LCD Computer Monitor, 2ms or 5ms?

[TheNeck]

I finally got my arcade cabinet, and I'm looking at getting a LCD computer monitor to use with it. My friend is telling me to make sure it has a responce time of 2ms, but most monitors i am looking at are only 5ms. Does it really make that much of a difference? Most likely this arcade cabinet will be a MAME machine and i might even hook up a 360 in it as well.

[Blanka]

Response time is way less important than input lag. So 2 and 5ms is OK.
What time of screen do you plan to get?
In general, TN panels are fastest, but with large screens, >23 inch, IPS seems to be the faster type. If you want to mount vertical, definitely go for IPS, as viewing angles are horrible with TN screens on their side.
Check these sites for measurements of lag:
http://www.prad.de/en/monitore/reviews.html
http://www.digitalversus.com/duels.php?ty=6
One of the nicest game LCD's at the moment are the HP LP2065 and the LG W2600HP. They are fast, great viewing angles and can be mount vertical without problems.
If you want to hook a lot of consoles, check the Dell U2410 too, although the W2600 can handle HDMI->DVI from a 360 too.
The sites above also show the real world effect of normal response time figures and possible drag with pictures.

[TheNeck]

Most likely i will get a TN screen, just have to wait and see. After i have done alot of research.

Thanks for the help, BTW.

[TheNeck]

I have been looking at some 26" LCD HDTVs which are 8ms. Would this be to slow to use at a monitor? thanks

[Blanka]

Let me recall my 1st message:
Response time does not say anything about Input lag. And 26 inch TV's are even worse at input lag than monitors. The Samsung T260HD and the IIyama 2607 are bad in this regard for example. In general 24+ inch TN displays are much slower as advertised and less suitable for gaming than their smaller brothers.
It has to do with the 8-bit interpolation in big TN screens. On smaller ones, they just dither 24 bit colour to 18 bit panels, but this would result in visible dither patterns at bigger dot-pitch sizes. So these 24 inch+ TN panels use overdrive and PWM modulation to simulate 8-bit/channel colour. And that takes 1-2 frames to calculate in advance.
S-IPS does not have this problem, as it is 24 bit/8bit-channel by design already.

[drventure]

Interesting. I did know any of that though I can certainly understand a small but significant lag given that an LCD has to convert an analog (usually) signal to a digital signal for the lcd to display. I'm guessing if the TV has a digital input (say HDMI), that's all moot though? or am I totally off on that?

[Blanka]

It has nothing to do with the input. HDMI/DVI and VGA are equally fast. The thing is the technique to simulate more colours needs interpolation between frames. Both with VGA and digital inputs.

[drventure]

Ah, good to know.

I'm bookmarking those monitor review sites. Good stuff!

Thanks

[Necroticart]

I use the Asus VW246H the model up for the ones used for EVO 2009 they have the least amount of input lag possible that whole line of LCDs is unmatched

[joemama]

http://www.digitalversus.com/duels.php?ty=6

Use this site to compare certain LCD's to a crt for input lag. Don't trust the manufacturer's specs!

[TheNeck]

One issue I just thought of, is if i use a lcd tv instead of a lcd monitor, will not the lcd tv cause some heat issues causing the monitor to not last as long since it will be in a closed environment in the arcade cabinet?

[drventure]

Shouldn't be a problem as long as you vent the back or use a few small case fans.

[TheNeck]

Shouldn't be a problem as long as you vent the back or use a few small case fans.

Ok sounds good, most likely i will just remove the back panel permanently if i end up get a lcd tv.

[Necroticart]

I know most look at response time and think nice it's low games will not lag you also have to look at what kind of post processing the TV or monitor uses here is a thread on shoryuken that can explain things alot better than I can http://forums.shoryuken.com/showthread.php?t=174085 

[northerngames]

I use the Asus VW246H the model up for the ones used for EVO 2009 they have the least amount of input lag possible that whole line of LCDs is unmatched

I spent a long time looking and have been a proud owner of the same for 3 weeks and could not be happier.

2ms is a big difference over 5ms for any gamer movies no games yes.

when an image is still sure no biggie but when you play a fast game with snappy movement you would notice the difference and why the asus won the 2009 award becuase of the 2MS response time movement is where this factor comes in and 2ms is actually faster then the eye can register so there is no blur noticed with these when there is a fast movement on the dispaly.

this monitor was also voted as the best 24" gaming monitor of 09

I would suggest this monitor to anyone at $229.99 shipped or less sure others may cost more but you dont even get what you paid for if you set it next to one of these and compare

[TheNeck]

Thanks everybody, so far I think most likely I will get the Asus VW246H from Amazon.com. Seems like a good fit for my needs at  a really good price.

[drventure]

That's a good price for a 24".

The dell has better connectivity options, but I'm not sure it's worth it. Plus the asus is lots faster, though, to be honest, I've never noticed any image issues at all with my Dell's

[Blanka]

Does anybody know a review where they measured the input lag of the Asus?

[northerngames]

with 2ms and the technology in these there is no input lag and no longer an issue.

another reason I say other brands cost more but you wont get what you paid for if you set it next to one of these the dispplay qualty response time and no lag just put the other brands out.

mine also had no dead pixels or any other issue's and it still is going great

you can plug DVi HDMI and D-Sub all at once and it will automaticly switch over signal channels for you but you can also manually set them.

I also have a component to vga converter and the gamecube looks better then xbox & ps2 on a tv by far. The GC looks amazing and I wont play it on a regular tv anymore lol.

I run the gaming PC off DVI and the cube off the component to vga and I have the dreamcast and 360 and another pc running off a 4 port vga switchbox so I can swap 5 different pc's and consoles without toaching or changing any cords just hit the switch and go and since these monitors will automaticly scan the inputs you dont even have to toach the monitor to change console's either.

it is has few different pre-configured video mode's like night mode theatre mode gaming mode etc.

I read tons of reviews and looked for a month for probably close to 100 hours and from what I could find and read this monitor is the way to go for gaming unless your going bigger but bigger cost alot more and more then likely there display wont be as good as these either unless you pay an extra grand or something silly.

[Blanka]

@ northergames. What language do you write in? Oh I see, you forget all the points, capitals and comma's.

[northerngames]

wanna apple for your teacher 

[northerngames]

It has nothing to do with the input. HDMI/DVI and VGA are equally fast. The thing is the technique to simulate more colours needs interpolation between frames. Both with VGA and digital inputs.

you did not spell colors right so I give you an C+ instead of an A since were going around grading people off the net now 

[Blanka]

I'm Bwittish. They write colours with an U. And traveller with doppel-L.