Should you always go with the biggest monitor you can cram in there?

[javeryh]

I'm deciding between a 17" or 19" Dell LCD.  I think the 19" will fit but it will leave practically no room for a bezel or any area around the outside.  The usable width of the interior of my cabinet is 18.5" and the dimensions of the LCDs are (WxDxH):

19" LCD:  16.2" x 5.7" x 15.8"
17" LCD:  14.75" x 5.51" x 14.99"

Also, I'm going to be mounting the monitor vertically so the "H" is really my "W" - there's less than 1" difference between the two monitors but that 1" means either a 1.35" trim on either side or a 1.75" trim on either side.

The price difference between them is $40 for new monitors and $10 for refurbished ones.

Any thoughts?

[NoOne=NBA=]

I'd go with the 19.
I've never seen a cab where I've said "that monitor is just too big for that cab".

[vrf]

I've never seen a cab where I've said "that monitor is just too big for that cab".

I agree. And we've seen snotloads of cabs with monitors that are too small.

[releasedtruth]

Depending on view distance, yeah, it can be too big. For the standard, downangle view that isn't a problem, but for something like mine where the hood is almost at eye level and completely horizontal, anything larger than 25" was going to be too bright and too close to the eyes. If you're more than 14" from the screen though, go big all the way.

[ChadTower]

Also depends on the source... CRT via RGB is a LOT clearer than an LCD via Svideo.  Less clear + big screen = 

[leapinlew]

I'm using a 32" television from about 3.5 feet away. It's too big. When playing Robotron, I actually have to turn my head to see the whole screen to make sure I don't leave any humans on the board. In my opinion, a 17" will look great. Especially being an LCD where a 17" really means 17 inches and not 16" viewable.

my example may be an extreme example of too big, but I'd suggest that a 17" would be fine and a 19" wouldn't be bad either. Neither of those monitors would be considered too small.

[javeryh]

That's what I'm leaning towards but I should probably add that I'm building a mini (80% scale) using the Ms. Pac-man plans so 17" should look big enough...  It probably doesn't matter in the end.

[ChadTower]

It really won't matter that much... go with a better LCD over a bigger one.  That will matter more.

[Nannuu]

19" large cabinet and 17" for the mini.  That should do it!