kierthos: (Default)
kierthos ([personal profile] kierthos) wrote2008-09-28 05:35 pm
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So I'm going to be getting a new monitor soon

And I need someone to explain to me what I should be looking for. I want to get a flat panel monitor, but I've noticed a lot of places are now offering widescreen monitors. Is that more for playing DVDs and such? I mean, I can play DVDs on my new computer, but I'm still primarily using it for internet stuff and gaming.
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[identity profile] egearman.livejournal.com 2008-09-28 09:43 pm (UTC)(link)
First question is what video ports does your new computer have?

Second question, how much space do you have?

Third question, how much money do you have to spend?

[identity profile] kierthos.livejournal.com 2008-09-28 10:22 pm (UTC)(link)
The monitor plugs directly into the video card, so whatever the port type thingy is for a Radeon 2600 XT.

I can make space if I have to... the monitor I had on here before it died was at least a 19" CRT.

I'm looking to spend a couple hundred bucks at most.

[identity profile] egearman.livejournal.com 2008-09-28 10:48 pm (UTC)(link)
http://www.techweb.com/encyclopedia/defineterm.jhtml?term=video+port

Left one is VGA, right one is DVI. Now, if you have both, then you can get any monitor you pretty much want. If you only have one or the other, it limits the options some (but not much).

If all you have is DVI on your video card, you can get a connector that will allow a VGA monitor to connect to a DVI connection (never seen the reverse) in case you can't find a monitor you like that has a DVI connection.

I have an Acer P221W, which has both VGA and DVI connections and I believe it cost my under $200.

[identity profile] kierthos.livejournal.com 2008-09-29 05:50 pm (UTC)(link)
The card seems to just have DVI connections (it seems to have two of them, which seems odd), but I have a VGA->DVI converter connector and some other type of connector as well, so I should be good with whatever monitor I get.

[identity profile] egearman.livejournal.com 2008-09-29 06:08 pm (UTC)(link)
Has two so that you can have to HD monitors hooked up at the same time. With the converter, you should be able to pick up any monitor and connect it w/little problem. The only thing is, with the converter you want to either leave it loose if the cables get randomly moved a lot, so that it can pull lose without damaging the card, or tighten it down well. No half-assing it on that. I'm personnaly keeping my new computer on the VGA converter until I stop dual boxing and remove my computers from the KVM switch.

[identity profile] gilmoure.livejournal.com 2008-09-28 09:47 pm (UTC)(link)
I just upgraded from a 17" regular monitor to a 22" widescreen last month (Optiquest 22" (http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3536725&CatId=2775): $179.00). While it's not quite big enough to display two full 8-1/2"x11" pages side by side, it's not bad. I don't watch movies on it but it's nice to have the option. As cheap as this monitor is, it's not bad? I have high end Apple and Dell monitors at work and it's not quite as bright as those but suits for internet and porn games. One thing, this monitor only has a VGA port in, no DVI, no speakers, no USB hub. I miss the built in USB hub the most. My monitors at work all have that.

[identity profile] jdack.livejournal.com 2008-09-29 08:27 pm (UTC)(link)
Widescreen rules. The only caveat is that some older games don't support it and will stretch to look all funky, or leave black side bars.
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