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SuperKerem

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Oct 29, 2012
863
260
Hi guys,
I currently have a 30' Cinema Display and plan on building a gaming PC in the future.
How good is the display for gaming? Should I buy another monitor instead?
Also, how does it look in comparison to the glossy 27' LED Cinema Display?
 

g33k

macrumors member
May 12, 2015
75
34
It's not exactly a gaming monitor. It's really a monitor for professionals.. not 'gamers.' There's many other gaming monitors out there specifically for gaming with a higher refresh rate. BenQ is a notable brand for 'gaming monitors.'
 

Tucom

Cancelled
Jul 29, 2006
1,252
312
It's not exactly a gaming monitor. It's really a monitor for professionals.. not 'gamers.' There's many other gaming monitors out there specifically for gaming with a higher refresh rate. BenQ is a notable brand for 'gaming monitors.'


This being said, I can game quite competitively on the 20 inch version of the same Cinema Display family.

OP - You'll be fine with it, and it's a stellar monitor. Only reservation would be that it's not new, and as such reliability may be an issue and/or yellowness and dimness/lack of brightness. If it does go out, I don't know how easily fixable they are. Other than that, I'd go for it.

Me personally, I much prefer smaller monitors for gaming so I don't have to move my head to see the other side of the screen. 24 inch at the max for me, but 20 seems just right.
 

Dark Void

macrumors 68030
Jun 1, 2011
2,614
479
I don't understand gaming monitors, just like I don't understand most gaming hardware.

It won't make you better. Just get any nicely reviewed FHD monitor. I typically have stuck with ViewSonic over the years.

I hope this helps.
 

SuperKerem

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Oct 29, 2012
863
260
It's not exactly a gaming monitor. It's really a monitor for professionals.. not 'gamers.' There's many other gaming monitors out there specifically for gaming with a higher refresh rate. BenQ is a notable brand for 'gaming monitors.'

I know it isn't a gaming monitor, but what's the difference? Colours and resolution look great, refresh rate is 12ms but I doubt for games that I plan on playing, such as GTA 5, there will be a noticeable difference right?
 

SuperKerem

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Oct 29, 2012
863
260
I don't understand gaming monitors, just like I don't understand most gaming hardware.

It won't make you better. Just get any nicely reviewed FHD monitor. I typically have stuck with ViewSonic over the years.

I hope this helps.

I already have the 30' ACD, so it would be quite a bit of trouble to change it. Are there any factors which I should consider, where the display has any disadvantages etc?
 

Dark Void

macrumors 68030
Jun 1, 2011
2,614
479
I already have the 30' ACD, so it would be quite a bit of trouble to change it. Are there any factors which I should consider, where the display has any disadvantages etc?

Not really. I'd just use what you have. I don't understand why people will claim it is "not for gaming." It's a display. It will show the game, lol.

I do not understand "gaming" gear, apart from mice with multiple buttons such as the Razer Naga. I was a long time PC gamer in the past, since childhood, and most of that is pure marketing. I was ranked in the top 50 worldwide in the BF2 days with a green tinted CRT monitor, dusty membrane keyboard and a Microsoft Mouse ffs. Don't buy a "gaming monitor" if you're going to get something new.
 

Tucom

Cancelled
Jul 29, 2006
1,252
312
Not really. I'd just use what you have. I don't understand why people will claim it is "not for gaming." It's a display. It will show the game, lol.

I do not understand "gaming" gear, apart from mice with multiple buttons such as the Razer Naga. I was a long time PC gamer in the past, since childhood, and most of that is pure marketing. I was ranked in the top 50 worldwide in the BF2 days with a green tinted CRT monitor, dusty membrane keyboard and a Microsoft Mouse ffs. Don't buy a "gaming monitor" if you're going to get something new.

I pretty much agree with all this - I can be just as competitive with a BlueTooth Magic Mouse or even a $10 RF IR mouse vs. a $100 gaming mouse with it's "L337 1ms response time" - it's all marketing. I generally own people with such budget mice whom I can only assume have the high end gaming stuff.

As for refresh rate, I've heard it is noticeably different, but really, I doubt anyone can ultimately win a match due to that alone.

Display image quality, design, elegance, and build quality *FAR* outclass anything "gaming" about a monitor - I currently game at a competitive skill level on my Mac Pro with 20" Cinema Display using a Magic Mouse after I sold my GTX 760 i5 gaming PC I build about half a year ago, and I don't miss it at all, besides Windows only games.

I have another 20" aluminum ACD and if and when I get another Windows box to complement my Mac Pro, you can bet I'll be using that monitor, unless Razer or someone comes out with an equally well built and elegant monitor, then I'd get that if only to have a newer, higher rez panel. That's it.

Bottomline - if you can't notice any distracting ghosting with a panel, it's fine for gaming.
 
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