Tell me what to look for in a monitor

[Prufrock]

I am a somewhat IT challenged guy. I have one-tabled $20 into over $1500. I would like to mulitable. My budget for a monitor is $600. Will a monitor with 1280 X 1024 do the job? Tell me what I need to look for(specs). I just cannot afford the Dell Monitor that is mentioned so often here.

[Evan]

I have a 1280x1024 monitor currently and I'm fine playing 3 tables on it. PLaying 4 just gets too crowded for my taste so I bought a 2001fp yesterday and it should be here in about a week. If your budget is stictly $600 then you'll have to go with a 1280x1024, but if you can stretch it a little you can probably upgrade. I just got he 2001fp on EBay for $750 with shipping.

[Prufrock]

Thanks Evan,
I do not anticapate handling more than 3 tables at a time. What do you think of getting the 1901fp?

[ihaterivers]

I just ordered a 19' kds flat screen monitor from office depot that will be about $78 after rebates including shipping. Go to www.slickdeals.net and look under Sunday's listings.

Oh yeah I think you need to purchase by 9/30 to qualify for rebates. I don't think you can beat this deal anywhere.

[Prufrock]

Thanks ihaterivers,
But I am looking for a flat panel. Also, is there anything I should stay away from. What are the things I need to know to buy a flat panel for multitabling. Contrast ratio?

[null]

[ QUOTE ]
I am a somewhat IT challenged guy. I have one-tabled $20 into over $1500. I would like to mulitable. My budget for a monitor is $600. Will a monitor with 1280 X 1024 do the job? Tell me what I need to look for(specs). I just cannot afford the Dell Monitor that is mentioned so often here.

[/ QUOTE ]

Basically you need a monitor that will do 1600x1200 to fit 4 party tables with no overlap. Personally I'm ordering a 22"CRT (the NEC FP2141SB-BK) rather than an LCD. CRTs are the traditional monitors, whereas that Dell is an LCD. I'm getting a CRT because it's better for gaming, color is better, and it's a bit cheaper too.

The CRT I mentioned I'm getting for $609, but if you decide to get a CRT rather than an LCD, check out the NEC MultiSync FE2111SB 22". You can get it for around $550 at the right site. It's basically the same as the monitor I'm getting with the exception of running very high resolutions at high refresh rates, which you probably don't need anyway. It'll still do 1600x1200 at 85Hz. I've been researching monitors lately, and it's highly recommended.

[ihaterivers]

Hmmm. A 22'' monitor for 609 that can 4 table with no overlap or a 19'' monitor for under $80 that can also 4 table with no overlap. I'd be returning that 22'' in a heartbeat.

[null]

[ QUOTE ]
Hmmm. A 22'' monitor for 609 that can 4 table with no overlap or a 19'' monitor for under $80 that can also 4 table with no overlap. I'd be returning that 22'' in a heartbeat.

[/ QUOTE ]

I realize most people here only care about being able to 4 table with a monitor, but there are other considerations. One of the reasons I chose the monitor I did was gaming. You suggest a 19" monitor that can do 1600x1200 max resolution at 75Hz, from what I could tell. The monitor I'm getting is capable of 2048 x 1536 @ 85 Hz, plus it's one of the best CRTs you can get in terms of picture quality. While I don't have the hardware right now to take full advantage of it, I will in the future. I agree that for the average user who wants a cheap upgrade, your recommendation is better.

[benfranklin]

You need 1600x1200 resolution to multitable without overlap. At Party, the table images are 800x600, and I believe most others are the same. I don't believe flat panels are capable of that. With a conventional CRT monitor, you can get 1600x1200 on anything from a 17" to a 21". The smaller the screen, the harder to see details of the tables.

Space can be a big problem with the bigger monitors, particularly a 21" CRT, but they are great. You can find factory refurbished 21" CRTs for reasonable prices at local computer fairs or at online discount sites. Check buy.com or overstock.com. I recently bought a 21" Dell Trinatron flat screen (not flat panel) at overstock.com for under $300, and have seen similar monitors at similar prices.

[Prufrock]

Thanks BenFranklin,

The specs you give are what I needed. Will check out CRT but kind of have my pokerheart set on a LCD. Maybe I will just have to save some more money and get the DEll