Upgrading My Monitor For Gaming - Need Help!

[Vanchatron]

I'm going to be buying the 640mb 8800GTS tomorrow & want to purchase a new monitor along with it.

The thing is, I'm now stuck on which monitor to buy. I don't really have any idea about resolutions as I've only ever played games at 1024x768 but now I realise that resolution actually plays quite a big part in what the graphics look like.

I was thinking of going for the following TFT monitor as it says that it can run at 1280x1024 but then I saw that it was only a 14" monitor which is pretty small right? At present I'm using a 1024x768 17" CRT monitor and want to upgrade to a 1280x1024 but if it means the screen will be smaller I'm not sure whether or not it'd be worth upgrading. Anyway, here's the monitor - http://www.ebuyer.com/UK/product/125848

I'm not sure whether to keep my current 17" CRT monitor and run games at 1024x768 or upgrade to the smaller but higher resolution 14" TFT monitor at 1280x768.

I could always upgrade to a 17" TFT monitor at 1280x768 but I really don't want to spend that much money if I can help it as I'll be buying the 640mb 8800GTS aswell.

What are your opinions? Thanks.

[SufferWell1396]

DO NOT GET THE 14' INCH
unless you want to squint your eyes to view your game

get a 17' or a 19'
in the long run
it will be worth it

[Vanchatron]

Thanks for the quick reply.

What do you think of these two/which is better?


1) http://www.ebuyer.com/UK/product/132301

2) http://www.ebuyer.com/UK/product/120308/rb/0


One is widescreen & one isn't & are both 19".

I just don't want to have any compatibility problems when playing games so I'd probably end up not getting the widescreen, although it does look better.

What do you think anyway?

Thanks again.

[Rick]

I just installed a 22 inch wide screen for the wife. 1680x1050
Compared to my 2x19 inch it does a very good job

Not sure about the gaming part.
But if the video in games is near to what it has the rest of the time.
Wide screen is the way to go..
Check the spec's on your games and video card ( your card selection lists 2560 x 1600 ) :)

[saphalline]

I could always upgrade to a 17" TFT monitor at 1280x768 but I really don't want to spend that much money if I can help it as I'll be buying the 640mb 8800GTS aswell.Then don't do it. Seriously, if you can't afford it, just stop yourself and say NO! :p

Like your thread about the vid card, the monitor is the same way. Do it right or don't bother. Otherwise you'll end up wasting money. Your current monitor will be fine for now - my brother is in the same situation. 17" CRT w/8800 GTS 640MB. His monitor has a realistic max res of 1024 x 768 @ 75Hz, so I simply told him that his system can play ANY game at that res with everything maxed-out!! :D :cool:

In the future, it would be a good idea (once you have the money) to invest in a 19" widescreen monitor. Newer games can be played at 16:9 aspect ratios while older games can be played at normal resolutions with little distortion. (Or keep your 17" CRT around just for them! :D)

[jlreich]

I got my 19" LCD not too long ago and love it. I was tempted to go for widescreen but went for regular instead. I to was concerned about issues with older games with the widescreen.

I like widescreen but 19" widescreens seem so small to me. I think I would have to go for a 22" or larger in order to go widescreen.

Besides you actually get about 200 more pixels of screen space with a regular 19" vs. widescreen. :p

[66miranda]

Widescreen is always better.

[jlreich]

Widescreen is always better.
Why? Not trying to challenge you, would just like to know why you like widescreen better? :)

Edit - Never mind. I like widescreen better myself. I just don't like them 19", it seems so small.