Adding a fourth mon

RomanKory · Post by **RomanKory** » 16 Jan 2009, 21:22

So, currently I have a TH2G setup with 3 Dell UltraSharp 19" (not widescreen). I want to add a forth monitor. Not to the TH, but for standalone usage for those games that don't do TH. But, I'd also like a TV in my computer room. So, I'm looking for suggestion as to my best bet.

I was thinking about getting a 27" or 28" (1920*1200)... But, what about HD TV??

Would it be a better option to get a HDTV 27" or 30"?? (1920*1080)

Would it be as good as a monitor?

I need some suggestion as to what I should buy...

Thanks all

MrCrowley · Post by **MrCrowley** » 16 Jan 2009, 21:53

Not too much, because tvs are designed to be seen by many people and worse lighting conditions, so a lot more backlight is needed, not good at the typical distance monitors are used (too much backlight = bad for the eyes).

But if you use it only sometimes as a monitor and mainly for watching films and so, can be a very good choice.

RomanKory · Post by **RomanKory** » 16 Jan 2009, 22:14

Not too worried about movies... Mainly watching TV and playing game that are not TH2G compatible.

Any downside to using a monitor as a HDTV? Are there monitors that will work as a HDTV? I would think so considering a 27"/28" is 1920*1200 and HDTV is 1080.

Anybody? Anybody?

RomanKory · Post by **RomanKory** » 16 Jan 2009, 22:56

Found this one on eBay... Any thoughts?

Hannspree HG-281DPB

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-Hanns-G-Hannspree-HG-281DPB-HG281DPB-28-LCDMonitor_W0QQitemZ260343753081QQcmdZViewItemQQptZComputer_Monitors?hash=item260343753081&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A4|65%3A1|39%3A1|240%3A1318

RomanKory · Post by **RomanKory** » 17 Jan 2009, 20:47

No One has any suggestion as to what to get to use as a monitor and HDTV??

Come guys, I could really use a few suggestions.

Post by **Mach1.9pants** » 18 Jan 2009, 00:08

Well I am no expert but watching blue ray movies on my Dell 24" is awesome. But if you got the money get a 30" IMO

RomanKory · Post by **RomanKory** » 18 Jan 2009, 02:24

Too high a resolution on a 30" for good gaming. Even twin GTX295 have a hard tome pushing a 30". (See tomshardware for charts).

I like Dells, i have 3 ultrasharps... And would even consider a Dell 27".
But it has no speakers. I didn't want to have to buy a second set of speakers.

Post by **Mach1.9pants** » 18 Jan 2009, 02:31

Umm I am afraid that I really disagree with that. 30" (with 4 MP) is a lot less than my TH set up (5.3 MP). Apart from Crysis I play everything at max settings and often with a fair bit of AA and AF. 30" is no where near too much for today's GPU's. A single 280, 285 or a 290 or a 4870x2 and you are sorted.

http://enthusiast.hardocp.com/article.html?art=MTYxMiwxLCxoZW50aHVzaWFzdA==
http://www.hardocp.com/article.html?art=MTYwOCwxLCxoZW50aHVzaWFzdA==

I have never used monitor speakers (or any for that fact..surround sound headsets FTW*) so that is a prob I didn't consider.

* 'For The Wife'..she'd kill me if she had to listen to the explosions and bullets of my games! :wink:

RomanKory · Post by **RomanKory** » 18 Jan 2009, 20:21

Umm I am afraid that I really disagree with that. 30" (with 4 MP) is a lot less than my TH set up (5.3 MP). Apart from Crysis I play everything at max settings and often with a fair bit of AA and AF. 30" is no where near too much for today's GPU's. A single 280, 285 or a 290 or a 4870x2 and you are sorted.

http://enthusiast.hardocp.com/article.html?art=MTYxMiwxLCxoZW50aHVzaWFzdA==
http://www.hardocp.com/article.html?art=MTYwOCwxLCxoZW50aHVzaWFzdA==

I have never used monitor speakers (or any for that fact..surround sound headsets FTW*) so that is a prob I didn't consider.

* 'For The Wife'..she'd kill me if she had to listen to the explosions and bullets of my games! :wink:

At 30" monitor is 2560*1600 for 4.09 Mpix
At 3-19" TH2G is3840*1024 for 3.93 Mpix

I wouldn't say either of those setup are yet too GPU friendly. For many games it is still on the edge unless you have top of the line GPU. I'm still running my 8800GT OC's SLi. Getting ready to upgrade to a single GTX280. Here is tom's showing Crysis:

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/geforce-gtx-295,2123-4.html

And, YES, Crysis is the worst GPU hog... But, it also a indicator of what future gameing my hold in terms of GPU needs. And even on other games a single GTX280 at 30" and High setting is just pushing 30+. Maybe time for a GTX295, lol... NO, that would be a total waste of money right now. The x300 line will be coming out by Q2 of 09.

I guess the bottom line is i need something to be a good HDTV and monitor. I do need speakers for the TV use. For gameing, I will still use Headphones like you for a big portion of the time. Other then that i have game speakers already. Maybe I just by a nice 30" HDTV and call it a day. I need to see what gaming would look like on a 30" HDTV.

Mesh · Post by **Mesh** » 18 Jan 2009, 23:32

I used to use the tomshardware charts but after seeing that they basically state sli 8800ultra, tri-sli8800ultra and sli 280/260 are almost identical, I'm not sure how trustworthy their results are.

Post by **Mach1.9pants** » 18 Jan 2009, 23:41

Well if you run games on normal TH you have to have the GPU power to do approx 4MP. Which is the same as a 30". I really don't get your point..if you can game on TH you can game on 30"

Oh and my TH is 5.3MP 'cos it is at 5040 and I have no probs with that. Admittedly I will have to update my GPU every year or so (8800GTX to GTX280 to next gen end of this year) but that is what you pay for the best gaming experience out.

However if you don't want to upgrade GPUs and are happy playing low settings on your TH and want to play high settings on single screen then I would say go for a 24" mon with speakers, if there are any? HDTVs are no good when you are close to them IME, they are great a normal viewing ranges but not monitor/PC ranges.

RomanKory · Post by **RomanKory** » 19 Jan 2009, 01:33

Well if you run games on normal TH you have to have the GPU power to do approx 4MP. Which is the same as a 30". I really don't get your point..if you can game on TH you can game on 30"

Oh and my TH is 5.3MP 'cos it is at 5040 and I have no probs with that. Admittedly I will have to update my GPU every year or so (8800GTX to GTX280 to next gen end of this year) but that is what you pay for the best gaming experience out.

However if you don't want to upgrade GPUs and are happy playing low settings on your TH and want to play high settings on single screen then I would say go for a 24" mon with speakers, if there are any? HDTVs are no good when you are close to them IME, they are great a normal viewing ranges but not monitor/PC ranges.

That is my point that with 8800gt oc sli, even on the th2g i cannot use the highest settings on many games. So i'd rather not have that on my single. Especially considering most of my gaming will be on th2g anyhow. Plus the cost of a 30" vesus a 27"/28" is not worth it when you take that into account.

Post by **Mach1.9pants** » 19 Jan 2009, 01:48

Now I getcha.

I haven't even seen any good quality 24/27" monitors with speakers reviewed, but that is not proof there is none. I would still look for a monitor 'cos HDTV is just not good enough at close range. If that doesn't bother you then they are certainly cheaper!
Edit: but actually looking around for them they are there, I just have no experience on whether they are good or not. So good luck, hopefully someone else will post their endorsement of one they use.

RomanKory · Post by **RomanKory** » 19 Jan 2009, 02:08

i wouldn't mind a dell 27'... i love my dells... but no speaker, so i would have to buy extra speakers..

i see hanns-g has a 28 with speakers and HDCP...

but, i know nothing bout those monitors. Then again, just cuz it not a HIGH PROFILE NAME doesn't mean it can't be good. A lot of people would never buy a Ben-Q, but love Dell... If you look around you'll find Ben-Q actually makes many of the Dells... lol.

Post by **Mach1.9pants** » 19 Jan 2009, 02:18

I have seen a few reviews on hanns and they seem pretty good, but one that wasn't was really bad! I think you just best have a big review google and go from there.

RomanKory · Post by **RomanKory** » 21 Jan 2009, 00:19

From the reviews on newegg and costco... I think i may have found a good solution in the Hanns-G. I'm going to drop by costco or microcenter and take a look at it.

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