Squeezing in an LCD/LED in a weird cabinet

[Twoflower]

Not sure how best to proceed here, so I figured I'd turn to the experts.

I have a custom wooden cabinet my father made for me ten years ago that's been left unused for some time. With his recent passing, I'd love to revitalize it in his memory... get a new computer, newer emulator versions, more ROMs, things like that. And notably, a new monitor.

Right now it's running a 17" CRT because oooold. I'd like to replace this with a flatscreen, but size is an issue, as well as availability of the hardware itself.

The physical space I can fit the monitor into measures roughly 20 inches by 20 inches. (Small cabinet.) Ideally I'd like to get a 4:3 aspect ratio monitor because otherwise that's a lot of wasted space when emulating typical arcade games and console games. Problem is, after some searching on Amazon and Newegg, it looks like the best I can get is either...

...a 20" 1600x1200 monitor designed and priced for doctor's offices, probably with a terrible response time.

...or a 19" 1280x1024 5:4 monitor which is only 16x13 inches in size and doesn't quite use the space efficiently or have the right aspect ratio.

What monitor would work best for this cabinet? It's kind of a weird size and I want to make sure I don't buy too much or too little. Or have to pay the kind of price a successful orthodonist would be playing, for that matter.

(I've considered a 16:9 running in portrait mode, but given the 20 inch by 20 inch physical space available to me, that's not going to fit without being really, really small.)

Any help is appreciated, thanks!

[Twoflower]

After researching all day, I've got some findings.

My current ancient CRT monitor provides roughly 14"x10" of screen, for comparison, at 1024x768 (768k pixels).

There are only three options that'll realistically fit inside the cabinet:

1600x1200, in a 20" monitor, is 17"x12.6". 1.920m pixels total. Fully 4:3. Also 16ms response time from grey to grey, so not great, and the only one available is $500.

1280x1024 is 5:4, and at 4:3 it's 1280x960.  Only size actually available is is 19", or 14"x11" of usable screen. 1.228m pixels total.

1920x1080, in a 21.5" monitor, is 18.732"x10.537". The 4:3 space of that is 14.05"x10.537", with 1.555m pixels total.

So, surprisingly, a widescreen monitor provides about the same screen size as what I have right now, but with far more pixel depth. 5:4 doesn't actually offer enough improvement because it's only available in 19" form. 1600x1200 would be the best, offering the most pixels and the most space, but I don't think it's worth it for the amount of money it costs and the fact that it's not really designed for responsive graphics.

What do you think? Am I off here?

[JDFan]

The 20" 4:3 put in vertically so that you get the 3:4 aspect is probably the best bet - $500 is ridiculous though - Are you in the States ??

If so check ArrowDirect.com ( http://arrowdirect.com/search?q#/?_=1&filter.category_hierarchy=Monitors&page=1&sort.quantity=desc ) they have multiple off lease monitors at decent prices ( the pricing right now is not as good as it was a few months ago but still not too bad) -- For example they have either a Dell 2007FP or a HP LP2065 right now listed for $95 but using their discount code "arrow" you get 10% off and Free shipping so total cost is about $85 + (your State tax if you live in a state they charge tax)

THey currently have more than 10 of each type available - so if in the states it is still better than the $500 you listed !-- I bought a couple monitors from them over the last year when they had better sales ( got the HP Lp2065 for about $40 delivered) but they've started charging a bvit more lately for some reason (guess forum members were buying too many)

THe main difference in the Dell 2007 is I believe is a 16ms panel where the HP is 8ms. but either would work well for your available space.

[yotsuya]

I dunno, what does Galaga look like on them?

[Twoflower]

Great resource -- best I had was amazon and newegg. Yes, I'm in the states.

Very good prices here, although I'm concerned about the "B" grade quality indicator on them; I wouldn't want a damaged monitor. I don't care about scuffs to the frame but the screen itself should be in good shape...

Is a 16ms response time bad for 60fps arcade game emulation? Would the Dell suffice for MAME emulation and such?

[dmckean]

Just buy either a Dell 2001FP or HP L2065 or L2035 off of Amazon used (arrow direct is charging too much for them now).

[JDFan]

Great resource -- best I had was amazon and newegg. Yes, I'm in the states.

Very good prices here, although I'm concerned about the "B" grade quality indicator on them; I wouldn't want a damaged monitor. I don't care about scuffs to the frame but the screen itself should be in good shape...

Is a 16ms response time bad for 60fps arcade game emulation? Would the Dell suffice for MAME emulation and such?

Figure 1000ms = 1 second, so 1000/60= 16.666 ms per frame if drawing 60 FPS  -- so anything under 16.666 ms refresh is fast enough for 60FPS (though you may see some ghosting)

Just buy either a Dell 2001FP or HP L2065 or L2035 off of Amazon used (arrow direct is charging too much for them now).

IF you go the 2001FP -- be sure it comes with the Power brick or that will cost you another $15 +/- !! (they use external power bricks rather than internal which is why I suggest the 2007FP instead if going Dell )

THey are a bit high right now but do ship them to your door and do offer 60 day return - so not too much more than the Ebay/amazon/craigslist route depending on how far you have to drive to pick it up or how much they want for the shipping.  ( they seem high because we all got used to the $30 - $50 deals we were getting from them - I know I have stocked up and may never use all of the ones I have now !)

As far as the "B" grading goes I have gotten several and none of them had any scratches or dead pixels on the screen itself - just a few scratches on the cases. ( I have been using a 2001FP and LP2065 for about 8 months and also a Samsung 214T (21.5" 4:3) for  4 months on the systems here and have had no problems with any of them.

[Twoflower]

I think I'll go with the LP2065 off arrow. The Amazon version of that costs about the same with shipping, and arrow's offering me free shipping. I'd rather have the lower response time of that than the Dell with the higher response and power brick issues. Plus I like the idea of a 60 day warranty to make sure everything works A-OK and get my money back if it doesn't.

Thanks for the advice. It's helped a lot!

[dmckean]

They use the same panel, response time is the same.

[JDFan]

I think I'll go with the LP2065 off arrow. The Amazon version of that costs about the same with shipping, and arrow's offering me free shipping. I'd rather have the lower response time of that than the Dell with the higher response and power brick issues. Plus I like the idea of a 60 day warranty to make sure everything works A-OK and get my money back if it doesn't.

Thanks for the advice. It's helped a lot!

Arrow does have one IBM 6736-HC9 ( http://arrowdirect.com/ibm-6736-hc9-22.html )  listed for $68.40 before discount which also seems to be a 20.1" 1600x1200 4:3 so you might research it and see if it is the same specs or not also and save $25 +/- ( haven't looked at the specs for it and the stand doesn't seem as good (no tilting or rotation like the LP2065) but for your use it might be about the same and cheaper !