thinking of buying these computer bits...

[julian]

Now i know im always asking stuff like this, and anyone would think i was always buying, but the truth is im generally too much of a skintflint to buy anything untill ive properly 100% convinced myself over it... which evidently takes some ammount of time!

Anyhow...

Monitor -

24" Dell S2409W Widescreen Flat Panel Monitor (http://www.aria.co.uk/SuperSpecials/Other+products/24%22+Dell+S2409W+Widescreen+F lat+Panel+Monitor+?productId=3 3675)

GFX Card -

Asus ATi Radeon HD 3450 512MB PCI-E (http://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Components/Graphics+Cards/PCI-E/ATI+Radeon+3000+Series/Asus+ATi+Radeon+HD+3450+512MB+ PCI-E+?productId=33286)

The screen isnt one of the fancier dells, but with the 1080 resolution, i can plug in a freeview box (etc) and use it as a tv also.
The gfx card is a cheap one, but has passive cooling (i dislike the sound of fans), and i dont play 3D games anyhow (im currently using the m/b's integrated gfx, but it does have a pci-e slot for expansion)

Anyway, this lot seems resonable, but i thought id check here to see if anyone knows better?

Im not 100% concerned about colur accuracy, or response times - i really just want somthing with a nice clear picture for reading txt, doing CAD, and watching movies...

[love_tempo]

not a great monitor tbh. the blacks could be fooked watching films.

for that money I'd stick with a good 20". the good dell 24" is twice that price.

I've a very similar gfx to that and it's been great. passive is the way to go.

[julian]

the blacks could be fooked watching films.

I really know nothing about these things, so im in no way disputing what you say, but how can you tell that?

I read a selection of reviews, and the buyers seem to like it, but then people generally feel better if they 'like' what theyve just shelled out cash on, if you see what i meen?



for that money I'd stick with a good 20". the good dell 24" is twice that price.

wanna make life simple for me, and gimme the part number? : )

[Spandex]

Ar I got a fanless GFX card with a heatsink that dangles out the back. S'fine. I don't really play games but it's not had any trouble with anything.

[julian]

I think these two links show the 24" screen i was on about -

Dell S2409W (http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MO-029-DE&groupid=17&catid=510&subcat=&name=Dell%20S2409W%2024%22%20W idescreen%20True%20HD%20LCD%20 Monitor%20-%20Black)

...and the more expensive one

Dell TrueColour E248WFP (http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MO-020-DE&groupid=17&catid=510&subcat=&name=Dell%20TrueColour%20E248W FP%2024%22%20Widescreen%20LCD% 20Monitor%20-%20Midnight%20Grey)


however, as i said, im unsure of whats what with regard to the specs.

The 20" variants, however, have less than 1080 lines, which, im led to believe, meens complications with scaling when running HD content from a freeview of dvd box?

[julian]

hmmm... scrap that, i suspect you meen the

2408WFP (http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MO-024-DE)

(?)

[wheezer]

I'd just go with the cheapo one, tbh - but then I am slightly colorweak anyway

[love_tempo]

yeah that's the dell I meant. It's one of the best monitors around.

the cheaper one you are looking at is decent. but it's a TN panel, which isn't the best, and I don't think it is full true colour. it won't be anything special. poor viewing angle too prolly and black won't be inky black, and if you aren't sitting dead on it will look a bit fucked in the colours.

BUT, it's probably perfectly fine for what you want it for. but you do get what you pay for with 23/24" monitors. that's why I'd prefer to get a really good 20/22" and get a 24" when they get cheaper.

not sure which one, I have a 20" samsung bw at home and it's good. At work we have the more expensive end of the Iiyamas and they're decent too.

[love_tempo]

when I was choosing one I went with the Samsung SM205BW but things could have changed. The dell (2007wfp I think) looked nice too but it was too expensive then (over 300). But now, I'd probably go with the dell, it's much better built and a good panel. It's more like the baby version of the really good 24". It goes for under 200.

[wheezer]

one thing I do like about the higher end displays is the number of ports they tend to have. I got a benq 24" that got good reviews and cost a pretty penny last year, and it has hdmi, dvi, vga, s-video, composite ... and even the ability to pip. which is pretty neat , cause now I have my ps2 hooked up to the svideo, for those long installs...

[julian]

my current screen is a 20somthing inch CRT, with VGA and BNC inputs only, so the idea of just buying a chepo freeview box and plugging that into a new monitor is of interest, as im not willing to sacrifice the space for a tv.

the difference between the cheap dell with 1000:1 contrast and the expensive one with 3000:1 ratio is almost exactly double (ie £400 against £200)

in reality, the possibility of me shelling out £400 on a screen (even though its one of the objects i use most in life!) is probably slim, however, at the same time, getting somthing obviously lacking is silly also (im more concerned with viewing angle here, as thats kinda a little more import when in tv mode...)

bahh humbug... ill probably leave it another 6 months then!

[love_tempo]

yeah, that's why I left it at 22". viewing angle is important and the really good 24" are bloody expensive. you could get a good quality 22" for less than £200 as an in between option.

[love_tempo]

I saw these dell 24" refurbs julian. 275 + vat for the 2408WFP which is really good.

they do have a 3 year warranty but I don't know anything about the company though and the website looks awful!

http://www.mcscom.co.uk/product.php?xProd=5784&xSec=4

If you try em, let me know ;)

[julian]

ive looked about, and ive found a couple of cut-price sellers, but further digging reveals that the 2408WFP has just been 'revised', and that could well be the reason for the price being low - i meen if theyre selling old pre-revision stock.

the best price ive found for the later version is here - http://www.pcbuyit.co.uk/product.asp?dept%5Fid=69&sku=210

..which works out just a touch over 400 with vat and delivery.

In truth, im pretty tempted, but i want to know whats happening about my car (just about to be written off - i mentioned it in another thread) before spending cash, as i suspect big financial drains right arround the corner : (