Legit Reviews

Didn't get much of a response on another board, so I thought of moving it here:

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications ... ODE=BEFREE

I was thinking about getting that. I need an inexpensive LCD, does anyone know how that performs? If it sucks, does anyone know of any LCDs that are 17 or 19 at about that same price?

Well man, I can't seem to find who supplies the displays for this company, so I can't determine if they're any good or not. Hyundai has a 19" for $299 that's supplied by Samsung (as a matter of fact, all it is is a Samsung in disguise for cheaper), and it's from Tiger Direct. It's all about the quality: you get what you pay for. Considering the model number of the product you supplied, I would be willing to say Magnavox supplies their TFT's, but I could be dead wrong, and that MG at the beginning of the model number could be their numbering scheme. Find out who makes the screens for them, and you'll know if it's decent quality or not (if they make them, I would have to pass, as I've never heard of them).

How would I find out. Would the back have that info? I am thinking of getting an Ebay auctioneer to answer that for me if I can get them to look for me.

Also would this be a problem: Video Connector 15-pin mini D-sub
Should I get one that has DVI?

Are you running a graphics card with DVI? If so, there should be a DVI to VGA dongle included with it. All you have to do there is plug that in to the DVI port (either one of em if you have 2). That wouldn't really matter that much, unless you really want to use DVI, it's personal preference on that one. As far as finding out who makes the TFTs for that vendor, ask Apop, I'm pretty sure he'll know, as he's pretty close with a lot of manufacturers and not to mention he does the press releases, so he gets more info than most of us. I tried to find a site that had a supplier finder, but I couldn't find one unfortunately. Just ask Apop, I think he'll be able to help you man

I actually don't know about X2GEN... I know that Staples had the Samsung 914v 19” LCD Monitor (AR) $199.94 yesterday, which was a pretty good deal. I'd call tiger direct and ask them to see if they can look it up for you.

I know I'll be going with that Hyundai 19" LCD, due to it being a Samsung in disguise.....can't beat $299.99 for a regular price on a LCD that's great quality. I believe you get what you pay for when you buy an LCD, thus it's always good to know who you're dealing with on these no-name LCD's.

Apoptosis wrote:I actually don't know about X2GEN... I know that Staples had the Samsung 914v 19” LCD Monitor (AR) $199.94 yesterday, which was a pretty good deal. I'd call tiger direct and ask them to see if they can look it up for you.

Ok, I will contact them about it.


So there is no performance issue between DVI and the other connector?

If I'm not mistaken, DVI is more geared toward high-definition signals, while VGA is used mainly for PC video connections. If you look on a HDTV, you'll more than likely see a DVI port on it. Personally, VGA will do just fine, because I think you have to buy a DVI cable if you want to use that type of connection, unless it comes with that monitor (I only usually see a VGA cable come with them). In other words, you'll be just fine using the DVI to VGA dongle that comes with your card and using the VGA cable that comes with your LCD monitor. my $.02

Well, DVI and Analog are kindof interchangeable. DVI is all digital while analog is, well, an analog signal.
But I say get a monitor with DVI if at all possible so there isn't so much analog to digital (and digital to analog) conversion of the signal. With a DVI connection, the signal is digital. This is good because the video card processes the video in digital form, then has to send it to the monitor. If the monitor has a DVI connection, it can accept that true digital video signal right from the video card without any conversion. But with an analog monitor, the digital video signal from the video card has to be converted to analog, then sent to the monitor where (I think) it has to be converted back into digital to display on the pixels. The problems arise from the analog signal its self and from all the conversion. Analog signals, by nature, are not as precise/accurate as digital, so some "errors" or slight imperfections can arise from the use of an analog signal. Plus all the signal conversion only increases the chances that a pixel will be shaded wrong or something. that's why I say go with DVI if at all possible because it is a crisper, cleaner signal that doesn't really have to get converted. It is going to be very difficult to tell the difference, but there will be a difference, so I say, if you're spending the money, you might as well get a decent monitor that is going to give you a true digital signal instead of some analog converted signal.

As far as that LCD or originally asked about, the specs look good, but I just question the quality of the manufacturer. If it arrives with 5 dead pixels and then dies in a year, the money you saved won't really be worth it. I've also heard about a lot of people who refuse to use TigerDirect mail in rebates because they are not reliable at all (you may get a check back, you may not). So take that for what you want, and make up your own mind. But that's what I have to say about that whole thing.

Thank you Blake, you hit it dead-on!! An analog wave is a sine wave, which is the same wave that AC current looks like on a graphing multimeter. A digital wave is binary (0 and 1 only), and has a square graph pattern. As Blake said, there can be discrepencies with analog signals due to the variance in said signal, whereas digital has 2 absolutes: on and off!

In that case, since I wasn't thinking on that wavelength earlier, it would be good to get a LCD monitor with DVI and just use the DVI connection.....you have a better chance at a sharper signal with it, as well as proper shading. Very important in graphically intense games like COD2 or BF2, which has distinct color variances, and requires they be shaded correctly. Thank you for refreshing my memory there Blake, completely forgot about the signal, lol

Ok, I'll keep looking for a different LCD. Thanks guys.

I picked up this LCD yesterday. http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Sony-Mon ... tDetail.do It came with 250 in rebates. Originally 500, so 250 after rebates which are already sent out.

really nice-looking monitor, but 16ms response time? The Hyundai 19" LCD has a 8ms response time for an everyday price of $279 at TigerDirect. I dunno, but it is a sweet-looking monitor ed.

the Hyundai 19" doesn't appear to have DVI though, but still a nice LCD

Linky

Yep, thanks for the follow-up killswitch. That whole "signal integrity" thing is exactly what I was trying to get at and I didn't clearly mention exactly what analog and digital signals were. Thanks bud

And that Hyundai is probably a pretty nice monitor, I wouldn't hesitate to buy it. I've read A LOT of great reviews about THIS ONE HERE, and it has DVI

Looks like you get your $40 extra out of it though...I think this monitor has a higher contrast ratio, not to mention DVI! ~$319 is really not bad for a 19" LCD packed with those features, not to mention you still have the benefit of the Samsung TFT behind it

hmmmm, ok, ok, I think you've changed my mind as to which Hyundai LCD I want, lol.

edit: there's 2 things I just noticed when I was looking at the pics of the monitor: it has both VGA and DVI connections, and it also comes with both cables! Always a good thing, considering some cheaper manufacturers don't include the necessary cables, usually the DVI cable....I think Hyundai hit the nail on the head with this one: good quality, low price, and you have everything you need