1920x1200 or 1920x1080?

[Kayden]

I'm looking at buying a 24"-ish monitor and I was wondering what resolution to go with. One is 16:10 and the other is 16:9. My current monitor is a 20" Dell and its 1680x1050/16:10. I'd be using it as a PC gaming monitor so I'd want to go the most compatible route. Are they only making monitors 16:9 so they can say they're HDTVs? I'd just feel like I was being cheated out of 120 pixels.

[iLoki]

well, you're cheated out of a lot more than 120 pixels... (120x1920) but it would be easier by a little tiny bit on your gfx card(s) and you would have no problem watching movies in 1080p, Blu Ray ftw. Also your gaming would look nice at that res although your 8800GTS might struggle with a few games. (Not many, but there are a few *cough*Crysis*Cough*)
It might have a little trouble with Far Cry 2 or something like that. In the end its all up to what you feel you will like. There's no real difference between 1920x1080 and 1920x1200. If you like the 16:9 and the 1080p is a little cheaper, go for it. If they're about the same price, personally I would go with the 1920x1200 screen.

[Kayden]

Yea, by 120 pixels, I mean 120 lines of pixels. -_-

That's something that's also on my radar, I need to get a new GFX card, but I'm gun shy. Every time I buy one they announce something coming out the next week. :temper:

[TimoneX]

+1

Get the 1920x1200. 4:3 never ever should have even been a gleam in anyone's eye, but there's no sense in going overboard on the ratio either. :) 1080p will give you small bands, but nothing major...just enough room to show OSD info from a software player.

[TimoneX]

Yea, by 120 pixels, I mean 120 lines of pixels. -_-

That's something that's also on my radar, I need to get a new GFX card, but I'm gun shy. Every time I buy one they announce something coming out the next week. :temper:

Ya can't worry about innovation & obsolescence. Like buying stocks in a down market. Hold your nose and grab the best bang for the buck card you can find when you need it. It won't stop working when something new comes along and it's this process that drives prices down.

[Chixofnix]

I faced the same dilemma and decided on x1200 for my 24 incher.

As long as the monitor and/or your video card can ensure 1:1 scaling (providing black bars on the top and bottom) - I know nvidia's current drivers/software does this (not sure of ATI), you're set for 1080 hd materials, and you'll happily have the option to run games and the like at 1600x1200 without any yucky scaling should your vid card not be able to handle the full-out widescreen resolutions (in current/future games). Other side benefits include any and all 1600x1200 desktop wallpapers will center perfectly on your screen without stretching, and again you'll have the option to run 1600x1200 should you try to run games that simply can't be run in widescreen res's.

Honestly there's only limitations that come with x1080 displays. They're limiting more than anything and I'm sure you will feel cheated out of the missing resolutions if you try to cut the corners in this area. Honestly I don't think you'll find the display prices being THAT different between these resolutions.

EDIT:
Ya can't worry about innovation & obsolescence. Like buying stocks in a down market. Hold your nose and grab the best bang for the buck card you can find when you need it. It won't stop working when something new comes along and it's this process that drives prices down.

Agreed. It's easy to get into a "gun-shy" rut when you want to upgrade your vid card. On the flip side of the same coin consider that until your vid-card is REALLY keeping you from enjoying your games, there is very little justification in upgrading your GPU, unless you have a ton of money to blow winning the lottery or something...

I had a blast with Bioshock recently while playing at 1024x768+all eyecandy. While playing I alternated between scaled with aspect and 1:1 (small box with black borders on all sides, but clear sharp image). The guys making the hardware want you to feel like you can't have fun without the newest stuff, but don't let them indoctrinate ya ;)

[TimoneX]

Yip. 19x12 is a more widely accepted computer resolution and we needn't detail what happens to text legibility on an LCD when it steps off the reservation. That situation is far more likely to occur with the 1900x1080 native monitor in my experience.

[nd4spdbh2]

how about a 23inch 16:9 2048x1152 rez pannel...

Dell has one

http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/products/Displays/productdetail.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=19&sku=320-7641

and samsung will have one shortly. its only 3.4% more pixels than 1900x1200 but its in a thigter space making the picture much more crisp.

[TimoneX]

Nice. Although at that price point you're pretty close to budget 28" panels. Serious screen real estate...and desk realestate if you don't have a monitor arm. :)

[Kayden]

So it's not 16:10 and a funny resolution? :screwy:how about a 23inch 16:9 2048x1152 rez pannel...

Dell has one

http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/products/Displays/productdetail.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=19&sku=320-7641

and samsung will have one shortly. its only 3.4% more pixels than 1900x1200 but its in a thigter space making the picture much more crisp.

[nd4spdbh2]

So it's not 16:10 and a funny resolution? :screwy:

same aspect ratio as any 1920x1080 rez screen... and the resolution works in just about every game.

[deathman20]

1920x1200 is no question the one to get... unless you get a TV (larger screen) that is 1920x1080 which is another approch.

Really for strictly PC, and its not being used as a TV monitor a 24" 1920x1200 is the way to go. Oh and I did have a 8800GT with my 24" monitor and it even played Crysis well on it. Most games will have little to no issue with the card but you won't beable to get the most eye candy out of it is all.

As for the video card, well the GTX295 was just released, and the GTX285 is coming out soon. Other cards will be still a few months down the road so if you buy buy soon with those ;)

[Chixofnix]

how about a 23inch 16:9 2048x1152 rez pannel...

Dell has one

http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/products/Displays/productdetail.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=19&sku=320-7641

and samsung will have one shortly. its only 3.4% more pixels than 1900x1200 but its in a thigter space making the picture much more crisp.

I think the only thing that would dig against me is the elimination of any game resolutions/wallpapers of the x1200 variety... (hard to imagine living without, but probably something I wouldn't really notice in practice if I had such a monitor). If gaming wasn't my thing though, and I was primarily concerned with movies (and watching them alone), this'd be something I'd probably go for... If you love movies but watching with a friend, then I'd probably shift these $$$ towards the purchase of a TV...

Don't get me wrong, if one of these were wrapped up and given to me as a gift - I'd definitely use it! :santa2:

[nd4spdbh2]

ya im waiting for samsung to come out with their 23inch 16:9 2048x1152 variant... said to be round 270-300 usd

i really like the fact its quiet high pixel density as compared to a standard 22 1650x1080 screen (or a 24 1900x1200 screen)

[doublejack]

Those 23" lcd's do have a higher pixel density, but IMO it is not a big enough gap to say the picture will be "much more crisp". Here are the numbers:

22" 1650x1080 has a pixel pitch of .28mm
24" 1920x1200 has a pixel pitch of .27mm
23" 2048x1152 has a pixel pitch of .25mm

So the 23" is 12% more dense than the 22" and 8% more dense than the 24". Considering all of the various factors, I'll take the 24" every time. Gimme size & a standard res (and to the OP I also recommend going 1920 x 1200. It's the best choice for pc usage, and will work great for HDTV / blu-ray viewing).

I think if someone wants the higher pixel density, a much better option than that 23" is a 21.5" panel like this Asus http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236053

You get 16:9, you get a .25mm pixel pitch, and you get a standard 1920x1080 resolution rather than some oddball scenario.

[Malakai]

I didn't even consider losing the vertical pixel rows in exchange for true 1080. If it was 100% to watch HD movies on I would consider it, but for general computing and gaming I want those vertical rows heh.

benq g2400wd for the win (on the cheap)
If you like the 1080 though the cheap asus 24" is supposed to be very good.

[Kayden]

It was the shell buster on the egg yesterday too... I almost bought it and that's what spawned this thread. :santa:

[Brandontw]

Nice. Although at that price point you're pretty close to budget 28" panels. Serious screen real estate...and desk realestate if you don't have a monitor arm. :)

I want to know where your getting a 28" panel for close to 300$:eek:

[Chixofnix]

...i really like the fact its quiet high pixel density as compared to a standard 22 1650x1080 screen (or a 24 1900x1200 screen)

Out of curiosity, doesn't a higher pixel density, among other things, equate to noticeably smaller fonts on the display? On my 24"W 1900x1200, I find fonts to be too small much more often than too large to begin with, but that may just be my personal level of eye comfort...

I didn't even consider losing the vertical pixel rows in exchange for true 1080. If it was 100% to watch HD movies on I would consider it, but for general computing and gaming I want those vertical rows heh...

:eh?: Again, getting a x1200 monitor does not mean you cannot display "true 1080." Select monitors and display drivers alike have the capability of outputting to 1:1 aspect ratios if/when you wish do use your display for 1080 hd content. If you are, for example, planning to hook up an xbox360 to your 1900x1200 monitor, simply ensure the monitor you are selecting has a built in 1:1 option and there should be no stretching muddying up your image.

[TimoneX]

I want to know where your getting a 28" panel for close to 300$:eek:

Around BF this was $299ish w/ free shipping. If only I didn't dislike LCDs I'd have pounced.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824254026&Tpk=Hanns%2028%22

[doublejack]

Out of curiosity, doesn't a higher pixel density, among other things, equate to noticeably smaller fonts on the display? On my 24"W 1900x1200, I find fonts to be too small much more often than too large to begin with, but that may just be my personal tastes...

Absolutely. I guess if someone sits right on top of their monitor the very small font will be OK, but personally I do not think anything smaller than what I get on my 1900x1200 24" monitor is acceptable. And it isn't like I have bad vision or anything.

People could argue that you can increase the font size, but there are drawbacks to doing that. It also defeats part of the gain from having a large screen in the first place.

[Malakai]

Out of curiosity, doesn't a higher pixel density, among other things, equate to noticeably smaller fonts on the display? On my 24"W 1900x1200, I find fonts to be too small much more often than too large to begin with, but that may just be my personal level of eye comfort...



:eh?: Again, getting a x1200 monitor does not mean you cannot display "true 1080." Select monitors and display drivers alike have the capability of outputting to 1:1 aspect ratios if/when you wish do use your display for 1080 hd content. If you are, for example, planning to hook up an xbox360 to your 1900x1200 monitor, simply ensure the monitor you are selecting has a built in 1:1 option and there should be no stretching muddying up your image.

Raise the DPI to 120 if you are having a tough time reading on your high density lcd. Default is 96 or something. Bigger bolder text.

[Brandontw]

Around BF this was $299ish w/ free shipping. If only I didn't dislike LCDs I'd have pounced.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824254026&Tpk=Hanns%2028%22

Dang, that wouldnt be too bad of a deal at all... i'll have to keep a closer eye on 28"ers