By
lombardo |
Published
Dec 19 2005, 07:45 AM
As I've been perusing the forum recently, I've noticed that there
frequently is a thread pertaining to monitor recommendations and how to
put together a multi-monitor set-up. I hope to answer some of those
FAQs here.
Choosing a Monitor:
Some basic monitor parameters you should keep in
mind:
Resolution: 1600x1200 (this is needed to fit 4 tables without
overlap)
Refresh Rate: CRT monitors (the old heavy bulky monitors) should
have a higher refresh rate than 72Hz or higher to avoid eye strain.
Refresh rate is not as big of a problem with LCD displays.
Response Time: A slow response time is what creates motion slur in LCD
monitors. Response time of 16ms or less is a good figure to shoot
for. If the response time it too high ghosting effects will be
visible.
Size and type :
CRTs (Cathode Ray Tube)
17" - There are some 17"
CRTs that can display at a resolution of 1600x1200, but objects will be
very small.
19" – Most 19" have a max resolution of
1600x1200. Objects may still be small but if you have
good eyesight it shouldn't be a problem.
20"+ - Objects just get
larger and easier to see. Some may have a higher resolution than
1600x1200
LCDs (Liquid Crystal Display)
17" – Try to stay away from them
as they don't have a resolution of 1600x1200.
19" – Most 19" LCDs
don't
have a resolution of 1600x1200 so check to make sure it does.
20"+ -
High likelihood of having 1600x1200, but check to make sure.
Below are some monitor setups that I am familiar with, and really
enjoy. Realize that these are not the only possibilities; and if
you prefer a different monitor company by all means use them. All
monitors will work with the setup guide as long as they utilize either
VGA Inputs (usually a cord with blue ends) or Composite Inputs (usually
a cord with white ends. The ends are more rectangular in
comparison to VGA cords).
Option #1 "Multitabler's Delight" ($550 to
$2000)
Functionality 10/10 (Great image quality for all types use. Very
slim and light which makes it the best candidate for a four monitor
setup)
My friend has a Dell UltraSharp 2001FP. It is one of the
best LCD monitor I have ever used. I've seen pictures of setups
using four of these. I'm not sure how the four monitors would be
stabilized, but I am guessing that they were bracketed together
somehow. I would research brackets a bit to make sure you get a solid one. I wouldn't want $2200
worth of monitor to topple over.
Dell UltraSharp 2001FP 20.1-inch
Flat Panel LCD ($500+)
Resolution: 1600x1200
Image
Brightness: 250 cd/m2Image
Contrast Ratio: 400:1
Port(s) Total (Free) /
Connector Type: 1 x 15-pin D-sub, 1 x 24-pin Digital DVI-D, 1 x
S-Video, 1 x Composite Video, 5 x USB (1 Upstream and 4
Downstream)
Video Input: Analog RGB, Digital DVI-D TMDS, S-Video,
Composite Video
Dell makes great, perhaps the best LCD monitors on the
market. The visuals are very accurate, bright, and easy on the
eyes. The UltraSharp is one of the best LCDs for watching movies
or playing games on your PC. It can reproduce dark images very
well. The UltraSharp also has a multitude of inputs and even
doubles as a USB hub.
Option #2 "The poor man's Flatscreen" (17'
LCD) ($250-$1000)Functionality 7/10 (Great for everything but dark
videos and dark games. It has the smallest resolution of the
three at 1240x1024. Thin and light. Can be used, like
option #1, in a four monitor setup using a bracket)
Samsung 740N
(17") - Currently $239.99
Resolyu
My current setup consists of two Samsung
740Ns. Their resolution of 1240x1024 is quite odd for a
multi-monitor setup used primarily for poker. Four tables can almost
fit without overlap. I place one table in one corner and another
table in the corner diagonal from that. There is about a 2" x 2"
square overlap in the middle of the screen.
The same thing is
then done with the other monitor. My rational behind this purchase was
that they take up much less space than my CRT, and when combined they
have a much higher resolution (2480x1024) that both my CRT and a 20"
LCD. Additionally, I could buy two Samsungs for the price of one
top of the line 20" LCD like the Dell UltraSharp.
This type of
setup is very efficient for writing papers (holla to the poor college
students!). I can view two word documents on one and two websites
opened on the other for dictionaries or research. Another
advantage of this setup is that everything is physically larger.
As a result, I don't make quite as many miss-clicks, and bet sizes and
chip stacks are easier to see.
After setting them up, I was
pleasantly surprised by their performance. Being some of the
cheaper LCDs I could find, (I grabbed them for $200 each) I expected
some ghosting and response time issues. There is no ghosting
whatsoever. Games and videos aren't as good as my CRT or the
Ultrasharp. Also, I find it difficult in differentiating between shades
of black. In essence, you get what you pay for.
Option
#3 "The Dinosaur" (but hey, dinosaurs had a good run) -CRTs ($210 to $420)
Functionality 5/10
(Great image quality for all types of use; however, it is very deep and
tall.)
Their size and weight limits them to a two monitor setup (unless
the CRTs you use have flat tops. Then you could place LCD
monitors on the tops. I think some Hitachi models have flat
tops.)
NEC 19IN FE992BK - Currently $210
Resolution: 1600x1200
CRT
technology has offered affordable, yet visually astounding monitors for
years. An average CRT monitor will have much better clarity and
response time than even some good LCD monitors. Unfortunately,
CRT monitors are huge in comparison to LCDs. Additionally, they
produce a lot more heat, and use a lot more electricity. If you
have sufficient desk space to facilitate two 19" monitors (more than
two would make too wide of viewing space), and don't want to spend the
type of money needed to buy a good LCD monitor I recommend this type of
setup.
For 4 years I used a 19" flat screen NEC CRT, and loved its
performance for movies, games, poker, and just browsing websites.
My only complaints are that it took up a ton of desk space (it's very
deep), and it produced a lot of heat. Furthermore, now that I've
grown accustom to my dual 17" LCD monitor system, when I use my old CRT
I notice a slower refresh rate. The slower refresh rate sometimes
gives me a headache. I never got headaches during the four years
I used to use it. I would attribute this to either my eyes
adapting to the faster refresh rate of my LCDs, my eyes getting older
and more sensitive, or the monitor itself can not produce the high
refresh rate it once could.
Summary:
Basically I encourage you to shop around and find something that fits
both your needs and your budget. We all like to drool over the biggest
and the best, but you might be surprised what you can do with systems
that cost half as much or less.