Need a new monitor

One of my 2 CRTs popped this morning... So I'm back to a single CRT setup. I was thinking this is a good excuse to go with a 22" widescreen LCD. Does anyone know of a good one, at a decent price ($300 or less) that's good for photo editing? I saw some posts before about what to stay away from when it comes to LCDs but I can't find that post anymore...

Thanks everyone!
- Tom

The viewsonic VX2025WM is one of the best color-accurate 20" LCD's that has been affordable. They don't make it anymore, but you can get them in new or barely used condition on e-bay for around your price range.

Also, I've heard good things about the Dell Ultrasharp monitors (I bought two of the 24" just this summer).

If I had to give you a list though .. check these:
Samsung 226BW
http://www.newegg.com …aspx?Item=N82E1​6824001096

Viewsonic VX2240W
http://www.newegg.com …aspx?Item=N82E1​6824116096

Be careful with the Dell 24" monitors - the 2405FPW for example, uses a PVA panel. Ideally you want a display with a real IPS/S-IPS panel. The 2407WFP is better, using an S-PVA panel, but still not ideal.

Look up potential monitors here: http://www.tftcentral.​co.uk/

That having been said, I use a Dell 2405FPW and it works just fine, especially once calibrated... And MUCH cheaper than a S-IPS display (e.g. Apple Cinema Display, LaCie or Eizo).

For reference:

TN Gamers
Considered a "gamers" panel due to it's fast pixel response times which reduces trailing images know as "ghosting". However, this advantage has been reduced by new technologies to accelerate pixel response times in other panel types. Colors and contrast tend to be weak and blacks are not truly dark. Viewing angles are significantly limited. However, monitors based on this technology tend to be inexpensive.

IPS / S-IPS Graphics Work or Web Browsing
Considered to have the best color reproduction of all panel types, these panels are well suited for graphics work or web browsing. Pixel response time is also good but slower than the TN "gamers" panel. Contast and blacks are also less dark than VA panels but viewing angles are excellent.

MVA / P-MVA / PVA / S-PVA Compromise for All-Around Use
These panels are a compromise between the fast pixel response times of the TN panel and the excellent color reproduction of the IPS panels. Contrast and blacks are best of all the panel types. Viewing angles are similar but slightly inferior to IPS.

Look in the Black Friday ads for some good prices. I know there are two 22" monitors in Best Buys ad but I am not sure how great they are. One is around $150 and the other is around $200. Check out www.bfads.com for scans of the ads.

Double Negative wrote in post #4316137
Be careful with the Dell 24" monitors - the 2405FPW for example, uses a PVA panel. Ideally you want a display with a real IPS/S-IPS panel. The 2407WFP is better, using an S-PVA panel, but still not ideal.

Look up potential monitors here: http://www.tftcentral.​co.uk/

That having been said, I use a Dell 2405FPW and it works just fine, especially once calibrated... And MUCH cheaper than a S-IPS display (e.g. Apple Cinema Display, LaCie or Eizo).

For reference:

TN Gamers
Considered a "gamers" panel due to it's fast pixel response times which reduces trailing images know as "ghosting". However, this advantage has been reduced by new technologies to accelerate pixel response times in other panel types. Colors and contrast tend to be weak and blacks are not truly dark. Viewing angles are significantly limited. However, monitors based on this technology tend to be inexpensive.

IPS / S-IPS Graphics Work or Web Browsing
Considered to have the best color reproduction of all panel types, these panels are well suited for graphics work or web browsing. Pixel response time is also good but slower than the TN "gamers" panel. Contast and blacks are also less dark than VA panels but viewing angles are excellent.

MVA / P-MVA / PVA / S-PVA Compromise for All-Around Use
These panels are a compromise between the fast pixel response times of the TN panel and the excellent color reproduction of the IPS panels. Contrast and blacks are best of all the panel types. Viewing angles are similar but slightly inferior to IPS.

True stuff. The VX20205WM is an S-IPS panel, and I really enjoyed it when I had it ... but I got a super steal on 2x Dell 2407WFP's, so I had to upgrade

Thanks Double Negative for all that information... that's exactly the info I need! The only problem is, I plugged in all the model numbers of potential panels in that website, and they're ALL TN panels! I guess it's hard to find one that isn't a TN?

Shouldn't have a problem finding a non-TN... Odd. Maybe it's the manufacturer?

TomC723 wrote in post #4314464
One of my 2 CRTs popped this morning... I was thinking this is a good excuse to go with a 22" widescreen LCD.

Strangely, almost the exact same thing just happened to me. One of my LCDs started displaying crawling red pixels in a vertical band, and a day or so later it added a bunch of crawling green pixels. Out of warranty, of course. Bleh.

So I ended up with a Viewsonic VX2255wmb (22", 1680x1050, 5ms response time, $340 @ Newegg). It was a rather large leap up from the previous LCD, and the only downside I've seen to it is that it's making the 19" LCD on my other computer look positively dim (the new one is approximately twice as bright). So I'm already starting to covet those 24" 1900x1200 displays...:p

P.S. I haven't been happy with the Dell LCDs, on the whole. Granted I'm sure most of them are el cheapo models bundled with various computers. Nonethless, I like my Viewsonics a lot better.

I've also looked at the VX2255wmb... but unfortunately, it's a TN screen which I'm trying to stay away from.

Dell LCDs are decent. Out of the box they're far from ideal though. Search around various forums for good settings for the R, G and B adjustments - and get yourself something like the Pantone Huey (though you should get one for ANY display).

I had thought about picking up another 2405FPW to run two of them... I've used a 2407WFP and I don't like it as much (panel was better but stand sucked). May just skip it and go for 2x 30" displays at some point. They *will* be S-IPS, whatever I end up with.

It was a hard choice parting with my Sony-tube based CRTs and moving to LCDs. When my 22" Sun/Sony monitor got more blurry than it was worth and after moving MORE than enough CRTs in my time... I said, "that's IT!"

On LCDs, keep in mind that they gradually lose brightness as they age. Function of the backlight... The backlighting is also getting better and better (woohoo for LED!) So any new LCD will certainly spank an older one in that regard.

TomC723 wrote in post #4314464
One of my 2 CRTs popped this morning... So I'm back to a single CRT setup. I was thinking this is a good excuse to go with a 22" widescreen LCD. Does anyone know of a good one, at a decent price ($300 or less) that's good for photo editing? I saw some posts before about what to stay away from when it comes to LCDs but I can't find that post anymore...

Thanks everyone!
- Tom

I just went through this decision .. found this in the process. It's a very thorough run down of LCD techs and monitor recommendations. Much to my dismay too, afraid there's not much at the lower end of the budget but I'm sure it will help.

http://forums.anandtec​h.com …did=2049206&ent​erthread=y

The Dell 20" 2007WFP model is a S-IPS panel and comes highly recommended. You may get it for that price as just replaced by the 2008. Mine replaced two Formac 19" monitors and has been a great investment. Beware that some examples of this model do not have a S-IPS panel due to panel switching when there are stock issues!!! Bad Dell

condyk wrote in post #4325603
The Dell 20" 2007WFP model is a S-IPS panel and comes highly recommended.

Definitely - this has been a great model for a couple of years (from 2005FPW) now. If you can live with a 20" monitor (IIRC, 1680x1050) then this is a great choice for reasonable cash.

Hey Bute, that's an awesome link. Thanks!

TomC723 wrote in post #4326108
Hey Bute, that's an awesome link. Thanks!

You're welcome, glad it was helpful. It's a maintained thread, very useful resource. I was looking for gaming response times too, so it was an absolute godsend.