Choosing a LCD Monitor

[bpbpbp]

Costco has a 17" Samsung 713N LCD Monitor deal going on next week. I've been considering an LCD monitor for a while but i'm quite hesitant on making this 'compulsive' purchase. Why do i want an LCD montior in the first place? It's much easier on the eyes. I've read good things about samsung the specs look good too, i think. The two main things that scare me are the response time (playing fast paced games like UT2004 and the like -- 8ms enough?), also the dreaded dead pixels. what about playing games at lower resolutions?

should i buy or pass?
I'm currently using a Samtron 76V. ATI Radeon 9500

http://www.costco.ca/en-CA/Browse/Product.aspx?prodid=10286192&whse=&topnav=&cat=

[Synthesis]

The positive aspects of LCD technology that you mentioned are, in fact, true. A LCD will be much easier on your eyes, consumes less energy, and produces less heat. While it is true that LCD's can exhibit a "blurring" or "ghosting" effect when displaying fast moving images the technology has come a long way is the last couple of years. For the most part any LCD you buy today should do a reasonably good job handing your fast moving video content. It should be noted that there is no standard for measuring the pixel response times of LCD's from various manufacturers, these numbers are marketing hype more than anything else. I would recommend that you have a look at the display in the store and make sure that it achieves an acceptable level of performance when viewing fast moving images.

While not necessarily a deal breaker you shouldn't be shocked to find one or two pixel anomalies on a new display. The good news is the Costco has one of the most generous return policies that I have seen. If you just couldn't live with a dead or stuck pixel you should be able to return the display without too much hassle.

I haven't been able to find any reviews on the internet so I'm not too familiar with the intricacies of that particular display but from my experience with other Samsung LCD's I can say that it most likely will work quite nicely for you. As I said above, make your purchasing decision only after seeing the display in person.

-Synthesis

[AMD]

See before you buy. There are monitors out there which look like crap, in spite of excellent specifications.

[ve3sab]

Just a note for you about the 8ms - that equates to about a 125 hz refresh rate which would be ok for games. Higher the msec rate, the lower the refresh rate which will affect how well games will look on it.

[DazedNConfuzed]

for games and video.

anything below 12ms is perfect.

this monitor here is INSANELY GOOD LOOKING you must see it you will fall in love.
there is a 17inch version of it as well.
http://www.staples.ca/ENG/Catalog/cat_sku.asp?CatIds=89%2C465%2C3703,3706&webid=609593&affixedcode=WW

has a trubrite effect to it!!