20" EDTV LCD TV or 26" 720P Widescreen LCD TV?

[ComputerAbuser]

Hi folks, I'm just at the initial stages of putting together a Thin MAME Cabinet for my home. 

I recently upgraded/fixed up a 20" Sony CRT based cabinet for someone else (new computer, software, MiniPAC & trackball) and now my family is interested in having our own, but it needs to be thin since we don't have a lot of room (read LCD based).

Looking at the local ads, I found someone selling a used Panasonic TC-20LA2D 20" EDTV for $80.  Sadly, it doesn't have a VGA input, so I would need to pick up a component to VGA adapter from Monoprice (~$30) or find a video card with component out.  Being limited to 640x480 shouldn't be a problem for the types of emulators I run.  I like the fact that it's 4:3.  Is this a good find?

The alternative is to pick up a used 26" Widescreen LCD TV with VGA input.  It would make my front end look nice, but the extra screen real estate wouldn't be of much use for actual gaming.  A 26" 16:9 screen would provide an approx. 21" 4:3 image, but cost double the amount.


Any suggestions?


Thanks,
ComputerAbuser

[Unstupid]

Whichever one lags the least... Is there a way you can test it first?  Earlier LCD TV's were more prone to lag.  An EDTV leads me to believe that it's pretty old! 

[ComputerAbuser]

I could possibly try it first, but it would be over S-Video since I don't have a computer that can output component.

The manual is dated 2004.  http://ec1.images-amazon.com/media/i3d/01/A/man-migrate/MANUAL000050818.pdf

By lag, do you mean motion blur (ghosting/low refresh) or the delay between an action and how log it takes to display on screen?

[Jack Burton]

I'd be worried about that EDTV having excessive input delay.  It's likely got some age on it so it will be from the rather poor era of LCD manufacture.  It could have ghosting or bad black levels. 

However, if it does meet the right specs I would take it due to the 4:3 aspect ratio.  Do plan on playing late 90s/early 2000s stuff mostly?  640x480 is perfect for that. 

[ComputerAbuser]

Yes having a native resolution of 640x480 on a 20" LCD seems almost perfect for game emulation (MAME, NES, SNES, etc etc). 

I guess I will need to test it to determine if lag, ghosting and black levels will be a problem.

[wizkid32]

Personally, I would go with the 26" widescreen.  It will make your front end and any modern games you run look WAY nicer than a 20" CRT.  Just my opinion, of course.  If you are concerned with high authenticity, go with a CRT.  If you're not, and are planning on using multimedia, get an LCD and you'll be happier in the long run.

[ComputerAbuser]

Well I continued to look around and came across a beauty today.  A LaCie 321 21.3" LCD for $150.

http://www.vistek.ca/store/DisplayLCDMonitors/227169/lacie-321-lcd-213-monitor-12bit-w-blue-hood-blue-eye-pro-v4.aspx

$150 for a 21.3" 4:3 SA-SFT LCD monitor seemed like a pretty good deal.  The seller also included the Blue Eye Pro calibration kit, which I'm hoping to flip for a few bucks. 


ComputerAbuser

[videolast]

This item is no longer available.

[ComputerAbuser]

Oh, sorry, I posted the link just to show what it was.  The one picked up was used.  It's probably been a few years since it has been sold new.

[Blanka]

That LaCie is cool. Good choice. I guess it is a VA panel (they call it SA???), so there is some serious lag, but angles and contrast are great. Forget about those old 4:3 LCD TV's. They have the most horrible panels ever made. They have 0.5 degree viewing angles and 1:10 static contrast. The 720p TV's are usually pretty good, but the 1080p 26 inch ones are crappy on the other hand.