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LCD monitor choice

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monkey puzzle:

Is the viewing angle really that important on a mame cab? The TN monitor I was looking at has a horizontal viewing angle of 170 degrees and a vertical of 160 degrees. So in other words, vertically you would only lose 5 degrees each side. Also, when playing, you do tend to stand directly in front of the screen. Ok so its not as good for spectators, or 4-player cabs, but that won't really effect me. Please correct me if I'm wrong as I havn't really had much experience with LCDs and mame cabs.

u_rebelscum:


--- Quote from: monkey puzzle on November 05, 2008, 05:13:11 pm ---Is the viewing angle really that important on a mame cab? The TN monitor I was looking at has a horizontal viewing angle of 170 degrees and a vertical of 160 degrees. So in other words, vertically you would only lose 5 degrees each side. Also, when playing, you do tend to stand directly in front of the screen. Ok so its not as good for spectators, or 4-player cabs, but that won't really effect me. Please correct me if I'm wrong as I havn't really had much experience with LCDs and mame cabs.

--- End quote ---

I might be a little bias, as I hate TN screens, so grain of salt...

There is no fixed standard on what "viewing angle" means.  The most common is it's the max angle that has at least 10% of the brightness of looking straight on.  However, some (cheap) TN marketing PRs drop it down to 5% brightness to come closer to the better techs.  On top of that, what's it's brightness that's measured, not color, contrast or any thing except brightness.  TNs vertical views are terrible in color and contrast; veiwed from top is usually flatter contrast, and looking from bottom usually looks like film negatives.  AnandTech has some nice pics of this effect; other sites have pics like this too, but can't remember OTTOMH.

So if you do use a TN LCD (horizontal), make sure the screen is not slanted back; 90 degrees to your veiwing angle would be best, but shorter and taller people will get different results than the "perfect height" the LCD will have.

Note, some TNs are better than others, but I never want to buy a TN, never ever.  (But am stuck if I buy a laytop :( )

Good luck. :cheers:

nox771:


--- Quote ---Is the viewing angle really that important on a mame cab? The TN monitor I was looking at has a horizontal viewing angle of 170 degrees and a vertical of 160 degrees.
--- End quote ---

Well I think you can see by the Anandtech viewing angle shots that the manufacturers clearly lie about viewing angles on TN panels (in particular the vertical).  If you follow the previous Anandtech link to the other pages of the article you can see the difference for the couple PVA panels they include (much better viewing angles).

Practically speaking though, PVA or IPS panels cost significantly more than TNs.  If your budget is restricted just put in what you can afford.   Personally I'm planning on using a TN in mine, just for cost reasons (although I don't plan to rotate it).  I can't justify a 28" to 30" PVA panel, running at a fraction of it's native resolution, in a side project like this - but a TN, at half the cost, maybe...

Additionally I think the technology has improved somewhat and most TNs these days look really good in the horizontal, so if you do have a viewing angle problem it will most likely only be in the games using the rotated orientation.

It's not like it's a permanent decision either.  Later on if the tech improves, pull the panel, stick it on a PC as a second display, and put something better in.


Blanka:


--- Quote from: monkey puzzle on November 05, 2008, 05:13:11 pm ---Is the viewing angle really that important on a mame cab? The TN monitor I was looking at has a horizontal viewing angle of 170 degrees and a vertical of 160 degrees. So in other words, vertically you would only lose 5 degrees each side.
--- End quote ---
In as sense of distinguishing pacman on the background, you're right, as pacman stays visible.
But with TN mounted vertical, expect pac-man to be dark blue on a bright yellow/orange background from 30 degrees to the right. He is visible, but colours are totally distorted.
Especially in the bigger sizes (25.5 inch up) more screens are SIPS or SPVA or prices are more similar, so the price premium for a good one is considarable. TN at such a big size would have too big angles from right in front of it to the corners already!

monkey puzzle:

Ok, thanks for all that, its made me think. I guess I'll have to come up with a plan B.

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