[fiddlestix]

Ack!!! I don't know much about LCDs. I had no idea about 6bit or 8bit. Been doing a lot of research today though. Thanks for the insight.

Anybody have any suggestions for brands or 24" recommendations for gaming?

[Renekal]

Here's an article on anandtech, it's from may but still reasonable up to date.
http://www.anandtech.com/displays/showdoc.aspx?i=3302

[rabb1t]

Originally Posted by fiddlestix

Oh noes!

Still looking for a 24" monitor. This one seems decently priced:
ACER P243WAid Widescreen

Acer AL2416WBsd $330

[fiddlestix]

I've done extensive research over the past several days. My eyes and head are about to explode.

The one factor I learned that is priority to my situation is "input lag". Most TN (6-bit) panels have the best offerings for gaming. The S-PVA (8-bit) have great color accuracy but generally offer brutal input lag for gaming.

This is an interesting site for testing input lag between models of LCD monitors:

Face to Face - DigitalVersus

Go to step 3 and use the tab "Delay compared with a CRT".

-------------------------------------------------

The best S-PVA panel for input lag and gaming seems to be this Planar 26":

Planar 26"

It also has affixed to it a price tag of $800+.

The DoubleSight DS-265W 26" is supposed to be as good or better:

[H]ard Forum discussion

Price tag $700+
-------------------------------------------------

My research has led me to a definitive conclusion about the current LCD industry. I don't trust most of the info given about the things. It seems to be something of a shady business at this time.

With all that being said my research has led me to the this 24":

BenQ G2400WD

Free shipping from Newegg for a total of $380.

[rabb1t]

That 250 cd/m2 rating looks really low. Average is around 350, with higher ones being 400.

Without looking up exactly what it is I'd recommend you stick with the Acer I linked (which is one that references 400 cd/m2.)

As to the delay, I wouldn't worry about it. Effectively any LCD since about 2006 and forward is just fine for gaming. It is a non-issue these days.

Yeah, looks important - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cd/m2 - seems to imply that's how bright the screen would be, meaning that a 250 rating would be a fair bit dimmer than the 400 rating. Note the BenQ references a true 1000:1 contrast rating, so they are matched there.

[fiddlestix]

I finally finished tweaking my choices and ordered everything last night.

This is the final configuration.

I already have the Sound Card:

X-fi Extreme Gamer Sound card

These are the rest of the components:

Case - Antec 900
Motherboard - Asus P5QL-E
CPU - E8400 Core 2Duo
GPU - VisionTek 4870
DVD Burner - ASUS 20x
HD - Seagate Barracuda 32MB 500gb ST3500320AS
PS - PCP&C 500W
RAM - 4gb G. Skill 800

This is the monitor:

LG 22" L227WTG-PF

xtknight on AnandTech forums swears by this monitor for gaming because of the input lag. I didn't actually order it online because a Best Buy within 45 minutes had several in stock. I went there and was able to see it on display and next to other popular brands.

Best Buy has a 14 day return policy so I have time to test it.

Because of the 1600x1000 I almost went with the 4850. I was then going to get a Foxconn Crossfire board and 610w PCP&C for a future second card. That goes against my cardinal rule of never dual-carding.

I will be playing a lot of Warhammer so the card still helps when there are a lot of players in one area at a time regardless of resolution.

One small tweak was the RAM. I was going to get 1066 but figured there probably is very little performance increase from 800.

Total damage with shipping and tax = $1364.69

If I had to buy the Sound Card and not the monitor it would have only been about $1150. Damn nice kick ass rig thanks to the help of you guys.

THANKS!!

[Fozzik]

Definitely let us know how it works.