Need LCD monitor suggestion

[Ginsu Victim]

I just got this 25" Dynamo cut-corner cabinet for free and I'm MAMEing it for a friend. The monitor that's in it is dead (keeps blowing fuses from what I was told). Can anyone recommend an LCD (16:10 or 16:9) that would fit this? Thanks.

[Ginsu Victim]

Anyone?

[Rick]

This would fit.

 

[Blanka]

Glad you're in the USA. Then this one is still for sale:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824116422
Shocking price, but you have the best there is. Period.
Maybe there's one on sale somewhere, as the model is EOL.

Otherwise, go for the new HP ZR24W. Short input-lag, wide-angles, pivot-capable.

Want smaller:
The HP LP2065 is still stellar quality in 4:3 aspect. Very short lag too.
Screens with the same panel, but no longer made:
http://www.tftcentral.co.uk/search.php?query=LM201U05&select=panel

[Ginsu Victim]

I was waiting for Blanka to answer. Thanks.

First one is WAY too high. I could just buy a tri-res CRT arcade monitor for half that.

Second one is too small, but it IS awesome....I'm looking at my words being typed on the exact same screen.

[Blanka]

Huh?
25.5 inch is OK, but
24 inch too small. Next to each other you spot the difference, but it's not much. I think if you think 25.5 inch is OK, then 24 inch will do fine too, especially when its a 16:10.
Maybe you can get one of those discontinued 25.5 inch TN panels, like Samsungs 260HD, but be aware of their huge input lag.

Edit: if you want to mount vertical, forget TN. It will look too bad for P2.

[Ginsu Victim]

Sorry, didn't see you had three choices. I meant the LP2065.

And, no, not mounting vertical.

[Blanka]

Maybe you can find a used Samsung 213 T or 214 T. Very nice 4:3 screens, and I have to say their image looks quite big when mount vertical, even though it's only 21.3 inch.

[Ginsu Victim]

Thanks. I'll keep those in mind. I did spot a 24" 4:3 CRT TV today at a pawn shop that has s-video (acceptable quality) and it's only $39.00USD. I might go back and test it out.

[james anderson]

Blanka, are you a fan of the Viewsonic VP2130b ?

edit: wow tftcentral is an awesome resource. thanks.

[Blanka]

Can't test Viewsonic in Europe. They sell what LG sold here (and those made in Poland IPS LG's were not available in the US). But unfortunately LG trashed models with their own IPS panels from the catalog, where Viewsonic still uses them.

[james anderson]

sorry, talk to me like I'm a five-year-old.

are you saying the plastic enclosure is crap on the LG and is the same viewsonic uses?

thanks man.

[james anderson]

ok. In-plane switching (IPS)

i read up on it.

so the viewsonics use that same tech you think?

[Blanka]

LG is the main producer of IPS panels. Samsung makes PVA panels for the high end stuff (highest static contrast of any LCD type, up to 1:2500!). Both panels are suitable for wide viewing angles and vertical mounting.
TN is the stuff you see in the computer store on the corner. Most people buy this. Cheap, fast, but less accurate with colours (the technology is only 18-bit colour, all the rest is done with dithering or PWM), and horrible viewing from either below or above, thus horrible mount vertically.

LG IPS panels are used by NEC, EIZOs, DELL, ViewSonic, Philips, Apple, HP, older LG's, older Acers to name a few
Samsung PVA panels can be found in older NECs, EIZOs, older DELL's, a few Samsungs, older Acers, iPads, LaCie.
As you can see, many brands dropped the high quality screens. Samsung only sells the F2380M C-PVA now I guess, LG does not sell their own high quality screens under their own name any more. They both had great displays two years ago. Samsung 213T, 245T, 275T, LG W2600HP, LG W3000H to name a few. All discontinued in favour of making pennies on TN bulk.

[james anderson]

thank you. your knowledge and willingness to help are exemplary!

[MonMotha]

You cannot assume what kind of panel type you'll get based upon retail brand name.  Heck, you can't assume what kind of panel you'll get based upon the model number of the monitor you're buying!  Dell in particular likes to swap out panels all the time but keep the model number the same.  This is supposedly done so that corporate types don't have to constantly re-approve their purchase orders for monitors, but I personally just find it annoying.

Basically, look up online by model number and date code or be prepared to play the panel lottery. There's a website that catalogs all this, but I can never remember it.

I don't like TN panels, but they're almost impossible to avoid now.  I'm personally not totally fond of PVA, but they're not bad.  PVA does tend to lag due to the time delay needed to determine the proper overdrive waveforms.

My 7+ year old 19" 5:4 has a S-IPS panel, and I wouldn't give it up for anything people would actually offer (though I don't use it a ton, these days).  Modern H-IPS displays largely eliminate the response time issues (ghosting) associated with S-IPS bringing them down to similar to a properly driven (not hilariously laggy and overdriven like some are) TN panel.  Note that you can't really compare published response times.  The high end monitors are all B-W or even W-B while the cheap ones quote like 60% Gray to 40% Gray giving them an artificially low number to put on the glossy sticker.

Expect to pay $300+ for a quality IPS panel, even used.  New high end ones can top $1000.  I paid $800 for my 19" in 2003 and felt I got a good deal.  Given that a similar monitor would still cost like $600-700, I'd say I did.

[Rickn]

So as far as finding a tri-res monitor goes here are a few thoughts:
- if you are going to switch resolutions back and forth, then you need to go digital. If not you will need to adjust most setting each time you switch. Our Tri-res is analogue, so I recommend you stick to 640X480 and then you are fine.
- Picture tube monitors are almost extinct, I have a few left and I know distributors like Shaffer has a few of my 24.8" Tri-res. I am trying to close a deal on about 100 tubes to make a last build of 27" tri-res.... finding the "RIGHT Tube and yoke" is a challenge.
- You may want to consider our 26" LCD. it is 16:9 and will pretty much accept all resolutions. No upscaler involved (if you use an upscaler you convert/degradate the signal twice) fantastic viewing angle, brightness and contrast!! Open frame so as long as the interior of the cabinet has 25 1/8" clearance left to right... easy to mount. Industrial quality!
hope this helps.
Rick@niemandisplays.com

[Ginsu Victim]

Thanks for the response, Rick, and for getting this back on topic.

[james anderson]

---edit---

[krick]

- You may want to consider our 26" LCD. it is 16:9 and will pretty much accept all resolutions. No upscaler involved (if you use an upscaler you convert/degradate the signal twice) fantastic viewing angle, brightness and contrast!! Open frame so as long as the interior of the cabinet has 25 1/8" clearance left to right... easy to mount. Industrial quality!

Why is it that nobody makes a non-widescreen LCD in large sizes?

I have a 20.1 inch non-widescreen (4:3) LCD (Westinghouse brand) that I use with my personal computer but that's the biggest one I've ever seen.

It seems to me that a 25" 4:3 LCD drop-in replacement for an arcade cabinet would be a no-brainer.

My arcade cabinet is a "slim" cabinet that just barely fits the 25-inch CRT that's in it.  The side-to-side interior dimensions are almost exactly 24 inches.  If my CRT ever dies, I'm probably going to have to convert an old 25 inch television using an 8-liners chassis or something.

[Flake]

I just purchased this last week on ebay - its still in transit.  I purchased it based on Blanka's LCD recommendations.  There were some other 16:10 available at the time but they were more expensive (27"-28" pushing up to $500).  Not sure a 28" would fit in my cab.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160575059239&ssPageName=ADME:X:AAQ:US:1123

Anyway, I would check Ebay.

[DNA Dan]

Why is it that nobody makes a non-widescreen LCD in large sizes?

I believe there was more waste to how they cut up the panels. Almost all the sources for panels have re-tooled themselves to widescreen format. It's the future, start planning for it now.

[Blanka]

Considering the shape of your cab, you could consider buying an el-cheapo 32-inch TV and mount it vertical. They are often built with IPS or VA panels, so the angles are great, and if you put a bezel in front, it will give you about a 25 inch 4:3 screen. When using an 720P model, you will have 1024x768 pixels visible, perfect for Maming.