TFT Monitor Question(s)

[neoglow]

Hi all,

My next purchase for my PC is going to be a nice flat panel screen, a friend advised me to shop around first for the best deal taking into account the features some manufacturers have on their monitors. I've looked around the net and found a few things I need answering, thanks in advance...

* Is there any difference between TFT and LCD, or are they the same thing?

* Some monitors offer a DVI input socket for digital signal from a DVI enabled graphics card (mine is) the price difference between a monitor with or without a DVI slot can be quite large, is there a big difference in picture quality enough to spend the extra dosh for a DVI enabled monitor?

*A number of suppliers state that a 17" TFT has a larger viewable area than a 17" CRT monitor, is this true?

* If I were to get a non-DVI monitor and get a DVI to VGA convertor (going from the GFX card DVI slot and into the monitor VGA slot) would this create the same quality as a DVI to DVI connection?

*Any other advice about choosing the right monitor would be greatly appreciated!

M.

[wod]

also look at the response times especially if you play games or watch music videos etc. a 17" tft would be bigger than a 17" crt as they are 17" across from corner to corner, equivant to a 19" crt

[Ciaran]

TFT and LCD are different. TFT is currently the best.

Most monitors with DVI are more expensive because they are higher quality monitors, not because they have a DVI input. DVI is better than DVI but I've tried them both on my monitor and the only way you can see the difference is by switching quickly between VGA and DVI.

As wod sayid. 17" TFT = 17" screen size. 17" CRT = 17" screen + beizel

The max response time you want is about 20ms, a first you wil notice minor ghosting but will dissappear once you get used to it.

[yashiro]

TFT and LCD are the same. Just different names for the same display technology. TFT being the newer.

Yes, DVI is better. It's free from analogue noise and is clearer. Don't waste your time with an analogue tft.

As for your last point. No. Get a DVI monitor and use the DVI out from your card.

Yes, a 17" TFT has a bigger viewable area than a 17" CRT.

Advice?
These days you want to be looking for a TFT with a 16-20ms response across the full colour range. Also read up on dead pixels and different manufacturer policies relating to product returns.

[Ciaran]

TFT and LCD are the same. Just different names for the same display technology. TFT being the newer.

I always thought they were different technoligies

[yashiro]

Different nomeclature but same process really. TFT is just the more accurate name these days.

[Lyris]

*A number of suppliers state that a 17" TFT has a larger viewable area than a 17" CRT monitor, is this true?

Yes

* If I were to get a non-DVI monitor and get a DVI to VGA convertor (going from the GFX card DVI slot and into the monitor VGA slot) would this create the same quality as a DVI to DVI connection?

No, the signal would still be passed through the Analog to Digital converter inside the monitor.

[Leon Retro]

Make sure you get one with at least a 16ms response time. I have one with this and I have never seen any ghosting in any game, even fast ones like Unreal.

Most TFT`s are basically the same these days but don`t go for ones too cheap. Some companies are basically selling 2-3 year old technology and thats why they are so cheap. For a 17" TFT you should be expecting to pay at least ?300 minimum and up to ?400 for a really good one.

TFT techology isn`t perfect and has some drawbacks. The first thing you may notice is that black is more greyish and the viewing angles are dodgy, even when sitting straight in front you will have to adjust your seat to get the screen looking like you want it.

The plus points of TFT`s are the size and the clarity. The refresh is virtually non existent and they are much easier on the eyes because they emit hardly any radiation.

I am very happy with my Hitachi175SXW. My CRT used to make me dizzy and feel sick but all that has faded away now I have been using the TFT.

[Lyris]

A good vote here for the Philips 170B4BS. You can get it for about 300-400 pounds and I'd say it's worth every penny - the black level seems very good, and the response time is excellent. My brother spent about 700 pounds on an Iiyama monitor with which he was really disappointed. He sent that back and got a Sony monitor, which he's more pleased with but not as much as he could be because it has a small "diamond-like" pattern on-screen. So, for his second monitor he's gone for the same one I have (the Philips one) - he's gone through 2 screens and this one still remains our favorite.

Of course, look around to see what you're getting - ask to try fast-paced DVDs out on the monitors in stores.

[superkully]

I can't recommend the LG 1710B(?) enough on Amazon for ?300... Good build, built in USB hub, nice colour + image quality, DVI and all the cables are included.

[MD]

Most DVI convertors you get with video cards to plug a VGA monitor in are in fact nothing more then pin convertors as DVI can support Analogue VGA.

DVI will give you a clean crisp picture like the type you get on modern Notebook screens.

[fifty?ballz]

Take a look at the Hitachi 175 if you can (at a Hitachi dealer),
it's not bad if you want perfection.