Dual Monitors? Great? Not?

[Tachyone]

Hi there!

I'm ordering a new computer soon. And keyboard, mouse, OS, headset, and maybe speakers. Now I realize that I need a device which allows me to process the information from the PC into my brain. This device I will call a "Monitor". So my question is whether Dual Monitors (Dual-Screen) is something you could recommend me? My budget for Monitor(s) is 1700 USD, so I have plenty more than I need for getting two TFT's or LCD's. What I've been looking at so far were two of these:

http://www.getmore.dk/templates/imw-product.asp?ProductGuid=LS24KIEEFV%2FEDC
(Samsung SyncMaster 2493HM).

Two of those will set me back 1350 USD or so, which is still below my budget. So I kindly ask you to tell me if Dual Monitors is something I should go for with my new Computer and if so, which Monitors I should get. Budget is 1700 USD, and I'd prefer you to not give me links, but names of Monitors instead, since I want to order from a Danish store (No taxes and other problems...).

Thanks in advance!

[7keys]

The 2493HM is a TN panel monitor.

TN panels are very cheap with fast response times but have inferior color reproduction, contrast ratios and viewing angles

S-IPS panels are generally considered the best all around panel type, but they are more expensive and very few are made.

S-PVA/MVA panels offer better color reproduction and viewing angles than TN panels, have slightly worse response times than TN or S-IPS, offer the best contrast ratios, may suffer from color shifting or input lag and have higher availability than S-IPS panels. (From pchardwarehelp)


I would go with a non TN Panel monitor unless you're really into gaming and response time is more important that color accuracy.


Here are a few non TN panel 24 inch monitors.



Dell UltraSharp 2408WFP S-PVA
Acer AL2416W S-PVA
Acer AL2416WAs S-PVA
LG Flatron L245WP P-MVA
BenQ FP241VW A-MVA
BenQ FP241W P-MVA
BenQ FP241WZ A-MVA
DoubleSight DS-240WB S-PVA
DoubleSight DS-245W S-PVA
EIZO ColorEdge CE240W S-PVA
EIZO FlexScan HD2441W S-PVA
EIZO FlexScan HD2451W S-PVA
Samsung SyncMaster 242MP PVA
Samsung SyncMaster 244T S-PVA
Samsung SyncMaster 245T S-PVA
Samsung XL24 S-PVA
Hewlett-Packard DreamColor LP2480zx S-IPS
Hyundai W241D S-PVA
Hewlett-Packard LP2465 S-PVA
ViewSonic VX2435wm S-MVA
Westinghouse L2410NM MVA

[splat]

just want to say that dual monitors owns. that post above pretty much covers all the other info.

[kayson]

The 2493HM is a TN panel monitor.

TN panels are very cheap with fast response times but have inferior color reproduction, contrast ratios and viewing angles

S-IPS panels are generally considered the best all around panel type, but they are more expensive and very few are made.

S-PVA/MVA panels offer better color reproduction and viewing angles than TN panels, have slightly worse response times than TN or S-IPS, offer the best contrast ratios, may suffer from color shifting or input lag and have higher availability than S-IPS panels. (From pchardwarehelp)


I would go with a non TN Panel monitor unless you're really into gaming and response time is more important that color accuracy.


Here are a few non TN panel 24 inch monitors.



Dell UltraSharp 2408WFP S-PVA
Acer AL2416W S-PVA
Acer AL2416WAs S-PVA
LG Flatron L245WP P-MVA
BenQ FP241VW A-MVA
BenQ FP241W P-MVA
BenQ FP241WZ A-MVA
DoubleSight DS-240WB S-PVA
DoubleSight DS-245W S-PVA
EIZO ColorEdge CE240W S-PVA
EIZO FlexScan HD2441W S-PVA
EIZO FlexScan HD2451W S-PVA
Samsung SyncMaster 242MP PVA
Samsung SyncMaster 244T S-PVA
Samsung SyncMaster 245T S-PVA
Samsung XL24 S-PVA
Hewlett-Packard DreamColor LP2480zx S-IPS
Hyundai W241D S-PVA
Hewlett-Packard LP2465 S-PVA
ViewSonic VX2435wm S-MVA
Westinghouse L2410NM MVA
A lot of people complain about the panel types, but to be honest I can't tell the difference between them at all. Obviously each monitor is different, but I can't tell that there's a huge difference between panel types. I might just not be picky :/

[7keys]

You don’t see the difference in the store because they usually have a low quality feed going to all the monitors. You have to get it home and watch some 1080p movies or look at some high resolution pictures.

I bought a new monitor a few months ago which happened to have two versions, a P-MVA and a TN version, I bought it at Bestbuy. The first one I took home was the TN version; I tried it out for a few hours and then took it back and exchanged it for the P-MVA version.

I couldn’t get over how much better the P-MVA version was, the color quality is just amazing. With the TN panel you have to pretty much be looking right in the center, if you move your head a bit you get color shifting. Watching movies is terrible with the tn panel, my monitor is in my bedroom and I like to watch movies sitting on the bed, I couldn’t do it with the tn panel because of the viewing angles and color shifting if you move around, but with the P-MVA panel it's so much better, you have a much wider field of view but its mot perfect.

Also the pics in Photoshop look so much better with the 8bit panels with a full color gamut.

[kayson]

You don’t see the difference in the store because they usually have a low quality feed going to all the monitors. You have to get it home and watch some 1080p movies or look at some high resolution pictures.

I bought a new monitor a few months ago which happened to have two versions, a P-MVA and a TN version, I bought it at Bestbuy. The first one I took home was the TN version; I tried it out for a few hours and then took it back and exchanged it for the P-MVA version.

I couldn’t get over how much better the P-MVA version was, the color quality is just amazing. With the TN panel you have to pretty much be looking right in the center, if you move your head a bit you get color shifting. Watching movies is terrible with the tn panel, my monitor is in my bedroom and I like to watch movies sitting on the bed, I couldn’t do it with the tn panel because of the viewing angles and color shifting.

Also the pics in Photoshop are so much better with the 8bit panels with a full color gamut.

You don’t see the difference so much in the store because they usually have a low quality feed going to all the monitors.

Well I don't deal with hi-res at all so I guess thats why

[hafa]

In terms of multiple monitors, it depends on what you're doing. For programming/media/massive multitasking, multiple monitors are (imho) an indispensable tool, as more screen real estate means faster access to the many pieces of information you need all at one time and fewer distracting toolbars/windows in the way.

In terms of accuracy and color reproduction, it's still hard to beat the Viewsonic Professional series, such as the VP950b (http://www.viewsonic.com/products/lcddisplays/proseries/VP950b/). 3 of these make for a nice setup, as you avoid the annoying line in the middle of your work area that occurs with 2 monitors:

http://www.angildesign.com/images/3mon.jpg

(I really need to take a new picture...)

[BossBorot]

Go for three. A great setup is a 30" and two 20" flipped 90 degrees.

http://www.improve.dk/images/content/small/monitor_current1.jpg

[Tachyone]

Oh my science...Those set-ups are completely insane (in the good way, of course!). Thanks a lot to everyone who gave me feedback, it' very useful. What I need is one monitor to play full-screen games (mostly Warhammer Online), and another to have some of the other things I do on. Namely MSN, iTunes or Media Player, and a couple of Firefox Windows, since I play other "turn-based" games online (Like chess). My friends told me these Samsung Monitors were the best on the market, but apparently that's not entirely true...7-keys I'll check all the monitors on your list and see what I like the best in terms of repsonse time, color, and what reviews they have got.

[7keys]

WOW, Nice setup guys!

[Tachyone]

Alright, been looking at the screens you recommend, and took your advice of not buying two TN panel screens. Then I found another screen:

BenQ V2400W

Is this a screen I should buy two of for a Dual-Screen? If not, then it seems I'm completely off track here. In that case, could you recommend me a screen (which I would then buy two of) that would allow extensive multitasking+gaming, and give good response time and colour? I know it's a lot I'm asking for, and it probably can't be done for the 1700 USD I have, but is it possible to get close? Again, I want the best Dual-Screen solution I can get, since I'm already spending a load of money on the computer and other hardware, so being able to utilize a lot of the computer's RAM and GPU on the Dual-Screen is of course a must.

[7keys]

BenQ V2400W uses a TN panel which means it only supports 6-bit color. With 1700 USD you should be able to afford a couple of good monitors.

Where are you buying these?

If you want BenQ look for one of these

BenQ FP241VW A-MVA
BenQ FP241W P-MVA
BenQ FP241WZ A-MVA

[Tachyone]

I'm buying the screens online! Probably on www.edbpriser.dk or www.getmore.dk
(about same prices)
And all these BenQ screens surpass my budget

2x BenQ FP241VW A-MVA - 2430 $
2x BenQ FP241W P-MVA - 2160 $
2x BenQ FP241WZ A-MVA - 2730 $

=(

It seems 1700 $ is nothing when it comes to Dual-Screens!

I've found the prices of the other screens, and the only ones I seem to be able to afford are

2x Hyundai W240D - 1460 $ (Not the one on the list, though)
2x ViewSonic VX2835wm - 1680 $ (28 inches instead of the 24 inches you posted)

Sorry for wanting such a huge amount of help, but being a screen noob, there's not much else I can do...=/

[zbo]

I have the Hyundai W240D, its great if your sitting dead in front of it. Up/down/left/right makes the image change. Personally I'd stay away, I was going to buy two, I call tell you now my next monitor wont be a 240D.

Not to say its bad, its very nice when I'm sitting in front of it - right in front of it.

[7keys]

I have the Hyundai W240D, its great if your sitting dead in front of it. Up/down/left/right makes the image change. Personally I'd stay away, I was going to buy two, I call tell you now my next monitor wont be a 240D.

Not to say its bad, its very nice when I'm sitting in front of it - right in front of it.

This is one of the problems with TN panels.


Tachyone
WOW! monitors are twice the price in your Country, why not look elsewhere? There might be a store that will ship to you. LCD's are light so shipping should not be too much. Some of these P-MVA or PVA monitors are around five or six hundred over here. How about ebay?


Worldwide Online Retailers/Vendors
http://www.ocforums.com/showthread.php?t=462342
.
.
,

[Tachyone]

I'll look into it, but I think taxes will be huge, making the price pretty much the same...But I'll check out some shipping, see if it IS worth it =)

[Tachyone]

I've done some research now...at www.overclockers.co.uk I can get two Dell Ultrasharp 2408WFT for 1640 $, shipping included. This seems like a really good screen, seen a couple of very positive reviews! But how can one be sure they won't charge me 400-500 $ in taxes or more? And will online sites give you a new screen if they have dead pixels or other issues? These are the kind of things vendors never ever write on their websites, and that I always worry about =/

The Danish Dell site ( http://accessories.euro.dell.com/sna/productdetail.aspx?c=dk&l=da&s=dhs&cs=dkdhs1&sku=147255 ) sells two of these screens at a price 340 $ higher than www.overclockers.co.uk .

I'm so confused about all this...

Anyways, would it be worth the risk buying on the english web site, maybe paying a lot of money in taxes or if not, getting two awesome, cheaper screens? Or is it better to buy just one screens at the Danish site, and then buy the other 14 days later to ensure no taxes and perhaps better customer service?

Once again, thanks in advance to anyone who can help...!

[7keys]

Why not buy one from the UK site and see how it goes. Ask them about their return policy before buying.

There should be a Denmark site where you can find out about taxes or other fees that could apply. I thought there was an open policy in the EU, free trade and all that good stuff.

[Tachyone]

That's a pretty good idea, I think I'll do just that; ask them on their forums, buy one if it seems okay, and take it from there...Thanks a lot for your feedback 7keys, this is the only hardware forum where I have actually got some real feedback to my questions...! I'll most definately stay around after I get my computer, which was the only reason I ever joined. =)
Maybe I'll want some info on clocking the Q9450...All in due time!

*Thread Closed*

-Thanks

[7keys]

Glad to help.

I want to hear how you like your new monitor, let us know how the shipping went and whether there were any taxes.

[7keys]

So? I really want to know how this turned out.