Monitor recommendations?

[Phisch]

So my PC is old (4+years, built to play games) and it needs a bit of an upgrade. We are trying to figure out costs and what we can get for the budget. The monitor is the issue. We can build a PC; we just don't know much about monitors that are designed for color correction and photography work (my Viewsonic is dying, too).

I want good screen real estate, so around 27". Any recommendations on what to look for in a monitor?

[scottbuckel]

The possibilities for replacement monitors is a daunting task. You did not mention your budget. If money is not a factor I would pick up an Eizo monitor - one of the few monitors out there that can truly fit the Adobe RGB color space - but costs over $2000.

I know several people that have been very pleased the HP2511xLED LCD monitor. One of them even wrote a review and posted it:

hp-2511x-led-lcd/

I'm thinking about picking one up as well.

Scott

[srwatters]

I'm sitting here looking at my NEC PA241w which covers 98% of Adobe RGB. It's a 24" display, but they do have a 27". Cost will be a factor but if color accuracy is what you want/need, they are the ticket.

[princer7]

I use 2 Viewsonic VP2365wb 23" monitors from Newegg.com (currently $289 each but got them on sale). I had originally wanted a single 27" IPS monitor but decided the horizontal space was much better used. I can have several things open and viewed at the same time. IPS monitors are great as the colors and luminosity do not shift as much as a standard monitor's viewing angle.

[Kalrog]

If you care about color, you will need to get an IPS panel - most of the low cost ones are TN and they just don't cut it. You can occasionally find a special or a rare breed IPS monitor for a lower cost, but you are really looking at $300+ for a 23", $500+ for a 24", and $750+ for a 27".

[JohnT]

Originally Posted by srwatters

I'm sitting here looking at my NEC PA241w which covers 98% of Adobe RGB. It's a 24" display, but they do have a 27". Cost will be a factor but if color accuracy is what you want/need, they are the ticket.

+1

Love mine!

[Phisch]

Thanks for the recommendations, everyone. Unfortunately, budget is a factor or I would have picked up an Eizo :)~

We're really trying to decide if we should go back to Mac after being away for years and years or stick to the PC. Kind of leaning to Mac for now and the monitor will be a part of the system.

[darktiger]

Used dell 3007wfc-hc... or the new dell u3011.... 30" SIPS panels/monitors rule.. I love both of mine :)

[Village Idiot]

For the cost of a 27", try and find some 30's. I have an HP 30" that was barely over $1,000 from Newegg. I think it's the only one they ever made. It's an IPS panel and while the stock reviews that I read were meh for color accuracy, once calibrated it was one of the top monitors in this shootout I was reading. 2560x1600 is great for editing photos.

[d2creative]

Originally Posted by JohnT

+1

Love mine!

Me too.
And their calibration system is a cinch to use.

[Phisch]

Kind hard! I really want to go back to Mac but the cost and comparable speed are an issue. I want something that will last me another 4 yrs. The iMac is great but uses a mobile video card. That can't be too long term?

[Village Idiot]

Originally Posted by Phisch

Kind hard! I really want to go back to Mac but the cost and comparable speed are an issue. I want something that will last me another 4 yrs. The iMac is great but uses a mobile video card. That can't be too long term?

The card is fine unless you're a gamer or running programs that utilize it like video editing, 3d rendering, etc...

My solution was to build a monster PC and put OS X on it. It's definitely not a good idea if you don't know your way around a computer though. It took me about a week of working on it to get it to work right and one update I did left me with a dead OS. I had to salvage a backup that wasn't working correctly so that I didn't have to start from scratch. It was another week down, but having OS X on great hardware is worth it.

[Phisch]

Originally Posted by Village Idiot

The card is fine unless you're a gamer or running programs that utilize it like video editing, 3d rendering, etc...

Ok fine, but I have a stigma against that, justified or otherwise. The case being the monitor bugs me also. I like the comfort of being able to pop open the case and looking inside without fear of killing the warranty. This is just me, though.

My solution was to build a monster PC and put OS X on it. It's definitely not a good idea if you don't know your way around a computer though. It took me about a week of working on it to get it to work right and one update I did left me with a dead OS. I had to salvage a backup that wasn't working correctly so that I didn't have to start from scratch. It was another week down, but having OS X on great hardware is worth it.

Tell me more! What was your budget and what did you build if you don't mind sharing?

[d2creative]

Originally Posted by Phisch

Ok fine, but I have a stigma against that, justified or otherwise. The case being the monitor bugs me also. I like the comfort of being able to pop open the case and looking inside without fear of killing the warranty. This is just me, though.

Personally I stay away from the iMacs because they are not as powerful as the mac towers and not as upgradeable. They are consumer oriented products and the towers are pro machines. I'm not saying that the iMac can't work for a professional, but they are two different animals.

So why not go with a tower where you will have more options, more power and be able to choose a monitor better suited for photography?

[Phisch]

Because to get a tower is considerably more money. With the budget I have, it won't work. I know of photographers who use iMacs and they're happy with them, but I am personally apprehensive.

It looks like I'll be sticking to PC for now. Considering my other half serves as builder and tech support, it's just more cost-effective. We'll probably end up getting the 24" NEC monitor. From what I read, they're the closest thing to Eizos without the price tag.