Question about computer monitors

[Melakon]

I recently had to replace my monitor. The old one was my first flat screen (rather than old tube type), and used LCD technology. I didn't really have any trouble with it until it gave out after 7 years of use. I was really happy with it until the day of breakdown.

The new one is wide screen with LED technology, and I've had it less than a week. I'm still trying to get used to it, as the image quality is not as good as I expected (it's pretty low-end, about $130 mfg's list price), but I was needing something fast after nearly a month without and couldn't afford much money for it.

The screen display often seems washed out to me, and I can't seem to find the best viewing angle on it. It's from a company I was unfamiliar with (AOC), so I don't know if it's simply because it's a cheap monitor, or if this is typical of LED screens. I'm still trying to figure out the display settings, as it references a few terms I'm unfamiliar with, and can't seem to get the brightness/contrast the way I want.

I have two machines, but only one monitor and had always intended to get a second one, so I'm already considering getting a better monitor in the next few months and moving this one to the old machine, which is primarily used if the main machine gets sick.

Please recommend any brands of wide screen monitors you've been happy with, and whether LCD or LED tech is better. Right now I'm assuming my problems are because this is a low-end monitor and that I should spend quite a bit more next time.

 

[Amaris]

Actually, AOC is pretty good. You might recognize them better by their full name, The "Admiral Overseas Corporation." I have a 19" HDTV by them, and it's going on 5 years old now and doing well. Now, when it comes to image quality, LED is brighter, the colors are bolder. All I can think is that your settings really need adjusted. Perhaps contrast is too low, or brightness is too high. LED monitors can get very bright.

 

[Spot's Meow]

I have an AOC and I'm pretty happy with the quality. However, my situation may differ from average because I am sensitive to bright lights, especially LED lights, so although my screen looks great to me based on the low settings I have chosen, others tell me that it's too dark and hard for them to read.

It took me a long time to find settings that I was comfortable with. So, I would suggest that you keep fiddling with it over time and eventually you will find what feels best to you.

 

[Melakon]

Okay, thanks to you both, I am familiar with the Admiral brand as we owned one of their TV's back in the 60s. The display model I saw at the store looked all right to me, so it may just be I haven't found that magic setting I need for my eyes. I'm still trying to figure out what some of those settings do. Besides the internet, I'm primarily using the computer for an old galactic conquest game (Galactic Civilizations II), 3d modeling & animation software and Poser, and watching DVD's.

I don't have a working TV anymore since digital broadcasting became the norm, so maybe I should think about a new TV instead.

Though I'll still keep a second monitor on the list.

 

[Amaris]

Okay, thanks to you both, I am familiar with the Admiral brand as we owned one of their TV's back in the 60s. The display model I saw at the store looked all right to me, so it may just be I haven't found that magic setting I need for my eyes. I'm still trying to figure out what some of those settings do. Besides the internet, I'm primarily using the computer for an old galactic conquest game (Galactic Civilizations II), 3d modeling & animation software and Poser, and watching DVD's.

I don't have a working TV anymore since digital broadcasting became the norm, so maybe I should think about a new TV instead.

Though I'll still keep a second monitor on the list.

Keep in mind that display models in stores are usually set to their highest settings, if they are set at all. This is to compensate for the overly bright environment, in order to give you the impression the screen is bright and colorful.

 

[Roger Wilco]

Maybe it's a stupid comment, but what cable are you using, HDMI? If not you could try that. Or it could be something with the graphics card too.

I doubt it's the monitor's fault, even a low-end knock-off-brand monitor shouldn't look "washed out" imo.

 

[JarodRussell]

I recently had to replace my monitor. The old one was my first flat screen (rather than old tube type), and used LCD technology. I didn't really have any trouble with it until it gave out after 7 years of use. I was really happy with it until the day of breakdown.

The new one is wide screen with LED technology, and I've had it less than a week. I'm still trying to get used to it, as the image quality is not as good as I expected (it's pretty low-end, about $130 mfg's list price), but I was needing something fast after nearly a month without and couldn't afford much money for it.

The screen display often seems washed out to me, and I can't seem to find the best viewing angle on it. It's from a company I was unfamiliar with (AOC), so I don't know if it's simply because it's a cheap monitor, or if this is typical of LED screens. I'm still trying to figure out the display settings, as it references a few terms I'm unfamiliar with, and can't seem to get the brightness/contrast the way I want.

I have two machines, but only one monitor and had always intended to get a second one, so I'm already considering getting a better monitor in the next few months and moving this one to the old machine, which is primarily used if the main machine gets sick.

Please recommend any brands of wide screen monitors you've been happy with, and whether LCD or LED tech is better. Right now I'm assuming my problems are because this is a low-end monitor and that I should spend quite a bit more next time.

It's still a LCD monitor. The difference is the backlighting of the liquid crystal pixels. Either with LEDs or with fluorescent tubes.

If you get a monitor with full panel LEDs (every manufacturer has a different term for it, it means the LEDs are scattered across the whole panel) you get extremely high contrasts where black is truly black and white is blinding. But most monitors have frame lighting, meaning the LEDs are only at the frame of the panels, shining inwards. That can lead to clouding (basically bright/gray spots that should be black) in dark images.

So you kind of have to separate between the brightness/contrast/vividness, because that depends on the backlighting, and the image quality (sharpness, etc...), because that still depends on the LCD matrix in front of the backlighting. You can get monitors with excellent contrast but horriblle image quality, and vice versa.

 

[lurok]

Another vote for AOC. Especially IPS models.

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

I replaced a Samsung with an LG, both LCD's. The LG does not have good picture quality.

All that information they put on the box doesn't seem to do any good.

 

[Melakon]

Thanks for the additional replies. My bad eyesight may also be a factor here, as I'm sitting pretty close to the screen. A friend said the screen looked all right to him, but maybe that's because I currently have a reclining Playmate of the Month as the desktop image.

 

[Kelthaz]

Besides the internet, I'm primarily using the computer for an old galactic conquest game (Galactic Civilizations II)

Excellent taste in games.

As for your monitor, I'd suggest looking the exact model up on Newegg. If it has mostly good reviews then you know it's a problem with the settings or connection, and if it has mostly bad reviews then we can start suggesting better monitors for you.

 

[Melakon]

Besides the internet, I'm primarily using the computer for an old galactic conquest game (Galactic Civilizations II)

Excellent taste in games.

It's the best 4x game since Master of Orion as far as I'm concerned. I tend to build custom races that just use the standard race attributes juggled around, then make logos and portraits for them.

And thanks for the Newegg suggestion, I'll look into that. At the time, expediency was the goal, and I went to the nearest store for me to get to, an Office Max, so I know other stores would have sold it at a lower price. I tried not to get the cheapest, and I was looking for a 1920x1080 resolution rather than 1600x900.

Maybe it's a stupid comment, but what cable are you using, HDMI? If not you could try that. Or it could be something with the graphics card too.

There was a cable that I had never seen before, so that may be what it was. I just went for the type that I've been familiar with from the last 25 years. I can't remember terminology anymore, as I initially started in the old parallel/serial port days.

 

[Captrek]

What OS are you using? Is there a color calibration tool in the control panels?

 

[Melakon]

Running Windows 7. The RGB settings on the monitor are showing 100%, it's an NVidia card but don't know the model number as it came with the machine (an Acer).

One thing I didn't do was install the drivers that came with the monitor. Since the system recognized it on the first boot, I thought it was unnecessary. But the machine itself is about 3 years old. Should I install them?

 

[Captrek]

Have you tried Display Color Calibration?

 

[sojourner]

Just a note of clarification LED technology is LCD technology. The only difference is that an LED based screen uses LEDs for the backlighting of the LCD's, generally leading to a better image. Older LCD screens used lighting around the edges of the screen. You could see this a lot on old laptops where one edge of the screen might have what looked like a fluorescent light just under the bezel.

 

[Mr. B]

Please recommend any brands of wide screen monitors you've been happy with, and whether LCD or LED tech is better. Right now I'm assuming my problems are because this is a low-end monitor and that I should spend quite a bit more next time.

You might read a little about various LCD display types. After a little research I knew I wanted to replace my mediocre TN panels with IPS displays. I eventually bought a pair of Dell monitors (with Samsung IPS panels inside). In-plane switching displays are a little more expensive, but have superior color accuracy, near 180 degree viewing angles and consistent color regardless of viewing angle. I later bought a Spyder display calibrator which makes them even more useful for photo editing.

 

[lurok]

One thing I didn't do was install the drivers that came with the monitor. Since the system recognized it on the first boot, I thought it was unnecessary. But the machine itself is about 3 years old. Should I install them?

I'd say yes. The Nvidia control panel, once installed, allows you to amp (?)/soup up the graphics settings on card, particularly for games. Gives them a bit of a boost. But you might have to update or get newer driver package from Nvidia website. Depends what card you have and how old.

 

[Amaris]

Agreed. Always install the drivers. Windows will find adequate drivers, but they will be exactly that. To actually take advantage of your monitor, you need to install the drivers, since they usually have handy tools that you can use down the road.

 

[sojourner]

One thing I didn't do was install the drivers that came with the monitor. Since the system recognized it on the first boot, I thought it was unnecessary. But the machine itself is about 3 years old. Should I install them?

I'd say yes. The Nvidia control panel, once installed, allows you to amp (?)/soup up the graphics settings on card, particularly for games. Gives them a bit of a boost. But you might have to update or get newer driver package from Nvidia website. Depends what card you have and how old.

Nvidia makes drivers for the videocard, not the monitor. You guys are talking about 2 different pieces of hardware.