Monitor recommendations?

[dvdx2]

Having recently picked up a x2vga adapter for the xbox and sampled the delights of HD gaming I won`t be using this console on my widescreen TV anymore. I`m currently using this on a 15" Dell monitor, but want to upgrade at the end of the month to something a bit bigger; maybe a 19". Small ish budget, so ?150 would be my upper limit. Any recommendations?

[pscl227]

get an SGI monitor, sometimes see them on ebay for ?150 if your lucky, they are the best of the best

[numel loves you]

I've never used them, so I can't vouch for them or anything, but Monitor Warehouse do factory refurbs of regular and TFT monitors. For your ?150 budget they list Dell Trinitron 19 inchers.

[Papercut]

which SGI monitors? most of them used Trinitron tubes.

I'd go for something that could safely be rotated instead (unlike Trinitron tubes).

[Brats]

Speaking of refurbed stock, I got a 22" CAD Compaq monitor from these people for ?120 . It is absolutely mint, new price would have been ?1,600. I think dot pitch is something like 0.22, includes a USB hub and numerous VGA inputs with a switch. They normally only sell to businesses, but you can get stuff from thm if you say you are staring up your own business.

Ignore the stuff on the website and call them up. Sometimes ou have to wait for an item to appear in stock, but they'll let you know when it comes in.

They would have charged ?30 for delivery (it's a massive monitor), but I picked it up. They are down in Southall if you're interested.

[dvdx2]

cheers lads

[Robster]

so is a monitor generally better than a TV for gaming ?

[Ciaran]

A monitor goes to higher definition that a TV. But only some games are High Def compatible.

[dvdx2]

All (bar 4 or 5) xbox games are displayed at 480p on a monitor. Some, such as Soul Calibur II, Freedom Fighters and Amped 2 to name a few, are displayed in 720p. Some games (very few) are displayed at 1080i.

Even at 480p, the difference in image quality is staggering.

[Brats]

Indeed. A monitor and X2VGA for the XBox is a complete no brainer. Same with the GC and DC.

[Robster]

so a monitor is good for:

XB
GC
DC

but not for PS2. Is this right or am I chapping on the wrong door.

[Brats]

It is possible to obtain VGA from any games on each of those systems that support prog scan (talking about NTSC mainly, although it does work for PAL too in some cases). The trouble with the PS2 is that hardly any games support prog scan, although the list is growing.

With the XBox, nearly every game supports it. On the GC, only the very early third party games don't and on the DC, most support VGA and those that don't, some can be forced into VGA mode using a boot disc.

[Sarkster]

hmm, im interested. Wheres the best (read: cheapest) place to get this X2VGA thing from?

Cheers

[Brats]

It can only be bought from their site:

https://www.x2vga.com

[Space Monkey]

these people

I`m ?300 lighter already, thanks for the link!