Video Card/ LCD question

[Crapshoot]

I just picked up a 17 inch 1705Fp Dell LCD- and while its a very highly rated computer, I'm thinking of buying a 19 inch LCD instead - the Samsung 915t - which is only 40 bucks more. As it is, the biggest downside is that the Dell has DVI support while the Samsung is analog only. Being somewhat of a neophyte on DVI (understanding that the output is digital - I have a 9600 XT video card, which has analog and digital inpute) - I'm curious how much practical difference there is between DVI and analog - and whether the DVI really is the better bet for the long run. Some googling appeared to yield results that suggest analog performance on video cards is pretty damn close to DVI at this point/

[moriarty]

The only difference is that DVI to DVI is a "pure signal". Digital out from the computer or TV is inputed as digital to the monitor. If you don't use DVI, the digital computer/tv image is converted to analog (and possibly converted back to digital in the monitor). So the image on the monitor is only as good as the digital/analog conversion routines used.

IMO - you won't notice much difference on a 19 inch monitor, but I haven't tried it first hand. Now if you were outputting your computer to a 60" television set, I would recommend a DVI to DVI connection as any slight imperfections get magnified on the larger display.

[Draft Dodger]

I haven't researched it a ton, but it's been my general feeling that what both have you said is correct - you wont see see a huge difference on a 19" monitor.

[MizzouRah]

..besides Samsung makes excellent video equipment...

[Crapshoot]

yeah - just would prefer to be sure before I went ahead and made the switch. Anyone here who's extremely knowledgable about the issue ?

[moriarty]

Why don't you just buy the Samsung (hopefully it comes with a DVI cord) and just hot switch it with your Dell. If you can't tell any difference, just return it. Most stores have a return policy within X days.

Bottom line is that no matter what you read on the web, what matters is whether you can perceive any difference. I think you'll find that everyone has vastly different perceptions on what makes a good picture.

[hukarez]

Just out of curiousity, what's the response time of that LCD? 25ms? 12ms?

[Crapshoot]

Moraity, these are online retailers- open packages have different policies apparently.

Hukarez- the Samsung is supposedly 8 ms.

[hukarez]

Hukarez- the Samsung is supposedly 8 ms.
Ahh! That's the "Gaming LCD" that I hear about. I see, cool deal. Didn't realize it came in a 19" configuration -- the ones I see around town are the 17" model Samsungs with that response time.

[moriarty]

Moraity, these are online retailers- open packages have different policies apparently.

That's cool but if you can find the Samsung at BestBuy or something (and I'm assuming you already have the Dell), just buy the Samsung at the store, and return it after your tests ... buying the online one later if you like it (or try to get BestBuy to price match).

Note: I have no idea if you can buy this one at a local store, or what the local store's open box return policies are.