Inexpensive 17inch lcd monitors

[you]

I noticed that newegg has quite a few 17inch lcd monitors in the $500 range (ctx, gemstar, Hansol). Does anyone know first hand (or second hand) if these monitors are any good (esp the Hansol) ? Do they have any real limitations (such as ghosting or similar?)

[thewanderer]

My 17 inch Gem works GREAT!!!!! I use two monitors, a 17" Viewsonic and the 17" Gem, sitting side by side. EVERY person that has sat down at my computer has remarked at how much better the LCD is. I know I will never go back to a regular monitor, with out a heckofafight. LOL

[Stang Man]

any inexpensive 17" lcd isn't worth buying..

i would wait for say.. the.. 900+ dollar lcd's to drop in price to about 500.. (within a few months i'm sure, before March)

i would wait if i was you though..

[Renod]

The real problem with the inexpensive LCDs is response rate. Many of them won't even tell you because it is so slow. What you need for games is below 30 ms. Most of the cheap ones are in the 50 ms range. Another measure is contrast ratio which should be at least 350:1; then you look at brightness which should be at least 250 cd/m2. If you go to www.viewsonic.com and look at their different lines and compare spec sheets you will see what I mean. The VX800 that I have was/is $800, but I want to do video editing as well as be able to play games etc. It's specs are 25ms, 600:1, and 250. You can tell the difference immediately when you put it next to an older one that I have that is 50ms, 300:1, and 200. The old one is fine for text and static graphics, and I can watch DVDs on it fine -- but don't try video demanding games or video editing.

Bottom line, you get what you pay for in LCDs right now. I would expect the quality ones to drop to the $600 range by Xmas time. I highly recommend Viewsonic followed closely by Samsung (new ones only) having used both brands as well as NEC.

[thewanderer]

My GEM cost me 389.00 after the rebate, it does everything I ask it to do, MUCH clearer than the 325.00 ViewSonic A70 (suggested retail at the time I bought it) sitting next to it.
The contrast? 400:1
The brightness? 250 cd/m
The Response time? Tr 25 ms, Tf 50 ms
If this is a bad monitor, the good ones must be more than I need. Of course, I don't do what you all do with one, so I can get by with this one. LOL