Did I just make a huge mistake? (Bad monitor purchase . . .)

[Revivalist]

I just bought this 20in LCD monitor (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7586855&productCategoryId=cat01012&type=product&cmp=++&id=1130980089448) from Best Buy thinking that it's a pretty good deal for $350 after rebates. . .

But then I just did a little calculation. I saw that it has a 20ms response time which means that it takes 0.020s to refresh the screen. So that would be the time it takes for one cycle. Converting this into a refresh rate (number of cycles per second, measured in Hz) would be (1 cycle)/0.020s = 50Hz . . .

So does that mean that this monitor is limit to a 50Hz refresh rate?!! I imagine that this will be terrible for gaming, right? . . .

Someone please tell me that I'm totally off in my analysis here. :blink:

[petteyg359]

Most desktop CRTs at maximum resolution is only going to do 60Hz, anyway, unless you pay a lot more for one that does 75 or 80Hz. The highest I've seen any monitor capable of was 120Hz at 640x480. Most of the time you're likely using 60Hz on any other monitor anyway, and 50Hz may seem a bit flickery for a while, but you'll get used to it (and then see flickers on other people's monitors when you look at them).

[Aphex_Tom_9]

well lcd and crt refresh rates arent exactly comparable IIRC

[d94]

the only way to tell is test it out and see if it ghosts!

[Revivalist]

Thanks for the input, guys. . . Ok, I'll test it first and then decide whether to keep it. . .

Is there anything off hand that you know works to test for ghosting? I heard that Far Cry is a good candidate. . . . I don't have a lot of games so I have to resort to demos off of the nvidia website for graphic instensive stuff. . . . Any suggestions? . . . Thanks!

[Yamiyanazz]

I read about this test on OC Forums a few days ago. You open up a clasic game of Windows solitaire and drag a card around on the green background. It should ghost, and that's normal for even the fastest LCDs. The best way to tell if it's going to annoy you or not? Play games on it and see if you can tell. If you can't tell, then you should be fine, no?

[tom10167]

I personally wouldn't buy, or even trust an LCD that still came with speakers, personally.

[Revivalist]

Ok, I think I'm going to settle on the Gateway (FPD2185) 21” (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7481511&type=product&productCategoryId=cat01012&id=1125466651583) since it seems to have the best performance and quality. I was really hoping not to spend that much so I was still contemplating the Dell 2005FMW 20.1” (http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/ProductDetail.aspx?sku=20053YR&c=us&cat=snp&category_id=6198&cs=04&l=en&mnf=694&Page=productlisting.aspx). But for the difference of about $40 I would have the following extra with the Gateway . . .

1. Bigger display (21” rather than 20.1”)
2. Faster response time (8ms rather than 12ms)
3. Higher contrast ratio (1000:1 rather than 600:1)
4. Portrait screen rotation with automatic image rotation
5. I can pick it up immediately and avoid shipping cost and delay (Dell
could take 5-7day to ship it)

The only real con is the Gateway comes with only a 1 yr warranty while the DELL offers a 3 yr or even a 4yr warranty for a little extra.

[Amoroso]

you cant go wrong with either the Gateway or Dell.

[the garynator]

Go for the gateway... if you purchase it from best buy or circuit city, get the 4 yr performance plan or, if they offer it, the 2 yr plan... these plans cover against single pixel burnout whereas most manufactuers(pretty sure gateway is included) don't cover single pixel burn out. Good luck with your purchase.

also, supposibly anything over 12ms will ghost, whether you notice it or not.