Need new monitor...........

Rene` · November 9, 2008

I have been using a Dell Inspiron Laptop. I am having a new desktop built. I have been looking at Newegg. The have several 22 inch LCD's with great reviews, but none specific to Photo editing.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductReview.aspx?Item=24-009-145&SortField=0&SummaryType=0&Pagesize=10&SelectedRating=-1&PurchaseMark=&VideoOnlyMark=False&VendorMark=&Keywords=(keywords)&Page=4

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824254035

Any Photo editors bought these and been pleased?

I have a kid in college and I don't want to break the bank.

Newsy · November 9, 2008

Those are both TN panel LCD monitors. TN panels are not ideal for image editing but likely far better than the laptop screen you have (which is likely also a TN).

To get a better monitor for image editing you will need to look for a MVA, PVA, or best of all, an IPS panel but these are all more expensive with the IPS panels being about 3 times more than those you've listed.

I've posted links to monitor technology info here several times the past year. Search the monitor threads in this forum and you will find them.

Rene` · November 10, 2008

I am having a hard time...........

Newsy wrote:

Those are both TN panel LCD monitors. TN panels are not ideal for image editing but likely far better than the laptop screen you have (which is likely also a TN).

To get a better monitor for image editing you will need to look for a MVA, PVA, or best of all, an IPS panel but these are all more expensive with the IPS panels being about 3 times more than those you've listed.

I've posted links to monitor technology info here several times the past year. Search the monitor threads in this forum and you will find them.

The thing that is blowing my mind is that when I look at the specs........I can't tel what kind of Panels they have. Is TN the same as TNT?

Newsy · November 10, 2008

Rene` wrote:

The thing that is blowing my mind is that when I look at the specs........I can't tel what kind of Panels they have. Is TN the same as TNT?

TNT?? perhaps you mean TFT?

TFT-LCD = Thin Film Transistor Liquid Crystal Display

TFT's encompass several variation's of an electronic matrix (LCD) that positions light filtering/blocking elements in a panel upon which images are displayed; this includes TN, MVA, PVA, and IPS matrix's.

TN = Twisted Nematic
http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/monitors/display/lcd-guide_19.html#sect0

MVA = Multidomain Vertical Alignment
http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/monitors/display/lcd-guide_24.html#sect0

PVA = Patterned Vertical Alignment
http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/monitors/display/lcd-guide_26.html#sect0

IPS = In-Plane Switching
http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/monitors/display/lcd-guide_22.html#sect0

So to answer your question as to is a TN a TFT? Yes! but so are PVA, MVA and IPS panels.

The easiest way to determine if a monitor uses a TN panel is to look at the viewing angles specification - if they are stated as 160 degrees horizontal then you have a TN panel.

PVA, MVA, and IPS panels are typically stated with viewing angles of 178 degrees.

The easiest viewing test is to crouch down and look at the panel from below at about a 45 degree angle - if it looks like it reverse polarizes (light goes dark, dark goes light) or something similar, then you have a TN panel.

My standard list of URLs for reading up on monitors:

The Anand LCD Thread
http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview.aspx?catid=31&threadid=2049206&enterthread=y

Read the first two posts in the above thread - there are recommended monitors for various tasks mentioned later.

XBit LCD Testing Methodology
http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/monitors/display/lcd-guide.html
http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/monitors/display/lcd-testmethods.html

Use to discover panel types (type in IPS, etc)
http://www.flatpanels.dk/panels.php
http://www.tftcentral.co.uk/panelsearch.htm

- these two sites are typically accurate but sometimes mfg's change panels in mid-model run - aka panel lotteries.
- another point in using these sites is that most manufacturers have shifted production to 22" or larger for IPS or PVA panels

Use to see & compare monitor screens from various angles:
http://www.digitalversus.com/duels.php?ty=6&ma1=71&mo1=236&p1=2301&ma2=88&mo2=218&p2=2098&ph=8
(the link should show an Apple IPS 30" panel vs a Dell 22" TN panel))

Review sites that shows images of the monitors viewed from various angles:
http://www.behardware.com/html/cat/22/
http://www.anandtech.com/displays/
http://www.prad.de/en/monitore/reviews.html

Some review sites that get technical:
http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/other/
http://www.extremetech.com/category2/0,1695,23466,00.asp

A review sites that covers a lot of displays (but for some, their reviews are weak):
http://www.trustedreviews.com/displays/

i_worship_the_King · November 10, 2008

I was super skeptical about walmart monitor, but it's been a tank for the last 3 months or so (I'm in college, so budget was MANDATORY.) It's an MVA panel with AWESOME color reproduction, way better than my old TN panel. The 24" is the way to go too - in Lightroom you can view a 19" photo with all the panels still open - it's lovely. Plus, it's wally world - don't like it take it back no questions asked.

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=9886614

It does have 1 caveat however. It has a warm-up time way longer than my previous monitor. You have to let it heat up a good 2-3 minutes before the colors settle. I usually wake it up and go get a drink - when I come back it's all back to normal. All LCD's have a warm up time, I think it's just exagerated by the 24" size.:D

Need new monitor...........

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