A new Monitor for Ultima Online ?

[popps]

Well, not just for Ultima Online but also for other games and stuff...

I am still using an old CRT tube Monitor but I finally decided to give up on it and go with one of these new types.

Thing is, I have no idea as far as gaming goes, what technology out there works better on monitors.

Anyone got an idea of what needs to be looked at in the specs of a Monitor that needs to sustain fast graphic action smoothly ?

I would imagine the refresh rate of the screen and the resolution but am not sure.

Also, what is considered a good size of the screen ?

Thanks for the advice.

 

[SchezwanBeefy]

Try this site. Good Monitors for great deals. Newegg is very, very good with support and a lot of gamers I know use it.

Newegg.com - Monitors, LCD Monitors, CRT Monitors, Computer Monitors, LCD Flat Screen Monitors, Widescreen Monitors, TouchScreen Monitors

 

[SchezwanBeefy]

Oh, and I recommend LCD.

 

[Thrakkar]

AFAIK you can't even buy a CRT anymore. At least I haven't seen them on a vendor price list for ages. Also I'm not aware of any plasma monitors. That basically leaves just an option for TFT/LCD.

I would recommend at least a 22" FullHD. Such monitors do come in two different aspect rations. Either 16:9 with a resolution of 1920x1080 or 16:10 with 1920x1200, but that's a rather unimportant difference in my eyes.

I currently have a 27" (16:9) with 1920x1080. Playing UO with the EC is pretty cool with this monitor

You also should be aware of the fact, that with LCD monitors you always should use the native resolution for best picture quality. That can sometimes be an preformance issue in 3D games, when your graphics card doesn't have the horse power for 1920x1080.

 

[Nok]

Hi Popps,

Just to add on here, definitely go with a wide screen LCD... it is the most common, most affordable and has the best selection in its class. Thing to consider though is the video on your PC... and what video ports you have available.

First determine if you have a video card, the monitor cable plugs into a card slot on the back of the PC... or if you have a video chip, the monitor cable plugs into back of the PC where all the other connectors are (FireWire, LAN, Printer, Serial, USB, etc.).

There are different types of video ports... SVGA, DVI, HDMI, DP (DisplayPort) and so on. Figure out which one you're using now, and if there are others you could use. For example, your PC now has SVGA and DVI ports, then make sure you get a monitor that supports at least one of those... preferably the DVI port (higher quality picture & res than SVGA and auto-configuring). Make sure you're buying a monitor that will work with the best port your PC's video has, and hopefully has newer ports for when you upgrade your PC in the future too.

 

[FishinFool]

Samsung EX2220 - ~$175, tigerdirect. LED 3-yr warranty , awesome display

 

[popps]

Thanks to all for the replies.

You also should be aware of the fact, that with LCD monitors you always should use the native resolution for best picture quality. That can sometimes be an preformance issue in 3D games, when your graphics card doesn't have the horse power for 1920x1080.

So you mean that in order to get the best performance I should have a graphics card that matches the potential of the LCD Monitor ?

In such a case, what type of graphics cards have the horse power for 1920x1080, good refresh rates and video memory high enough to be able to handle most high intensity graphic games and uses ?

What price ranges are these cards on average ?

Also, in regards to monitors, I heard that sometimes LCD Monitors have pixels that "blacken out" (burn out....) ?
How often this can happen and what brands have a best policy to deal with this problem and replace the monitor or fix it free of charge or for little cost ?

Thanks.

 

[RaDian FlGith]

Also, in regards to monitors, I heard that sometimes LCD Monitors have pixels that "blacken out" (burn out....) ?

My absolute best experience has been with Samsung monitors. Depending on the model they typically come with a 1 year or a 3 year warranty... I've had 2 19" monitors for over 6 years now that both still work, no burned out pixels.

I do have a 20" one that the first one I bought burnt out a line of pixels horizontally within the first month -- called Samsung, and since I didn't have a capable credit card at the time, they sent the replacement monitor out to my local UPS store, I took mine in, they swapped just the monitor, and off I went home. Now, sadly, I plugged that one in, and it also had an issue -- wouldn't go to fullest resolution (or above 1024x768), but two days later, I had my replacement, and it's been fine for the past 4 years, no problem. Similarly, I've had a 22" for the past 3 years that has had zero problems with them.

To me, they've always had great picture quality (even the ones I've had forever), and that experience when I did have something go bad with the one (twice, sadly, but still) and they took care of it very easily and convenient for me, I was very impressed. In truth, I have no experience with any other LCD brand simply because I've only bought Samsung... but that one experience made me a permanent customer too.

As for how often burnout occurs... well, like I say, that one monitor being twice the exception (and only once with burnout), no issues with random pixels going out on any of them.

Actually, now that I think about it, I did have two very off-brand monitors at work... one of them did burnout after about 2 years, but I couldn't tell you what that brand was at this point.

 

[popps]

Hi Popps,

Just to add on here, definitely go with a wide screen LCD... it is the most common, most affordable and has the best selection in its class. Thing to consider though is the video on your PC... and what video ports you have available.

First determine if you have a video card, the monitor cable plugs into a card slot on the back of the PC... or if you have a video chip, the monitor cable plugs into back of the PC where all the other connectors are (FireWire, LAN, Printer, Serial, USB, etc.).

There are different types of video ports... SVGA, DVI, HDMI, DP (DisplayPort) and so on. Figure out which one you're using now, and if there are others you could use. For example, your PC now has SVGA and DVI ports, then make sure you get a monitor that supports at least one of those... preferably the DVI port (higher quality picture & res than SVGA and auto-configuring). Make sure you're buying a monitor that will work with the best port your PC's video has, and hopefully has newer ports for when you upgrade your PC in the future too.

Well, I am in the process of upgrading the whole computer so that means I will eventually have new motherboard, new video card, new drives and so forth.
Though, since I am going custom built, it will take me some time before I settle on all parts (all technical advice here is very welcome...).

So, for now, I was planning to get a new Monitor as the first thing and use it with my current video card and later on, when I finally get my decision on all parts to make the new computer I will already have the monitor for it........

As far as the computer goes, my plan is a good, fast and reliable motherboard that can host a reasonably fast CPU (I'd prefer Intel). A CPU that is a good compromise performance/cost so, not the top of the line but neither a below average.

The motherboard I also would like it with a top notch diagnostic adility, definately I would like it to host a LEDs visual ability (i.e. like MSI had on some boards using a USB D-Bracket which can display up to 16 combinations of signals to debug a system). This, in case the computer gets no screen or whatever. Of course, if there is better LEDs diagnostics out there even better......

The drives I was thinking of flash drives since they seem to offer higher read-write speed and I was also thinking to have the bays for the drives open so that I could pull out and fit in the drives a go-go as I wish (and change drives depending on my needs).
What type of controller should I more look into for best performance ? SCSI or something else ?

The Case I would like a case with a very good ventilation and with room to easily access all motherboards' parts if needed. I have has enough of cases where everything is tightly fit into a small space and there is no room even to put one's own hands into...
Perhaps, even set up so that the motherboard can be easily pulled out without having to unscrew a hundreds screws or something.
Bottom line is, a case that provides easy and convenient access to all parts of the computer, has plenty ventilation (with fans which can speed up in case the computer overheats ?) and leds for all sorts of informations about what is going on in the computer and for troubleshouting and debug of problems.
Of course, with a display for CPU and computer temperatures to be monitored at all times.

Any suggestions for a DSL ? Better as an internal card or external ?
Ain't USB slower than an internal slot ?
Which is faster and most reliable as far as data transfer ?

What type of system memory offers the best performance nowadays ? And how much memory is needed to really have fun with even high demanding games out there ?

Thanks a lot again.

 

[Beer_Cayse]

Newegg is excellent. Not just for monitors but just about anything you might want to get for the PC. I've built whole systems from their stock!

Look in the sale list as well. Every so often a choice piece of gear pops in ... perhaps a rebuilt unit or something. Could get a good price and still under a warranty.

 

[blueturtle]

i would go with this guy Newegg.com - Hanns-G HZ281HPB 27.5'' 3ms Full HD 1080P HDMI WideScreen LCD Monitor 400cd/m2 X-Contrast 15,000:1(800:1)Built-in Speakers

 

[Thrakkar]

So you mean that in order to get the best performance I should have a graphics card that matches the potential of the LCD Monitor ?

In such a case, what type of graphics cards have the horse power for 1920x1080, good refresh rates and video memory high enough to be able to handle most high intensity graphic games and uses ?

What price ranges are these cards on average ?

2D/Desktop isn't an issue. Just 3D. (Just saying this, because you mentioned refresh rates). So if you're not much into 3D-Gaming, your old card will do in most cases.

Graphics cards manufacturer usually have three lines of product: High-end, mid-range and budget. High-end is too expensive. Budget is too weak. Leaves only mid-range as a choice.

Nvidia's current newest mid-range card is the GeForce 460GTX. It comes with 768MB or 1GB Ram. Personally I'd reccomend the 1GB version, since it has more Ram, a broader memory interface (which yields better performance) and only costs 5-20 € more, than its weaker counterpart. One should aso keep in mind, that this GFX-card needs at least a (good) 450W power supply unit. This card costs around 200€.

Of course any other mid-range or high-end card of the previous two generations would do also. These would be far more cheaper though (and also less power hungry). I.e. a friend of mine recently upgraded from his GeForce 9800GTX to a GeForce 460GTX and didn't notice that much of an performance boost.

 

[Goodmann]

To run UO at 100% performance you need an etch a sketch, 2 copper wires and a rubber glove.