What to buy..?

[PathMaster]

With Black Friday coming up and thinking of grabbing a larger screen for PC/console use. Currently I use a 19" sdtv, from the 90s. Text is both small and blurry, which makes reading things damn near impossible (such as text logs in DeadSpace). So I ask fellow COG gamers, what do you suggest I do? Any suggestions right off the bat? My budget is sadly low, around $450 at max.

Current ideas for LCDs:
BenQ G2400WD (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824014173)
BenQ FP241VW (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824014133) (Yes I know its not available here)

It has also been suggest that I instead grab a real TV. But on my small budget tvs will be kind of small and quality might not be much better then the above options.

Some options from Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/s/qid=1226033280/ref=sr_ex_p_n_size_browse-bin_0?ie=UTF8&rs=979929011&sort=reviewrank&bbn=979929011&rh=n%3A1065836%2Cn%3A172659%2Cn%3A979929011%2Cp_n_ feature_three_browse-bin%3A724227011%2Cp_36%3A20000-49999%2Cp_availability_class%3A5-30)and also from Newegg (http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2102640411%204020&bop=And&Order=RATING). This option (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16889102211)from Newegg seems like a good idea, but I don't know how it would fair for PC use.

A question for people who use a TV as their monitor, any issues I need to worry about? Suggestions? Recommendations? Ideas?

Thanks for the help!

[digitalErich]

If you don't need a true TV and only a monitor, then a $450 ceiling can get you a really nice, quality 20-22" widescreen display. I have a 21" gateway with cool Star Trek buttons that I bought at Best Buy for less than $450 and that was more than a year ago.

I would say the things to look for are quality(i.e. brand most likely) and response time since you'll be gaming on it. Most monitors that size today have response times such that you don't really need to worry about it too much, but then again don't ignore it.

[Wackman3000]

The problem with the HDTV sets as a monitor comes down to resolution. That samsung you linked will only go to 1366x768 or the likes and personally I need a much higher resolution while on the PC because I enjoy/need the screen real estate.

[digitalErich]

I didn't see the TVs in your links, but yes...if you are going to use this as a PC display, get a monitor and not a TV for sure. That is, unless you've seen for yourself the TV displaying a PC signal and it looks good to you.

In my experience the vast majority of TVs don't make good PC monitors for the reason Wackman listed and other reasons as well.

[PathMaster]

Supposedly that Samsung TV actually does 1080p, at least according to some comments left. But I see your point.

Do you think playing on a 24" LCD monitor will let me read some things easier?

[biosc1]

Do you think playing on a 24" LCD monitor will let me read some things easier?

Absolutely. I've occasionally played my 360 on my old 22" widescreen and it was great, it will be more crisp.

24" will be a great choice, though you may want to look for one with an aspect ration of 16:9 instead of 16:10, so that you will reduce scaling.

[Kelegacy]

Hell, I bought a 32" HDTV, a cheaper one, and use that as my computer and 360 screen. It's great. A bit BIG for a computer screen, but I've got used to it. People come over and always remark how fucking big it is.

[PathMaster]

Absolutely. I've occasionally played my 360 on my old 22" widescreen and it was great, it will be more crisp.

24" will be a great choice, though you may want to look for one with an aspect ration of 16:9 instead of 16:10, so that you will reduce scaling.

Both of the BenQs do 1:1 pixel mapping, so I think that would help.
Hell, I bought a 32" HDTV, a cheaper one, and use that as my computer and 360 screen. It's great. A bit BIG for a computer screen, but I've got used to it. People come over and always remark how fucking big it is.
What res do you have the PC at on that screen?

[Shadowstorm]

I use a 22" Samsung 2253BW. It's fantastic. Bright and clear with lots of settings.

Link here (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824001268).

[Kelegacy]

Both of the BenQs do 1:1 pixel mapping, so I think that would help.

What res do you have the PC at on that screen?

Oh, it's only 720p. Good enough for me, for a 32".

[Wackman3000]

Also note that if you go with something in the 24'' range be prepared to have the GPU power to run the 1900x1200 resolution for your games and such.

[PathMaster]

Also note that if you go with something in the 24'' range be prepared to have the GPU power to run the 1900x1200 resolution for your games and such.

Thus why I choose the 1:1 pixel mapping for now. My x1650 will run the desktop of my tower fine.