I want to have a new screen, can you have a look? I've some questions :)

[DyNast]

Hi @all
I wanna get a new screen for my computer
I'm going to use it most of all for video (movies etc...) and of course surfing the net
Maybe some games... anyway, here is what I have in mind:
Samsung SyncMaster 226BW (http://www.samsung.com/ca/products/monitor/lcd_widescreen/ls22mewsfvxaa.asp)
A wide screen LCD (16x9), 2ms, 22", 1680x1050 max res...
Here it gonna cost about 420USD~

it's the best I can get for a reasonable price... and I found some good comments about this screen

http://213.8.106.75/pics/4/0/9/3/20283904b.gif

The problem is that:
My friend has the same screen, and when I watched some movies he had at the time @his computer (DVDRips) the quality was not really good cause the resolution of the movies is not that high, dvdrips, and they are probably better watched at 4:3 (this is the native, or closed to, resolution of dvdrips, right?)

Now, I can't watch 720p\x264 or any other high resolution movies @my computer for the simple reason my computer is not strong enough :(
By the way, if I have this kind of movie (720p for example), it would be shown nicely on a wide screen like that? or it's better watched on 4:3?
I believe my brother's computer may handle movies like that, but I can't use his computer all the time and move the screen from one computer to another, right?

HD tvshows (I don't think there are that many HD movies out there, no?) would be shown nicely in that screen (my computer can handle HD, it's not that crappy :P)

damn, I don't know what to do! lol

[amirji]

What kind of video card do you have? on your comp

[DyNast]

GeForce FX 5600
Pentium 4 2.4GHZ
512 DDR

Pretty lame... :(

[amirji]

You will need a HD compatible card for a high quality display.

Anybody correct me if I am wrong.

[LoKaLiRi]

GeForce 8500 GT
Pentium 4 3.2GHZ
2048 DDR

Good For ME :)

[DyNast]

GeForce 8500 GT
Pentium 4 3.2GHZ
2048 DDR

Good For ME :)
So... you are planing to give it to me or you just want us to know how you computer is like? :shifty:

[Charles Lindbergh]

Hi DyNast !

I don't make much differences. 4:3 or WS, It's only in "beauty of viewer" :)
I'll tell you my story because I'm buying new display.
I think that 19" will fit because on anything higher I can't control my actions on screen. I'll buy this one http://www.e-katalog.ru/jpg_zoom1/58925.jpg
Samsung 961BF have anything that I need, with extra 2ms and 1280x1024 px resolution. I really don't like WS display and this is good solution for me.
Of course, new GFX is "must have". I will buy new GeForce 8800 GT.

I hope that this and other comments helped.

Regards !!!

[mr. nails]

i'm sure ur fx 5600 will do the trick for ur 22' samsung, but @ the same time it will not play 720p videos. u WILL need to upgrade ur videocard. which version of the 5600 do u have? i think urs does 2048x1536 resolution (u mite wanna check). also, don't plan on playing ur games @ it's native rez either. ain't gonna happen. fyi: don't sit so close to teh screen when watching movies and they won't look so pixelated. i have a 24' WS and it took me a min to get used to 1900 rez. :)

[DyNast]

Thanks for helping, amirji and 100mbit, but I still don't know what to do

New GFX is a most have? well, I can't afford a new one (specially when my processor, memory and everything are still old, and the GFX would be a waste on my computer)... :(
that's a problem... I wrote what I need the screen for, you think your screen would be good for my needs?
It seems good... :P

Too bad I can't work anything (games, movies etc...) with the high resolutions both the WD and your screen are best with

[clocker]

Although I have no brand specific recommendations for you I will share this...

I detest widescreen monitors.
Sure, they're perfect for watching movies but for regular PC use they suck.
The way that text and windows get warped to fit the weird resolution just makes me queasy.

Far better to let your TV handle movie playback, IMO and let the monitor do it's job properly with regular computer graphics.

[DyNast]

Well, I hate my 17" CRT screen, it's old and starting to get fucked up ;(
I want to buy a new screen, I just want a good return for my money and a good answer for my needs

[clocker]

Well, I hate my 17" CRT screen, it's old and starting to get fucked up ;(
I want to buy a new screen, I just want a good return for my money and a good answer for my needs
I feel your pain.

However, it's difficult to get specific as I would have no idea about what's actually available in your neck of the desert.

Furthermore, I always prefer to test drive my peripherals (keyboards/mice/monitors) in person even if the asking price in a store is higher than an etailer.
Too much tactile info (in the case of the keyboard or mouse) or visual nuance cannot be adequately conveyed through tech specs alone.

Have you looked at monitors in a store near you?

[DyNast]

I have taken a look at some Widescreens, but not a deep one
My friend has this Samsung scream, so I got a farther look at his house on that screen (I wrote what I found out about it and what my conclusions were)

I still don't know what to buy, not even if I'm going to have a widescreen or a 4:3
I absolutely have no idea

[lynx]

Just to put you straight on a couple of points:

DVDRips are usually widescreen, often 1.85 ratio and sometimes even as much as 2.35. If this is going to be one of your main uses then a widescreen monitor is a must.

Your FX 5600 is quite capable of handling the format, but it may not be able to handle the frame rate and it certainly won't perform HDTV decoding.

I haven't noticed you mention anything about AGP/PCI express. If, as I suspect, it is AGP then I don't think there are any 8 series cards for your system, so if you want HDTV decoding you will have to head over to ATI.

[DyNast]

Just to put you straight on a couple of points:

DVDRips are usually widescreen, often 1.85 ratio and sometimes even as much as 2.35. If this is going to be one of your main uses then a widescreen monitor is a must.
Well, I watched some DVDRips at my friend's house (the one with the same screen, and a similar computer, and the it seems they are "scratched"...
That's probably because they are not high resolution (this screen native resolution is 1650x1050 if I'm not wrong)...

That brings me to my next problem:
I can't get the most of the screen cause my computer is just not strong enough for high resolution videos, and I just want to buy a new screen, not a new computer (or even just a new graphic card)


Your FX 5600 is quite capable of handling the format, but it may not be able to handle the frame rate and it certainly won't perform HDTV decoding.

I haven't noticed you mention anything about AGP/PCI express. If, as I suspect, it is AGP then I don't think there are any 8 series cards for your system, so if you want HDTV decoding you will have to head over to ATI.
Yes, it's AGP, but as I said, I'm heading for a new screen, not a new graphic card... I wish I could have a new one, but I can't


The underline is that I just can't get what I want from that screen

My computer won't be able to play games in this screen's high supported resolution, and play games in 1024x768 I can do with any other screen
I don't play that much games anyway, so it's really not my main concern

My computer can't play HD videos, and regular dvdrips\"regular" resolution videos are a "waste" on that screen, I can use any other screen to play them

So... I should buy another one? which one? I'm so confused, I just have no idea what to do, I have no direction!

[peat moss]

If you just buy an entry level LCD widescreen you'll be mightly impressed . 19" for under $ 200 Cnd and no looking back . Any make would n't matter, not sure about prices in your country but do some shopping and search the web .