what's the best low cost IPS computer monitor

spaceboy

Looking for something around 22 inches.

spaceboy

Is this the best deal:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00535PZGG/ref=asc_df_B00535PZGG4248280?smid=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&!!!!!googlecouk06-21&linkCode=asn&creative=22206&creativeASIN=B00535PZGG

John_Gray

Or maybe get the identically-priced 23" version, just lower down that page!

spaceboy

John_Gray wrote: »

Or maybe get the identically-priced 23" version, just lower down that page!

Seems to have the same model number, I suspect it's the same size screen.

DWatts

spaceboy wrote: »

Looking for something around 22 inches.

What are your reasons for going for an IPS screen?

IPS screens aren't all the same, and the screen quality will still vary wildly from model to model. If you go for a cheap IPS screen it won't be any better than a cheap standard screen. Even my £220 (I got it for £180 refurbished, but £220 is Amazon's price) Dell U2311 has shoddy viewing angles compared to my standard £100 HP monitor. To top it off it also has extreme backlight bleeding and a warm/cool gradient running across the screen, which intensifies at extreme angles. So sure I can see the content, but if I move to the right it goes blue or to the left everything turns orange.

Basically, you won't get any benefit from an IPS monitor if you're only going for a cheap one. You'll pay a pointless premium for it.

spaceboy

Actually the one I linked gets very good review in terms of colour accuracy. And that is one of the plus points of IPS over TN. So does the one you have actually:

http://www.digitalversus.com/lg-flatron-ips226v-p357_10200_35.html

http://www.digitalversus.com/dell-u2311h-p357_8953_88.html

DWatts

I put the model number into Google and got this comparison with the 2211h (i.e. the model below my monitor, the 2311h). Assuming the 2311h is just a bigger screen than the 2211h, and also assuming their colour accuracy tests are accurate, I can tell you the colour reproduction will be pretty awful.

IPS doesn't really guarantee you better colour accuracy or viewing angles unless you go for the expensive screens. If you get a cheap monitor, you're going to get cheap performance - no matter what technology they use.

Edit:
I guess we both found that article at the same time. I can assure you that the 2311h is dreadful, even a monitor calibrator (Spyder 3) couldn't save it.

spaceboy

Strange, you'd think they guys on digitalversus would know what they're doing...

Anyway, do you think I'm better off saving £25 and going for the LG W2240S? It's a TN and only have a VGA input.

http://www.digitalversus.com/lg-flatron-w2240s-p357_9174_35.html

DWatts

Well I've heard mixed reviews about it - some people say it's really good, while others say that it's terrible and highlight the warm/cool spots. But that's all I mean about IPS screens not all being equal - a low quality screen's a low quality screen. The U2311h is no worse than similar priced monitors, but it's not any better just because it's got an IPS screen.

Personally I wouldn't go for that monitor purely because of the VGA input - it's not entirely scientific, but generally a DVI monitor means they've actually bothered putting decent parts in it. VGA is the sign of a cheaply made monitor. The review on that site is a bit daft though, I'd challenge anyone to notice a real difference between response times under about 6-10ms.

It all depends on what you need your monitor for, really. The IPS one you linked to earlier would work and if it's comparable to the u2211h (or that line of monitors, at least) then it's a perfectly capable monitor. The colour on my monitor is off but it's never been a problem for me.