Delta Virtual Airlines Water Cooler | PC Support |
Good Flat Panel monitor for FS |
DVA1830
Captain, MD-88
Joined on August 11 2004
Double Century Club
50 State Club
"Put on the whole armour of God" Wrightsville, GA USA
217 legs, 478.4 hours
64 legs,
114.5 hours ACARS
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Posted onPost created on
March 08 2007 12:44 ET by Shawn McCoy
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Hey guys...I'm turning to you for opinions...I currently have a 19" CRT monitor for my system. I'm hopefully going to be in the market to change to a flat panel (LCD) monitor to save space as the 19" I currently have is a behemoth on the desk. Any recommendations on a brand, specs, etc. that would be good for use with FS and gaming?
I haven't kept up with computer trends as much as I used to so I'm kind of out of the loop on monitor stuff. Any advice you can give would be greatly appreciated. I do understand that with this kind of thing the "you get what you pay for" factor comes in...but price is a factor as I won't have too much $$$ to plunk down.
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DVA2192
Senior Captain, A320
OLP
Joined on March 14 2005
50 State Club
Million Mile Club
Flying Colonel
Online Fifteen Century
DVA Fifteen-Year Anniversary
Long Beach 500 Club
Attleboro, MA USA
1,703 legs, 3,149.7 hours
1,635 legs,
2,989.8 hours online 1,667 legs,
3,076.4 hours ACARS 3 legs,
5.5 hours event
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Posted onPost created on
March 08 2007 13:43 ET by Richard Walsh
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I upgraded to a Dell 20" when I bought a new computer. I don't think it makes a difference what kind you get. I kept my old 19" CRT and use them both. 2 monitors is a nice feature.
Richard WalshSenior Captain, A320
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DVA3095
Captain, MD-11
Joined on April 28 2006
"KHAAAAAAANN!" Western Europe
45 legs, 105.2 hours
36 legs,
90.3 hours online 44 legs,
102.3 hours ACARS
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Posted onPost created on
March 08 2007 21:02 ET by Lloyd Dickerson
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Ok, there's a few things you need to know. However for full disclosure I should tell you I am highly anti-LCD for reasons I'll share another day. (But I'll share a few reasons here since I feel like venting)
There's really only three things you need to know about buying an LCD:
1. It's native resolution - You will want an LCD with a native resolution of the resolution you normally use on your operating system. Do you normally use 1024x768? Then look for a LCD with a native resolution of the same. LCD's can only display in one resolution (it's native resolution) so higher resolutions get "squashed" and lower resolutions get "stretched" (This is my main peeve with LCDs. You can achieve a much sharper picture on a CRT, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise)
2. The manufacturer's and/or retailer's dead pixel policy. LCD's occasionally get dead pixels. Dead pixels will either go completely black or keep firing one colour. You might get a red dot somewhere on your screen and that dot will never, ever go away. Some manufacturers believe that one dead pixel is acceptable and won't give you a refund, even if it fails on the first day. Ask your retailer.
3. The refresh rate. For things such as flight simulator and gaming you will want an LCD refresh rate of no more than 8 milliseconds. 5 milliseconds refresh would be better. The faster (lower) the refresh rate, the less blur you will get on the screen. LCDs are significantly slower than CRTs.
That's about all you need to know, but you should be wary that LCDs cannot achieve true black, so the contrast ratio isn't as good as a decent CRT. If you like flying Flight Simulator at night in a dark room, you'll have to get used to the "white glow" that a black LCD will put out. There are other pros and cons to LCDs, but those are the things you want to ask when searching for an LCD.
Finally, Brand is *not* important. Does the product come with a good dead pixel policy and warranty? Then buy it.
Good luck and happy spending!
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DVA3196
Senior Captain, MD-11
OLP, COMM
Joined on June 03 2006
Online Double Century Club
50 State Club
Six Century Club
"pitchpowertrim.com" Anderson, MO
619 legs, 1,093.4 hours
292 legs,
503.1 hours online 580 legs,
1,026.5 hours ACARS 89 legs,
191.0 hours event 236 legs dispatched, 110.1
hours
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Posted onPost created on
March 08 2007 21:52 ET by Michael Brown
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Just to add to that....I'd buy the extended warrenty....why? When the back light on a LCD goes, it pretty much goes with out warning. To repair/replace a back light is expensive, in other words, you'll be buying another LCD. When you purchase your LCD look for these dead pixels Lloyd is talking about. If you see any, simply go back and exchange it. Every retailer out there has at least a 30 day refund/exchange policy. I have a Samsung 20.1" LCD (SyncMaster 204B) and I am very happy with it. I believe I paid around $450 (including the extended warranty).
To each man his own on their preference between LCD & CRT. With that said, I have never heard of anyone wanting their CRT back once they start using a LCD.
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DVA2835
Captain, MD-88
Joined on January 19 2006
Online Double Century Club
Triple Century Club
"Do it right" Huntington, WV USA
337 legs, 223.8 hours
290 legs,
191.1 hours online 326 legs,
215.0 hours ACARS
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Posted onPost created on
March 10 2007 07:48 ET by Ralph Lawhon
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I have a LG square screen I bought from Circuit City. The Specs are 4ms and 1400:1. I love it. I went from a 19" CRT to the LCD and it seemed a lot larger than the CRT. I tried the wide screen and when reading it gave me a headach, I took it back and got the one mentioned above. Good luck.
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AFV011
Senior Captain, B777-300
Joined on September 19 2004
GVA 5 Year Anniversary
Online Two Fifty Club
Triple Century Club
Historic Triple Century Club
"Remember...140, 250, and REALLY FAST" Midwestern United States
394 legs, 606.7 hours
274 legs,
430.6 hours online 86 legs,
126.5 hours ACARS 8 legs,
16.0 hours event 501 legs, 763.5 hours total
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Posted onPost created on
March 10 2007 11:35 ET by Michael Carter
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I bought a Samsung SyncMaster 931c from NewEgg a couple of months ago. Contrast ratio is 2000:1 and the refresh rate is 2ms GtG standard.
This monitor was selected for the World Cyber Games(?) and endorsed the monitor for Samsung. It's a very nice 19" monitor. It was $280.
A dead pixel is one that is not showing any color. A stuck pixel will remain on and at one color. A 19" LCD is about an inch wider and an inch taller in viewing area than a 19" CRT. CRT's are measured including the frame or bezel, not the viewable area. LCD's are measure by how much viewable area they have.
I would never go back to the 19" Samsung monster I used to use. It was about 12 years old and served faithfully, but I like the LCD monitor much better. The CRT has been regulated to the work bench in the shop for another system used for testing.
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DVA1830
Captain, MD-88
Joined on August 11 2004
Double Century Club
50 State Club
"Put on the whole armour of God" Wrightsville, GA USA
217 legs, 478.4 hours
64 legs,
114.5 hours ACARS
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Posted onPost created on
March 14 2007 12:52 ET by Shawn McCoy
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Thanks for the info guys...I'll keep it all in mind.
Michael, I have a Dell 19" CRT that I got when I bought my 1GHz P3 system quite some time ago. I have not had any problems at all with it...it's been through 4 moves, 1 hurricane, and a lightning strike... still goin' strong. But like I said..it's just too dang big and cumbersome...I need more desk space... LOL...
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DVA3672
Senior Captain, A320
OLP DISPATCHER E-MAIL
Joined on October 29 2006
B757 100 Club
50 State Club
Two Million Mile Club
Bi-Millennium Club
DVA Fifteen-Year Anniversary
US Capital Club
Toulouse Millennium Club
Online Fifteen Century
"Chris, NOT in Seattle" Northeastern United States
2,534 legs, 6,223.1 hours
1,537 legs,
3,252.2 hours online 2,243 legs,
5,407.0 hours ACARS 4 legs,
6.0 hours event 2 legs dispatched, 19.5
hours
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Posted onPost created on
March 14 2007 12:55 ET by Chris Frasure
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I agree with Richie! I have a FP24" for my VC and a tilted 19" FP (both Dells) for my FMC and etc. GREAT set up IMHO. Combine that with my Saitek flight system, I am all set up for the Airbus...my new love.
Chris
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DVA3432
First Officer, B777-200
Joined on August 07 2006
Century Club
"Mile High Blackout" Aurora, CO USA
152 legs, 525.6 hours
43 legs,
139.8 hours online 101 legs,
431.8 hours ACARS 3 legs,
5.4 hours event
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Posted onPost created on
March 14 2007 15:48 ET by Mike Peterson
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I'm using a (I think) 20" HP flat screen.
Mike PetersonFirst Officer, B777-200
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DVA4193
Captain, MD-11
Joined on March 16 2007
Online Quintuple Century Club
Six Century Club
"It's Always Sunny On Top" Grand Forks, ND USA
627 legs, 1,470.6 hours
594 legs,
1,383.7 hours online 583 legs,
1,347.5 hours ACARS 19 legs,
63.1 hours event
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Posted onPost created on
March 19 2007 15:52 ET by Daniel Johnson
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The best monitor i think would be an an HP. I currently have a 21' LCD. It is great flying on that.
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DVA3196
Senior Captain, MD-11
OLP, COMM
Joined on June 03 2006
Online Double Century Club
50 State Club
Six Century Club
"pitchpowertrim.com" Anderson, MO
619 legs, 1,093.4 hours
292 legs,
503.1 hours online 580 legs,
1,026.5 hours ACARS 89 legs,
191.0 hours event 236 legs dispatched, 110.1
hours
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Posted onPost created on
March 19 2007 16:04 ET by Michael Brown
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Anything >20" would be nice. I personally use the Samsung 204B 20.1" model....and I love it.
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DVA3535
Senior Captain, B737-800
OLP
Joined on September 10 2006
US Coastal Club
Million Mile Club
Flying Colonel
Safari Club
50 State Club
Online Fifteen Century
Northeastern United States
1,959 legs, 3,746.6 hours
1,560 legs,
2,931.2 hours online 1,946 legs,
3,720.6 hours ACARS 7 legs,
12.2 hours event
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Posted onPost created on
March 21 2007 22:14 ET by Clarke Duarte
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I have a 32" Westinghouse lcd hooked up with a DVI cable. It's great, and gives me a TV to boot. If I knew how to post a picture, I would. I've had it for 3 months and I could'n go back to the teeny tiny monitors. My old 22" lcd suits my wife's computer set-up well. BIG does matter. Take care
Clarke DuarteSenior Captain, B737-800
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DVA4174
First Officer, CRJ-200
Joined on March 11 2007
"any landing you can walk away from, " Western United States
11 legs, 22.6 hours
11 legs,
22.6 hours online
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Posted onPost created on
March 22 2007 07:09 ET by Billy Mason
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Well i upgraded to a toshiba 32inch lcd hd tv for my main monitor, my second monitor is a envision 19 inch flat flat panle monitor. it is about 6 months old, and no problems out of it so far. I would recommend waiting for the next hoiliday sale, i got my envision for about half price at the labor day sale last yr with mail in rebates..
Billy MasonFirst Officer, CRJ-200
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DVA3355
Senior Captain, B777-200
Joined on July 19 2006
Online Century Club
Flying Colonel
Everett 1500 Club
Four Million Mile Club
DVA Fifteen-Year Anniversary
"guiding you home..." Denver, CO USA
1,959 legs, 8,711.6 hours
181 legs,
715.0 hours online 1,891 legs,
8,382.8 hours ACARS 18 legs,
67.1 hours event
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Posted onPost created on
March 22 2007 14:43 ET by Daniel Hodnik
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Like Clark and Billy - I have a TV and using it as a monitor. Have component, DVI and VGA inputs on this guy. It is an Olevia Syntax 26". Produces a great image @ 1280x720 and when I got it was 499 + 100 for 3 year warranty. It was a steal at the time. Prices were up since I last checked.
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