New monitors, new resolutions

They’re alright, don't get me wrong, but if it were my money, I’d definitely go with an LED setup instead. 😉

Look, high-speed LEDs aren't exactly cheap compared to standard LCDs, so...

If you're looking for options, check out the BX2231—or maybe even squeeze in the BX2331 if you can stretch your budget a bit more.$33

It’s actually pretty solid (with that 2ms response time).

But from what I can tell, it doesn't have HDCP, whereas that LG 2360 v does.

Does that really matter in the long run? And honestly, what exactly is HDCP anyway? I know it's some kind of protection protocol, but I haven't quite wrapped my head around what it actually does.

HDPC is basically just the copy protection system they use for playing back HD-DVD and Blu-ray discs... honestly, it’s not even that big of a deal—you can pretty much bypass it with software if you really need to.

I was wondering if someone might be able to offer a recommendation for a single gaming monitor within the $700 range. Specifically, I am considering the Samsung SyncMaster XL2370, but I find myself questioning whether it truly stands up to the task or if there are superior options available 😉 within a budget of $700. Furthermore, if anyone here happens to own a Samsung SyncMaster XL2370, would you be so kind as to share your thoughts? I would greatly appreciate knowing if you have found it to be a satisfactory piece of equipment 😁

I'm currently torn between two different 27" monitors—if anyone has any insight, I'd love a recommendation on which one to go with. 🙂
The first option is the Samsung P2770HD:

The second is the LG 2770V

http://www.bestbuy.com/index.php?naziv=...kl=100.326.118

thoughts? What should I grab before it's gone 😁
...

Check out this review for the Samsung: http://www.digitalversus.com/samsung...7_8192_36.html

Anyway—with those massive hybrid monitor-TV monstrosities like this Samsung—you’re generally going to run into response time issues. If you just want to sit back and watch movies from maybe 2 or 3 feet away, then sure, it’s fine. But if you actually plan on gaming on it? Yeah, not gonna happen... it's just not built for that.

Honestly, I’d go with an LG instead—mostly because it's a newer model and features LED backlighting—plus, Samsung keeps hiking up the price on their built-in tuners, so do yourself a favor and check some reviews online... here's one that seems decent: http://www.expertreviews.co.uk/monit...flatron-e2750v

@Lawrence Ruiz3/">@@Lawrence Ruiz3
I’m rocking an XL2370 myself, and honestly, I haven't found a single thing to complain about—it's a solid monitor. The only real downside is that the stand is totally fixed, so you can't adjust the height or even tilt the screen, plus there aren't any extra ports like USB or audio jacks hanging around—but frankly, I don't even need them. If you're looking for anything else, maybe check out this 24" model, though it lacks the LED backlight: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/example_link

If you want to nerd out on the specifics, here’s a more detailed review: http://www.digitalversus.com/samsung...7_8128_36.html

Usually, monitors in this specific class and size cap out at around $633 bucks—if you see one priced higher than that, it’s probably just because it comes with a built-in TV tuner.

James Castillo8 said:http://www.bestbuy.com/index.php?item=...kl=100.326.118

What do you guys think? If I pull the trigger on this today, how fast am I getting it? 😁

If you’re actually looking to play anything decent, just hold out $33 until this one comes along.

Yeah, mostly for gaming—plus it’s way easier on my eyes when I'm reading stuff. What kind of tuner does that one have? Is it an LG? Or just a standard TV... If I grab the one for $433, I should be good to go, right? Should be fine for those full HD documentaries...

Benjamin King2, what about this AOC one compared to the Samsung...

Which one’s better? That 27" Samsung that Jesse Myers57 was asking about actually has a built-in tuner—you know, like an actual TV tuner where you just plug the antenna cable directly into the monitor. I suggested that $1300 model specifically because it hits that 2ms response time, so you shouldn't run into any lag issues while gaming—though honestly, if you're just watching documentaries, either one will do fine. Just a heads-up though: AOC generally puts out monitors with pretty mediocre contrast and response times—they're basically office monitors that might work okay for a movie now and then, but seriously, don't waste your money on them.

Alright, I'm picking up this one today for $0.43 thanks...

Benjamin King2, I see you're rocking the XL2370.
Just wanted to pick your brain on something. I've got the P2370, and they look identical from the outside—mine uses CCFL, but it’s super slim since it has an external power brick.

Here's the thing that's bugging me:
I noticed you mentioned you can't adjust the tilt either. I'm in the same boat, even though some manual I found online claims you actually can ??? When I look at photos on the web, my P2370 looks like it should have way more tilt than mine does. Mine stays almost perfectly vertical, so I had to prop something up underneath it just to get a decent angle, which looks pretty terrible.
The hinge at the bottom looks like it's meant to tilt, but it won't budge. Honestly, I feel like if I force it, the whole thing might just snap instead of moving. I was starting to think maybe my monitor was just defective, but seeing as you're dealing with the same issue, now I'm really questioning things.
It seems kind of weird to me that it doesn't tilt, since that should be such a basic feature.
What's your take? Thanks in advance

So, I’m looking at the photo of your monitor right here: http://www.digitalversus.com/samsung...7_5568_36.html
The stand and the base look identical to what I've got on my monitor—actually, if I recall correctly, I think I read something similar in my own manual. I even tried messing around with it a bit while I was setting everything up, but honestly? Nothing. Not a single millimeter. That plastic shroud and the base itself feel like they're made of some incredibly rigid, unforgiving plastic—and looking at the pivot point, I don't see any mechanism that would allow for tilting or rotating. I’d highly doubt you could move it even an inch without just snapping something off. 😁

Thanks for the reply.
Pretty weird.
The one in the picture seems to have a decent angle (at least to me), just like the ones I was looking at online earlier. But mine is sitting at almost 90 degrees.
I guess I didn't really check if there was any kind of pivot or joint when I mounted it, thinking I'd deal with it later, but now everything is fixed in place.
Now I probably need to build some kind of angled stand just so it doesn't look like total garbage.

Alright, thanks

Benjamin King2 picked up a monitor at a local shop down the street $367 and honestly, it’s decent—but tell me, is it normal that when I crank a game to full HD, it doesn't fill the whole screen? 😢 It happens in every single game, though the desktop looks fine... 😢

Also, I grabbed a DVI-DVI cable, but the idiot clerk insisted they didn't have any, then handed me a DVI-HDMI instead... the only way I can even hook this thing up. I'm planning on taking it back—can I actually get a refund, or should I just swap it and throw some extra cash toward a keyboard? $20 It’s not a total loss, though...

Benjamin King2 said:There’s a review for the Samsung right here: http://www.digitalversus.com/samsung...7_8192_36.html

Generally speaking, with those massive hybrid monitor setups like that Samsung—you're going to run into response time issues. If you just want to watch movies from about six or seven feet away, it'll be fine—but if you're actually planning to game on it, it probably isn't going to be great...

I'd personally lean toward the LG—mostly because it's a newer model and features LED backlighting—plus the price for the Samsung's built-in tuner is creeping up. You should definitely check out some reviews online... here's one that looks decent: http://www.expertreviews.co.uk/monit...flatron-e2750v

That’s pretty much what I was thinking too—the LG seems like a better fit for me (there are only two reviews online, but both are really positive). Honestly, the TV tuner doesn't matter to me; I have other ways to get a signal to my PC. I mainly need this for a mix of desktop work and watching movies—from about the same distance you mentioned—so gaming is more of an afterthought.

By the way, what's the actual big advantage of having LED backlighting?

I don't know what to tell you—it’s just one of those things where people seem to think there's a massive debate, when really, it's pretty straightforward if you actually look at the facts. People get so worked up over the smallest details—honestly, it's exhausting—but I've always been of the mind that if you approach it with a bit of logic, the answer kind of presents itself. It’s not rocket science, though some folks certainly try to make it feel like it is. Anyway, my point is, stop overcomplicating things. Just deal with it. Benjamin King2 says:
Thanks for the reply.
Just kind of weird.
Only this one in the picture seems to have a decent angle—at least, that’s how it looks to me—similar to the ones I dug up earlier from my profile. But mine? Mine is sitting at almost a straight 90 degrees.
Honestly, when I was putting everything together, I didn't even bother checking if there was any play or looseness in the joints—I just figured I'd deal with it later—but now? Yeah, everything is rock solid.
I really need to whip up some kind of angled stand—just something to make this whole setup look a little less like a disaster zone and maybe a bit more civilized.
Alright, thanks.

I’m sitting at the same 90 mark—honestly, it's fine by me since the height is spot on, so I don't really feel the need to mess with the tilt—but maybe you'd want to... It looks like you might have cut off there—left me hanging mid-sentence! What were you going to say? Maybe this will help.

James Castillo8 said:Benjamin King2 picked up a monitor at the local corner store—basically just a quick run to a neighborhood bodega. $367 I finally got it running—it’s actually great. But hey, quick question for you—is it totally normal that when I set the resolution to Samsung full HD in-game, it doesn't actually fill up the whole screen? 😢 It’s not showing up in any of my games—not one—but then I look at my desktop and there it is, just sitting right there. 😢

So, I went out to pick up a DVI-to-DVI cable—simple enough, right?—but apparently, the guy working the counter is a total clown. He looked me straight in the eye and swore they didn't have them in stock, yet when I opened the package, it was just some DVI-to-HDMI cable instead. Total nonsense. Now I’m stuck with a cord that only works for my monitor, which isn't exactly what I planned for. I'm thinking about taking this back—can I actually demand a full refund, or should I just swap it out and throw some extra cash toward that keyboard I've been eyeing? God, what a headache. $20 It’s actually not half bad.

What on earth is actually running in that window? Is it just spinning in circles or something? Also—and this is the big one—does it even support 1920x1080 resolution?

Go hit up the store and check—I’m pretty sure you should be getting a refund on that.

Jesse Myers57 said:Just as an aside—what’s actually the big deal with LED lighting anyway? What's the actual advantage there?

Look, the backlighting makes a massive difference when it comes to contrast and color accuracy—it’s not even a contest. We're talking about LEDs having a much wider light emission range compared to those old-school CCFL lamps used in standard LCD monitors, which basically allows for way more intense, punchy colors. Plus, you get better contrast levels overall, and honestly? The light is just easier on your eyes—much less strain during those long sessions. Oh, and if you care about your electric bill, LED monitors pull significantly less power too. It's just a smarter way to go.