses a flat panel monitor?

[Lara]

I've been debating whether I want to spend the cash on a flat panel monitor. Does it make the gaming experience that much better? I use a 21" CRT for gaming right now. If I got a flat panel, it wouldn't be that size for sure. Wayyy to expensive.

[Renzatic Gear]

For gaming I wouldn't do it. Even though they've improved considerably over the last couple of years they've still got a ways to go before they match CRT monitors.

Basically a TFT is good for editing, word processing and other clerical tasks cuz it doesn't cause as much strain on the eyes, but if you were to play games using it you'd still see lots of ghosting and whatnot. I'd stay away for another couple of years, by then they'll be far cheaper and far better than what we're seeing now.

[Nissian X]

I've been debating whether I want to spend the cash on a flat panel monitor. Does it make the gaming experience that much better? I use a 21" CRT for gaming right now. If I got a flat panel, it wouldn't be that size for sure. Wayyy to expensive.
Rez is right on this one, flat panel monitors don't project colour as wll as CRT monitors. If you are using the computer for gaming I'd just stick with your cunrrent monitor. In fact I really don't see much if any significant use for the flat panel.

[Lara]

Thanks to both for replying.
I had two reasons for considering flat panel. One, I was hoping the resolution was better, and that doesn't seem to be so. The other is space. This monster CRT takes up a lot!

[Renzatic Gear]

Well...

I'm assuming that you're not as into action games or FPS's as you are adventure games, so really the ghosting would almost be a nonissue for you. It'll be noticable, but not as bad as it would be on...say...a laptop LCD screen.

What you'll be losing is color vibrance, like Niss said the average TFT screens don't compare to the CRT's just yet, that's the sacrifice you'll have to make if you wanna save some desktop space.

[Lara]

Thanks RG. I'm not in a big hurry to change, and the cramped space, well, it's not the most important issue. So I can wait, as long as my monitor holds out :)

[Suicides-by-Steve]

I heard the ghosting these days is almost non-existant on today's flat screens. I'd get one if I had the cash... No radiation... or very little... makes me want to invest in one sooner than later.

[Jasmania]

I've been checking on flat panels on Ebay for the last month or so. Lara is right, a monitor over 20 inches isn't cheap. What interests me is a native resolution of 1200 X 1600 and the portability. Carrying my monster monitor around to play BF 1942 on LAN is getting old. The information regarding image quality and issues such as ghosting seems to vary according manufacturer and sometimes even model. Before I hand someone $700+ for a monitor I'd like to know its right for gaming. Anyone have a concrete recommendation???

[T.Tashi]

I've been checking on flat panels on Ebay for the last month or so. Lara is right, a monitor over 20 inches isn't cheap. What interests me is a native resolution of 1200 X 1600 and the portability. Carrying my monster monitor around to play BF 1942 on LAN is getting old. The information regarding image quality and issues such as ghosting seems to vary according manufacturer and sometimes even model. Before I hand someone $700+ for a monitor I'd like to know its right for gaming. Anyone have a concrete recommendation???
I asked a friend of mine who's a computer engineer about upgrading my pc and that I'd be messing around with some gaming, game development and music production. For games he definitely advised against any kind of flat screen.

[matthewcraig]

Lara, I bought a Sony SDM-M51D because I move around alot and I didn't want to ship a CRT around with me. The biggest plus was the DVI capability: It makes me gitty to know that I have a wholy digital signal displayed. Also the weight is less than 10 lbs, so I have it mounted on a little swivel arm. Try doing that with your 30 lbs monitor. I've dropped the thing a number of times (2-3 feet), and it takes punishment no problem. It's all solid state electronics. The last thing, I was worried about "Ghosting" in FPSs, initially. Never been a problem, and this is not a new LCD by any measure. Once LCD prices drop below CRT, I'm getting a second, larger model, too.

[Lara]

Hi Matt! Thank you for your info. Nice to know the Sony works well for you. I'll have to check one out at a store. Sounds good :)

[DBS]

I have a 19 inch crt and until the prices come down I am going to wait to upgrade as now I only want a larger monitor next anyhow. It is hard to come down in size...

[T3KT0N]

Sorry to differ here fellas,
but good qualityflat monitors(emphasis on GOOD),running on digital mode do NOT ghost.
Ghosting usually happens in analog mode(even in the best of them)
:)
As far as the response time is below 26ms.
Additionally the refresh rate should not be compared to the analog refresh rate,even if the measuring units are Hz.
Actually the 60Hz refresh rate of the digital flat is up to par visually to the 75Hz in analog.
Additionally the enhanced image contrast ratio 500-600:1,as well as the very wide viewing angle (up to170 degrees horizontally) make for a mean gaming screen in colors and clarity.
Add to this a good tiltable stand and some 4 usb ports and things are very good gaming wise.
If you have the proper card(128Mbs digital output) there is no reason not to try digital screens.
I got interested when I saw prices coming down and when even some hardware guys CGW mag,and PC mag last year started talking about flat monitors for games(but last year the prices were too high for good monitors)
First I tried a LOT of them in stores,even some mac displays and I was impressed.
Then I compared the 19" XMS digital from Dell with one good 19" NEC tube monitor and one generic 19 " Dell tube M991,at my leisure at home,for 30 days,I even tried them in dual display mode,to make sure there was nothing amiss.
After that time I kept the flat panel monitor,which I use for "action" gaming (see UT2k4) and CAD too,as well as amateur picture editing.
Image quality is a very personal thing,and I have nothing but praise from photos to pixels,yet I would not want to argue there ,but if performance does not suffer either, then one should not hesitate if the money is there to go the flat monitor route.
The monitor I'm referring to costs about $600 tax and del. included,the same for a 17"is about $450.
If these are within your price parameters for a good monitor budget that will outlast at least 3-4 new PCs and as many upgrades,I recommend it wholly.
Here are the specs to look for:
1)Low response rate BOTH ways=20ms(some brands list the receive or send only)it's the response that creates the ghosting effect and not the refresh rate
2)High contrast ratio=400:1 and above(colors look great like this)
3)Viewable angle=above 120 degrees
4) Screen adjustability like tilt sideways and vertically as well as height control and also vertical(portrait) positioning
5)Bezel =thinner monitors
Usually these monitors have a 60Hz refresh rate,which I repeat is nothing comparable to an analog refresh rate and their max resolution is 10280x1024,which works very nicely .
This is an opinion formed by quite a long research try-outs and finally an in-home comparison.
:)

[Lara]

Wow T3KTON that was quite a post. In fact it's so informative, it could be a review!

Thank you for posting!