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Now its time to ask about monitors

R

rdsii64

macrumors regular
Original poster
May 14, 2008
237
8
Well now that I have my spiffy 8 core mac pro its time to start acquiring the required pieces and parts. First up is an open CL compatible graphics card and a monitor with some real estate. (right now its connected to a spare I was using as a secondary for my Imac.) I have been looking at 27 inch monitors and quickly discovered that the 2560x1440 monitors are a lot more than the 1920x1080. I have two questions. First, if I go with the standard 1080P resolution, how is that going to look at desktop viewing distances compared to the higher resolution panels?

Secondly, what can anyone tell me about these 2560x1440 High Res 27" monitors that are made with the IPS panels that were rejected by top tier brands? The prices sound to good to be true and some even guarantee no dead or hot pixels.
 
A 27" with 2560 x 1440 will look more natural than a same sized but down-resolutioned (1920 x 1080) one.

I've been working on a CG275W for like one year and the resolution is very very similar to the one i have on my MBP, that means pixels look like being of the same size.

Also, depends on what you have to do: I'd suggest EIZO (the one i'm using) but it's not exactly cheap; BENQ and Nec represent a much more attractive solution for those who can't invest a lot on such a device. Avoid low cost ones, read reviews everywhere :)
 
what about a pair of 24's

I am getting the impression that these "affordable" panels are that cheap for reason. I'm not sure I want to risk my money. With that being said, since 1080P monitors seem to be in my price range, I am also considering a pair of 1080P 24" monitors instead of one 27" monitor. For less money than a 2560x1440 27" panel from a reputable company, I can get a pair of 24 inch 1080P monitors.
assuming equal quality, would a 24 inch panel look better than a 27 inch panel when the resolution is only 1080P?
 
rdsii64 said:
assuming equal quality, would a 24 inch panel look better than a 27 inch panel when the resolution is only 1080P?
Click to expand...

Yes, the pixels would be much larger on the 27" it would be like looking at a tv up close. Two smaller monitors always beat one large one hands down anyway. Have a pair of 23" ones now, probably upgrading to a 30" and 27" soon.

Honestly, even 24" panels bother me. I've been on a 23" panel so long that when I got my stepdad a 24" monitor and played with it I could definitely notice the difference.
 
Do you really want to invest more in the current Mac Pro technology with the new Mac Pro available in a few months? With the new Pro you could use an ATD. And there just might be a new ATD introduced this fall to go along with the new Pro.
 
rdsii64 said:
assuming equal quality, would a 24 inch panel look better than a 27 inch panel when the resolution is only 1080P?
Click to expand...

No, the 27" would still look sharper (109ppi vs 97ppi).

If you want the same sharpness as a 27" 2560x1440 in a 1920x1080 monitor, you'd go to a 20.5" monitor. That gives 107ppi, pretty close to the same pixels per inch as the 27" higher resolution monitor.
 
FreakinEurekan said:
No, the 27" would still look sharper (109ppi vs 97ppi).

If you want the same sharpness as a 27" 2560x1440 in a 1920x1080 monitor, you'd go to a 20.5" monitor. That gives 107ppi, pretty close to the same pixels per inch as the 27" higher resolution monitor.
Click to expand...

He's talking about a 27" 1080p panel, that would be crap and personally unusable as a computer display at such a close distance.
 
JesterJJZ said:
He's talking about a 27" 1080p panel, that would be crap and personally unusable as a computer display at such a close distance.
Click to expand...

Actually I read it as he's comparing smaller 1080p panels to a 2560x1440 27" panel that he doesn't want to pay for, wanting to know if a 24" 1080p would look as good as a high-res 27" - and it would not. Using a 1920x1080 20.5" panel will give a similar picture to a 27" 2560x1440 panel.

"Coincidentally" (or not) these are the sizes & resolutions of the two iMac models currently offered.
 
FreakinEurekan said:
Actually I read it as he's comparing smaller 1080p panels to a 2560x1440 27" panel that he doesn't want to pay for, wanting to know if a 24" 1080p would look as good as a high-res 27" - and it would not. Using a 1920x1080 20.5" panel will give a similar picture to a 27" 2560x1440 panel.

"Coincidentally" (or not) these are the sizes & resolutions of the two iMac models currently offered.
Click to expand...

I started out by inquiring about 27 inch monitors and quickly discovered that I can't afford a 2560x1440 monitor unless am willing to gamble on one that is built with rejected ips panels. Since 1080P is what is in my price range I suspect that I will be purchasing a pair of smaller panels. Since you mentioned iMac resolution choices, my 24 inch imac has amazing picture quality. If memory serves me correctly, its resolution is higher than the standard 1080p. a pair of 20 or 23 inch 1080P panels may be in my future. I have more research to do so I make a good purchase.

----------
MCAsan said:
Do you really want to invest more in the current Mac Pro technology with the new Mac Pro available in a few months? With the new Pro you could use an ATD. And there just might be a new ATD introduced this fall to go along with the new Pro.
Click to expand...
The new mac pro is going to be an amazing machine. The catch is that I had a budget of 800.00 plus the usual pieces and parts. with machine I did buy. I came in at under 1000.00 after I factor in buying a Open CL compatible video card. I'm sure my current mac pro won't hold a candle to the new one but its still worlds above my 2008 iMac and I coudn't beat the 750 plus shipping price tag.
 
rdsii64 said:
I can get a pair of 24 inch 1080P monitors.
assuming equal quality, would a 24 inch panel look better than a 27 inch panel when the resolution is only 1080P?
Click to expand...

There's a word for a 27" 1080p monitor: it is "a television". If you're mainly doing video you might want a 1080p as a secondary/tertiary monitor.

If you're going for dual 24", I'd go for a pair of 1920x1200s rather than 1080p. Its not just the resolution - its the 16:10 aspect ratio. 16:9 is just too skinny until you get to about 27". 16:10 @ 24" gives you space for 2-up A4/letter pages plus toolbar room* at the top.

I have a Dell 2412M that seems great for general purpose use - it might not float your boat if you're doing high-end colour.

Personally - I'd see it like this:

If you have a laptop, and want to use a big monitor as your primary screen while you're at the desk: 27" 1440p, with the laptop sat on an elevator stand as as secondary, ext. keyboard and mouse.

If you have a "headless" desktop machine: 2 x 24" 1200p gives you masses of real estate, and makes it easy to maximise an application on each screen.


(*Hi! We're Microsoft! Since the PC industry seems to be shifting towards wider, squatter 16:9 displays we're going to move all our tool palettes to a whacking great ribbon at the TOP of the window! D'oh!)
 
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