Kitz Forum
Computers & Hardware => PC Hardware => Topic started by: jid on November 09, 2008, 12:37:15 PM
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Hi All,
Need some advice on purchasing a new monitor.
I have been looking at this one, and for the price and brand I though it was excellent:-
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Acer-P193W-Crystalbrite-Widescreen-Monitor/dp/B000VPG16G/ref=dp_return_2?ie=UTF8&n=560798&s=electronics
However, I don't hardly know what any of the other specs mean?
DisplaySize: 19" Wide, Display area:408 x 255mm
Black
5ms Response Time
1400x900 Resolution
2000:1 Contrast Ratio
View Angle:160x160
Brightness: 300cd/m2
Analog Input Signal
Internal Power Adaptor
Kensington Lock Supported
Power Consumption 37W
Power Saving Off:1W, Standby:2W
Wall Mountable
16.7M Colour
0.284mm Pixel Pitch
Would this be a good monitor for under £100?
Cheers
Jamie
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DisplaySize: 19" Wide, Display area:408 x 255mm
Black
5ms Response Time ==> how fast it refreshes lower the better 5ms is quite good
1400x900 Resolution ==> pixel resolution personally I'd go larger than a 19in for greater depth (width x depth)
2000:1 Contrast Ratio ==> how good the contrast is higher the better this is quite good
View Angle:160x160 ==> basically what viewing angle you can still see it clearly again bigger is better - quite good
Brightness: 300cd/m2 ==> how bright, higher is better - personally I'd try to find one in the 500's
Analog Input Signal ==> connector this should be standard VGA
Internal Power Adaptor ==> no external power brick so when you turn it off its OFF
Kensington Lock Supported ==> this allows a cable to lock it to your desk for security
Power Consumption 37W
Power Saving Off:1W, Standby:2W
Wall Mountable
16.7M Colour ==> colour depth
0.284mm Pixel Pitch ==> effectively pixel size smaller is better - this is not bad
Would this be a good monitor for under £100? ==> yes
Just my view but personally I'd go for something a bit bigger maybe a 20 or 22in, but thats personal tase and how deep your pockets are ;)
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What to you want to monitor to do............games, photo editing, video editing, just surfing and mailing ?
Do you want speakers, avi or dsub connection...
There are monitors in this price range which are better than the above in some area, not so good in others......the choice depends on your requirements.
The Acer has less than average colour rendition, with a bluish cast over the whites, slight banding in greyscale areas and a gamut with almost no blacks.
Not good then for anything where colour reproduction is needed, but that might not be a priority for you.
Monitors are tools, and as is always the case, there are the right and the wrong tools for the job.
For slightly better monitors within the same price bracket, have a look at the Viewsonic VA1916w and the Liyama ProLite E1908WSV
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Thanks both for your replies.
@Broadstairs, thanks for explaining those to me. I wouldn't want any bigger due to limited space and as I say I do not want my pockets too empty! Looking through the explanations you give it is an excellent (ish) monitor for the price, which is what I want.
@TD, I would be using mainly for surfing and schoolwork-including VB and Frontpage all of which would look and be easier to use on 19" compared to my current 15" :o
I don't need speakers as I have surround sound for the PC. I don't do image editing a lot and if so it isn't anything on a major scale.
I was thinking 17" but when I saw this monitor at that price, with widescreen I though I had to consider it for this years xmas present...
Thanks for the advice there guys, most helpful :)
Regards
Jamie
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That looks like a very good price. My monitor is an Acer and I've always been pleased with it. :)
eBuyer's prices are similar:
http://www.ebuyer.com/search?page=1&store=73&cat=12&subcat=354&mfr=174
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Yes I currently have an Acer too, has been working with no issues for the past 4 years, I just feel like I need something bigger with a better spec.
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Just be sure that you're graphics card is up to it tho, but changing from say 17" to 19" shouldn't cause too many problems.
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Just be sure that you're graphics card is up to it tho, but changing from say 17" to 19" shouldn't cause too many problems.
I have on board graphics. What am I looking for, running Vista?
PC is 4years old so...
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It depends what kind of expansion slot you have for graphics... you shouldn't need to spend too much for a modest graphics card... mine was about £25 and 256 MB of memory, and is superb, even for more intensive tasks such as watching HQ video... I don't do gaming btw.
If you have Everest, it will tell you what slots your board has (funnily enough under the motherboard section).
http://www.filehippo.com/download_everest_home/
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I should of rephrased my last post, I meant how would I find what resolutions my on board graphics supports? I know it can work on my 19" widescreen LCD tv which I have tried just now, so would it be safe to say that the Acer will work too?
I only have PCI Express x1 on my board so only expansion would be PCI and I think a PCI graphics card would be shocking!!
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You're confusing PCI and PCIe i think... the latter is fine for graphics... as to find out what your graphics will support you'd probably have to go to the mobo manufacturer's site - or read the manual if you have one.
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You're confusing PCI and PCIe i think... the latter is fine for graphics... as to find out what your graphics will support you'd probably have to go to the mobo manufacturer's site - or read the manual if you have one.
No, honestly, I don't have PCI Express x16 or otherwise, just the normal White PCI slots.
Have found the Datasheet and all is ok, it support 2000xsomething so thats all OK then:D
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I thought you said above yo do have PCI Express?
I'm confused.
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me too
But if he's running Vista on it, then it should be fine.
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I thought you said above yo do have PCI Express?
I'm confused.
Sorry guys, I have a PCI Express x1 slot not x16 which graphics cards use.
Besides my onboard graphics supports the res as proved by using my TV and as stated in the Datasheet.
Thanks
Jamie
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Does anyone have experience of Amazon's Express Delivery Service?
My parents will only be in Friday for a delivery. So if they ordered it tomorrow when it will be guranteed by Friday, is the service that good?
Also any ideas which courier they use? Home Deliv Network isn't it?
Cheers
Jamie
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Jamie, I understood what you meant about the PCI-e x1 vs the x16 slots.
There are two types of PCI express slots, the very short ones, which are not suitable for graphics cards, and the long ones, which are for graphics cards.
Some motherboards with onboard graphics don't have the long slots, only the short (x1) ones.
Don't know about Amazon's delivery, but I would expect if they say it'll be next day, then it'll be next day.
I don't know which courier they use nowadays either, sorry.
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Jamie, I understood what you meant about the PCI-e x1 vs the x16 slots.
There are two types of PCI express slots, the very short ones, which are not suitable for graphics cards, and the long ones, which are for graphics cards.
Some motherboards with onboard graphics don't have the long slots, only the short (x1) ones.
Don't know about Amazon's delivery, but I would expect if they say it'll be next day, then it'll be next day.
I don't know which courier they use nowadays either, sorry.
Thanks for the reply Chris :)
Yes unfortunately I have the x1 slot only. :(
I am currently running my LCD TV at 1440x900 and I much prefer it to my current monitor at only 1024x768 so I know that my graphics card will handle it.
As I have on-board graphics how would I go about dual monitor support, or would I have to have a graphics card of some sort?
As for Delivery, don't worry I will Google it up afterwards :)
Many Thanks
Jamie
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Sorry I dont know who they use either now for the next day service.
Last time I ordered something from amazon a couple of weeks ago it was using their free service. I ordered at the weekend, order was shipped out on the Monday aft marked 'Royal Mail'.. arrived by Parcel force on Wed. (or would have been if they hadnt ignored the sign on my door to knock loudly since my bell isnt working).
So if the "normal free" delivery is taking 2 working days, then I would imagine the next working day does what it should.
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As I have on-board graphics how would I go about dual monitor support, or would I have to have a graphics card of some sort?
lol, think about it... if you only have one video output on your PC, then I'm afraid dual monitor support isn't gonna be possible.
You'd need a graphics card with a dual output or that would possibly work in tandem with your on board graphics, but USUALLY adding a graphics card will disable onboard graphics.
You could add a PCI graphics card if you really wanted, but the performance would be pretty terrible, certainly no good for gaming and even video. It might also slow the rest of your system down as well due to the PCI bus bandwidth being used, so it's not recommended.
Sorry I can't give you better news :)
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Last time I ordered something from amazon a couple of weeks ago it was using their free service. I ordered at the weekend, order was shipped out on the Monday aft marked 'Royal Mail'.. arrived by Parcel force on Wed. (or would have been if they hadnt ignored the sign on my door to knock loudly since my bell isnt working).
That's why everyone in my family calls them ParcelFarce :lol:
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You could add a PCI graphics card if you really wanted, but the performance would be pretty terrible, certainly no good for gaming and even video. It might also slow the rest of your system down as well due to the PCI bus bandwidth being used, so it's not recommended.
Yes I did consider one at one point but found the reviews were awful.
I think I will just have to manage with one monitor! ;D
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Just thought I would let you know they are using City Link for my order:D
Is coming from the Swansea warehouse...
One question I do have, what is the best refresh rate, is the highest possible one supported my the monitor?
I currently use 75 Hertz.
I am not sure what the new monitor's highest will be ...
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60 Hz is fine for flatscreen monitors.
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60 Hz is fine for flatscreen monitors.
Would it damage the monitor if it is higher than 60?
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60 Hz is fine for flatscreen monitors.
Would it damage the monitor if it is higher than 60?
Just read the manual when you get it and it will tell you what the max frequency is and make sure you dont go over it. My flat screen will run at 75Hz no problem and its likely yours will be OK but as Floydoid says 60Hz is fine. Just RTFM ::)
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Yep... RTFM is a good philosophy.
Most monitors will simply display "out of range" or similar, if they can't cope with the signal they're being fed.
Besides, Windows won't let you choose a refresh rate higher than what the monitor is capable of unless you untick the "Hide modes that this monitor cannot display" checkbox.
As Floydy said, refresh rate is pretty much irrelevant with flat screen monitors, gone are the days of CRT where you would strive for the highest refresh rate you could possibly get out of the monitor in order to reduce the visible flicker!
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Chris, I think it was you who told me about the refresh rates stuff earlier in the year, when I ditched the old CRT.
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Ok Guys, I will take your advice and use the RTFM philosophy :D
Thanks to all posters!
Jamie
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Chris, I think it was you who told me about the refresh rates stuff earlier in the year, when I ditched the old CRT.
Hmm... quite possibly :)
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I would be using mainly for surfing and schoolwork-including VB and Frontpage all of which would look and be easier to use on 19" compared to my current 15" :o
If this is going to be your main usage, then a cheapish £25 ? dual output graphics card should not slow-down your system.
"But check what type of connections it has"
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Hi All,
I have come across this:-
http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=218224
I see that it shows the Essential Vista logo, does that mean it will do the Aero graphics?
Another question, how much power do these cards use? How would I find out how much they use?
Thanks